#31
|
|||
|
|||
I'm 73. Age eventually catches up to us all. The secret is to never give up. Play more, not less. Don't concentrate on what you can't do, but focus on what you CAN do...and strive to do it impeccably. Try new ways of playing. Treat it as a life-long learning process. And most importantly, don't let age rob you of the love and joy you found when you picked up your first guitar. Playing and singing is my fountain of youth...from which I drink from voraciously.
__________________
2022 Martin 000-18 2022 Martin HD12-28 2022 Martin HD-28 2022 Gibson J-45 Standard 2022 Taylor American Dream AD27 Mahogany 2007 Breedlove AC250/SM-12 2006 Breedlove AD20/SR Plus 2003 Martin 000C-16SGTNE 2000 Taylor 410ce 1990 Martin Shenandoah (< 1990 a bunch of great old Yamahas I lost track of) My music: https://pro.soundclick.com/dannybowman |
#32
|
|||
|
|||
+1 for short scale and smaller body.
It's easier to tell you what doesn't hurt in the morning getting out of bed. I'm lucky as it still loosens up after an hour or so. Guitar playing definitely has an adverse effect on the shoulders. My dreads are probably on their way out. It will be fun replacing them!
__________________
Martin HD-28ER Taylor 322E 12 Fret Iris DF |
#33
|
|||
|
|||
I'm 78 and just finished radiation treatment for prostate cancer. Two shoulder surgeries in the past three years added to the fun.
I started playing in 1964. Happy to say that in 2024 I can still play pain free and pretty close to the best I've been over the years. One thing I give huge credit to is maintaining hand strength via daily workouts with spring grips. In short, my hands are so strong that playing a steel string acoustic requires almost no effort at all. Another thing that really keeps me going is the weekly Open Mic I attend at CAMERON'S PUB & INN, Half Moon Bay, CA. Every Thursday 6PM to 9PM, 3 songs or 15 minutes whichever comes first. Check out "Auri's Open Mic" on Facebook for lots of pics and do come by and join us if you're in the area. If you have a chance to go out and play, it motivates you to practice your instrument. I've been an avid golfer and skier since I was a little kid. I still ski and enjoy it immensely. I love to play golf too, but the loss of distance off the tee is darn near heartbreaking. Still, I always use a pushcart and walk 18 holes to keep my legs in shape for skiing. It's more of a nature walk for me these days. Stay mobile. |
#34
|
|||
|
|||
Take heart fellow aging guitarists. I saw Andre Segovia put on a 60 minute solo performance at the Queen Elizabeth Auditorium in Vancouver in 1975 when he was well into his eighties. He could still play pretty well at that point and I don't think anyone asked for their money back. I found him and his performance to be delightful actually as he seemed to be genuinely enjoying himself.
|
#35
|
|||
|
|||
I am feeling myself having the same problems of aging, Barry, and I am older than you. I still keep at it and I still enjoy it, but sometimes, like you, I am confronted with arthritis and stiffness and the inevitable decline we all go through.
Hang in there and enjoy it while you can. I'm heading up to my studio now... - Glenn
__________________
My You Tube Channel |
#36
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
- Glenn
__________________
My You Tube Channel |
#37
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
Bob
__________________
"It is said, 'Go not to the elves for counsel for they will say both no and yes.' " Frodo Baggins to Gildor Inglorion, The Fellowship of the Ring THE MUSICIAN'S ROOM (my website) |
#38
|
|||
|
|||
I belong in this group.
I have had to learn new chord shapes and can no longer play the key of C chords, let alone any bar chords. Fortunately though, at age 72, my vocals are still good and I let my singing cover my guitar work. My voice has gotten lower though and my guitars are now tuned down 1/2 to 1 full step for some of my songs. I still enjoy playing music in a folk/grass band and also my solo assisted living shows. Hopefully I will be able to play the guitar for many more years.
__________________
Happiness Is A New Set Of Strings L-20A |
#39
|
|||
|
|||
I'm well in excess of my 'three score plus ten' and play more now than I ever have.
As a compromise I've changed to a CEO-7 and my trusty 000-28 with Elixir Nanoweb Custom Lights. That combination works for me and I find I'm now playing far better than I ever have. I've also finally cracked the barre chord version of B major (the A major shape moving up the neck). I play the same old stuff that I always did, with the odd 'new' tune thrown in for variety and I absolutely love it. It's a real mood changer. Stick with it for as long as you can. |
#40
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
he is a year older than me (I'm 76). I've lived through sepsis, peritonitis, lymphatic sarcoidosis (cost me ten years) heart failure, pneumonia and bronchiectasis, and throat & tongue cancer, which has deprived me of beard, taste, teeth and spit, and my voice, and damaged my hearing and eyesight. I worked hard and painfully from May 2017 until 2019 to regain "a" voice (not the same, reduced range and nasal) but a voice. I got it back, enough to plan a modest circuit of solo gigs starting in spring 2020 - then lockdown! Of course I'm not the only one inconvenienced by Covid and so many of us didn't survive it, and neither did my trio, nor most of the venues that had booked me. My new challenge is arthritic CMC joints which are affecting my playing but so much else. My pal, who has certain spinal and leg issues from birth, has had triple heart bypass surgery and prostate cancer at a time when they "took it all away" and is now managing emphysema and cardiac issues and shares my hand issues. We used to have a duo called the "Overthehillbillies" Never was it more apposite! This is the price we pay for not dying, and all things considered, I'd rather this than the alternative. Strangely, every morning when I awake, I feel grateful for another day.
__________________
Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! Last edited by Silly Moustache; 04-10-2024 at 04:38 PM. |
#41
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Don't have issues with my hands; but, elbow can sometimes feel it if/when I play too many songs with a lot of barre chords.
__________________
Breedlove: Oregon Myrtlewood Eastman: AC630ce 12-String Seagull: M6 G&L: Fullerton Deluxe ASAT Special |
#42
|
|||
|
|||
Maybe this will help some of you feel better...
https://www.ihopeidiebeforeigetold.c...tar-heroes.php Lots of legends on that list and NONE are getting younger! |
#43
|
|||
|
|||
Fighting it.
Smaller body guitar - Martin 000Jr. Easy to fret strings - GHS Silk & Bronze realistic aspirations right now happy |
#44
|
|||
|
|||
Hopefully this will be helpful to someone here. Some good tips.
https://acousticguitar.com/9-tips-fo...eid=7ac94f7dd6
__________________
-Joe Martin 000-1 Rainsong CH-OM Martin SC10e sapele My Band's Spotify page https://open.spotify.com/artist/2KKD...SVeZXf046SaPoQ |
#45
|
|||
|
|||
Almost 70, the last knuckle on both little fingers feel like they are on fire. Some other knuckles also ache. Plus my fingers feel like sausages. They don't look swollen but they feel that way.
I'm retired, playing more and better than I ever have before, but now it's painful. Great, just great.
__________________
~Dave ~Music self-played is happiness self-made |