James Clear pointed out in his book ("Atomic Habits"), that even pros struggle with the dip that boredom can cause. Getting bored (feeling stalled, reaching the plateau) is discouraging and often leads to giving up.
I had good results with a finger exerciser too. It really helped me strengthen my pinky for hammer-ons and pull-offs. To help build callouses while away from the guitar, I put staples into the finger pads of a finger exerciser that had a very low amount of resistance.
I appreciate your tips. I get free Udemy courses via my work and tried a course, still dipping in, but decided to try Justin Guitar. I’m only a couple of weeks in but I really like the structure. I added the app, bought a new guitar and see progress already. Cheers for your channel mate.
I started three weeks ago age 42 started the Justin guitar course also been using that simply guitar app to go along with it just for a bit of mixing it up and fun.
@@generalawareness101 Keep at it, I too started as an older beginner back in Feb 2016 (I was 47 at the time), perhaps these tips may help you (they helped me). 1. Ask yourself what kind of music you want to replicate (and if become good enough)/or write. 2. Find a good teacher who is easy to follow. 3. Try and study some musical theory, it will make learning songs easier to learn. 4. Once you make the decision to learn guitar, buy your self a decent guitar, don’t go crazy, but get something you want to pick and play, and enjoy playing. 5. Start off by learning to play simple songs first , if you try and learn complicated songs straight off the bat, you’ll just frustrate yourself (I’ve made this mistake in the past). 6. Don’t compare yourself to more proficient players, be the best player you can possibly be. 7.Practice effectively and daily. Good luck with it!
Dude I respect you, and it's been fun following your journey. Like you I am working with Justin, and loving his course. I used to be a gigging guitarist but lost my mojo many years ago so am learning from scratch to fill in the gaps and bad habits I gained originally. 2 things... 1.Finger exercisers are a waste of money. I never found them helpful because they feel nothing like a guitar. Any benefit they produce can be done for free by pressing your fingers against your thumb. 2. Going for lighter gauge strings not only sound rubbish, but also slow down callous production. A new guitar will typically come with a set of 9s which is the absolute minimum I would go for (I usually would recommend 10s)
15th tip - Salonpas Pain Relieving patches :D You know, for when us old farts are leaning our heads over at first or not sitting properly when first starting out, these patches are amazing! In conjunction with that tip, one of those yoga foam rollers. I place it on my bed and roll my upper back (not my lower any more, I tweaked it last night). This way when it is on your bed, you aren't getting the full force which could hurt yourself. 16th tip - quit biting your finger nails, because there will come a time when you want to finger pick. Bit your fretting nails all you want, leave your picking hand alone. Unless of course you have weak nails, then you can just google guitar fake nails & then take yourself to your local nail salon :) FYI, I haven't gone down the fake nail route, I'm to scared & my daughter already made fun of me for even bringing it up to her.
Haha, yeah I have resisted the long nails and fake nails for my picking hand from fear of heavy piss take. Just growing them out a few mm though has helped though, the subtle look.
James Clear pointed out in his book ("Atomic Habits"), that even pros struggle with the dip that boredom can cause. Getting bored (feeling stalled, reaching the plateau) is discouraging and often leads to giving up.
Great points all. Thanks. Will try the capo. Sounds like a great idea.
I had good results with a finger exerciser too. It really helped me strengthen my pinky for hammer-ons and pull-offs. To help build callouses while away from the guitar, I put staples into the finger pads of a finger exerciser that had a very low amount of resistance.
Great advice, thanks for the 'pep' talk.
I appreciate your tips. I get free Udemy courses via my work and tried a course, still dipping in, but decided to try Justin Guitar. I’m only a couple of weeks in but I really like the structure. I added the app, bought a new guitar and see progress already. Cheers for your channel mate.
justin and marty are the 2 best on youtube
I started three weeks ago age 42 started the Justin guitar course also been using that simply guitar app to go along with it just for a bit of mixing it up and fun.
I started 6 weeks ago at 56 and I am so frustrated, depressed, and anxiety ridden since I took it up.
@@generalawareness101
Keep at it, I too started as an older beginner back in Feb 2016 (I was 47 at the time), perhaps these tips may help you (they helped me).
1. Ask yourself what kind of music you want to replicate (and if become good enough)/or write.
2. Find a good teacher who is easy to follow.
3. Try and study some musical theory, it will make learning songs easier to learn.
4. Once you make the decision to learn guitar, buy your self a decent guitar, don’t go crazy, but get something you want to pick and play, and enjoy playing.
5. Start off by learning to play simple songs first , if you try and learn complicated songs straight off the bat, you’ll just frustrate yourself (I’ve made this mistake in the past).
6. Don’t compare yourself to more proficient players, be the best player you can possibly be.
7.Practice effectively and daily.
Good luck with it!
Dude I respect you, and it's been fun following your journey. Like you I am working with Justin, and loving his course.
I used to be a gigging guitarist but lost my mojo many years ago so am learning from scratch to fill in the gaps and bad habits I gained originally.
2 things...
1.Finger exercisers are a waste of money. I never found them helpful because they feel nothing like a guitar. Any benefit they produce can be done for free by pressing your fingers against your thumb.
2. Going for lighter gauge strings not only sound rubbish, but also slow down callous production. A new guitar will typically come with a set of 9s which is the absolute minimum I would go for (I usually would recommend 10s)
15 start out on an electric and not an acoustic
15th tip - Salonpas Pain Relieving patches :D You know, for when us old farts are leaning our heads over at first or not sitting properly when first starting out, these patches are amazing! In conjunction with that tip, one of those yoga foam rollers. I place it on my bed and roll my upper back (not my lower any more, I tweaked it last night). This way when it is on your bed, you aren't getting the full force which could hurt yourself.
16th tip - quit biting your finger nails, because there will come a time when you want to finger pick. Bit your fretting nails all you want, leave your picking hand alone. Unless of course you have weak nails, then you can just google guitar fake nails & then take yourself to your local nail salon :) FYI, I haven't gone down the fake nail route, I'm to scared & my daughter already made fun of me for even bringing it up to her.
Haha, yeah I have resisted the long nails and fake nails for my picking hand from fear of heavy piss take. Just growing them out a few mm though has helped though, the subtle look.
Excellent advice I have been struggling lately using Keith Urban's 30 songs in 30 days but am determined!
Glad to hear it helped you. Keith's course in 30 days was a struggle for me also.
@@MidlifeGuitar I don't feel quite so inept now, lol.
very helpful
Thanks Bloody Englishman.
Kids are knocking over your guitars? Need to do something about those kids. lol
It is a cat. Mine goes in my bedroom at night. Guitar that is.
You don’t need a figure exerciser, just play. Young kids are playing all over the internet, I don’t think they ever used finger exercisers.