People like Bruce Springsteen even make mistakes, and in front of huge audiences...


http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/i ... out-of-it/


....but handle it well.

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

I cannot thank you all enough for your funny stories and inspiring words. The comments are helpful to me beyond the thanks I could offer up.

I am determined to try. It's kind of funny, when I gave up playing guitar I was in my early twenties. I did not touch one except occasionaly when I was a a musician friends house and may plucked a string for 5 or 10 minutes.

I am now 51 and last January my brother gave me a used Japanese clone fat strat by "Quest" guitars. Well that started something and it was not long until I got a MIM and then a MIA and a couple of Bullets to tinker on and learn about the anatomy of strats and modifications.

I say all that to say this, I have not more talent that I ever had, and thats very little to none, but something inside me that I cannot quite explain is driving me to play and not only play but "study". And "study" was something I never did before. I have never been so happy, and happy about the guitar, and I love the Stratocaster.

Thanks again to each and every one here for your funny stories, kind words and suggestions.

Most Sincerely,
OL

Right on Oneal, I started playing at 48, for sort of the same reason. I had my first performance about 6 months ago.

I play in a band in my church. At first I was really nervous but, over time got used to it. One thing we all do is have our music right there in front of us on a stand. I find that no matter how well I know a song, its way better to have that music there to keep you on track.

Bands like this tend to learn new songs all the time and practice those songs only over a period of between one week to a few weeks before they actually play live.

This is the difference from a typical rock band that is touring, doing several shows per week. These kinds of bands are playing basically the same set pulled from whatever album they have just released. So, they are going to know those tunes backwards and forwards.

_________________
Calling an illegal alien an undocumented immigrant is like calling a drug dealer an undocumented pharmicist.

I stopped playin' for 25 years. In Dec. of 2006 I went to the Cove Lounge in Revere Beach , Ma., They have a Sunday Blues Jam. I was talked into going up and play 3 or 4 songs. My fingers were gettin' caught in the strings, I was a nervous wreck, but survived. The people were great, and encourage me to come back. I'm glad I did. I got better everytime I went. Now I'm a lead guitarist in two bands. The Bluez Doctorz and a classic hits cover band called Spaz Kat. People are pretty cool at these open mic/jams, cause most remember their first few times up on stage. good luck and have fun.