Middle Aged Crazy.

[April Rose]

Anita, I just had my second lesson. So, maybe that chord stuff isn't so scary after all. It's going to take a lot of practice getting all the strings to ring, though. My left hand fingers are pretty sore right now.

[SilverLady(SO)]

April Rose -

You might want to have your son 'set the action low' on your guitar . . . meaning, have the strings setting closer to the fret board (neck) so that it's easier to hold them down, and less strain on your left hand.

I've never regretted having that set-up on my guitar, and will always keep it that way . . . and using lighter strings helps, too.


- SL

[April Rose]

SL, I will ask him about that. The guitar my brother gave me has 3 nylon strings and three steel ones. My son has told me to get all steel ones. I probably shouldn't be second guessing, but, does that make sense? ( everything else he has suggested has worked out ok.)

[Joanne T.]

One of the main regrets I have is not being able to play a musical instrument, I love country and western, Scottish and Irish celtic,
Please don't anyone say "It is never too late". For me it is I am sorry to say
Hugs all round
Joanne xxx

[SilverLady(SO)]

Hi, April Rose -

I prefer the all-steel strings, usually the Martin Bluegrass (it's a lighter gauge) or the D'Adario version . . . nylon strings are a pain in the patooty and IMHO don't sound well at all when playing bluegrass or country.

I've always associated nylon strings as being more for playing 'classical' guitar . . . right, Anita?




- SL

[DeeDee]

Hi all....first of all, I really do appreciate anyone with musical talent. Heck. its why I go to concerts, so good for all of you! When god was handing out talent, I thought she said talons so I said no thanks. Talons would tear up my dresses. I do have a guitar and it has a crank on the side...plays well...but I am getting tired of "Old McDonalds". Love how ya'all get into it...wonderful!!!!!
Hugs
DeeDee

[Robbin_Sinclair]

Age 63? A child. After a lifetime of chordlessly playing saxophone, I started to mess around with a few guitars. Couldn't get it. Then, I started different acoustical guitar-like basses.

Two years later, I am absolutely in love with the Kala U-bass. Hook it up to a small Peavey Max 126 bass amp (about 12" square, 6" deep) and it sounds just like an upright. It was better for me to upgrade to the more expensive version ($400.00+) for the better pick up and volume control.

At home I play along with any jazz, bluegrass or Scottish music that I can find. Someday soon, I will come out of the closet to play an open mike with it. Clothing choice will be the number one LBD and the Skyscraper shoes. That's the plan.

Play well. My hat's off to you. By the way, which comes first, shredding or shedding? I'm afraid I know the answer. Huggs.

[April Rose]

Yes, Robbin, after what Diana Nyad did this weekend, Swimming from Cuba to Florida, at 64, picking up the guitar doesn't seem quite so imposing. Talk about female role models! I've no plans for electric yet, but, who knows.

I do enjoy practicing in skirts.

[Anita]

SilverLady wrote:

I've always associated nylon strings as being more for playing 'classical' guitar . . . right, Anita?

Yes, classical for sure, and some folk guitarists. My ex-girlfriend always used nylon strings for doing folk.

April, electrics are way easier to finger chords on. Much lighter strings.

[Robbin_Sinclair]

My Kala strings are over the top. They are made from POLYURETHANE. It is almost like cheating. Extreme flexibility designed to simulate some sort of flexible Hawaiian vine. The G and the D have to always be tightened before playing. I don't know how many times it will take more tightening. Had it about two months now. It's not for everybody.

[April Rose]

I just saw John Prine on TV. I couldn't tell whether his strings were nylon or steel, but I did notice he was using a capo. that pretty much settles that debate for me.

[Ralitsa]

I had a cheap guitar with nylon strings one time. A friend of mine put steel strings on it and when he tightened them down to get it i in tune the guitar blew up.

I have a gibson mastertone (banjo) that I wish I knew how to play, and a dobro that I also wish I could play. After reading this I'm going to go get out the banjo and get thoroughly depressed that I don't sound like Scruggs. Ah well.
About 20 years ago I took lessons for a short time from Fred Sokolow, and if it weren't for that I wouldn't even know which way is up. He has quite a few books available still and I highly recommend him. For those who like bluegrass, he does the best job of anyone of really showing how to play the music, not just teaching you to play a few songs.
The local public radio station here has a bluegrass program Saturday mornings at 0500, definitely worth getting out of bed for, although technically you don't need to get out of bed to listen.
Well good luck with learning to play. In my experience it's easier to learn to speak Bulgarian than to play a banjo.................... never tried a guitar.

[April Rose]

Wow, time is going by. I've been at it about 2 months now, and I am still enjoying it. I am not exactly a natural at it, though. I know 2 chords. I can get from G to C, but I can't seem to get back.

My biggest problem is getting hooked up with my less than perfectly dependable son for my lessons.

I've bought steel strings but haven't put them on yet. I'm a little leery about it; it's a very old guitar, possibly 1940's, I wouldn't want to wreck it.

[Robbin_Sinclair]

Wow, time is going by. I've been at it about 2 months now, and I am still enjoying it. I am not exactly a natural at it, though. I know 2 chords. I can get from G to C, but I can't seem to get back.
.........

The more difficult question will be once you get from C to D, can you ever go back.

This is just my take, but my first thought probably lies in good old fashion practice. Your hands are what they are. We 20-21st century-ers have a habit of figuring that there is a pill or a person to solve our problems...to help us achieve a goal. That's just my take on it.

For my Kala with polyurethane strings, I found myself always tightening it to get the right tone. Then, I watched a YouTube from Kala for my U-Bass that suggests this is wrong, even with this type of string, especially, on the second lowest, the A. So, I just brought it down an octave. That was easy enough and I'm still only playing for myself, late at night in my CD hole downstairs. It's heaven.

If this is an important guitar why not take it to a dealer and ask? Even kids aren't as smart as professionals...unless you ask them. I broke another Kala by tightening it too much. Fortunately, it was not as important to me as this one and, with a little epoxy glue, it still played well enough to take to the beach.

Bless your tones. Hugs, robbin

[Robbin_Sinclair]

........ For those who like bluegrass, he does the best job of anyone of really showing how to play the music, not just teaching you to play a few songs....The local public radio station here has a bluegrass program Saturday mornings at 0500, definitely worth getting out of bed for, although technically you don't need to get out of bed to listen.....Well good luck with learning to play. In my experience it's easier to learn to speak Bulgarian than to play a banjo.................... never tried a guitar.

Thanks for the link on the bluegrass show. Every NPR has a different schedule but it is pretty easy to get information on their national website. I'll check it out. I love bluegrass. Won't it be wonderful to find a CD friendly bluegrass convention? Any thoughts anyone?

I have a mental block against guitar. Don't know why. I like bass because you can play along one note at a time. It's more like percussion. I would think that a banjo could feel like that, too. Maybe I could buy one when I go to that fantasy bluegrass festival I'm thinking about.

I could even write a song about it, couldn't I? Proposed title: Down and Out Non Form Fitting Dress

Hugs all, especially to those with Fall colors. I'm jealous, robbin, Down and Out in the Caribbean