Hey Gary you're not the only one. I'm also 36 and just started learning the guitar this summer. No mid-life crisis here. I've always loved the way the electric guitar sounded. When I got everything in line (finances etc..) I bought one and started taking lessons. My wife is very supportive, if I need or want something for it it's no problem. Keep in touch once in awhile and let me know how it's going. I'll do the same if you want. Also, ask questions here, there are lots of people and almost all of them will help however they can.

Chris :)

P.S. - Practice, practice, practice!!!

Gary,Ive got 10 years on you mate i'm 46 and have only been at it for 3 months but will get there, finding it a great learning curve and everyone is so helpful.
As long as I can eventually play along to some of Eric GOD Clapton songs I will be happy....

Hi to you all!! I just joined here .
Gary you young pups make me feel like the granddaddy here at 52 . I always wanted to learn but never made the time until now.
I got my first guitar about 3 weeks ago ,Have learned a few chords and am having a blast with it .
peace
John

Hi Gary,

I started around my 40th Birthday, (Never really picked up a guitar before that!) I've been playing for about three years now and the only regret I have is that I should have done this years ago!

Keep at it!

Tony

Ok...well, this isn't exactly the same...I have been playing guitar for a -very- long time...started when I was 4, played for a few years and quit, then picked it back up again when I was 17 (when I could afford my own electric). The reason I'm jumpin in here was it was just 4 years ago that I picked up drums :-) Now granted, having played guitar for so long I had been exposed to and occasionally got a chance to sit behind drum kits, so when I finally got a kit of my own, it really wasn't that difficult for me to learn them (and in less then 6 months I was on stage as my bands drummer! LOL!). On the other hand it's also worth noting that even when I started drums at 35, it was a terrific feeling! It brought back many of the memories (and frustrations) that I have about learning guitar. There were times (and still are) that I'd sit there and finally figure out how to play, say a specific tune, and would be filled with this incredible feeling of acomplishment and joy! I would also like to add, that for me at least, learning drums wasn't a "early midlife crisis" or a second childhood...I would have to have left my -first- childhood for that to have happened! LOL!

The point is, it's -never- too late to learn!!! I have met sooooooooooo many people over the years (of all ages) that want to learn an instrument, but always say things like "it's too late", "I'm to old", "it's too hard", etc.. Even worse I hear stuff like "yea I used to play a little guitar when I was a kid and I still have the guitar, but it's been sitting in my closet for 20 odd years"!!! This breaks my heart every time! I think the only excuse that I can really accept is "it's too expensive" LOL! Granted, you can pick up a decent electric or acoustic to learn on for around $100 (or less used) and decent used amps can be snagged for under $200, but music is a very "addictive" activity and once you become a "gear head" your hooked and your checking account will never be the same! LOL!

Anyways if anything, starting at a later age has something of a benifit...something that was touched on in another thread here on WN not too long ago. Most folks that start playing a little later in life don't usually have "stars in their eyes". They start learning and playing because -they love music and want to learn how to play-. No offence to anyone on this board, but so many "kids" pick up guitar for reasons such as "p*ssin of their folks" or "want to be a rich rock star" or "want to pick up chicks and groupies", yadda, yadda, yadda. When a person picks up an instrument in their 30's, 40's, 50's and beyond, they do it because it's something that maybe they've always wanted to do or simply may have a passion for music! As far as I'm concerned, this is a -very- wonderful thing indeed!!!

To all you "late bloomers" out there, I say GO FOR IT! Learn your chords, learn your scales,and practice, practice, practice (and remeber that practice doesn't -have- to be boring or painful...just playing tunes you like -is- practice!). My advice is to sit down with recordings of your favorite songs and your chosen instrument and figure those tunes out :-) Don't worry about whether anyone thinks your any good or or even if your playing the song correctly...just have fun and enjoy that instrument!

Bright Blessings & Gentle Breezes,
Jim

In the words of the late/great Frank Zappa, "Shut up and play your guitar!" :-)

I think you hit the nail on the head as to why it's such a great thing to re-discover the guitar or any other instrument at an older age. Usually we are pretty set in our likes/dislikes by our mid thirties and we probably have a greater appreciation of the value of consistent and regular hard work in learning a skill. Deciding to take the guitar up again for me was similar to remembering a friend I had forgotten about. Even though I quit playing for 15 years, I still continued to listen to guitarists and regularly played "air guitar in my brain" while I listened to music. I realized that I still was thinking like a guitarist, if somewhat subconsciously. When I found myself regularly browsing guitar makers websites and reading reviews about equipment I realized something was happening. I began to feel the "guitar lust" that we all experience when looking at a guitar that we would like to play and own. I finally decided to give it another go and I am very glad that I did. One of the most rewarding aspects has been to finally began to nail some difficult (for me) pieces of music that I never really expected to learn. Each new song that I learn is like a little investment that keeps paying you back in the future. Nothing can beat the feeling of accomplishment when you master something new on your instrument.

Hey Gary, A lot of good posts above. I am not exactly starting from scratch, but I am picking it up again after a long (too long) hiatus. The best part of learning an instrument is that we are all on a curve. Even the most accomplished player wants to learn something new, and a dedicated player, no matter what the age or experience, that is always learning is far ahead of the slacker that just gets by with the minimum required out of life. Every new chord, riff, progression, song, piece, etc., that you learn puts you that much further ahead. Way to go, dude!

Paul

Yo man .

You not the only one .Mid life crisis or not , who cares as long as you having a blast .Beside if thats all that happens with your midlife crisis , its harmless.I 'm 46 and started 3 years ago .No looking back , buying that first guitar was one of the best decision I took.

Hey ! even family reckons I'm getting better .They hardest to please .So that accounts for something .

Keep practicing , thats the main thing .
Wholenote is a great place to learn at your own pace , we could'nt be luckier.

Welcome to the old fart club ..Cheers ...Chantal

Obviously there are alot of us. I resumed playing 8 months ago (at age 36, after a 15 year hiatus) and it has been one of the best decisions I have made in my life. I played around with the guitar when I was in my teens but I never committed myself to practicing and did'nt have the right amount of maturity and drive to make a proper effort of it back then. There is no such thing as too late for any endeavor, whether it's taking up an instrument, going to college, etc. One of the most rewarding aspects has been that I am finally seeing real progress in my playing and I can now play some of the songs that I always wanted to play back then but never thought I had the skill to learn. If you're having a midlife crisis, then you've picked a good way to deal with it. Keep it up!

My girfriends Dad is in his 40's and he only started learning last Christmas. So you're alright there :)

Well I'm 42 and have only been back at it for 10 months. I'm loving every minute of it and am delighted with the progress I'm making.I have a fairly mentally and emotionally demanding job and this is the best thing I've found to really free my mind at the end of the day. I had previously been trying to learn songs piecemeal and am now amazed at what a huge difference it makes just learning the pentatonics, major scales, and major/minor triads. All of a sudden familiar tunes just leap out at you almost by accident. My wife is also diversifying into jewellery making and both of us are loving the change in thinking from our very rational, science based work into something more creative.
Andrew