15 Pieces of Guitar Wisdom From 50 YEARS of Guitar Playing (in 15 minutes)

Keith, I’m 72 and have played for over 60 years. As a veteran of many bands, I believe it’s important to find people that are compatible with you to play with. I’ve been in bands with guitarists who were better and worse players than I am, and I would rather play with an average player with an agreeable personality than a virtuoso who is an overbearing a-hole. If you can find the rare combination of a great player with a great personality you’ve got the makings of a great band.

Love the new style Hypes! This is a great set of ideas to think about and put into practice.

Met a 27 year old guitar teacher. She was the daughter of a friend. I asked her if she would like to play in a band I put together for a musical event I host. She was interested and started practicing with us. Shortly after she started, I found out she had never played in a band. I also realized that although she was musically educated, she was not a "musician". I had asked her to play the lead to one of the songs in our set list thinking that she would enjoy standing on stage in front of an audience and playing it. She took several videos of me playing the lead in slow motion and as well defined as I could make it so she could see exactly what every finger was doing. Several practices later, she wanted to give up on it. I thought to myself....no, you need to do this. You need to get on stage and make this happen because of the confidence it would build. She scheduled to meet with me several times to work out the lead. It's not perfect by any stretch but she plays it well enough, and she'll pull it off. Two of us in the band know the lead but I can't overlook the opportunity she has and an experience she can share with her students. I have a saying, "you can't play unless you can play." Understanding music doesn't make you a musician. One more practice, event is June 15th. Standing while you play is key. My feeling is, even if you're sitting, use a strap....you won't have to hold your guitar and play it the same time.

I started playing guitar when I was 14 and played until I was about 20. Unfortunately I stopped, for a number of reasons. After taking about 27 years off, I started playing again as a way to help me quit drinking. Over the last seven years, playing guitar has transformed from therapy, to a hobby, to a passion. Thank you and please keep up the great work.

I sometimes feel like the last 50 years have gone by in about 15 minutes...

Great post. I turned 70 this year and have been playing since I was 8.Your journey was very similar to mine except my parents were kind enough to have me take live lessons from an outstanding jazz guitarist, Al Faraldi. He cemented music theory along with proper playing techniques in me. Took lessons for about 10 years until one session he had me sit in his waiting room while he played chords and single notes in the studio. I was to tell him what he was playing. Nailed it and he came up to me and said "we're done, there's nothing more I can show you". We jammed for about 20 minutes and parted ways. Still miss him and am grateful for his incredible teaching techniques. I enjoy your channel, Keith, for your philosophy of making music with less. I purged about 5 years ago leaving my main guitars and my trusty Blues Jr. Very happy...thanks again for a great post.

I only have three things to say: THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! I'm 65 years old and only started playing electric guitar 2 years ago. Had I started watching this program before I started I would have saved a fortune in too many guitars and amps that had way too much wattage.

BTW Keith. "Tell you story, it will motivate others." It motivated me when I was down as well. You have come a LONG way man. Born again.

You said you had figured out you have been playing for 50 years and started to think and realized I started at 7 years old and just turned 57 last week. Its nice to be part of this 50+ club!

Mid 50’s Gen X player here. Been playing for 44 years or so. Did the whole gigging live through high school and into my 20’s. Playing live is good to learn to “lock in” with a band under initial anxieties of performing live. However playing live or even in basement bands was never what got me excited about music / guitar. For me it’s learning & creating music. Learning how to record my music with limited equipment (back in the mid 80’s with a powered mixer, a few mics and a cassette deck) very limited lol. But honestly these days I just enjoying “noodling” or scales / riffs and bits of songs I love while sitting in my man cave. I also just enjoy my guitars as beautiful objects 👍🏻

It dawned on me that I've been playing guitar for 10 years recently. Nowhere near 50, but it feels like something significant. A part of one's personality indeed.

My birthday is also in April. I started lessons at 5, 64 years ago. I was a session player at 12. My first guitar was an acoustic and the strings and action caused my fingers bleed as well. How great the old days were.

My first guitar was also a Stella but my guitar teacher also had a drum kit and before long my guitar lessons turned into drum lessons. Your advice to play with others has enriched my life. I do not identify as a singer, (being a drummer and all) but when I couldn’t get band mates to step up to the mic I swung the boom over my trap set and let her rip. I’ve always enjoyed playing but when I took a risk I never thought I’d take, enjoyment turned into fun. I had a blast. Thanks for the encouragement.

I'll just add really quick here my one speck of wisdom also from playing for fifty years. That is, if you ever have a guitar thats really special to you, no matter what it is, or what its worth - never sell it! Keep it with you no matter what! You will never regret it! Thanks Keith!

I’ve played guitar for 37 years and just now feel like I’m getting it. My first guitar was awful, but it taught me perseverance and to appreciate a good one. I’ve only played in public twice: the first time I threw up, and the second time I played terribly, but won a contest! Learning guitar is like playing snakes and ladders; it’s a wild ride, but enjoy the journey. Thanks for the 50 years of wisdom! 🎸✨

Great presentation! I'm 67, played guitar for over 50 years, played classical violin in 5 symphonies, play classical piano, and love it all. There are only so many free hours in a day, so I focus now on classical piano, and jazz guitar. I play daily, and enjoy it.

I’ve been playing for about 63 years. I am left-handed but my folks (not knowing any better) bought me a right-handed guitar. I held it left-handed but my teacher didn’t think “Hey I wonder if this kid is left-handed?” Instead he took the guitar away and turned it back to right-handed. It totally blew my mind and I quit taking lessons after only a week. Over time I took the guitar out from under the bed and began messing with it right handed. Now 63 years later I’m a mediocre but happy guitarist

My dad was a bass player,I was a horn player all through school,but I hated guitar players. One day in 99' ,near my bday i went into Mars music with my dad to get bass strings. I saw the new reissue Danelectros and feel in love. A convertible and a dirty thirty (about 200$). My dad has passed since and over 20 years later, I still play em both. Music is a connection. My only advice... have fun and enjoy it.

Have played for 60 years and enjoyed hearing this summary,..Thanks!

Hey Keith, this is gold! Especially the "noodling vs practicing properly" is spot on! We've all thought about this, but mostly this is fine for varying levels of ambition with guitar playing... to be established guitarists, well that's a lot of dedication, and like famous actors, those type of people are 'hell bent' on success! : )