I did a google search and didn’t realize how many people after the age of 40 are actually interested in learning how to play guitar. Personally even though i’ve been playing guitar since I was around 13 years old. Being 46 I still am taking advantage of taking online courses to further my guitar playing.
This blog post is more of a perspective to help you decide if this is something you actually have time in your life to do. I mean I get it, once we hit 40 years old we have a different perspective on life in general.
Growing up I knew a lot of kids who wanted to play guitar and many of them actually had their parents go out and buy them gear. But the truth is a good percentage of those people only took a liken to guitars because they thought it would help them be more cool.
We being Generation X still had a difficult time as children trying to learn instruments. Today it is flipping easy. In fact when I see young folks who are struggling to learn I sort of roll my eyes because today’s kids have easy access to online tutorials, online tab these are things we didn’t have.
We just had a radio and our ears to guide us most of the time. Sure we occasionally where able to buy music books, assuming our parents even cared enough to splurge on us. So because of all this I can totally understand why now in our 40’s we are considering taking time out to do something like learn an instrument.
Is It Too Late To Learn Guitar?
The short answer is it’s never too late to do anything you really want to do.
Being in your 40’s only really means you have the patience to actually sit down and learn. Imagine how far your skillset could be in even 5 years of playing.
So a good time to start playing is whenever you are ready to start playing. Heck you can be 80 and decide you want to play guitar. It doesn’t matter when you start. Just know that starting will most likely enhance the quality of your life as you age.
One of the best arguments for when it comes too if you should start learning guitar after 40 is simply this: It’s good for the brain the way push ups and sit ups are good for the body.
Our brains need to keep exercising as we get older. Or as the saying goes if you don’t use it, you lose it.
…Also,
playing music is good for relieving stress as well as your heart. There has been a bazillion studies showing how studying and playing an instrument can have positive effects for person.
How Hard Is It To Learn How To Play Guitar After 40
So you can learn 3 chords in literally 30 minutes or less. There are hundreds if not thousands of songs that are only 3 chords. So the answer to this question is it’s as hard or it’s as easy as you want it to be. It literally can take a lifetime to master the guitar and even many master guitar players will tell you they have more to learn.
With that said, there is so much free education online that you should quickly be able to pick up a guitar and be able to play a tune within 2 hours tops. Of course that’s just a start, seriously though, it’s not that hard to get started. My only advice to you is you are over 40. You don’t have to go out and buy yourself a $3000 Martin Acoustic or $2000 Fender Stratocaster. You can get a decent starter guitar for under $400.
So what are you waiting for? Go out and start playing the guitar.