ok, so i'm 41, and i REALLY want to learn to play the geetar.

problem 1 is i'm left handed. do i need a special guitar or can i string a regular one differently?

now, really, can i teach myself using a how to guide/video/dvd? if so what is (are) the best. i got money to burn (hear that ladies?) and i am willing to practice, practice, practice. i'm tired of seeing the ugly guys get the chicks because they can play FREE BIRD.

i have been inspired by LINDSEY BUCKINGHAM, JOHN DENVER, some guy named STEVIE RAY...

so seriously, is it possible to teach yourself to a level where you are considered capable or must one be humbled before the master, practicing in the cold for hours and getting beaten with cane rods when you miss a note to acheive perfection....no wait, that was KUNG FU...

so please help me. i want the blues. i want to suffer for my art. i want to be included in the elite fraternity of musicians. but mostly i want chicks.

Saint Dan, you are never too old to learn to play an instrument. I was 37 when I started learning to play the organ and I've just passed grade 7 with honours. There are left handed guitars for sale. Reversing the strings of a right handed one is not enough, the other parts have to be reversed as well. You could learn to play yourself but I would recommend finding a good teacher, that way you will learn things in the correct order. Good luck, keep us posted.

My son is left handed and he taught himself how to play the guitar. Practice- Practice- Practice! I bought him a basic Abilene acoustic guitar kit. He's getting pretty good at it.

KK sells guitars or knows others that do. He even used to have a guitar forum. (he may still have it) Send him an email and let him know what you are interested in. He should be able to guide you in the right direction. I think a basic acoustic guitar is good for starters.

P.S. You are right. Men that play the guitar ARE hot!

I’ve been playing for over 30 years. My advice for what it’s worth:

First of all, you’re not too old. In fact, maturity tends to develop patience and discipline; good qualities for learning something new.

I wouldn’t give a second thought to being left handed nor would I seek out a left-handed guitar. When you begin to learn you will be teaching your left hand to do one thing (fingering the notes and chords) and your right hand something entirely different (plucking the strings either with a pick or your fingers). In fact, in the beginning it is learning to make smooth chord changes (left hand) that is the real challenge and since your left hand is “smarter” than your right you may actually have an easier time of it. I am so right-handed that it’s ridiculous. I can’t do anything left-handed. Writing with my left hand looks like something written by a first-grader. The only intricate, coordinated thing I can do with my left hand is play the guitar. Why? Because when I set out to learn it never occurred to me to do it any other way. The left hand does one thing, the right another, and both hands have to “learn a new trick”. Plus, if you become proficient and get hooked on it you’ll want nicer and more expensive instruments. If you’re stuck on a left-handed guitar chances are you’ll have to special order and pay full retail, and try selling or trading a second hand left-handed guitar. Frankly, it’s a pain in the ass.

Is it possible to teach yourself? Yes. Some people are very adept at learning certain things on their own. I am mostly self-taught. However, as I wanted to learn more advanced pieces and learn to play with other musicians I quickly realized that I needed some formal training. If I had to do it over again, I would have learned (as Jenny recommended) “by the numbers” with an instructor first; learning theory first rather than later. One of the really neat things about guitar is the advent of tablature (Google: guitar tablature). Tab is basically a diagram of the fingerings done in such a way that you don’t need to be able to read a lick of music to learn the song if you already know it. The down side is that if you are playing with a band and someone suggests changing keys, you’re screwed because you don’t understand the theory and only know how to play the song in the key in which you learned it through tab. Take lessons.

You wanna play the blues like Stevie? Muddy Waters invented electricity baby! If that is the kind of music you want to learn, buy an electric guitar. If you start out with an acoustic when what you really want is the electric sound you’ll quickly become disenchanted. Don’t go too cheap. You get what you pay for. A decent beginner’s guitar will run $300 to $500 (remember, you wanted to suffer). And you can get a decent practice amp for around $200 that will produce the sound you want, just not at high volume. But that’s okay. In the beginning you’re just playing for yourself. When you go to the guitar shop, tell the salesperson what you’re after but don’t let them sell you something you don’t want. And shop around. Some places just want to sell you a guitar. Others really care whether you’re happy with it. You can tell the difference.

When you go into the guitar shop and start looking ask if they have someone who can “set the guitar up for me”. What you’re asking is whether there is someone on staff that can adjust the guitar, particularly the distance from the strings to the neck depending on the type and gauge (thickness) of strings. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. The distance from the strings to the fret board and gauge of string = how hard you have to press on the string (with the left hand) to achieve a clear tone. A guitar that is well set up for you will make learning pleasurable (well, maybe more tolerable). A guitar that is poorly set up will leave you hating the damn thing within a week. The difference is night and day and can make all the difference in whether you stick with it and enjoy it. It is really important that the guitar fit you to the extent possible.

And, yeah, chicks dig it. My wife loves to hear me play (or at least she says so). Music is an expression of emotion. Nothing wrong with that.

Hope I’ve been of some help. If you have more questions, fire away. I’ll do my best to help you and I’m sure there are others here (K.K.) who can be of even more assistance.


Best wishes,
Mike

Dan, may I add that the first two weeks or so will be the most frustrating.

When attempting your first chord formation, and once you have all the right fingers in all the right places, you may strum the guitar and get - YUK! - some strange mix of muted, buzzing and other odd sounds. Attempting to correct this, you may apply some vise-like pressure that turns your knuckles white, rips your fingertips apart, etc...and once you have "mastered" this inefective technique, you will find that switching between chords is painstakingly slow. Simply work your way through this until your fingers develop some memory, the pressure applied is light, your fingertips begin to callous and heal, and the transitions become seamless. More players quit out of frustration in the first two weeks than at any other time.