My son, 11 years old, wanted an electric guitar for Christmas. His cousin is about 20, going to college for music, plays acoustic and electric guitar, piano, keyboard and ukulele and works at Guitar Center. We gave her a small budget and told her to grab something that would work for him. And under the tree on Christmas morning was a guitar and amp.

This past Wednesday was his first lesson. I went with my son and sat in. As the lesson started, the instructor asked, "Do you play?" I told him "No." He then said, "Well, grab one off the wall and follow along, you are welcome to learn too." I belly laughed and said, "I very much appreciate it. But I suspect that I would be an abject failure."

The next day, as I was driving around for work, my mind was wondering and I asked myself, "Why not try?"

Back when I was in school, I never cared about music class. It was probably my least favorite class, from elementary up through high school. And even to this day, music is not an integral part of my life. I listen to podcasts for hours while driving. Or sometimes, just drive in silence. When I run, silence, just the sound of my breathing. When I hike, silence, just the sounds of nature. When there is music, while I appreciate it, it does not move me the way I know it moves others. In short, I would consider myself one of the least musical people I know.

But then I came back to the question, "Why not try?"

So on Friday, while I was working from home, I took a break and picked up the guitar for about an hour. And I played Happy Birthday. And then Saturday, it took me 90 minutes, but I played You Are My Sunshine. And this Sunday morning, I practiced them both again.

It's a very weird feeling, creating these sounds, making music. But very gratifying. And very centering, and soothing, and peaceful.

I have no idea where this journey will take me. Whether I stop soon, or a year from now am playing... well, let's not say good, but just not horribly. But right now, in this moment, I am very happy that I questioned myself, took a leap and tried something new.

When I stop learning… It’s time to leave the rock.

Congratulations!

That’s great.
My daughter is an accomplished pianist but has left the nest. At home sits her Baby Grand. No one to play it.

I am 70 and retired and am signing up for online lessons to learn how to play same.

I agree 100%: Stop learning, time to leave the rock.

That’s awesome. I hope to do that someday too.

Dance like nobody is watching. Play like nobody is listening.

Your Muse is calling, listen to her.

Excellent! Never too old and anyone can do it! I took up guitar at 53.

Awesome!

I started taking drum lessons eight years ago at the age of 58. Great exercise for the brain and hand/eye coordination.

At my store, we had teachers and lessons in the back rooms. More than one guy in his 70's walked in, bought a guitar, and started taking lessons while I worked there. It's only too late if you're not upright and breathing.

First, congrats, that’s awesome.

Interestingly enough, I sat down at the family piano for the first time in probably 40 years. This the same piano I used when my mother signed me & my older sister up for piano lessons.

There’s been too much gunfire, heavy equipment & loud music for me to tell how out of tune it is, but I figure I’ll be close enough.

I played for years by ear and self-taught (Pre-internet). I grew frustrated in my 40's with the plateau I had reached and called the local music store. They hooked me up with a teacher that understood that I didn't want to learn how to read music. So one night a week I would carry my guitar into the studio past a bunch of elementary school kids learning piano, violin, drums. etc. I sat for an hour learning chord shapes and all things pentatonic. It was a blast. The teacher enjoyed it to because, as he said it, I was his only pupil that wasn't forced to be there by his parents. Enjoy.

I usually play late at night before I go to bed. I find that it soothes me and allows me to forget the worries of the day for that brief period of time that I am playing. To me it is a form of meditation.

Time to start that mullet

I learned at about 15 and played in bars and schools until I joined the Navy at 19. I wasn’t very good. I resurrected my playing at about 60 when the bank where I worked created a band for annual get-togethers. I quit again and now restarted last spring in a jam group in our 55 subdivision. I’m having a blast.

Playing guitar builds lots of dexterity in your off-hand leading to partial ambidexterity. I’m pretty good at using my left hand. Spend some time with learning chords - then learn to sing while playing. Easier said than done. Good luck.

I’m almost 57 and played acoustic guitar in grade school but wasn’t really good. I would love to play but not interested in reading or learning the basics. I would love to learn how to just play riffs

Love it! Congrats. I'm going to try to change from guitar to mandolin. I'm 51.