Forums > General Discussion   Shooting the breeze...

I want to be able to play guitar by the time I'm 50!

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Created by shoodbegood > 9 months ago, 14 Jan 2019
shoodbegood
VIC, 873 posts
14 Jan 2019 10:25PM
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Well about 6 years ago I set myself a goal to be able to play by the time I'm 50.

It's interesting, I didn't even really know what that meant, still don't, but it's a hell of a lotta fun trying.

Tomorrows the day, and after weekly lessons, finding a great teacher, getting a good Telecaster and many, many hours of noodling away, I'm kinda satisfied with where I'm at !

The "journey" continues, I'm well along the way, but like all things, there's never an end destination, just keep going and learning.

Surely glad I started though, it's never too late to get going with something you've always wanted to do, just gotta have a crack !

myusernam
QLD, 6085 posts
14 Jan 2019 10:02PM
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Thats cool. Ho do u define being able to play? Can u do stairway? Voodoo chile properly? Id like to play the banjo

theDoctor
NSW, 5765 posts
14 Jan 2019 11:50PM
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I play the doodle guitar
Been strumming that thing most my life

theDoctor
NSW, 5765 posts
14 Jan 2019 11:51PM
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I play the doodle guitar
Been strumming that thing most my life

Rails
QLD, 1370 posts
15 Jan 2019 5:43AM
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theDoctor said..

I play the doodle guitar
Been strumming that thing most my life


What I tell you three times is true

Tequila !
WA, 800 posts
15 Jan 2019 8:04AM
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shoodbegood said..
Well about 6 years ago I set myself a goal to be able to play by the time I'm 50.

It's interesting, I didn't even really know what that meant, still don't, but it's a hell of a lotta fun trying.

Tomorrows the day, and after weekly lessons, finding a great teacher, getting a good Telecaster and many, many hours of noodling away, I'm kinda satisfied with where I'm at !

The "journey" continues, I'm well along the way, but like all things, there's never an end destination, just keep going and learning.

Surely glad I started though, it's never too late to get going with something you've always wanted to do, just gotta have a crack !


What is your amplification setup? or just the ear phones?

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
15 Jan 2019 9:59AM
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I'm 50
and I've always wanted my wife to play the flute

lotofwind
NSW, 6450 posts
15 Jan 2019 5:23PM
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ She can, she played mine last night.

I told her how good she was at it, said she dosent get to play the flute very often as at home she only has a little piccolo

shoodbegood
VIC, 873 posts
16 Jan 2019 10:02PM
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novetti said..

shoodbegood said..
Well about 6 years ago I set myself a goal to be able to play by the time I'm 50.

It's interesting, I didn't even really know what that meant, still don't, but it's a hell of a lotta fun trying.

Tomorrows the day, and after weekly lessons, finding a great teacher, getting a good Telecaster and many, many hours of noodling away, I'm kinda satisfied with where I'm at !

The "journey" continues, I'm well along the way, but like all things, there's never an end destination, just keep going and learning.

Surely glad I started though, it's never too late to get going with something you've always wanted to do, just gotta have a crack !



What is your amplification setup? or just the ear phones?


Hey Novetti,

Just ordered a Mustang GT40 and foot switch, can't wait !

What do you have?

Poida
WA, 1914 posts
16 Jan 2019 7:27PM
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hey Shooldbegood,
I did a similar thing
I reckon its good to go to a few local jam sessions, usually at a local pub or club, and then some open mics, maybe with an acoustic
or jam with a friend or group
as this helps playing along with other musicians
the more I know the less I realise I know

shoodbegood
VIC, 873 posts
16 Jan 2019 10:52PM
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Yes Poida!
Great advice, bloody hard to get over the "lounge room" hurdle !
There is an open mic night locally, just gotta pluck up some courage!

Poida
WA, 1914 posts
17 Jan 2019 7:25AM
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busking is easier than an open mic night.
just that busking these days is very organised, through markets etc, some requiring PA's, others just basic.
they don't seem to be just rockup to a street corner and play anymore.

Tequila !
WA, 800 posts
17 Jan 2019 8:14AM
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shoodbegood said..

novetti said..


shoodbegood said..
Well about 6 years ago I set myself a goal to be able to play by the time I'm 50.

It's interesting, I didn't even really know what that meant, still don't, but it's a hell of a lotta fun trying.

Tomorrows the day, and after weekly lessons, finding a great teacher, getting a good Telecaster and many, many hours of noodling away, I'm kinda satisfied with where I'm at !

The "journey" continues, I'm well along the way, but like all things, there's never an end destination, just keep going and learning.

Surely glad I started though, it's never too late to get going with something you've always wanted to do, just gotta have a crack !




What is your amplification setup? or just the ear phones?



Hey Novetti,

Just ordered a Mustang GT40 and foot switch, can't wait !

What do you have?


I am old school...I only use tubes.
At the moment I have 4 different tube amps (Built them from scratch 20 yrs ago).

Looking at the MustangGT40...some interesting features (bluetooth, etc). Unthinkable 20, 30 yrs ago...very interesting.

Poida
WA, 1914 posts
17 Jan 2019 8:38AM
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i love my fender blues junior 15 watt valve amp, seems loud enough for practice and small gigs

but nothing like a deluxe reverb or marshal 50w for powerful clean punch for blues and rock

dmitri
VIC, 1040 posts
17 Jan 2019 11:51AM
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I bought a Brian May guitar for my 50th..been his fan since the 70s when I was kid...love it.

busterwa
3777 posts
17 Jan 2019 11:54AM
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stairway played on 12 -6 over under setup. hendrix clapton thumb over E AD learn music for yourself learn stuff which is enjoyable suite your individual style. i play lot of fast metal drop d with streatching 7-8 fret with hammer on offs. have to train stretch strenghten coordinate your pinky finger . different guitarists different styles. ACDC would be a good alround style to learn

Cassa
WA, 1305 posts
19 Jan 2019 6:50AM
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Made this last month , sustain is forever!! Sounds just like Justin Johnson (have a listen)
,



busterwa
3777 posts
23 Jan 2019 6:24AM
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That sound mint Cassa Your a good musician

Harrow
NSW, 4520 posts
24 Jan 2019 9:42AM
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An hour of public performance improves your playing as much as 50 hours of practice.

DavMen
NSW, 1498 posts
24 Jan 2019 11:00AM
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Harrow said..
An hour of public performance improves your playing as much as 50 hours of practice.



Even once you can play, you need more than 50hrs practice to perform for an hour - Chicken and the egg thing

Razzonater
2224 posts
24 Jan 2019 8:30AM
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I like loud noises
I like to play zeppelin and blues really really loud, sometimes I play death metal as well.
To achieve this I saved up as a kid and bought a 100 watt valve state Marshall.
One day Jim Marshall came to kosmic sound, everyone lined up with shirts and hats, I stood in line with my amp.
He laughed and we plugged it in, he played suzie q and than passed it to me and I made half a zep song.
he was over 70 at this stage and it was an absolute honour spent a good 10-15 talking.

Playing music changes your life, he signed the amp Jim Marshall OBE as he had been knighted for his dedication to music ,

Playing music was the best gift my parents ever gave me ( other than life itself and an rac membership when I was a kid who's car broke down at least once a month)


Enjoy

Gorgo
VIC, 4911 posts
24 Jan 2019 12:17PM
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DavMen said..

....

Even once you can play, you need more than 50hrs practice to perform for an hour - Chicken and the egg thing


Real musicians don't need anything like that. They just play and it all works out.

Seems to me you need two things to be a proper musician.

One is a repertoire. You need to know lots of songs or pieces. Most songs are variations on 3-4 chords with similar shapes and sounds being interchangeable. That's how working musicians get away with faking songs. Run a 3 chord progression then change the bass or the inversion to get some colour and melody into it.

The other is to know whole songs. The best way to do that is to learn songs and preferably sing them.

Most songs in general, and most modern songs in particular, are musically pretty lame. Verse, Verse, Chorus, Verse, Turnaround/bridge, Verse, Chorus, Repeat and fade to the end.

If you're just playing songs on the guitar then it is easy to get bored with the repetition. Without the words and singing the repeats don't make a lot of sense. It's easy enough to work out the odd riff and intro and chord progression. It's hard to put it all together in real time and play it for 3-6 minutes and make it interesting for everybody.

Harrow
NSW, 4520 posts
24 Jan 2019 1:50PM
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Gorgo said..

Seems to me you need two things to be a proper musician.

You can't beat someone with stage presence. I know a guy who is a very average guitar player, and just as average a singer. He plays one man gigs in small cafe's and bars, and he is just great fun to watch.

shoodbegood
VIC, 873 posts
25 Jan 2019 10:11PM
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Harrow said..

Gorgo said..

Seems to me you need two things to be a proper musician.


You can't beat someone with stage presence. I know a guy who is a very average guitar player, and just as average a singer. He plays one man gigs in small cafe's and bars, and he is just great fun to watch.


Question....

He's probably better than you think Harrow, "confidence" from years of practice and playing/singing goes along way?

Harrow
NSW, 4520 posts
26 Jan 2019 9:20AM
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shoodbegood said..
Question....
He's probably better than you think Harrow, "confidence" from years of practice and playing/singing goes along way?

Nah, he's not. He can't do much more than strum out 4 chord turnarounds with a voice only a mother could love. On his first paid gig he called me onto stage to relieve him and warm the crowd a little because he was crashing and burning, But he's just a hilarious character once he gets past his nerves and is a lot of fun to watch. Being a good musician is great, but just saying you can also do well with something pretty simple if you are a born entertainer.

But Gorgo is right.... building repertoire is important if you want to perform. Selection of your songs is important to suit the crowd/time/place that you are playing. And learning WHOLE songs...not just the intro riffs.

Then you have those musicians that can literally play ANYTHING. My uncle was a semi-pro jazz pianist. He could play any song live on stage, having never practiced it before, as long as he knew how the melody went. I could never comprehend it....he'd work out the songs chord structure as he went and would be playing fully with both hands. He didn't even think it was hard, and didn't read music much better then a 2nd or 3rd grade piano student.

myusernam
QLD, 6085 posts
26 Jan 2019 9:38AM
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Yeah thats awesome to br so proficient that you dont need to think about what you are doing you are just fluent. Like being completely fluent in a language and just switch seamlessly. You just think about the tune and in knowing the melody you know how to play.

Harrow
NSW, 4520 posts
26 Jan 2019 1:16PM
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What's the tuning on the 3-string shovel??

Gorgo
VIC, 4911 posts
26 Jan 2019 1:55PM
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myusernam said..
Yeah thats awesome to br so proficient that you dont need to think about what you are doing you are just fluent. Like being completely fluent in a language and just switch seamlessly. You just think about the tune and in knowing the melody you know how to play.


What you're doing by learning a heap of songs is gaining an intuitive understanding of music theory and composition.

Arguably there are only 10 song structures and most of those are variations on the basic 3 chords.

Some chords just have to come after other chords. Some chords always slot in between two others. Others are very similar so you can substitute. A good player will play D-C and G, but they know you can whack in a Bm or G/B or Am because they're very similar. As long as you play the main notes loud enough people will let you get away with the other notes. They'll probably be impressed by the colour in your playing,

Gorgo
VIC, 4911 posts
26 Jan 2019 11:28PM
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Here's an app I found today. Stick it on your device. Give it a song. It tells you the chords and you can play along, slow it down, transpose etc. It works surprisingly well.

apps.apple.com/au/app/chord-tracker/id975438908

cauncy
WA, 8407 posts
26 Jan 2019 8:57PM
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My fave clip, I'd relate with him

busterwa
3777 posts
26 Jan 2019 10:53PM
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Harrow said..
What's the tuning on the 3-string shovel??






dunno but cant see the two for 1 vegan mushrooms meat subistute comming with a free salon express voucher anytime soon. id love to be that age again. dude has more spare flange that a desalination plant. save some pussy for the rest of us



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Forums > General Discussion   Shooting the breeze...


"I want to be able to play guitar by the time I'm 50!" started by shoodbegood