Mid-Life Crisis - I Want to Play Guitar

[sean-newby]

To All:

I want to learn how to play a guitar.

I want to be able to play songs around the campfire.

I would like some helpful information for the purchase of a guitar, instructional books and accoutrements. I do not know anything, so any information would be helpful. I am a working-man, so value is key. I need any and all equipment to be good enough to last a few years and sound good enough for all to enjoy.

 

Thank you for the help.

 

Sean

[MattSkibaIsGOD]

First, welcome to the forum. Second, how much do you want to spend? It'll be easier for us to suggest some options if we know your price range.

[totamus]

Songs around a campfire takes a singing voice, a playable guitar, and some basic chords. You would do well with a yamaha, an alvarez, a crafter, a johnson or any other decent asian import with a solid top. If you buy from a local store, get them to throw in a set up, it will make the guitar easier to play. Budget $200 - $400 for the guitar. Next you need to learn how to play. Homespun tapes have an excellent reputation. I suspect this one: http://www.homespuntapes.com/prodpg/prodpg.asp?prodID=809&prodType=

is quite good, but I have to admit I have not seen the course. It is taught by Happy Traum, who is the founder of Homespun, so you will probably do fine.

 

Then just practice and blisters!

 

Good luck!

[guitarist21]

I do not know anything, so any information would be helpful. I am a working-man, so value is key. I need any and all equipment to be good enough to last a few years and sound good enough for all to enjoy.

 

This is a terrific mid-life crisis! Way more rewarding, IMO, than cars (the mid-life crisis of a dear friend) or tattoos (the mid-life crisis of my mom)(don't tell her I told you).

 

Guitars are made of wood (well most of them are anyway) and there's two big things to look at there: solid and laminate. Both have their pros and cons. Solid wood tends to sound better than laminate with age (*puts on lion-retardant suit*), but it is also more fragile and expensive. Laminate wood is a lot cheaper and will withstand changes in humidity but you might be sacrificing some sound.

 

Some laminate guitars sound great. Its all about what sounds good to YOU. I have a couple laminates that I love- those are the guitars I can take to the beach/throw in the back of my car and not worry about. If you plan on taking this guitar outside a lot, I'd recommend staying with laminate woods.

 

From here on out, it depends on your price range. There are plenty of great guitars that will last you a good long time and sound great (both solid wood AND laminate wood) for under $500, so don't think you have to spend more than that to get a decent instrument. Brands like Seagull, Simon and Patrick, Yamaha, Parkwood, Epiphone Masterbilt, and Washburn (this list could keep going, I'm sure others will chime in) all make excellent guitars that are very affordable.

 

So... what's your price range?

 

Ellen

[drnihili]

If you were serious about the campfire, you might want to consider a laminate top instead of solid. Although solid tops typically have better tone, laminates are more resistant to extremes of temperature and climate. And besides singing around the campfire doesn't require immaculate tone - the nuances of the guitars tones tend to get drowned out or overshadowed by other things.

 

In that case, I think Yamaha is widely though to put out some of the best laminate tops available. I'm sure someone will chime in with a model number, I don't know the lineup that well.

[ESL94]

Awesome! Great! All you really need is like three chords! We're going to need a price range. I recommend looking around/asking friends for a good guitar teacher. Having a good teacher is the best thing you can possibly do for your developing guitar skills. You'll get a whole lot better a whole lot faster than you would on your own. This is a terrific mid-life crisis! Way more rewarding, IMO, than cars (the mid-life crisis of a dear friend) or tattoos (the mid-life crisis of my mom)(don't tell her I told you). Guitars are made of wood (well most of them are anyway) and there's two big things to look at there: solid and laminate. Both have their pros and cons. Solid wood tends to sound better than laminate with age (*puts on lion-retardant suit*), but it is also more fragile and expensive. Laminate wood is a lot cheaper and will withstand changes in humidity but you might be sacrificing some sound. Some laminate guitars sound great. Its all about what sounds good to YOU. I have a couple laminates that I love- those are the guitars I can take to the beach/throw in the back of my car and not worry about. If you plan on taking this guitar outside a lot, I'd recommend staying with laminate woods. From here on out, it depends on your price range. There are plenty of great guitars that will last you a good long time and sound great (both solid wood AND laminate wood) for under $500, so don't think you have to spend more than that to get a decent instrument. Brands like Seagull, Simon and Patrick, Yamaha, Parkwood, Epiphone Masterbilt, and Washburn (this list could keep going, I'm sure others will chime in) all make excellent guitars that are very affordable. So... what's your price range? Ellen

+1
(which means I agree too, if you didn't already know)

Welcome sean,
Before you know it you will be making music.

[mole2]

Awesome! Great! All you really need is like three chords! We're going to need a price range. I recommend looking around/asking friends for a good guitar teacher. Having a good teacher is the best thing you can possibly do for your developing guitar skills. You'll get a whole lot better a whole lot faster than you would on your own. This is a terrific mid-life crisis! Way more rewarding, IMO, than cars (the mid-life crisis of a dear friend) or tattoos (the mid-life crisis of my mom)(don't tell her I told you). Guitars are made of wood (well most of them are anyway) and there's two big things to look at there: solid and laminate. Both have their pros and cons. Solid wood tends to sound better than laminate with age (*puts on lion-retardant suit*), but it is also more fragile and expensive. Laminate wood is a lot cheaper and will withstand changes in humidity but you might be sacrificing some sound. Some laminate guitars sound great. Its all about what sounds good to YOU. I have a couple laminates that I love- those are the guitars I can take to the beach/throw in the back of my car and not worry about. If you plan on taking this guitar outside a lot, I'd recommend staying with laminate woods. From here on out, it depends on your price range. There are plenty of great guitars that will last you a good long time and sound great (both solid wood AND laminate wood) for under $500, so don't think you have to spend more than that to get a decent instrument. Brands like Seagull, Simon and Patrick, Yamaha, Parkwood, Epiphone Masterbilt, and Washburn (this list could keep going, I'm sure others will chime in) all make excellent guitars that are very affordable. So... what's your price range? Ellen

+1 on this advice. In addition check out the information in another recent new player thread here: First Guitar Ideas Under $400.

And remember....have fun!

[zenbu]

I started at 41 so I feel your...urge. I got so fed up of the radio over here that I disconnected the tuner of the stereo 11 + years ago and haven`t listened to it since. At that time there were tons of web sites with all kinds of great info on the basics, and many with printable tablature to lots of songs. In my case I always sang along to the radio ever since I can remember and when I got my first guitar...and don`t for an instant think you`re gonna stop at one if you hangout here...I was quite surprised to see how many of my favorites were pretty basic chords, `course I printed out a lot of stuff that was and, in may cases, still is way above my head...but I`m glad I did because unfortunatley, many of those sites were threatened by legal action and forced to close down. Music is a lifelong learning process and in my opinion it`s never too late to start...I`ve been painting and drawing for 37 years and theres still so much to learn, music is the same way but man I`m having a ball...and have I mentioned my guitar collection yet?
So...if you have a friend who plays bring em along when you go guitar shopping, an experienced opinion is invaluable but ultimately you`ll have to find the one you like so...TAKE YOUR TIME...very important, I suggest you buy used, you often get more guitar for the same money a new one would cost, there are a lot of body shapes, neck sizes and shapes and woods to choose from. then theres nylon or steel strings... plus of course...bridge pins and non bridge pins...a never endiong debate here.
So once you get your axe, we`ll help you with web sites to get you started.
Remeber...have fun...it`s the most important thing.

[zenbu]

OH forgot...playing Stairway to Heaven in guitar stores is illegal in most countries now.

[Misha]

 

OH forgot...playing Stairway to Heaven in guitar stores is illegal in most countries now.

 

 

LOL

 

- Welcome sean-newby!

 

Lots of good suggestions here! I agree with what MattSkibaIsGOD asked: what is your price range???

 

... Because for a "Mid-Life Crisis" I would buy the best guitar I could afford, (well, between limits... but a very good guitar!) personally!!

[spruce goose]

OH forgot...playing Stairway to Heaven in guitar stores is illegal in most countries now.

 

You can still play sweet child o' mine, though (as long as you play each note separately, and miss a couple of them every round).

 

[yeah I've been to sam ash the other day]

[zenbu]

and you know...you don`t have to spend a bundle for a good guitar...and I know what I`m talkin` about Willis `cause I own several that cost me far less than $100.oo...don`t make me post pics!

[VintageToneGuy]

welcome to the Forum and the world of making music. That's the same enthusiasm I started with; but instead of sitting around the campfire, I wanted to sit on the front porch and play like Andy Griffith! I began that way and it lasted for about one year then I got sidetracked in the world of electric's and trying to be a JukeBoxHero for the next 8 years. I think I finally got a handle on this and have gotten back to the reason I wanted to play to start with.

A word of advice from someone who spent alot of money: Buy a decent, playable guitar to start with and then be happy with it and never sell it. After you learn the chords and consider yourself a 'player' then buy a better instrument if you want. Don't get on the 'Guitar-Go-Round' like I did because it'll rob you of all the joy of playing which is keeping it simple.

That said; there's alot of good advice above. I like Alvarez guitars and if you can find a shop that sells what Alvarez calls "Almost Perfect" Alvarez's you can get a very nice instrument for the price of a entry level guitar.

I know your gonna ask 'What's a Almost Perfect Alvarez" so I'll go ahead and answer. Alvarez has a very good, strict quality control dept. When their inspectors find a flaw somewhere in the finish (never a major flaw) they brand it as 'Almost Perfect' and they allow some dealers to carry them. Dealers like "Music-go-Round" in my area. A guitar that might cost $700 or $800 new is marked down to about $400 or $500 because of the flaw.

Take someone with you who is a player when you buy and let them help you to find a playable guitar.

vtg

[Samilyn]

Welcome to HCAG, Sean.

You've already gotten some good advice in the above posts, so I have little to add.

I usually recommend the Yamaha FG700 guitar to a new player. Priced around $200, it's a lot of guitar for the buck - nice sound and very sturdy.

To learn to play, there are some good books out there. The Hal Leonard guitar method is a good one. There is also a Hal Leonard "Fast Track" book that will have you playing easy chords and songs in a very short time. The Fast Track book comes with a CD.

Mel Bay puts out some good learning materials, too. The "You can teach yourself...." series comes with a book, CD and/or DVD. I like using a DVD along with a book for visual reinforcement.

Don't be shy about asking us any questions you may have. We'll do our best to answer them.

Have fun shopping for a guitar and learning materials. Once you've done that, the real fun starts - playing guitar!

[rjoxyz]

Well, I guess it's better than a Corvette and a young girlfriend (but only if you are married)!

Welcome. I concur with the above advice. If you have a more experienced friend, ask them to assist you in selecting a guitar, etc. If not, you found the right place for such help. Happy hunting!

[MrOuch]

Welcome. I am 51 years old and started playing 2 years ago during my mid-life crisis. One of the best things I've ever done! I teach school and playing guitar helps me relax. If I've had a good day, I come home and play something soothing and mellow. If I've had a bad day, I start doing windmills like Pete Townsend!

I agree with all the wisdom you have already received here. Very good advice from all. Good luck.

[daklander]

I think you should quit while you're ahead.

 

Just read some of the gear and GAS threads and you'll soon see how much money you'll save.

 

 

 

 

Really, welcome to the forum and a great new experience.

You already have all the great advice you'll need but I will agree with VintageToneGuy in his advice about buying one good guitar and sticking with it. For the use you are proposing, that will do you for a long time.

[TrwrPwr]

Welcome to the old folks club! I'm 46 and started to learn guitar a little over a year ago. My acoustic is a Seagull Original S6. I'm learning fingerstyle.

[BlackHatHunter]

To All: I want to learn how to play a guitar. I want to be able to play songs around the campfire. I would like some helpful information for the purchase of a guitar, instructional books and accoutrements. I do not know anything, so any information would be helpful. I am a working-man, so value is key. I need any and all equipment to be good enough to last a few years and sound good enough for all to enjoy. Thank you for the help. Sean

1. Welcome!
2. Your story is the one I hear the most on my site from people who watch my videos...
3. ... at www.ThreeChordGuitar.com

[Steadfastly]

Sean: I'm another older starter, about three years ago, had to stop for a couple years due to a 3-piece bread in my shoulder and nerve damage common for that type of injury but I'm back now. You don't need to buy new. There are some good deals to be had on t he web, pawn shops snd even some of the guitar shops. You could start with a guitar and a digital tuner for around $100-200.00 depending on the quality of the guitar and the deal you get. Let us know how you get on.

[Steadfastly]

1. Welcome! 2. Your story is the one I hear the most on my site from people who watch my videos... 3. ... at www.ThreeChordGuitar.com

Great little site! And your singing is not as bad as you make it out to be.

[PoppyPoo]

While we wait on your response, I just want to say: Do it!!!

[Broadus]

Another welcome, Sean. I'm another mid-lifer who took up guitar about six months ago.

 

I have another take on buying your first guitar. While I respect what others are saying about getting a nice guitar that you'll enjoy for years, if you're like me, you may have trouble deciding what sound you really want.

 

This is my suggestion. Buy a good, fairly inexpensive guitar to start with, something like the Yamaha FG700S, the Alvarez RD20S (or the smaller, folk-style RF20SM), or an Art & Lutherie dreadnought or folk. All of these can be had for under $250. Or, if you can find one, check out the new Simon & Patrick Songsmith dread or folk, street-priced @ $299.

 

Learn to play on one of these. They all will produce a good sound and are don't cost so much that you'll be afraid of harming them around the proverbial campfire.

 

Then, after you develop an ear for what you want, buy a nicer guitar. You'll keep your original as your "beater," but you'll have the nicer one to play in the comfort of your house or play for others on special occasions.

 

As far as instructional material, I also like DVD's. I think Happy Tram's series mentioned above by totamus would be a good way to start. David Hamburger's Acoustic Guitar Method, also by Homespun, can be bought for less than $20 including shipping from bestbuy.com.

 

Re-read Ellen's advice.

 

And hang around this place. Ask anything and everything--lots of good advice on this forum. Enjoy your new adventure, and hang with it! Don't be discouraged if the progress is slow. You'll be amazed at your growth if you just keep at it.

 

Bill

[Coastalbee]

Welcome, Sean. I'm another old person who took up guitar - at 55. Two years ago I got an Epiphone DR laminate top for a Christmas present. That's a pretty cheap guitar, but it sounds not bad at all. Took two months to figure out where to start. Took another two months to get over the sore, sore fingertips, and another two before my rather short and mildly arthritic fingers realized they could indeed stretch over three frets.

By then I was addicted. I thought if I just learned three major chords... but then I found I really liked all those minor chords... then I found out there's no stoppping once the learning process kicks in. I've actually sung in public a few times now (locally and for free, of course!).

Definitely get yourself an electronic tuner, and don't be frightened the first time you change your own strings - you'll need a string winder (cheap little essential) and a wire cutter for that (although, in a pinch, a pair of old scissors or the dog's nailclipper will fill that bill).

Above all, have fun with it, and don't be discouraged if your significant other flees the room for the first few months of practice - they'll come around eventually.

I'll add that a teacher would likely have helped me a lot, but I live in the back of beyond, so it wasn't practical. And my biggest personal issue was The Flat Pick. It seriously slowed me down until I threw it into the guitar case and just used my fingers. You may have no problem at all using a pick, and you likely should, but it needn't make you give up in despair if it seems awkward. I'm now beginning to learn to use a pick a little, but I prefer bare fingers.

The people in this forum will help all they can - they're marvellous - and most are very accomplished guitarists. I also recommend cruising through lots of old threads, as there's a wealth of information stored there on guitars, strings, tuners, capos (get one, I say), tunings - anything you could possibly want to know about.

[Samilyn]

I'm old, too. I came back to git after 20-something years and for the life of me, can't figure out why I turned my back on it for so long. Now I know I'll keep picking until I drop dead.

 

The mid-life thing? For me it was selling one of the race cars, not buying one.