Hi all,

By way of introduction.

I’m 64 live in the UK and started playing about 3 years ago. I have no natural gift for music or Guitar but play / practice most days although short, not too intense spells. Little short in the fingers I feel. I’m about mid intermediate standard at present. I can play…. Hendrix ie Little Wing for example which I find quite tricky but get there, sort of. Clapton, BB King, J Lee Hooker, Shadows ( now don’t laugh ) brought up on them. If I hade to choose one it would be Blues. Have several tutorial books on that.

My question is this. I have never played outside my own home or with anyone, but would like to. Even form some sort of Band / Group just for the hell of it. How can you go about this without making a fool of myself in front of chaps that may be good and been playing for years..

All advice and opinion welcome critical or not.

Hi Strat789 and welcome to the forum. You could try your local music gigs scene. Sometimes bars will hold novice competitions or more so demos and anyone can go there and show his/her skills. Or first post something on youtube and see what happens. Or try an ad on a local community board. Don't worry about making a fool of yourself, there will always be someone to encourage you and someone to hate what you do, no matter how hard you try, so don't focus on that. Good luck Strat.
Claude.

Not too old unless you feel that way. Claude has a good suggestion to sit in at a local jam. Playing with those that are better players will help you immensely.......Hope this helps...Mike

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The blues ain't nothin but a good man feelin bad.

Clapton is 65, BB king is well into his 80's and Buddy guy is mid 70's so my answer is you are never too old until you just can't make a note or you are in the ground.

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the vacuum store is a lot like the guitar store. but they do not attract the same clientele as the guitar store, cause if they did, the vacuum store would be loaded with a bunch of broke guys who just wanted to run the new vacuums.

Hey 789. I have found that Im never to old to make a fool out of myself
Seriously though, get in with a few others and you will have a blast! The best benifit from playing with other, is that it will make you a better player in pretty short order!

Bill

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Hey, Boy Blue is back!

don't worry about the "fool" thing. it's gonna happen no matter how good you are. some folks just cover up better than others. playing with others will only help you out.
good luck and get in the game. you can do it.

Welcome to the Forum strat789. First question is easy, in the world of music too young is the obstacle until you are old enough, so, no you aren't too old. When I think of fool I think there is no fool like an old fool or Mick Jagger and I can watch and listen to that fool all night, so if you are foolishly bent, have a ball. The suggestions you have so far are all good. I would add that perhaps an ensemble setting can help as well as lessons but playing rehearsing practicing your guitar will get you better too.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Hi Strat789, you're going to like it here, great bunch of people and tons of good advice. I agree that finding other people to play with is a good idea, in that you can always ask the other guy "would you mind showing me how you did that?". You can develop some bad habits playing alone, playing with others will help speed up the learning process. But never lose sight of the fact that you play for fun. Now go play some John Lee Hooker . And no you are never too old!

Lessons might be a good idea -- you could then focus on increasing your skills and also playing along with your teacher.

No substitute for practice, so try to increase your practice time as well.

Hi Strat, well you might be too old if you want to join one of those all singing boy band things but if not you're okay and good to go.
If you are living in a small town or even village, find a pub, club, bar, that as groups playing nights, go there and talk to the artists and tell them what you have told us.
Many, if not all musicians in small towns know each other and they know, who among them is not busy playing at the moment. Even in your age bracket and skill level.
I am 60 now and not playing with a band but if I wanted to do, I would walk down to a club near me and ask around in there and guarantee I would find something.
There are usually guys in the clubs, at a loose end and looking for exactly the same as you.
So get out there man, it's all waiting for you and like somebody said " Have Fun "

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Seasick Steve (Wold) didn't release his first record until 2004 (he was 63 at the time). Real cool blues/roots sound too. It's never too late.

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the vacuum store is a lot like the guitar store. but they do not attract the same clientele as the guitar store, cause if they did, the vacuum store would be loaded with a bunch of broke guys who just wanted to run the new vacuums.

ya never too old to learn anything

welcome to the forum strat!
just turned 53 myself and joined the first band in my life a year and a half ago... so, no, never too old.
there are bound to be open-mic nights here and there in your area. great place to meet people and more than likely there will be some there looking for someone to fill an open spot in a band.
best of luck!... and pop a mckesson stout for me while you're there, will ya?

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Don't worry about making a fool of yourself, it's just part of learning to play in bands. You embarrass yourself, you practice until you fix it, you embarrass yourself, you practice until you fix it, you embarrass yourself... Well, you get the point. The more you make a fool of yourself, the better you're going to get.

I've learned a ton of songs by looking like an idiot onstage having no idea what was going on, and going home and learning it so that it wouldn't happen again.

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My sincere thanks to all for their contributions.. not only am learning lots about my new hobby.. But lots of nice and very diverse people out their, and a whole new language starting to evolve…My best regards to everyone.