I'm 65 and I restarted after not playing for 15 years and I have to start over. Keep it going you're doing good
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar4 ай бұрын
Rock on! Thanks dude!
@tofersiefken5 ай бұрын
Retired, now aged 58 and I just bought a year subscription to Fender Play and have been taking my guitars to the local shop to make them playable again. I've been enjoying the journey so far, and my skills have improved vastly in the few months since I began. Good to see others who persist at their musical aspirations.
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Awesome to hear!
@santosmadrigal37024 ай бұрын
I'm 57 and disabled . I played guitar my whole life . Around the 2015 the right side of my body stopped working . I couldn't even hold a guitar pick . It took me 5 years to even hold a guitar . But progress ? I will never be what I was . Nore do I care to be ... I'm playing guitar again , and I'm a totally different player now . And I like it .
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar4 ай бұрын
@@santosmadrigal3702 Awesome to hear you've taken a set-back and made the best of things. Keep rocking.
@wildatlanticman1285 ай бұрын
Arrange a live performance. Learn a set number of songs (5 maybe), get a looper and a good amp, pick a venue (a bar) and request a slot to perform - for free. Alternatively join, or better, form a band. If you are serious you gotta commit or ....continue dreaming. I am in the same position (I'm 56), I knew I had to commit and crucially, put myself out there. I started lessons in the local academy (last year - 30mins a week). As part of this they expect students to perform in an annual concert - trust me this really sharpens your focus (I did this in March). My tutor then proposed I join a local weekly jazz jam session - although I am a blues/rock guy, the benefits are- experience of playing in a tight group, plus, it greatly improves technique. This is a slow burn but it works for me (learning gets slower as you get older). Remember Seasick Steve? (I saw him live- amazing guy) he got his break at 55. So, set your goal, go forth and be prepared to be adored.... 😎🤘🤘
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
I do have a plan and probably the biggest part is creating 8 of my own songs. I've actually been working on these songs and have 4 songs I'm working on right now... they are all at different stages. I'll be starting to document that more, however, I am not wanting to put videos out on that process until AFTER I'm done with the songs. I feel a song is a very personal thing and throwing it out there before I'm ready to wouldn't be good for my creative process. But that's the part of this that I get most excited about. However, I realize that the better I am at the guitar and the more I learn, the better songs I can create. AND, if I'm going to play them some day for others, I have to be used to playing in front of people, so I do intend to be joining a jam group in the coming months. Thank you for your feedback and way to go on your journey. Keep me updated.
@khelmo5 ай бұрын
I was gonna suggest the same thing! A band teaches you a lot, there are some music schools with adult programs and you can find people with similar skill and age! Music is so much better when playing with others!
@evanward43035 ай бұрын
@@IStillWanttobeaRockStar Any time you play something unique or interesting, record it with your phone. Trust the feeling, evaluate later. Saving song ideas when they pop up is crucial to capturing the nuances. The nuances are what makes it yours. Otherwise it's just the same old notes.
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
I have actually been doing that... I then store them in a folder called Riff Savers. I just checked it, I have 38 riffs I've saved. I'm quite excited to go back to them and seeing if they can grow into a kick-ass song. :)
@snapg005 ай бұрын
This is awesome, man! I’m 17 myself, been lamenting not starting sooner, because I love it so much. Now I’m less worried about my age because you’re tearing it up! Keep up the good work, brother.
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Thanks man. You obviously have not started too late. :D As an old(ish) looking guy, I'd say to stick to it through the busy/hard times of life. That's my regret... and my other regret was not seeking guidance from others. I thought I could discover how to play the guitar myself. If I'd taken lessons and pushed to learn more stuff, I'd be so much better now. Best to you and your rocking future!
@rockerbuck9675 ай бұрын
You're doing just fine, man! I've been playing for over 25 years, and I'm still not "progressing" the way I want to - nobody does, so don't feel bad. The nice thing about guitar playing is that it's not a sprint - it's a long haul. Enjoy what you learn, and learn to enjoy. Buddy Guy said the wisest thing I ever heard - "Give it everything you got, and it'll give you everything IT got!"
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Thanks dude for the perspective on guitar playing.
@calbrockocat87285 ай бұрын
I'm a lefty that used to play bass upside down. Started in 73 with a few friends jamming and gave it up in 75. In December 2020, I decided to play again, this time with a proper lefty and six strings. I go a couple hours a day, too. I play along to blues jam tracks. As for practice, I'm all over the place, too, as i am not after playing the old songs. I'm more into making my guitars sound familiar like those old songs. Keep strumming!
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Thanks man.
@robanderson35595 ай бұрын
I'm in the same boat. I started playing when I was about 12 and never really got good, picked it back up in my late 40's and now ill be 55 next month. Keep up the good work .
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Awesome to hear. Keep going yourself. :)
@frankiechan96515 ай бұрын
Parallel paths brother - I'm nearly 53, initially started around '88, (but skipped your reboot in 2005) , restarted about 2 years ago - although mine is more "I kind of want to annoy the kids" rather than being a rockstar (LOL) You have certainly progressed - what I found was that in year 1, I really felt I'd gone nowhere. Everything still felt so difficult and my hands were so uncoordinated. But now I find new things much, much easier to get under my fingers - as if a switch had flipped and a new line of communication has appeared between brain and fingers. Certainly part of it is having shapes and progressions that are common across many songs or along the fretboard - so there is familiarity there. Of course there will be unevenness - some songs come easy as they seem to have been embedded in your brain from decades ago. Others just don't want to work at all. Blues seems to be your thing though - those breakouts sounded really good. I would love to be able to do the 2 hours per day you are doing, but I still have other things I need to do. But your example can help fire me up to make some more time. While brain plasticity is not as good for learning when older - that is balanced out by having more discipline and ability to focus for longer periods of time. Keep going - I'll be there right alongside you in spirit.
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Awesome to hear! I have many kids and I'm certain this goal annoys them somewhat. :D This journey certainly has been interesting. Time is certainly hard to find... I try to optimize it as much as I can and try not to let KZbin suck it all away. (the irony!) I do feel that I learn better now, but I don't retain it if I don't keep playing it. For instance, I learned the Master of Puppets lick back in 1989... still know it yet hardly play it. However, there are some licks I learned 6 months ago that I forgot already! 🤣 Also, my shoulder gets way tired way faster than it did back then. And when I'm sitting and playing, my belly pushes my guitar farther away than it used to. Best to you on your rejuvenated journey!
@jeremysmetana85835 ай бұрын
Right on. This is actually a decent amount of progress for a first year student. I would say your big hurdle was confidence. You seemed at times to be better than you thought you were, skill-wise, but unsure of what comes next, which caused you to hesitate. You seemed to overcome that. That's the hardest part. Bravo. My advice to anybody struggling: don't hesitate. Do what feels like it comes next, even at the risk of screwing up. In time, the hands and the ear will abide.
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
thanks for the feedback and advice. "The Hands and the Ear Will Abide" sounds like something that should be on a guitar t-shirt. 😆
@stomp1Krr5 ай бұрын
fantastic documentation of your journey. life is not worth living without stretch goals and incremental progress at something. roughly 7 years ago and at the same age I was where you are now. bought an electric guitar and decided I was going to get good enough to play in (some version of) a garage band. not that many years later I was in my second gigging band and am now on lead guitar playing rock covers live in bars about once a month. have learned hundreds of songs and have over 3 hours of music memorized. I forced myself through embarrassing and demoralizing situations while making the transition. not to mention several rounds of physio when too much practice ruined my elbows, shoulder and back. recognizing that you will need to play with others is key. and more scary than practice or recording a video. you are being real; most play by themselves their whole lives and (mistakenly) believe they are rockstars. and you don't know for sure you can pull it off until you're standing on a stage in front of a crowd. its a ton of work to get that opportunity. plateaus happen; you'll soon hit another curve. keep up the lofty goals - the journey is so worth it!
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Thank you for watching and the feedback as well as telling your story. I makes me feel my goal isn't crazy. :D I hope to start playing with others in the coming months. My wife and I were living in Portugal for about 2 years, and although I could have found some people there, we knew we were leaving so I didn't bother. I'll keep putting myself in uncomfortable situations. I know that helps. What parts are you from? Where do you gig most of the time?
@stomp1Krr5 ай бұрын
@@IStillWanttobeaRockStar yes, I noticed the Portugal issue. I'm in the San Diego area; lots of bar-type venues hosting live music, but lots of local band competition as well. I was helped along the way by several informal jam organizers who tolerated and coached newbies. and I later joined bands with players much better than I was to make me have to level up. one of the most rewarding things I've done!
@AndrewWillmott-l8s5 ай бұрын
Right, straight up dude. I’ve watched all your vids from the start and you are getting way better. I know you put the time in and it shows. I’m at a pretty similar stage to you although I approach things differently. I tend to be pretty theory heavy and nail all my scales, know my modes and all this. But, like you, I can’t really play a song all the way through. Recently I’ve decided I need to nail in a few songs and know them backwards. I think when you have lofty goals you keep wanting to push forward all the time which I don’t think is bad but maybe really mastering a few easier things sets a foundation to build on. Anyway, you do rock. Keep it up.
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Thanks man. I think one problem in terms of learning songs has been my environment. My wife and I were living in Portugal and I didn't really have a room where I could have all my gear setup. Like, if I wanted to learn a song via say KZbin, I'd have to setup a my computer only to have to tear it down after I'm done... I know it's an excuse, but it did make it a pain to do something when inspiration hit. And our space was small, and my wife has been a great support, but there's only so much a girl can handle especially if she's not into my kind of music. BUT we are on our way back to the US and I will have my own studio office in the basement... where I should be able to set things up to make playing and learning easier.
@artificialartist25 ай бұрын
Good job Jimi, I mean, Chris! Keep up the good work as I can tell the difference from a year ago!
@kawzmoe5 ай бұрын
This was really fun watching your progress. Your blues style really shows out compared to the rest. You can tell it comes more naturally to you. You're definitely sounding better, even in the last few weeks. Thanks for putting yourself out there and taking us on your journey.
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
I definitely find myself practicing and noodling the blues scale the most. I enjoy blues and love watching it live... and I think it at this time feels the most natural to play, however, it's not a genre I'd say is my favorite. Prog / stoner rock is what I find myself most intrigued by. And of course some metal. (Iron Maiden is a big favorite). We'll see what happens. :D Thank you for watching and for the feedback.
@fentonwinmill5 ай бұрын
I've been a bedroom noodler for most of my adult life (now 53) and have taken up lessons again. My playing has improved massively. There are certain things that appear "hard", keep practicing and suddenly they click and you wonder what the fuss is all about. Although song knowledge is something I need to work on. Now thinking of doing a music degree when I retire, just for the fun of it.
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
I love hearing this! Best to you.
@brienjennings84323 ай бұрын
of course you can do it!
@__Anton__5 ай бұрын
You're making great progress - keep going and don't give up.
@phlegmbeck92245 ай бұрын
Keep going! It’s coming along great! I know exactly where you are. It just takes time. I restarted my journey some years ago when my kids were into the video game Guitar Hero. I said screw it. I’m going to learn these songs for real.
@ScottyBrockway5 ай бұрын
Definite improvement. Keep learning songs as you'll learn more from those than most other stuff and it teaches you to play music instead of mundane things. Record yourself, and listen to yourself. 2 hours is plenty. I started playing again 3 years ago after quitting for 10 years, I'm 51 now and I lost so much technique (I was semi pro) it was crazy. Thankfully there is awesome stuff on youtube now to learn from. My advice there is to avoid people who try to sell a magic bullet, there isn't one. Find the honest teachers they are out there, and it's about having fun and playing music.
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Great to hear you're back at it. One thing that's nice about doing something like this at 54 is that I've been through other life experiences and have learned the lessons that there are no shortcuts. I roll my eyes when I see titles that promise greatness with simple solutions. BS is BS. Thanks for watching and for the feedback.
@darkkrenaissance425 ай бұрын
With music technology today, you can LITERALLY create your own album at home, with guitar keyboard and computer
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Yep... already working with that. ;)
@kaptkrunchfpv5 ай бұрын
Absolutely right! And publish it for free! My son does it alot on various sites. Sound cloud ect.
@L0fi_Guy5 ай бұрын
hell yeah this was awesome. cant wait for the year 2 progress vid
@blackgold74165 ай бұрын
Hi Chris, really enjoying your videos and your progress. Enjoy the practice and the journey and it will all come together. Maybe learn a couple of tracks that people enjoy and if someone asks you to play you have a couple of songs you can pull out. The acoustic is great for some campfire 👍
@kaptkrunchfpv5 ай бұрын
Sounds good to me brother! Way further than ive gotten in decades of digging it out the closet when I start feeling old and running out of time. Then they give me another grand kid and it off to the races on that.
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Thank you. Life never stops throwing stuff at us. (Good and bad).
@usertube1405 ай бұрын
Improved for sure dude. I recommened tom hess for guitar lessons. Helped me a ton. I would work on your vibrato. It's the "finger print" of a guitarist. There are several types of vibrato. Try and get one or two types down. Tom hess is great for this too. I think this will help pull your playing together a lot. Especially in blues improv. Cheers
@judyandmikemalone53365 ай бұрын
You ROCK!!!!
@andygribionkin7335 ай бұрын
You're doing awesome!! Keep it up. You have some great tunes. My suggestion is get a drummer, bass and vocals. Playing with recordings is more forgiving. It is great for learning but then a drummer will help with timing. Playing with other musicians will make your parts stronger. We are practicing as a three pcs tonight and I miss my rhythm guitarist who will be taking over drumming duties. Drummer called in sick. I never thought I could play as a three pc. Cheers!!
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Thanks :D I hope to start jamming with real humans in the coming months.
@quexalcoatl5 ай бұрын
Self-taught guitar sort of plateaus and you need to push to get better I find. Playing with other people or outside your comfort genre helps. Awesome progress man.
@thundermammoth5 ай бұрын
Good luck, bro. I'm 53 and played in punk/metal bands throughout my teens all the way until I was 46. I had to "quit" because of so many things going on... after like 5 years, I'd lost so much of the physical part of it, it made me sick... so of course I put it away again. Two years ago I got back into it, and I've been relearning old stuff and new stuff altogether. Funny how my brain knows guitar still, but my hands and coordination have been crap! But it's been coming back... It's been a great relief to my soul, to be able to come back to my longtime "home" so to speak. Wish you the best on your journey. You sound to me like you're making a lot of progress! My only suggestion is break out a metronome if you can. I use a free app. It's really helps immensely. Keep it up! You got my support!
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Cool to hear your back at it too. It is funny how tired my shoulder gets now when I play... NEVER noticed that back when I was 20. :D Also, sitting and playing has changed... I now have a belly that no longer resembles a washboard. 🤣 Thanks for your support.
@Croy43065 ай бұрын
Sounds good to me.
@MrScrofulous5 ай бұрын
Just enjoy it as a hobby. That's what I do. I don't do the navel gazing.
@evanward43035 ай бұрын
A couple things I noticed... Your vibrato is good. Try a short pause before shaking the string to establish the pitch. Keep in mind that you go above the note (pitch-wise) when you shake it. Only when using whammy bar, strings bends or sliding notes across the frets are you operating from below the target pitch. Your string bending is also good. Pay close attention to the target note when bending. During practice, you can fret the target note, drop back a whole step (2 frets), and bend up to the note you just heard. A little vibrato at the top of the bend usually sounds good. The same applies for half-step (one fret) bends. [Half-step bends are under used by most guitarists in my opinion.] Also, look for ways to keep the strings you're not playing quiet. Muting at the bridge is the main way, but the fretting hand can help out. Lastly, these observations are technique-based for when you're practicing. Don't think too much about this stuff when it's time to play a song or jam. Let the groove, timing and cadence be your guide when it's time to throw down.
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Thank you for the words and feedback! I think with my bending during my blues jams, I'm not even thinking about that I'm trying to bend up to a whole (or half) note during these recordings. However, I've heard this advice a number of times, which tells me you guys are hearing things I'm not yet hearing. However now I'm more aware, so hopefully it'll start to help. I just have to keep practicing. :)
@evanward43035 ай бұрын
You made huge gains in one year, so you're doing great. My comment is just technical stuff to maybe keep in the back of your mind as your playing continues to progress. The pitch stuff is way bigger than any single instrument. You never stop developing your ear. Rock on!
@jimth67285 ай бұрын
I am 58, started again at 50, after a 20-year stop, and it was really disapponting at the beginning... I can think of 2 two things that really helped me in my second journey into music : get a laptop with a DAW that suits you, so that you have it playing drums+bass+piano+pads etc to back you up in your rhythm and solos, and second and most important, try to see this journey as a hobby, something that makes you happy, and not as a goal that you have to achieve. The only goal you can have with music (nowadays) is having fun!
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Awesome to hear you started again. I work in IT so I always have a computer around and have been doing things with GarageBand. It has helped me with focus. I'm working on 4 songs at the moment and someday hope to have 8 to release as an album.
@olganesterowicz5 ай бұрын
At least you're still privileged to follow your dream. I, a woman from Poland, have no chance. I will later tell you why.
@musicbychanc35 ай бұрын
Nice pfp
@lw87035 ай бұрын
Bro I’m 49 doing the same thing as you. It’s way harder than I thought. I love it I’ll keep trying but I’m not sure I’ll get there in time.
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
You can do it! And you have 4 years more than me! :D How long have you been playing most recently?
@lw87035 ай бұрын
2 years, I’m surprised at how little progress. Now I just notice more things that sucks about my playing. I tried to find a good in person teacher but had no luck.
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar3 ай бұрын
Just keep pushing and then out of nowhere, you'll notice you're on a new plateau. It'll feel great... until that plateau gets old. :D
@adriatic.vineyards5 ай бұрын
You're doing fine mate! If I had to give constructive feedback, I'd say you should focus on your bends. More specifically, practice bending up a whole step on the E and B strings. Pay attention that you're not over or under shooting, you gotta nail that note. Fret the target note for a reference point. also, what gauge strings are you using? I'd recommend 9s - - it'll make bending easier. anything under is too slinky imo. good luck, don't give up!
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Thank you for the feedback... I've heard people mention my bends a few times... and honestly I know I'm not even thinking about it when I bend, so I'll start to try to. :D I do believe I'm using 9s.
@flyballhdeg97755 ай бұрын
I'm sure you get lots of advice that doesn't address the issues you are experiencing at any given time. I'll add on to that.😅 When playing Little Wing, for example, first try to find the groove (feel) of the song before adding the little fills between the chords. They will come more naturally. Listen to the original song repeatedly until you know every nuance instinctively. You have to hear it in your head to be able to play it. Play along with the record and record yourself so you can critique your performance and focus on your weak spots. Also, when playing the lead fills, don't pick every note. A lot of them are legato style, which will help you capture the feel. Keep playing and you will improve , whether you want to or not.😅
@IStillWanttobeaRockStar5 ай бұрын
Thank you for the feedback... I see what you're saying and that often I get caught up in the mechanics of it.