Have you learned how to play an instrument like the guitar as a 20-something-yea

Question:A couple years ago, I took a beginning class that met once a week for a few weeks. I think I could do better if I had a friend to show me but I don't really have friends. The guitar I used was sort of cheap and it really hurt my fingers.

I wish I took music when I was younger because I don't play anything. I like listening to music and the idea of playing an instrument but it is difficult for me. Should I try to take lessons again or focus on something else that I might be good at? Is it just a question of motivation?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: A couple years ago, I took a beginning class that met once a week for a few weeks. I think I could do better if I had a friend to show me but I don't really have friends. The guitar I used was sort of cheap and it really hurt my fingers.

I wish I took music when I was younger because I don't play anything. I like listening to music and the idea of playing an instrument but it is difficult for me. Should I try to take lessons again or focus on something else that I might be good at? Is it just a question of motivation?

Try lessons! Go on I dare you! Many adullts take up lessons in the instruments they wanted to learn when they were small!! I believe there a numerous reasons why you WOULD succeed as an adult More patience, More discipline etc Find a good music teracher who understands the needs of Adult beginners! Yiou dont even need to go weekly!Or join a class at a community college Good Luck!

I started learning when I was 13. I didn't take classes, or have lessons. I just played, after awhile, I knew what sounded good, and what didn't. Eventually, joining a group helped me progress even further, and by the age of 17 I was a decent guitar player.

I think it's possible to learn at any age, as long as you're willing to make time for it. But every player is different, some can find a way on their own, while others do better being guided. Find which suits you and pursue it.
Go rock. :)

The guitar has metal strings which cut your fingers. I have played the guitar for about 5 years, now the strings don't hurt my fingers. Motivation is the biggest thing when learning to play any instrument. Playing when you are younger is easier only because you parents would force you to play, since they spent money on a guitar.

Lesson's do help, but you can teach your self.

Ultimate-guitar.com teaches you fingering exercise to help you stretch your fingers and get them caloused. Just keep trying.

I taught myself to play acoustic guitar starting when I was 13. I took up electric bass guitar in order to play in a band for a couple of years when I was about 27. Got back into acoustic folk music in my early 30's, bought a mandolin and took 6 months worth of lessons, then bought a 5-string banjo and taught myself to play that starting when I was about 32, then took up fiddle and taught myself to play that starting when I was about 34.

As you can tell, self-teaching works well for me :-)

But lessons or group classes are also a good way to learn. You'll have an opportunity to see and hear the correct way to hold and play the instrument and avoid developing bad habits. If you take a class, you'll get a chance to meet other beginning guitarists, maybe make friends and find other people to play with. If you take regular lessons or a class, you also have additional motivation to practice regularly since you don't want to do badly in front of the teacher and/or your fellow students :-)

You'll need to get a decent guitar. A really cheap instrument will be difficult to get and keep in tune, probably won't sound very good, and will be poorly set up so that the strings are high up off the fingerboard and hurt your fingers. Although you should know that even with a good instrument, your fingertips will hurt for the first few weeks until you develop callouses. It will be difficult at first -- beginning the study of any new instrument is challenging -- but that's what makes it so rewarding -- the sense of accomplishment you feel in learning a new skill.

Go for it!