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Post subject: Be Gentle Please - Total Beginner / Affinity
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 4:24 pm
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OK, now please be gentle with me. Please, no too technical terms as I am a total beginner and have to confess it will all go over my head!!!

I am a 43 year old lady who has always loved the guitar. I started learning to play when I was about 18 and then the friend who was teaching me got married and moved away and I did not continue. However, I do not know if it was the result of some midlife crisis or just an unsatisfied want in life but I decided a couple of years ago to try and start it again. I got my husband to retrieve my old acoustic out of the loft, dusted it off and played around with it. However, I found that the neck is just too big for me to comfortably get my hand around and decided that what I really wanted was an electric guitar.

After much deliberation I ended up buying a red Squier Affinity starter pack. However, I am a total beginner so was not really able to sit down in the shop and play like a 'proper' guitarist so worked on the basis that it was a budget price, came with an amp and as it carried Fender's name could not be a totally bad choice.

So, firstly do you feel that as a lady of my age, am I too old to be taking up a totally new instrument like the guitar and then secondly, have I made a mistake in my choice of guitar. I realise it is very budget price and as such not going to be fantastic but some opinions would be good. It is an Indoniesian built one, Sr No IC070602635.

Basically, any help, advice, tips or hints you can give me would be very much appreciated. I currently do not have anyone to teach me, but am looking around for someone as I cannot seem to teach myself like some lucky folk.

I am very influenced by Mark Knopfler, Eric Clapton and Gary Moore (plus the maybe less well known John Peppard).

Thank you for any ideas or anything.


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Post subject:
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 5:51 pm
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I don't think you are even close to being too old to learn. I hope not anyway as I am 41. I've noticed that there are quite a few older people on these boards and other forums that I frequent. There are a lot of guitar learning resources on the web to help you until you find a teacher. YouTube in particular has some helpful lessons.

The Affinity starter pack should be fine. Does it feel okay to you? You should get it setup though to help with playability. I have a couple of Affinity Telecasters and they are pretty good for the price. You will probably upgrade at some point as your skills improve. Good luck.


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Post subject: Re: Be Gentle Please - Total Beginner / Affinity
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 6:36 pm
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blackjack1 wrote:
So, firstly do you feel that as a lady of my age, am I too old to be taking up a totally new instrument like the guitar and then secondly, have I made a mistake in my choice of guitar. I realise it is very budget price and as such not going to be fantastic but some opinions would be good. It is an Indoniesian built one, Sr No IC070602635.

Hi blackjack1, and welcome to the forum! As to whether you are too old: No, no, a thousand times NO. :shock:

Coincidentally, I started two years ago at the age of 43 as well. I read somewhere that people reinvent themselves every 7 years, so 42-ish is about the right time for a change.

As for the guitar, I think you've made a good choice. A properly set-up Squier is a very serviceable instrument. You may want to upgrade down the road, but there's no reason you can't get plenty of use and enjoyment out of it. (Another coincidence: my first guitar was an Indonesian-made Squier Standard Stratocaster, which I still play).

blackjack1 wrote:
Basically, any help, advice, tips or hints you can give me would be very much appreciated. I currently do not have anyone to teach me, but am looking around for someone as I cannot seem to teach myself like some lucky folk.

My first recommendation would be to find a teacher as you mention. You'll make faster progress and avoid developing bad habits. If you can't manage to get lessons, go to YouTube and search on something like "learn to play [title]." You'll be surprised how many video lessons you can find that way. A couple of books you might useful are the Hal Leonard Guitar Method and Blues You Can Use.

Now crank that sucker up! 8)

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 5:05 am
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Of course you are not too old! You came to the real place looking for an advice. It's always nice to hear that there are more and more people out there eager to learn to play and make music regardless of their age.
Find a teacher and you'll make it. You have the will obviously.
The Squier that you have is a very nice guitar. Don't let the price range fool you. Perhaps it needs to be set up, so if you have somebody that plays guitar he/she can set it up for you. If it needs to be set up in the first place.

Enjoy your guitar!

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Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 8:23 am
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welcome to the forums!
I started learning at 52, so if you're too old I am in real trouble...

Congratulations on giving in to the bug. I agree with the advice to find a teacher.
First thing you need to do is get a good set up on the guitar - including changing the strings. The stock strings on those Affinity's are garbage and will hurt your fingers.

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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 6:16 pm
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Hi and Welcome.
One resource you may have is your local community education. Many offer lessons in a group setting. They are usually cheap 40 bucks for 6-8 weeks. They may only be once a week maybe twice but you might meet a new friend to Jam with. This would be the time of year for new classes to start.


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Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 7:38 pm
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blackjack1,

First let me welcome you to the Forum. Do I think you are too old to start learning the guitar...NO. You are only as old as you feel.

Squier Affinity, not a bad guitar. As stated before, properly set up it is a great guitar. There are some people out there that will bag on Squiers, but I have played one since I was 16. That was 20+ years ago. I no longer have that Squier (bad accident, costly repair, and stupid trade) but I wish I still had it. I now own a Squier Classic Vibe 60 and a Fender Highway 1 Stratocaster.

Recomendation: Lessons from an instructor. For right now you can get away with the Youtube lessons, but you really need to look for a good instructor. One you can learn from and are able to get along with. You may want someone more our age group (35-50). I have had issues with the 20-30 age group. They want to just show you what to play, but not really teach. That was just my experience. Teaching and mentoring really comes with experience.

I know that you bought the budget pack, but in a few months to a year you will want to upgrade your amplifier. If you have a Blues influence, you will want a really good Tube amp. Look into the Fender Blues or Vintage Modified series. These are really expensive amps, but the amp is very crutial to the sound you are trying to achieve. One that has a little power. This might not make sense right now, but a 15 watt solid state amplifier is not as powerful as a 15 watt tube amplifier. You just cannot get the same tones from it.

Most of all, have fun. Playing guitar is great.

RK


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Post subject:
Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 11:02 pm
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A teacher is a good idea. Things learned wrong can be hard to 'unlearn'. One change (to the guitar) that you might consider; blocking the tremolo. Gives you tuning stability and makes tuning easier. And at this stage you want to play it, not play with it.

Too old? Hey, I'm 54 and still learning.

Some say that Squires are "good for the money". Bull. They're just good. I've got an unmodified Indonesian Standard Strat and I love it.


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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:56 am
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Welcome to the forums.
I dont think it matters how long you have been playing, how famous you are , or how many records youve recorded. You are always still learning.

I wish you well in your playing. :D


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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 11:03 am
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thebird55 wrote:
A teacher is a good idea. Things learned wrong can be hard to 'unlearn'. One change (to the guitar) that you might consider; blocking the tremolo. Gives you tuning stability and makes tuning easier. And at this stage you want to play it, not play with it.

Too old? Hey, I'm 54 and still learning.

Some say that Squires are "good for the money". Bull. They're just good. I've got an unmodified Indonesian Standard Strat and I love it.

Where might one find instructions for blocking the tremolo? This sounds like something I should do while getting started as well.


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Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 7:50 pm
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Welcome to the forum. and you are never to old to learn.

If you don't learn something new at least once a day, then you are not listening. :D

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Post subject:
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 10:06 pm
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rsavage69 wrote:
Welcome to the forum. and you are never to old to learn.

If you don't learn something new at least once a day, then you are not listening. :D


Your never too old to learn, But sometimes your too old to pay attention.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz :wink:


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Post subject:
Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 9:51 am
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I have a confession, I'm 54 and I too bought a red affinity squire strat.

I think its great.

I started learning about a year ago. I figure this guitar is better than my ability to play it, if that makes any sence. Maybe in a couple of years, if I stick with it and improve I'll reward myself with a siena red MIA strat. My motivation, in addition to the joy of just learning and playing.

Clapton's 1st and 3rd guitars were no name department store crap. Didn't seem to slow him down too much. (In no way am I comparing my squire to these or suggesting it isn't a fine instrument.)

I've used the Hal Leonard introductory books and haven't taken lessons yet. A month ago I bought a book of xmas songs, over 100, and found I could read the music and play all but the most complex arrangements.

Enjoy and good luck.


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Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:09 am
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Being a "golden ager" of 50, my favorite guitar to play is an Affinity butterscotch blonde Telecaster, it has an amazing tone for the price. You're never too old to learn to play, but if you have trouble with keeping the guitar in tune on certain frets, it is definitely worth it to have a music shop set the string action and intonation. The better the sound, the more you'll be encouraged to play.

Unfortunately, I must give up my Jagmaster for trade-in bait, I'm taking my creaky knees out in public with my uncle, we're starting an oldies group and tonight I pick up an olympic white Mustang bass!


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Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2010 7:01 pm
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"Squier Strat! You must be joking..." That's what my bandmates said but you know what-I love mine. I own a Schecter electric, a Japanese Fender Strat a Squier Strat and the Squier Affinity Strat is my guitar of choice! When I play out, when I record-that's the one I use. I like the feel of the neck and the sound. I play in a couple different bands so I need a variety of sounds from country to blues to rock. It's totally cool.
Too old to learn-no way! I'm 50 something and, though I've played for a long time, I too am still learning and the bass player in one of my bands is 63 and just started learning bass about a year ago. She had played a little piano but never guitar and you know what-she rocks. just remember to have fun, that's what it's all about!!


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