Is It Too Late to Learn Guitar at 50 or 60? An Honest Answer
The short answer: No. It is not too late to learn guitar at 50 or 60, or even at 70. Your fingers can learn chord shapes at any age.
Start with a few easy open chords, play a few minutes most days, and pick songs you already love. That is what moves you forward, at any age.
If you're asking this, you're not the only one. Type "is it too late to learn guitar" into Google, and it fills in "at 50" for you.
Maybe you had a guitar years ago and put it down. Maybe you always wanted to play and never had the time. Either way, you can start now.
I'm Marty McLean. I've taught guitar for years and reached more than 500,000 people online. Here is my honest answer, with the good parts and the hard parts.
In this post:
- Why it's not too late to learn guitar at 50 or 60
- What's harder when you start later, and what helps
- The 4 chords to learn first, and the songs they play
- How to start learning guitar this week
- Questions people ask about learning guitar later in life
Why it's not too late to learn guitar at 50 or 60
Guitar is a skill, and skills come from practice. There is no age when your hands stop being able to learn a G chord. You also bring a few things to the guitar that a teenager doesn't have.
- You know the songs. You've heard them for years. When you know how a song should sound, you can hear when you get it right.
- You know why you're doing it. You're not trying to impress anyone. You're learning because you want to play.
- You may have more time. A lot of people pick up the guitar when the kids are grown or work slows down.
- You've learned hard things before. You know that slow, steady work pays off.
It's not too late. Here's a gentle way in...
Try the first lesson free →
Start for free today. No credit card needed.
Marty
What's harder when you start later, and what helps
Some things can feel harder when you start in your 50s or 60s. I'm not going to hide that from you. The good news is that each one has a simple fix.
| What feels hard | What helps |
|---|---|
| Sore fingertips | Play in short sessions. Your fingertips get tougher with time, and the soreness fades. |
| Stiff hands | Warm up with a few slow chord shapes, and take breaks. |
| Big stretches on some chords | Start with open chords near the top of the neck. Leave barre chords for later. |
| Feeling slow | Compare yourself to last week, not to a player on YouTube. |
| Finding time | Five to ten minutes on most days is enough to start. |
If a joint hurts (not just your fingertips), talk to your doctor. Guitar should never give you a sharp pain.
If you travel a lot, here's how to keep your guitar calluses while you're away from home.
The 4 chords to learn first, and the songs they play
Start with G, C, D and E minor. In the JamFast songbook, more than 100 songs use only these four chords from start to finish. That is a lot of music from four shapes.
Here are four songs to try with them. None of them needs a capo.
| Song | Chords | Why it's a good start |
|---|---|---|
| Ring of Fire (Johnny Cash) | G, C, D | Only three chords |
| The Dance (Garth Brooks) | G, C, D, Em | A slow song, so you have time to change |
| Wonderful Tonight (Eric Clapton) | G, D, C, Em | Slow and steady, with all four chords |
| I Won't Back Down (Tom Petty) | Em, D, G, C | A steady beat that is easy to follow |
Each song links to its page in the free JamFast songbook. Every page shows the chord shapes, the key and a short practice plan. For 10 more, here are easy guitar songs for older beginners.
How to start learning guitar this week
You don't need a big plan. These five steps are enough to get you going.
- Tune your guitar. A free tuner app on your phone works fine.
- Learn one chord at a time. Start with G or E minor. Strum it slowly and check that each string rings.
- Practice one change. Once you know two chords, switch slowly back and forth between them. Here is how to switch chords faster.
- Play a few minutes most days. Short practice on most days does more than one long session a week.
- Play a real song early. Even a slow, rough Ring of Fire feels great. Here is a practice plan for your first songs.
I also post free lessons on my YouTube channel. If you want more structure, try this simple daily guitar practice routine.
"I'm 74 and retired and I finally have the time."
A JamFast customer, verified Trustpilot review
Would you like someone to tell you what to practice each day? That is what the Jam Path in JamFast does. It's like Duolingo for guitar. You play a few minutes a day, one small step at a time. When you're ready, you strum along with a band.
Start for free today. No credit card needed.
Questions people ask about learning guitar later in life
Can you learn guitar at 70?
Yes. The steps are the same as at 50 or 60. Start with open chords, keep your sessions short, and play songs you love.
Is acoustic or electric guitar easier for an older beginner?
Either one works. Electric guitars often have lighter strings, so they can be kinder to sore fingertips. Pick the one that plays the music you love.
How long should I practice each day?
Five to fifteen minutes is a good start. Playing on most days matters more than playing for a long time.
Will my fingers hurt when I start?
Your fingertips will likely be sore at first. That is normal, and it fades as they toughen up. Keep your first sessions short.
Marty McLean is a guitar teacher and the founder of JamFast. He has taught guitar for years and reached more than 500,000 people online.