Or “re-learn” to put it more accurately.
Chewing this over………basically on the basis that a friend recently purchased a lovely second hand Roland X6. The “I Want One” gene then kicked in…
I got to Grade 5 practical and Grade 6 theory (Piano) when I was 14 and then in a typical teenage flourish, jacked it in thinking I knew it all and Paul Simonon looked far cooler wielding a bass than I ever could with a keyboard. So I became a bass player – tabs and “ear” only though!
So the question here is, “Is 45 too old to re-program the brain after a hiatus of 30 years?” – I mean, I love the idea of learning the piano again (my old teacher was Mrs Slattery, a grouchy old Irish lady who used to crack my knuckles with a metal ruler if my wrists were slouching or I was going faster than the metronome) but its a significant investment, not just cost of lessons but in time, with the kids etc. and I wouldn’t want to waste that if I couldn’t get on the ball again!
Anyone else picked a new instrument up recently and ran with it?
No. You’ll never fully forget. Chances are you can remember your scales, or at least what a scale should sound like.
Sure kick off just playing chord accompaniments to songs you know and gradually the dexterity will come back. And even if it doesn’t, you can still play chords!
You might be glad of having been a bass player, because with that and Grade 6 theory, you’ll easily brush up on the rudiments of harmony again. I never liked piano lessons myself, and jacked them in after Grade 6, at which point I started using my pretty decent understanding of theory and harmony to play by ear. I’ll never be a whizzy technician, but there’s not much pop music I can’t have a decent bash at.
It’s never too late. I still sit down at the piano without a clue how I’m going to work out a song, but if you’ve got a good ear and can pick out the bass line, it won’t take you long to work out which chord inversions to use in the right hand, and you’re well away.
This too. I gave up around grade V and the bass thing is a great point. I *used* to sit at the piano and try and figure out a tune starting with the melody before I realised that actually, starting with the bass line and building on that, *generally* gave better results.
If you’ve theory under your belt and a functioning pair of lugs (and hands) then you’re well ahead of the game already. The wiring is in – all you need to do is flick the switch.
Thanks everyone.
If I can sit in front of a keyboard, I can find the middle “C” (thinking here of Townshend’s ultimate note in Lifehouse) and run the scales and once the middle “C” is shown on the stave, I’m off and running and can remember the sharps, flats. naturals etc…
I’m struggling badly with left hand dexterity, or doing different things with different hands, which means, ironically, the bass notes are all over the place.
Go for it!
Over the years when I’ve been bashing away on a keyboard or guitar, I’ve had lots of people say “I wish I could learn” and my reply is always the same.
You’re not in competition with anyone else, it’s both challenging and enjoyable, and whether you’re learning with a view to performing (either solo or as a group) or just for pleasure, it’ll be time well spent.
As Ivan says a lot of the basics will come back and you can transfer the tabs and ear back to “relearning the dots” – or just read chord symbols & take it from there. Enjoy!
Yup!
1980. I remember as a thirteen year old scoffing at my friend’s father for taking piano lessons. “You’ve left it a bit late to get any good , Mr Mason”, I chuckled. He was in his late forties. My age now.
2013. Cut to my mate’s wedding. I hadn’t seen Mr Mason in all those years. I sidled up to the old fella and asked him how good he was on the old joanna these days. He looked confused and I reminded him about the lessons.
“Oh that? Gave up after a month. I’d be as good as Bobby Crush if I’d stuck with it.”
NB: Incidentally, Mr Mason was a precision engineer and designed the plug that goes into the phone socket.
I’m 65 and have never, ever, played a musical instrument or learnt anything about music. I’ve occasionally said I regretted not picking up a guitar…so my daughter bought me some lessons for Father’s Day this year…! Scared stiff, and expecting to be laughed out of town, I’ve now had 6 half hour lessons with a great teacher, I know 8 chords (G, C, D, Em, D, Dm, A, Am) and am getting there with the changes, can fumble my way through a couple of tunes, and this week learned some blues licks (ok…I’ve started the scale required), but I am amazed at how easy it is to get going! Bought an electric geeetar which now sits proudly waiting for the next session – it’s huge fun!! From a standing start I’m amazed…
Go for it
After several aborted attempts (OK, two) in my younger days to actually learn the guitar, I bought a guitar and learnt the basics at the age of 36. Now, some 9 years later I can make that plank scream like a good ‘un (at least in my head anyway).
Honest truth – started learning, got hooked, learnt quickly, hit a plateau after about 18 months and haven’t really progressed (I haven’t got the application or desire – I know the basics and can happily strum along – that’ll do me).
If anything, I think stating to learn something you want to at a later age is probably easier
Bever too old. Play, with joy – it is a wonderful thing to do. You will probably find you plateau after a while (we all do) but please play! When you play through that plateau, you will find more and more heights.
Beautiful,Baby.
Interesting thread for me. How about starting from scratch? I bought a melodeon last year, knowing full well it would take a while for me to find the time to start learning. (Singing lessons to come first.) I watch so many musicians going all over the buttons and keys at gigs and in pubs and I really have no concept of how their movements match up with the sounds emerging. In a way, one of the appeals is actually the blank canvas of the standing start.
Anyone got one of these? I’ve alwyas wanted to learn how to play a keyboard instrument, and now that it’s actually affordable to acquire one, I’m thinking of taking the plunge.
Never too late. I started playing the piano late in and whilst I am nowhere near any good it is most enjoyable. More recently I decided to learn mandolin properly which is great fun (and I’m making better progress…).
45 is no age. In my early teens I played guitar and bass. Since my forties (13 years) I have learned to play the banjo (clawhammer), melodeon, english tabor pipe, harmonica, uke, mandolin – all to “only just competent” but its great fun.