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While I started playing guitar at an early age, I know many guitar players who started out in their 30′s, 40′s, 50′s or even in their 70′s. And yet these players do an amazing job.

Maybe when they were young it just wasn’t the right time. They probably couldn’t find the right teacher or were busy learning other life lessons.

You might think yourself while you read this : “I am probably too old to learn.” Well I think you’re never too old to learn, you grow old when you stop learning. Guitar playing is not about how old you are when you start out. Guitar playing is about passion, creating and having fun with it.

I am always inspired by the passion and motivation of guitar players. While you can achieve a lot with discipline, you achieve the most with passion and motivation. You need to find out why your passionate about guitar playing and how to motivate yourself in the progress. These are the two key elements in achieving your goal.

So let me convince you why you should still learn to play the guitar today and fulfill that long lasting dream of yours:

1. Easy start.
Guitar playing starts out quite easy. Within a couple of weeks you can already play a few songs. As you get better things get more challenging and more exciting.

2. The right motivation
While some children might pick up a guitar to impress others or want to learn just because a friend is playing too, adults tend to be more sincere in their motivation. A sincere motivation will last longer.

3. Reality check
Guitar playing is the best fun there is, but you do need to practice. The more you practice, the better you’ll get at it, the more fun you will have.

4. Advantage of adulthood
As an adult you will have more life experience. You have become smarter, wiser and probably had some emotional baggage along the way. All these things will have impact on your playing and songwriting. You also realize that you can change your life by taking the next step, moving forward, (Making a path by walking) and so create new life opportunities. Children are not always aware of this.

5. Socializing
Guitar playing is a great way to interact and get to know different kinds of people. You can play with other musicians, meet fascinating personalities at workshops or guitar lessons. You can entertain your friends and family or a whole crowd and talk to people about music and guitar playing. A lot of people like music you know :-)

6. Music is emotion
A lot of famous guitar players are not that technical but are brilliant creators. So you don’t have to be an amazing guitar player to play beautiful music. While there is nothing wrong with being a good technical guitar player, in fact it is in your advantage to develop a good technique… in the end you have to move people with your music. You move people by playing the right notes, the right chords and the right melody

7. It’s not about competition
You play guitar because you love it. period. You can learn or be inspired by someone who is amazing but there is no reason you should compete or need to be as good as. Guitar playing and music is not about competition. Don’t let pride get in your way. Play what you love. Create your own style. That is what makes a real musician.

8. Consistency
Children tend to be fickle, because they like to explore and everything is still new to them. While exploring is a good quality, it’s also necessary to stick with something and explore that in order to improve. Adults have the advantage to be more consistent.

9. More reasons
Guitar playing will uplift your spirit. It relieves stress and tension. It’s an amazing feeling to play any song you like or create your own. Guitar playing is absolutely rewarding. You need more reasons? check out: www.guitarhabits.com/?p=199

10. Why shouldn’t you learn to play guitar at any age?
There is no reason why you shouldn’t. This is your time. Set your own pace. Don’t compare yourself with others who started out earlier. What’s the rush. You have all the time you need. You’re never too late to learn.

“We have time, there’s no big rush” - Jimi Hendrix

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