7 replies to this topic

[noahfence]

So you see that thing in the corner?



My wife bought it for me for Christmas about 10 years ago. I've hardly touched it. But now I think its time to put down the mindless video games and go for it. I'm 41 for crying out loud! Better late than never...

So are there any other noob late bloomers out here? Anybody who can remember a time when couldn't use your telephone to tune your guitar like I did about 10 mintues ago? If so, how are you doing?

I went out and bought Gibsons Learn and Master Guitar. Any feedback on that?

Lastly, are there any particular excercises that can be done to strengthen your fret hand? I tried doing a tab just now (My Empty Room ~ Queensryche) and there's a nasty stretch there from the 14th Fret to the 9th. It seems like such a struggle to get there, nevermind hold it.


Feel free to offer words of encouragement such as "don't worry it always hurts at first"


(The fuzzy thing to the right of the image is Pearl. She's pretty cool)

-Noah

[eddiez152]

Welcome,
Dig in and have fun learning with the rest of us. Easy stuff first.

[mset3]

Noahfence,

I'm not familiar with the Gibson Learn and Master Guitar course, but take it slow and get the basics under your belt. It will build a good foundation for later things. As far as that 14th to 9th fret stretch, you should be able to find the same note on the next lower string that is easier to reach. Welcome to the forum.

Mike

[RolandC]

Hey Noah,

Welcome to the board!

I started guitar late and it has been just about the most fun thing I have ever done in my life. Not to mention the fact that, as mid-life crises go, it's much safer than getting a motorcycle or taking up hang gliding!

Piece of advice number 1: Practice. Every single day. And when you are done practicing, practice some more. There is no substitute for consistent, directed practice.

I have heard good things about the Gibson course, though I have not used it myself. I messed around with internet video lessons/DVDs but was really getting nowhere fast. Then I got serious and hired a teacher and my progress accelerated exponentially--not that I'm any great shakes, mind you, but I'm certainly much farther along than if I had just kept fooling around by myself. If you find the DVD course not working out for you, you may want to consider in-person lessons.

Piece of advice number 2: I see that you have a guitar stand. I would advise you to put your guitar in a place where it is conspicuously accessible e.g. if you watch TV at night, put it right next to the couch where you sit so that you can reach over and grab it the moment the spirit moves you. You will be surprised at how much more you will practice when the instrument is within easy reach and just sitting there, staring at you, seeming to say "please play me." Ten minutes here, fifteen minutes there all adds up.

Your fingertips will be sore at the beginning. Within a few weeks you will get callouses and it won't bother you, but until that time you just have to tough it out. Remember though, if you practice one day and then take the next four days off because your fingertips are sore, the callouses will not develop.

Piece of advice number 3: Be careful about getting too far ahead of yourself. A lot of noobs try to play stuff that is way beyond their abilities, get frustrated when thay can't play it, and then conclude they are not cut out for the guitar and quit altogether. Guitar requires the incremental acquisition of physical skills, and if your foundation is poor then everything that follows will be shaky. Start with the basics and do your best to master them. This is very much a slow-and-steady-wins-the-race type pursuit.

As for your fretting hand? The best exercise, IMHO, is to pick up the guitar and practice. Your hand will become stronger and more flexible the more you play.

Enjoy!

[starsailor]

Hi Noah, There are a lot of members here who started late me included, I started in my late 40's, good advice above, stick with that and you'll get on well, welcome to the forum. Pearl does look cool.

[paulg1630]

hi.I think there is a spider exercise that gives your fretting hand a workout.it trains your fingers to move independantly.Just do a search for fret hand guitar exercises.But playing a queensryche song must surely work your fingers and coordination.its a more direct approach than i took when learning.get stuck into those ballads and bypass the nursey rhymes

[randy d]

welcome to the forum. my advice is take it easy and enjoy the journey. I started late and play the basics only. but I love doing it

[petruccii]

Welcome!