| My next door neighbor had a decorating & | | | | - practice and learn. Figure out how to play some |
| catering business that she ran out of her home | | | | of your favorite songs. As Nike would say, "just |
| for years. Her husband had their garage closed in | | | | do it". |
| and that became her office/warehouse/meeting | | | | Here Are 7 Things You Should Do To Get |
| area. She worked hard and kept a clear vision in | | | | Started On The Guitar: |
| her mind the whole time. One day she would open | | | | 1. Most towns have a local music store. Pay them |
| a store front with a gift department, a floral | | | | a visit and explain your goals and budget range |
| department, and a catering department. | | | | for your first guitar. Put some guitars in your |
| In her travels around town she always kept her | | | | hands and see how they feel. They are all |
| eyes the real estate market, always looking for | | | | different, so the main thing is to find what is |
| that perfect property that matched the dream in | | | | most comfortable for you. |
| her mind. | | | | 2. While at the music store, ask about their lesson |
| One day she found it. The place she had | | | | program. See if you can meet some of the |
| envisioned. It would need some work to get it to | | | | instructors and determine if you could develop a |
| where she wanted it to be, but hard work was | | | | rapport with one of them. |
| nothing new to her. | | | | 3. If private lessons are cost prohibitive, ask |
| She bought the property and spent the next | | | | about books or videos the store may have to |
| several months working tirelessly getting it ready. | | | | help you get started. Again, it's all about what you |
| Scrubbing, painting, landscaping, overseeing | | | | are most comfortable with. Some people prefer a |
| contractors, paying attention to the smallest of | | | | book over a video, or visa versa. |
| details. Finally, the day came when everything was | | | | 4. Look around online, there are a number of |
| in place and the doors were opened to the public. | | | | good courses out there that won't break the |
| The business was a hit and took off. she hired | | | | bank. Understandably, I am a little partial to our |
| more employees, increased her inventory, and | | | | lessons program at AdultGuitarLessons.com, |
| her profits. She continued to work 6 or 7 days a | | | | because we have developed the lessons course |
| week, loving every minute of it. She still does. Not | | | | specifically for the beginning adult guitar student - |
| bad for someone who went out on a limb and | | | | aspiring guitarists with "real life" experience under |
| opened a new business at the age of 68! | | | | their belt. |
| We all know people like this, the ones who didn't | | | | 5. Once you do start playing guitar it's important |
| get the "memo" that, at age 65 it's time to collect | | | | to remember that it will not happen overnight. No |
| the gold watch and head out to pasture. | | | | one comes out of the womb "knowing" how to |
| Are You Too Old to Start Playing Guitar? | | | | play. It is an acquired skill that takes time to |
| If you "think" you are, then the answer is | | | | develop. |
| probably "yes". You may have had the dream to | | | | 6. If your fingers feel like they are moving slow, |
| pick up the guitar at a younger age, but got side | | | | don't automatically attribute it to age. Anyone and |
| tracked. Life has a funny way of getting in the | | | | everyone who first picks up a guitar experiences |
| way of such dreams. Raising a family, climbing the | | | | the same thing. You are trying to train your |
| corporate ladder, starting a home, building up the | | | | fingers to do things they have never done before! |
| IRA. Priorities change and the creative side of us | | | | It's understandable that they might "put up a |
| gets put on the back burner. | | | | fight". |
| But sitting there on the back burner, our dream | | | | 7. The key to the whole process is a combination |
| continues to simmer, and one day we wake up to | | | | of patience and persistence. You should take a |
| the realization that we only get one shot at our | | | | long term view of learning guitar and be patient |
| journey on this earth. That this is not a "rehearsal" | | | | with yourself, taking it slow in the beginning. You |
| for the real one. This "is" the real one and if we | | | | should also be persistent, knowing that it will |
| are ever going to do it, we just have to "do it". | | | | require some effort and practice to learn how to |
| This applies to any pursuit that we have only | | | | master techniques and concepts on the guitar. |
| dreamed about. Whether it's playing a musical | | | | Most of all, if you have had the dream or desire |
| instrument, learning to paint, writing a novel or | | | | to learn how to play the guitar, why not make it |
| starting a new business. The only way to quench | | | | happen today? There is no reason to put it off |
| that thirst is to jump in head first. The best time | | | | any longer. Some may consider playing guitar to |
| to start is now! | | | | be a luxury and not a necessity, and keep putting |
| Maybe you wanted to play guitar in your youth | | | | it off until the "time is right". But the truth is, if we |
| but just "never got around to it". You may have | | | | wait for the "right time", it often never comes. |
| even played guitar for a while in college but had | | | | And take it from an old guitar player - playing |
| to give it up for a "real" job. You might have | | | | guitar is not a luxury once you learn how, for me |
| wanted to take up the guitar as a hobby but in | | | | it is as important as breathing! |
| between raising a family and building a career, | | | | So don't wait another minute - no matter what |
| never found the time. | | | | your age, go get a guitar, get some lessons, and |
| If playing the guitar is an un-quenched passion of | | | | get going! |
| yours then it may be time to make it happen. | | | | Please do not hesitate to contact me with any |
| You might be apprehensive as to where to begin. | | | | questions! |
| Start by buying a guitar! Next, take some lessons | | | | |