Re: Mid-Life wants to Play Guitar

RichL wrote:
MikeyG <postcontact@xxxxxxx> wrote:
Mid-Life Guitar

As not to waste anyone's time, this is a mid-aged fella thinking, (out
loud), that he wants to play guitar.

I'm a 51 year old, male, a seasonal, Union construction Laborer; (I
have a lot of time on my hands during the Illinois winters).

When I turned 49 my journey into my Mid_life Crisis must have begun; I
decided to "Let my Freak Flag Fly", (got my last hair cut), and lost
my interest in my 25 year

passion for competing in Amateur Dirttrack / Flattrack Motorcycle
racing, and re-newed my interest in attempting to learn how to play
Guitar.

A bit embarrassed to admit, I got the inspiration when seeing an
Esteban segment on a TV Shopping program; I now, own one. After a few
months, the fact that the guitar

was made in China, and the sight of "Esteban" on the headstock, I
decided to purchase an American made guitar; I own a Taylor 310CE.

I have been teaching myself, I taught myself the Computer, (some folks
now, consider me a bit geekish), several years ago, I should be able
to learn to play the guitar; a

lot easier said than done .... imagine that!

I don't seem to have much of a life anymore, (these days the work
seasons require so, many hours that that is all we have time for), I
do find enough time to play my

Taylor a few hours every evening, (all kinds of time during the winter
months).

In the past 2 years I have been learning the basics of theory, (Hal
Leonard's Guitar Method Complete Edition; I seemed to lose dedication
to
it after the 34th page; I have done some of the things haphazardly, in
the rest of the edition). I purchased several Instructional DVDs and
Song Books, downloaded a bunch of Tab and Sheet Music and
visited a bunch of Guitar web sites. I 'dove right in' and purchased a
"Tascam" 'Guitar Trainer', a "Line6" 'Toneport' and a "Fender"
'G-Dec'.

I have thought of myself as a 'closet player'; I don't have anyone
that
I can 'jam', (LOL), with; I play in my family room away from my wife,
and am very, uncomfortable

in front of anyone. New Year's eve, a few of my friends, (whom ARE
Guitar PLAYERS), and I got together; I just, began a strum and just,
could not continue; I had not a hint of any of the limited confidence
that I have when it is just, me in the family room at home. I was
very, content to drink and be in awe of these friends that COULD PLAY
GUITAR.

Even if I had remained sober I don't think I'd have been able to
remember what I was seeing them do.

At this point believe that I have a concept of Scales, (step, step,
step, half step, step, step); I think! I got as far as the E Major
Open scale, so far. Chords that I can play are: G, G7, C, C7, Cm, F,
A, A7,
Am, B7, D, D7, Dm, E, E7, Em. I am working on Barre Chords: E, E7, A
and
A7 shapes. I am also, working on some 2 string shuffles.

With all of these Tools that I have I still, have not played any
Familiar, songs; I pretty much, play progressions with what I know and
what sounds interesting to me, (thinking that I am at least, working
on
my speed, accuracy, muscle memory and timing), believing that I will
eventually, 'get it', (to be able to 'get' how to play a song from Tab
and Sheet music of songs that I'd really, like to play).

At this point, I have to admit, bashfully, that I realize that I am
lazy when it comes to trying to learn songs and to advance from where
I
am. I do not use the "Tascam" 'Trainer' or listen to cds of music I'd
like to play, and try to match what I am hearing, or try to get the
rhythms to a Tab; I just, don't seem to 'get it' when I have tried. I
still, pick up the 'Guitar Method' occasionally, and play notes and
chords from there, play some of the sheet music that I have; (so, I
guess that I can play a song or two, not exactly, what I'd really,
enjoy playing, though).

I imagine that if anyone is still, reading this, they've left by now;
"Hell, he ain't even, trying, he's gotta help himself, first!"

I have lately, been constantly, thinking that I would like to have an
electric guitar also, to play; ('play' .... I use that loosely). I
have been wearing out the pages of my "Musician's Friend" catalog,
looking at 'American Deluxe Strats', (or do I want a
'Tele'?),'Highway 1', SCN pickups, Humbuckers, S1 Switching, 'VG
Strat', ..... that "Gibson" 'Robot' sure, looked like fun! ..... 'Les
Paul'? ..... Garcia played a cool, looking 'SG', ... hmmmm...
"Taylor" makes an eclectic
solid body, now ...... I Do know that I DO want an American made ....
argggg; (scream!!!!!!)

This would cost me a good buck, I am very, hesitant to rush into this.
"Do I think it will have magic strings and I will suddenly, begin to
advance at a great pace?" "Just, put that catalog away and quit
thinking electric; concentrate on learning all you can on the
"Taylor"; you got a long way to go before thinking electric!" ....
"arrgggg!!!!!; (scream!!!!!!)

Ok. I'm better. I'm once again getting a hold of the reality ... whew!
Thanks for the opportunity to express this to someone ...... or then,
again, maybe, to no one

...... either way, I got it off my chest.

Just, before getting set to post this, I have suddenly, begun hearing
a song lyric ...... "Don't ask me what I think of you .. I might, not
give the answer that you want me to." ..... uh, oh ....

... oh, well,back to keeping my finger tips callused ..... just, in
case. - - MikeyG

Although Ed suggested it in his post, I'll reinforce it. You mentioned
you have a handful of friends who play. Is there one of them that you
might feel comfortable with on a one-on-one basis? If so, I think one
of the best things you could do is to get him to help you out, start
trying to play some simple stuff together, etc. The teacher route is
another possibility, but if you're like me, you'll get more out of a
less formal setting. There's less pressure -- and that seems like one
of the things that's kept you from going further.


I don't want to come across any more pitiful than I may have already, made myself out to be, but I should have gave a bit more detail of these friends of mine that play. Actually, they are more acquaintances, friends of friends, we are not that close of acquaintances. One is a brother of a friend living in Montana, (was home for New Year's Eve), two are friends of friends and my brother in law, living in Indiana. It would be ideal to have a close friend that played, had time and was near by. I am sure that would be the ideal environment for me; I am sure I would be uncomfortable with an instructor I never knew from adam. It's awful scary attempting to play what little I do know outside of the 'closet'.
I have to force myself to face it that I have to just, quit trying to find the easy way out; thinking and talking about wanting to learn how to play, and thinking that getting an electric would suddenly improve my learning curve, ain't gonna get it. I need to shut my mouth, turn off the TV, and get into those books and dvds and cds with a passion and learn on the Taylor that I have.
I feel like this dialog is giving me some motivation. Its interesting to hear what other players have to say.
.

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