My Mid-life crisis, different than others I guess

Just thought I would share. Rather than go out and buy a sports car or something worse, as I approach my 45th trip around the Sun, I have decided to buy myself a guitar and once and for all learn to play the damn thing!

I played other instruments as a kid, but gave them all up due to being bored and unfocused. I have always regretted this and finall decided to do something about it. Should be picking up the guitar the weekend after this one, then I will sign up for some lessons. Hope I don't fall on my face with this, but if so I am determined to have fun doing it!

Thought I would share some info about me for a change instead of the birds.

Electric or acoustic?

I'm going with acoustic to start. Easier to take everything with you, and I don't think the house could take the amplifier (I know my wife couldn't ).

Hopefully you have patience Always good to learn something new.

When we moved to the country (we moved back to the city in 2 years and 8 months), Husband decided he wanted to learn how to play the Saxaphone again.

2 weeks of lessons and no progress due to lack of patience, the saxaphone (rented) was returned, and Husband's saxaphone career was over.

go for it my friend...here is something to aspire to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT77GfACnMM&feature=relmfu


dusty

Thats great Roger! My neighbor back home had a stroke, so he gave me his guitar. I tried to self teach myself, but that just didn't work out.

Take your lessons and practice every day, and no matter how crappily you play, don't give up

crystalsbirdtoys wrote:

Hopefully you have patience Always good to learn something new.

When we moved to the country (we moved back to the city in 2 years and 8 months), Husband decided he wanted to learn how to play the Saxaphone again.

2 weeks of lessons and no progress due to lack of patience, the saxaphone (rented) was returned, and Husband's saxaphone career was over.

I play the Alto Sax. Started playing in grade 7 music class, ended up taking music and band until I was in grade 12. I actually think it's a very fun instrument to play, very easy. He shouldn't of given up so easily!

I had to sell my sax for funds to move up here, I actually miss it.

We'll be expecting videos!

Good luck!

Are you going more with classical or rock/blues? Actually with an amp, you can plug in headphones and go silent!

I bought my husband a setup a couple years ago for the holidays. He really likes it, but doesn't have a lot of time to practice.

crystalsbirdtoys wrote:

2 weeks of lessons and no progress due to lack of patience, the saxaphone (rented) was returned, and Husband's saxaphone career was over.

That's kind of why I am jumping in a buying a guitar instead of renting, because then I will stick with to get my money's worth. If I rent it is too easy to quit!

patdbunny wrote:

We'll be expecting videos!

Good luck!

Videos are a long way off, I'm sure! The place I will be taking lessons through has a regular night at a local pub for people to play (that scares me to death right now!)

Maybe if you do ongoing videos for us as to your progress, that would encourage you to stick with it!

ScooterNScotty wrote:

Are you going more with classical or rock/blues? Actually with an amp, you can plug in headphones and go silent!

I bought my husband a setup a couple years ago for the holidays. He really likes it, but doesn't have a lot of time to practice.

My tastes run the gamut from country to folk to soft rock. So acoustic seem to fit better to start. I can always electrify later. I'm looking at stuff like the Eagles, Jack Johnson, Colin Hay, James Taylor, Jim Croce, and Harry Chapin. Things I can strum and sing with.

patdbunny wrote:

Maybe if you do ongoing videos for us as to your progress, that would encourage you to stick with it!

May I'll be braver after I have a few lessons under my belt!

You might be surprised at how quickly you can get to the strum and sing part. I self-taught myself on a classical guitar (nylon strings, finger-picking) and it wasn't very long before I could do sing around the campfire stuff with simple chords. Are you going with a classical or a steel-strung? I started on a steel strung one, but liked the mellower sound of the classical, plus it's a bit easier on the fingertips. With a steel strung guitar it take a while to build up callus and you can get quite sore if you push it too hard too soon.

That's getting close to EVERYTHING I know about guitars!

I should pick mine up again one of these days. It was kind of fun.

I am starting with steel string, trying to decide between 2 different models from Seagull, a company based in Lapatrie, Quebec. Everything I have been able to read says they are best guitars for less than $500 on the market. These are the two I am looking at:

The Seagull S6 Original



and the Seagull Entourage Rustic Burst:

dusty wrote:

go for it my friend...here is something to aspire to

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lT77GfACnMM&feature=relmfu

dusty

I only wish I could be one tenth this good! He is amazing. Check out Jesse Cook for some Canadian flavour! Another amazing Guitarist!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-dUbcYIZio&feature=related

Well I have purchased the guitar, now fumbling around trying to learn chords and building up calouses on my fingers before starting with lessons. This is the guitar I decided to buy:



It is an Acoustic Electric, so I can plug into an amplifier if I want to, or play it as is.

I have been looking at some of the online lessons until I can start formal training, but I am always very leery about making any purchases, because I am never sure what I will really get (even though online is cheaper than in person).
However it goes I am committed to getting through this and finally learning this instrument properly. I'll let you know how it goes!

Nice!

Good luck Roger!
I played acoustic guitar when was teenager. Never too late!