• terp53
  • Junior Member
  • Offline
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2009-05-04
  • Posts: 5

Topic: New Member

Hello Chordies,
This is a great forum and web site for old guys like me learning to play the guitar all over again. Its been nearly 40 years since I played. My 8 year old grandson is taking guitar lessons so I felt this would be a good excuse to buy a guitar and start playing again.

What I have discovered is that my fingers are not as agile as they use to be so I am retraining my mind and coordination.
Does anyone have any suggestions for finger exercises that may help?

Thanks,
Darrell

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2007-02-08
  • Posts: 1,914

Re: New Member

Hey Darrell, Welcome to Chordie!! It's great to have you aboard! As for finger exercises, I'd say scales are the way to go. They're great finger exercise and educational as well smile If you don't mind me asking, What part of the state are you from? We have a few regulars here from NC. -Pix

[b][color=#FF0000]If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something.
[/color][/b]         [b]Peace of mind. That's my piece of mind...[/b]

Guitarpix's Website

  • terp53
  • Junior Member
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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2009-05-04
  • Posts: 5

Re: New Member

Thanks Guitarpix, I live in Greensboro, NC. Live here about 16 years now. The wife and I really like the area.

  • From: Madeira Beach, Florida
  • Registered: 2007-12-05
  • Posts: 3,312

Re: New Member

Welcome to Chordie Terp - I live in Lewisville (just west of Winston-Salem).

justinguitar has some finger exercises you may find helpful

http://www.justinguitar.com/en/TE-000-Technique.php

Rule No. 1 - If it sounds good - it is good!
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2007-02-08
  • Posts: 1,914

Re: New Member

Nice area! I'm about 2 1/2 hrs southeast of you, in a little town called Chadbourn about 45 minutes from the coast. If you're ever in the area, my doors always open to a fellow Chordians smile Best of luck with the guitar and hope to continue seeing you in the forums! -Pix

[b][color=#FF0000]If your brain is part of the process, you're missing it. You should play like a drowning man, struggling to reach shore. If you can trap that feeling, then you have something.
[/color][/b]         [b]Peace of mind. That's my piece of mind...[/b]

Guitarpix's Website

  • terp53
  • Junior Member
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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2009-05-04
  • Posts: 5

Re: New Member

Thanks for the link Top. Good exercises for the old fingers.

Darrell

  • KajiMa
  • Senior Member
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  • From: Glastonbury
  • Registered: 2009-03-24
  • Posts: 608

Re: New Member

Hey Terp53, welcome aboard.

You're never too old to pick up the guitar.................................................again.

Brian May (Queen) recommends to do a scale with repeats (don't know what it's called, but can do it - sort of).

With the scale for C, C being 1, D being 2, E being 3, etc, play 1, 2, 3, 4, - 2, 3, 4, 5, - 3, 4, 5, 6,  etc.

And the same back down - 8, 7, 6, 5, - 7, 6, 5, 4, - 6, 5, 4, 3, etc.

What ever you do do it slowly at first building on technique and let it grow from there.

<-----<< On an even field, only talent prevails! >>----->
   Gans Gwarak da yn dorn yu lel, gwyr lowen an golon!
        >>-----> [color=#FF0000]Rudhes[/color] hag [color=yellow]Owres[/color], Kajima <-----<<
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 2,662

Re: New Member

Hi terp53 andw welcome to chordie. The previous posts are very helpful and inciteful. Here's something for you unwrap and play with as well;
http://12bar.de/scale_generator.php
Hope you like it!

Peace and Guitars,
SouthPaw41L

Give everything but up.
  • From: Renfrewshire, Scotland
  • Registered: 2006-03-04
  • Posts: 1,359

Re: New Member

Don't worry about your fingers loosening (?) off. It'll happen and you won't even know it. There are a few of us on the forum who have come back to playing after a long lay-off. I think it's been much more enjoyable this time around. Maybe that's down to Chordie and just the sheer enjoyment of playing for fun. Enjoy it, your grandson will now see you as a guitar hero. Brilliant.

Is anything really made up of zeros and ones??

alvee33's Website

  • From: East sussex, UK
  • Registered: 2008-01-29
  • Posts: 690

Re: New Member

Welcome to Chordie, Darrell, you are never too old to enjoy playing the guitar. Just don't frighten the horses!

" Old Guy is Rocking"
Simon & Patrick Pro Flamed Maple (mmm, nice...)
Norman ST68 acoustic
  • terp53
  • Junior Member
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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2009-05-04
  • Posts: 5

Re: New Member

alvee33 wrote:

Don't worry about your fingers loosening (?) off. It'll happen and you won't even know it. There are a few of us on the forum who have come back to playing after a long lay-off. I think it's been much more enjoyable this time around. Maybe that's down to Chordie and just the sheer enjoyment of playing for fun. Enjoy it, your grandson will now see you as a guitar hero. Brilliant.

Yea, they get better each day I play. I find playing to be quite relaxing.
I get a kick out of jamming with my grandson Jake. He can read the actual sheet music and pick every note without a miss. I'm impressed to say the least.

Darrell

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-03-29
  • Posts: 953

Re: New Member

Hi Terp53,

  Another neigbor here I'm outside of the Lexington/Thomasville area, as GuitarPix said there are a few of us from North Carolina, Topdown is close by also. It's great to have you aboard, the North Carolina contingency is growing!

     Cam

Keep a fire burning in your eyes
Pay attention to the open sky
You never know what will be coming down
  • aabb
  • Senior Member
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  • From: MI
  • Registered: 2009-02-27
  • Posts: 129

Re: New Member

I love hearing of someone jamming with a grandchild.  cool    Welcome aboard terp53.

Ron
  • terp53
  • Junior Member
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  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2009-05-04
  • Posts: 5

Re: New Member

Sounds like there are quite a few guitar pickers here in North Carolina. Thanks to all for your help and advise. Great site and forum with a lot of knowledgeable musicians.

Darrell

  • Zurf
  • Zurf
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  • From: Virginia, USA
  • Registered: 2007-06-27
  • Posts: 7,522

Re: New Member

Welcome.

Granted B chord amnesty by King of the Mutants (Long live the king).
If it comes from the heart and you add a few beers... it'll be awesome! - Mekidsmom
When in doubt ... hats. - B.G. Dude