Soo.. guitarists out there, help me!

[Im A Cuttlefish]

Well, the story is that I have asked my parents for a guitar for christmas, because i'd liek to learn to play one and get pretty good at it.

But the problem is i'm 17, and i've been told by a fair few people that I should've learnt earlier and things to that effect.

So to the guitarists out there, is it ever too late? Would I actually be able to get properly good at it within a reasonable time scale, or would I just fail?

Note: time is not an issue here, if it took it I would practice for 5 horus a day and such, so it's more "because of my age, am I prohibited from ever being decent" if you understand me. And when I say decent, I mean good enough to be in a band (not one like Dream Theater, because they're unholy).

Anyway, thanks for any replies/ help towards this.

 

[curlycrouton]

It's never too late.
A great starter guitar is, of course, the Fender Squire Stratocaster. Buy it.

It takes a lot of practice and hard work to learn the guitar, and you'll need to find yourself a good teacher (teaching yourself hardly ever works out). There's a lot of theory involved, which seems to be surprising to those with "rock star" dreams. You will need to learn scales, and although tab is a perfectly acceptable subsitute, and probably essential for a guitarist, reading music as well will help a lot.
It'll probably take about 4 to 5 years to get to a good standard, but good luck with your guitar playing.

If you're in the South-East England area, by the way, me and a couple of friends run a jam session at a local school on saturday mornings. Guitarists, pianists (well, keyboard players) and drummers all come along, we play some tunes together, and teach the less able people how to play their instruments better.

 

[perfectimo]

Would you like to be a lead guitarist or a rhythm guitarist?

 

[Blair Bennett]

I have been playing guitar for a quite a few years now, considering my age, and though starting at a young age certainly helps, there is, by no stretch of the imagination at time when you are "too old" to learn how to play an instrument. I have a friend who ended up joining a band (he was the guitarist/lead vocalist) that eventually released an album. He started playing guitar at maybe 15-16 (I think) and he's a hell of a lot better than me. If you were to practice for 5 hours a day, I would have to say that you have too much free time. However, you wouldn't have to listen to me because you'd be kicking my ass all the way up the neck of the guitar. You are, under no circumstances, restricted because of your age. In fact, you may find it easier because of your age. This is simply because, if you start as a little kid (I was about 6 when I first started playing) you inevitably get to that point where it's just not fun anymore (which I thankfully grew out of relatively quickly) and it's a mental battle as to whether or not you actually want to continue on with it (I am glad I did).

All in all, I highly recommend that you learn to play the guitar. It's an amazing instrument, and it's just so Goddamn impressive when you can really play it well. It's a hell of a lot of fun to play as well. I highly suggest that you hire someone to teach you the basics of structure, posture, fretting, and possibly even a little bit of theory as you are just starting out, though (by no means does this have to continue for long, but it helps you out considerably later on).

 

[Not Good]

It's never too late.

Simple as that.

Pertaining to starting guitars an acoustic is my suggestion on the grounds that 1: it's cheap, 2: Acoustics usually have higher gauge strings to help learn chords and 3: You can bring it anywhere and look cool plus your not tethered to an amp.

If you plan on buying an electric later, buy quality and buy used.

 

[Caliostro]

Never, ever, EVER, too late. As curlycrouton said.


Obviously the earlier you start the easier it is, but you can always learn. I'm 21 and I'm just starting to actually learn to play music So join the group.

 

[jim_doki]

I started playing at 16, and I can tell you that i'm decent enough to impress people at partys. i've been playing for nearly 8 years now, and I love it. age should never be a factor when it comes to starting an instrument.

incidentally, dont go too shitty. there are lots of good guitars out there that don't cost a fortune. Ibanez, Yamaha, Epiphone, Cort, all really good guitars at REALLY good prices

 

[sirdanrhodes]

I am 16, I started to play bass. Never too late, and you have the arm length when your older.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

A good acoustic guitar is any guitar that SOUNDS GOOD to you. Don't buy purely based on brands unless you want to collect guitars. And DON'T buy a guitar that's never been played by you/someone who knows guitars (and doesn't work at the store.) I vote against buying online for this reason.

I don't remember what brand my current guitar is, I just picked it up, played it and fell in love with the deep, rich tone. Ovation guitars as a general rule sound pretty good, and I like the looks of them, but I REALLY love the sound of my current guitar. It wasn't some Wal-Mart kinda deal, but the guitar wasn't a Gibson, either. In fact, it was pretty cheap.

So, basically what I'm saying is that your first guitar shouldn't be too expensive, but should provide you with a sound you love and a look you can live with. I've seen some awesome-looking guitars that sounded terrible (some being afflicted with an annoying "buzzing" noise hanging on the end of every note/chord played. It might have been the strings, but I had the problem with both steel and nylon strings, so I don't think so. Anyway, don't get cruddy guitars.)

 

[Labyrinth]

Start as soon as you can. I've been playing my violin for 8 years, and I picked up a guitar a few months ago. It's not too difficult to get into with a bit of time on your hands.

And as Goomba said, don't buy just for brands when you're starting off, and if you do wind up collecting guitars, go for second hand when getting Ibanez or Fender. It takes about $1000 off the price straight up depending on the model.

 

[Im A Cuttlefish]

Thanks for all the replies people. I did play the accoustic for a few months when I was like 10 but I lost interest.

I already do play the drums but only now have I decided i'd like a guitar.

The problem is at the moment I can't see me choosing it, because i've asked for it for christmas my parents would choose it (luckily there is a good guitar shop near my Dad's house where I get my drum lessons, so guitar lessons aren#'t a problem i'd I should be able to get a decent guitar).

Oh, and to the guy who said I have too much time on my hands i'm at college, and get home for about 4 or 5pm and it's 11 before I go to bed, and there's not much to occupy me. When i say 5 hours I obsiouly wouldn't be able to do it for that long in one session, but I just meant it as I have commitment to it and the time to play it a fair bit.

 

[Syntax Error]

The only thing needed in learning an instrument is dedication. And lots of it. I now regret not continuing my piano lessons during my childhood.

 

[Maet]

It's never too late.

Actually, the "too late" mark is somewhere around the 25-30 year old area. There's a point where your brain isn't able to efficiently process new faculties and skills. That's why adults often have a greater difficulty learning new skills than young kids. That isn't to say you'll never become a perfectly competent and experienced guitarist starting late in life, but you'll never become a super mega virtuoso at your craft.

17 isn't too late. I think John Petrucci started playing seriously around that point, and he's got legions of twelve years aping him. Just go for it.

As for a first guitar, brand names aren't necessarily as important as making sure it's a standard size. If it's got six strings and stays in tune, that's all you really need. I'd stay away from steel stringed acoustics because they discourage new players with their tight action and abrasive feeling on your finger tips. After about a year into playing, start looking at a "real" guitar.

 

[Spacelord]

At 17, you'll never become a super mega virtuoso at your craft either though.

And Petrucci is hardly indicative of "super mega virtuoso."

Virtuosity is overrated. So is 'being good' - which is pretty much the worst motivation to get started with anything really, because the moment you're disappointed you get demotivated and never pick up a guitar again.

One thing that has bugged me about guitarists that are said to be 'really good' is that they're just shredders. All they really do is reproduce preset hand movements - it's a party trick. A clever one, sure. But it ain't music, and it sure as hell isn't fun to learn.

Bottom line: don't try to be 'properly good within a reasonable time', just start playing and enjoy it.

Oh, and by the way? I heard a lot of people learn to play guitar to get chicks. Don't do that, because that shit doesn't ever work.