G u e s t Posted April 26, 2009 Posted April 26, 2009 . . Yah don't stop playing guitar 'cause you grow old..... .....you grow old because yah stop playing guitar. .
Rosewoody Posted April 26, 2009 Posted April 26, 2009 I'm with ya, except, dammit, I've got a thumb joint that is arguing with me. The hand specialist says it is arthritis in the base of the thumb, and while it is my right hand, it effectively stops me from doing Travis-type fingerpicking. A minor setback at this point, but discomfiting as it is subject to further deterioration! Aaarrgghhh. It could be worse, much worse. I could have an artificial hand after a tour in Iraq or Afghanistan.
ke3ee Posted April 26, 2009 Posted April 26, 2009 As I hit the Big 50 this June I will have to agree....Robb
jgwoods Posted April 26, 2009 Posted April 26, 2009 I figure my last stop will be playing dobro with a flatpick. Tape the bar to one hand, glue the flatpick to the other- no fingers needed.
EdgarHF Posted April 26, 2009 Posted April 26, 2009 I figure my last stop will be playing dobro with a flatpick. Tape the bar to one hand' date=' glue the flatpick to the other- no fingers needed. [/quote'] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qck-s79efuw
onewilyfool Posted April 26, 2009 Posted April 26, 2009 Have any of you guys seen pics of Django Rheinhardt's hand? He was in a fire, and they had to fuse his fingers together on his chording hand and he was left with a thumb and a webbed hand with basically two fingers.....I think all of us will be playing until they pry the Gibsons out of our rigormortised hands.....Keep pluckin' friends. By the way, I've read that the older you get, if you can learn new things like music, languages, hobbies involving eye/hand coordination, that actually NEW brain cells and synapses form. So keep playing,....keep playing
Rosewoody Posted April 26, 2009 Posted April 26, 2009 Django's story is nothing short of amazing. As you point out Wily, playing an instrument helps ward off the evils of brain decay. It also offsets some of the damaging effects of youthful over-indulgence. I hope.
vagabond Posted April 26, 2009 Posted April 26, 2009 I know how you guys feel, I hit the big TWO ONE in a month and I've already got RA in my hands :/ Here's hoping that Aleve sells in bulk, because I can't imagine the day when I can't fret a G major chord. Les Paul is an inspiration to me for this reason.
Hall Posted April 26, 2009 Posted April 26, 2009 Huh? You're all just a bunch of kids next to, well next to, well next to some forum members. Whats that, huh? Steve
TWilson Posted April 26, 2009 Posted April 26, 2009 I know how you guys feel' date=' I hit the big TWO ONE in a month and I've already got RA in my hands :/ Here's hoping that Aleve sells in bulk, because I can't imagine the day when I can't fret a G major chord. Les Paul is an inspiration to me for this reason.[/quote'] The "Big Two One" !!!! That's funny and an oxymoron. I know a guy from Kent who reports wearing underwear older than that. Be happy about your age. You're a lucky S.O.B. my friend with many happy years of picking and strumming ahead of you. Rosewoody - don't worry about the youthful overindulgence. It's like natural selection. Brain cells are like a heard of Elk. Only the weak ones die leaving the others to grow and prosper. I can't remember where I heard that. In fact, I can't remember where I parked my truck! Ha.
grampa Posted April 27, 2009 Posted April 27, 2009 I'm 62 and have been playing since 1962 without any breaks. There was a couple of months in 1985 when I had some thumb problems but that is OK now and I will probably die with a guitar in my hands, hopefully. I would likely die if I couldn't play.
G u e s t Posted April 27, 2009 Author Posted April 27, 2009 . . Yeah - grampa knows the score. Respect to you grampa. .
rar Posted April 27, 2009 Posted April 27, 2009 Anne and I are going to see Bill Tapia in concert tonight. We've seen him a few times before, and he puts on a great show. Bill's 101 years old, and he's on the road promoting his new album. He took up the ukulele as a kid in Hawaii, before WW I, and tells stories of entertaining returning troops for small change. He grew up to become a professional jazz guitarist in LA and played with some of the greats, but also taught some uke on the side -- his students included Bing Crosby, Shirley Temple, and Clark Gable among many others. After retiring as a guitarist, he went back to the uke full time, and finally got around to recording his first solo album at the age of 98. He has some physical problems, including fairly advanced arthritis in his hands, but he's still a fine player, by any standard. He tells a story about once playing a concert after having broken a finger on his fretting hand -- he admits it hurt, but says that you can't let a little thing like that stop you when you have a show to do. How's that for inspiration, fellow aging boomers? -- Bob R
Jerry K Posted April 27, 2009 Posted April 27, 2009 Speaking of ukes, I happened to catch the 1937 movie, Stage Door, on TCM recently. In it Ginger Rogers plays the uke, and plays quite well, I thought. Probably learned it from Bill.
Taylor Player Posted April 27, 2009 Posted April 27, 2009 Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough. Groucho Marx
onewilyfool Posted April 29, 2009 Posted April 29, 2009 A great wise man once said....(or was it a wise guy???).......TIME is a great teacher.......unfortunately, all of his students die.
TheLiveSoundGuy Posted April 29, 2009 Posted April 29, 2009 Age is not a particularly interesting subject. Anyone can get old. All you have to do is live long enough. Groucho Marx I resemble that remark!
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