Is it too late to start learning Jazz guitar at 20?

**chenzhi810** · 03-02-2013, 10:13 PM

I've noticed that most of people started learning it when they were very young. or some have played other types of music before and change to Jazz guitar later.

I have played a little bit electric guitar in rock n' roll style when I was in junior high school. i stopped it after I went to high school, and now i am in college and NEARLY FORGET EVERYTHING !!!

But I really wanna pick it up. I find Jazz sooo attracting so i wanna try it. (At first i listen to smooth jazz, like The Rippingtons & Russ Freeman, Jeff Golub. Then I also listen to European Jazz Trio, Mike Lorenz etc.)

by the way i'm a girl

**jster** · 03-02-2013, 10:57 PM

I don't think it's too late at 80. Remember, music is meant to be played. How could it ever be too late to do something that is so much fun?

**mr. beaumont** · 03-02-2013, 11:01 PM

Hell no! Get playing!

**chenzhi810** · 03-03-2013, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by jster

I don't think it's too late at 80. Remember, music is meant to be played. How could it ever be too late to do something that is so much fun?

Thank you! I don't expect myself to be a guitarist , i just wanna play it to myself and my friends. I'll get start when I'm back to my hometown for summer vacation coz my guitar is there. How long have you been playing this?

**kofblz** · 03-03-2013, 12:14 AM

Too late at 20. Now that's funny.

**docbop** · 03-03-2013, 12:20 AM

If it's in you then do it. Playing Jazz is about lovin' the music and sounds like you do, its a journey that can keep you company for rest of your life. Welcome aboard!

**JakeAcci** · 03-03-2013, 12:23 AM

Never too late. But It is music that takes a while to even get a basic grasp on.

**pierre richard** · 03-03-2013, 12:57 AM

Dust off your axe....pump up the tires...and go for a ride...

Never too late to do anything.....

time on the instrument...

**sunnysideup** · 03-03-2013, 03:15 AM

hi Chenzhi,

you raise a very interesting and subtly provocative question. I can't think of a single major jazz player who didn't start before 20, usually way before 20 - though I haven't done exhaustive research on this and I'm sure there must be some exceptions.

Personally, I would also question the notion that playing jazz is unalloyed fun - it takes a huge amount of time, practice, study and dedication to become a serious player - and the financial rewards are often close to zero.

It doesn't take lot of research to also discover that jazz can be extremely bad for one's health, though possibly not as bad as rock music.

Being a woman you will also encounter a certain amount of resistance in the jazz business (unless perhaps you are a singer), and even on this forum - as a perusal of some of the older threads will show.

Usually this type of question on this forum is asked by people at the other end of the spectrum - "is it too late to start" - and to be honest with you my first impression when I saw your posting was that you were a troll; having re-read your post you seem to be genuine, so assuming you've survied this health warning I wish you all the best in this challenging and rewarding endeavour :-)

**jster** · 03-03-2013, 08:35 AM

It's easier than golf, that's for sure. And a lot less frustrating. I don't remember ever slamming my guitar into the ground!

**jster** · 03-03-2013, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by sunnysideup

hi Chenzhi,

you raise a very interesting and subtly provocative question. I can't think of a single major jazz player who didn't start before 20, usually way before 20 - though I haven't done exhaustive research on this and I'm sure there must be some exceptions.

Personally, I would also question the notion that playing jazz is unalloyed fun - it takes a huge amount of time, practice, study and dedication to become a serious player - and the financial rewards are often close to zero.

It doesn't take lot of research to also discover that jazz can be extremely bad for one's health, though possibly not as bad as rock music.

Being a woman you will also encounter a certain amount of resistance in the jazz business (unless perhaps you are a singer), and even on this forum - as a perusal of some of the older threads will show.

Usually this type of question on this forum is asked by people at the other end of the spectrum - "is it too late to start" - and to be honest with you my first impression when I saw your posting was that you were a troll; having re-read your post you seem to be genuine, so assuming you've survied this health warning I wish you all the best in this challenging and rewarding endeavour :-)

She said she just wants to play for herself and friends. She's not looking to enter the Monk competition.

**kofblz** · 03-03-2013, 08:55 AM

Originally Posted by jster

It's easier than golf, that's for sure. And a lot less frustrating. I don't remember ever slamming my guitar into the ground!

Oh if that were only true for me. I guess it's which one you start first.

**mr. beaumont** · 03-03-2013, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by sunnysideup

hi Chenzhi,

you raise a very interesting and subtly provocative question. I can't think of a single major jazz player who didn't start before 20, usually way before 20 - though I haven't done exhaustive research on this and I'm sure there must be some exceptions.

Personally, I would also question the notion that playing jazz is unalloyed fun - it takes a huge amount of time, practice, study and dedication to become a serious player - and the financial rewards are often close to zero.

It doesn't take lot of research to also discover that jazz can be extremely bad for one's health, though possibly not as bad as rock music.

Being a woman you will also encounter a certain amount of resistance in the jazz business (unless perhaps you are a singer), and even on this forum - as a perusal of some of the older threads will show.

Usually this type of question on this forum is asked by people at the other end of the spectrum - "is it too late to start" - and to be honest with you my first impression when I saw your posting was that you were a troll; having re-read your post you seem to be genuine, so assuming you've survied this health warning I wish you all the best in this challenging and rewarding endeavour :-)

Does this guy know how to PARTY or what?

**jster** · 03-03-2013, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by kofblz

Oh if that were only true for me. I guess it's which one you start first.

OK, how about this one? It's easier than brain surgery.

**M-ster** · 03-03-2013, 10:06 AM

My first thought was, "If I were 20 again ... "

But docbop's opinion also resonated:

Originally Posted by docbop

If it's in you then do it. Playing Jazz is about lovin' the music and sounds like you do, its a journey that can keep you company for rest of your life. Welcome aboard!

**jster** · 03-03-2013, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by mr. beaumont

Does this guy know how to PARTY or what?

And that's the sunny side!

**grahambop** · 03-03-2013, 11:05 AM

Just go for it, don't ever worry about progress or lack thereof, and HAVE FUN!

I started learning jazz at 20 and I'm still learning and still enjoying it!

As a teenager I got bored with playing rock guitar solos after about 5 years, but for over 30 years I have never got bored with jazz improvisation - that's what keeps me going.

Graham

**JakeAcci** · 03-03-2013, 11:11 AM

My understanding is that Wes, Tal, and Ralph Towner all started playing guitar at about 23. Towner had been playing piano and Tal the violin.

Dutchbopper · 03-03-2013, 11:28 AM

I got my first jazz lesson aged 38.

**jster** · 03-03-2013, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Dutchbopper

I got my first jazz lesson aged 38.

That's what I'm talking about!

**Peter C** · 03-03-2013, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by grahambop

Just go for it, don't ever worry about progress or lack thereof, and HAVE FUN!

I started learning jazz at 20 and I'm still learning and still enjoying it!

As a teenager I got bored with playing rock guitar solos after about 5 years, but for over 30 years I have never got bored with jazz improvisation - that's what keeps me going.

Graham

Excellent post!

I'm "well past 40" and didn't start taking a serious (and long-overdue) look at Jazz harmony until a few years ago, after playing all kinds of things, mostly intuitively, prior to that time. Basically, if you hear it and like it, and have good basic ability, you will eventually play it.

BTW, I have not seen any kind of "resistance to women musicians" in this forum ???

**chenzhi810** · 03-03-2013, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by sunnysideup

hi Chenzhi,

you raise a very interesting and subtly provocative question. I can't think of a single major jazz player who didn't start before 20, usually way before 20 - though I haven't done exhaustive research on this and I'm sure there must be some exceptions.

Personally, I would also question the notion that playing jazz is unalloyed fun - it takes a huge amount of time, practice, study and dedication to become a serious player - and the financial rewards are often close to zero.

It doesn't take lot of research to also discover that jazz can be extremely bad for one's health, though possibly not as bad as rock music.

Being a woman you will also encounter a certain amount of resistance in the jazz business (unless perhaps you are a singer), and even on this forum - as a perusal of some of the older threads will show.

Usually this type of question on this forum is asked by people at the other end of the spectrum - "is it too late to start" - and to be honest with you my first impression when I saw your posting was that you were a troll; having re-read your post you seem to be genuine, so assuming you've survied this health warning I wish you all the best in this challenging and rewarding endeavour :-)

Hi,

Thank you for your long reply!

I know Jazz is difficult, that's why I wanna challenge myself and feel the sensation of success. I don't care about the financial rewards. don't wanna go so "professional", just wanna play it for fun as an avocation. If it becomes a way of earning money for me, I'd wonder why I love it and study it.

Jazz is bad for one's health? This sounds interesting! But fine, I also do Martial Arts, hope this can cure

I saw a post suggesting women not play Jazz on your forum. Few women enjoy Jazz and few go for it. Anyway, good music is for all human beings, isn't it?

**chenzhi810** · 03-03-2013, 12:15 PM

Originally Posted by jster

It's easier than golf, that's for sure. And a lot less frustrating. I don't remember ever slamming my guitar into the ground!

I believe if you love something then it doesn't really matter if it's easy or not =P

**chenzhi810** · 03-03-2013, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by grahambop

Just go for it, don't ever worry about progress or lack thereof, and HAVE FUN!

I started learning jazz at 20 and I'm still learning and still enjoying it!

As a teenager I got bored with playing rock guitar solos after about 5 years, but for over 30 years I have never got bored with jazz improvisation - that's what keeps me going.

Graham

Thank you, Graham!

Exactly, I get bored with plenty of music but I find I never get bored listening to those Jazz pieces. Actually, some are even more and more attracting after listening to them 100+ times.

**jazzman1021** · 03-03-2013, 12:50 PM

Go for it. It's never too late to learn anything. My teacherr. started me out at age 12 with Mel Bay and Charlie Parker. LOL.
I later had some classical training. Listen to the music. Listen Listen Listen.

JM1021