blugraz - Posted - 05/07/2012:  15:40:55

63 yrs here....noodled around for 3,......stopp'n 'n start'n.......banjo lay under bed  in case......smel'n me for 10yrs!

Getting serious now!...... 2nd life just start'n and its great!

Bless d banjo!

Sean.

Edited by - blugraz on 05/07/2012 15:45:47

Klondike Waldo - Posted - 05/07/2012:  16:55:06

I started banjo at age 56, but I have been  musician since i was a teenager, primarily on wind instruments.

banjerman - Posted - 05/07/2012:  17:00:26

The implication of "late in life" is one I will avoid. I started at age 50 after a brief start at age 21 lasted 1 yr. Im happy to say I stuck with it and play in a weekend warrior band.

Wally

Hankon5 - Posted - 05/07/2012:  17:15:09

In looking at all the reponses I am taken back as to how many of us started later in life. Many responded that they have become avid pickers and love the banjo!! This is great! When I started this thread I did not expect this input this fast! Bluegrass/Banjo has played a large part of my life these last 3 years. I am encouraged that I am not alone in later pickin'. So many of you have had simular reasons for picking up the 5 and sticking to it. I would guess that most who try give it up in a short time. You and I have succeeded to follow our dreams no matter the age because bluegrass/banjo and apple pie are now part of our fabric. Will  I ever become just 1/2 as good as Earl, I doubt it,but it will be fun to believe I can. And oh what a time we will all have, to be the best we can be!!

Edited by - Hankon5 on 05/07/2012 17:19:04

pcfive - Posted - 05/07/2012:  17:27:14

I started piano when I was 8 and guitar when I was 11. I also started learning accordion and mandolin. Later, when I was 30, I started trying to learn fiddle. I always wanted to learn every instrument I could, especially string instruments. I was over 50 when I started banjo, and I was over 55 when I got serious about it. I guess about 4 years ago I decided bluegrass banjo would be the first instrument I make a real effort to learn, and I have been.

I doubt anyone believed someone my age could learn such a hard instrument, but I have been working so hard at this. I made real progress in less than four years, which isn't really all that long. I am just getting to the point where I feel I almost have the basics learned, somewhat. When I record myself it no longer sounds like random noise. 

I love to jam and that has been a really great motivator. You practice more when you're trying to get a song learned to play at a jam session. And I hear a lot of great songs at jam sessions I never knew about. 

Most of the people at the jam sessions I go to are around my age (50s, 60s) Some of them have been playing all their lives, others started recently.

This is something you can start late in life, if the goal is to have fun. It is a lot of work though.

dunaif - Posted - 05/07/2012:  17:31:37

I'm 60 now and this July I'll celebrate my 2nd anniversary of playing (or, rather, learning to play) the banjo. I've played other instruments (mostly electric bass guitar as an adult...), but I'm totally in love with the banjo!

--Donna

banjodawg - Posted - 05/07/2012:  17:41:20

I was almost 50!  Just came in from the front porch where I was playing a few tunes before a late dinner.  I only wish I had more time to play!

jswkingsfield - Posted - 05/07/2012:  19:55:05

Started at 47.  When apprised of my new hobby, 73-year-old father intoned, "Mid-life crisis."  Nolo contendre.

MikeR - Posted - 05/07/2012:  23:12:57

Like alot of others here, started at 52. Had one in the closet for 25 years before that, with a do it yourself book. Tried to figure it out once a year or so, then put it back in the closet. Didn't really have time to put in anyway. Always wanted to but needed a teacher to get me rolling.

Retired, I saw a guy play in Flat Ridge VA with a local group and that flipped the switch. Made up my mind right there I was going whole hog into it and been going like hell ever since. If I had known how hard it was going to be, I might have passed. Glad no one told me!

No big goals, just to be the best I can be and have a ball doing it. And wishing I had started as a kid with all the greats around in NC and VA to have learned from.

1bkjolly - Posted - 05/08/2012:  02:43:32

I started this past January at 50 years old. It is a lot harder than I thought it would be, but more fun than I thought too. My doctor says it helped lower my blood pressure so that was good too.

OM45GE - Posted - 05/08/2012:  03:04:52

I started guitar at 14 and banjo at 16 - in 1967. It felt like a ripe old age at the time.

cdnbanjo - Posted - 05/08/2012:  07:25:33

Started at 49 last year, some days are good, some are just practice. It drives my kids crazy so I love it.

TLHebe - Posted - 05/08/2012:  07:40:35

Wow! So glad I'm not alone here. :) I just turned 51 and started the banjo just 7 days ago and couldn't be happier. It's hard to put it down!

jackg - Posted - 05/08/2012:  08:16:56

Hi All-

Stated a year ago at 60. Looks like I am in good company!

No desire to jam, just love the music.

jack

meveral3 - Posted - 05/08/2012:  09:59:54

I am the only picker in my family mainly the mandolin and a little guitar . At age 60 my sister gave her husband's five string . It has been a couple of months and not progressing very well . Next weekend is local bluegrass jam will take it with me and seek some much needed help.

Hank2 - Posted - 05/08/2012:  10:07:06

Gee wizz, I thought I was all alone, I started only a few months ago at the ripe old age of 67. I can't find a banjo instructor anyplace near by but have been working out of a book by Dennis Caplinger. So far I have gotten up to Cripple Creek but seem to be at a lull in my progress. I can't think of anything I get more enjoyment out of unless it would be my beagle Trixie

Archaic - Posted - 05/08/2012:  10:24:55

I teach chess to kids and play tournament chess and its pretty well established in the chess world that if someone has not at least reached the expert level by the age of 12, they will never make master. Almost all grandmasters (top 1k in the world or so) were already seasoned players by their 10th birthday. I've never met a chess master that picked the game up later than their early teens.

While the banjo and chess are certainly apples to oranges, I'm fairly surprised (and encouraged) by this thread. I'm 40 and I just started with fairly low expectations due to what I perceived as my advanced age. You guys have given me renewed hope. Perhaps this old dog CAN learn a new trick.

ronbrown1947 - Posted - 05/08/2012:  12:50:00

65, started 5 months ago but picked Guitar for most of my life, fairly easy transition since I finger picked the Guitar, one less string to worry about.  I would like to find the guy that invented the 1 1/4" nut, must have been the girly type.

Larry121047 - Posted - 05/08/2012:  13:06:38

I started December 30th 2011. I am 64 and it has been a trip to say the least. I have learned 4 songs that I can play and they sound good and others like it when I play them, they just have to be in another room where I cannot see them and then I can play. I have an extreme case of nerves in front of people. I have accepted this challenge of playing with my Church Choir later this month. After reading all the comments on this topic I do not feel as old because there are those here who have started later in life than I. However, I am troubled by the one post that read you need 5 years and 5,000 hours before you are stage ready. Gosh, I hope they meant stage ready as in "to perform as a solo artist for cash" because later this month will only be almost 5 months of playing. I have added up the hours of practice and it comes to 122 hours of practice. I am a little short on the 5,000 hours.

edsnyder - Posted - 05/08/2012:  13:31:33

You will be fine Larry.  Just remember, none of the people watching had the gumprion to do what you are doing.  I remember the first time I played in front of others.  I had sweat dripping off of the end of my nose, and got real lightheaded.  Oh yea, I gotta remember to breathe.

So, just remember to breathe.

Ed e

Peanutscreams - Posted - 05/08/2012:  13:54:42

I started playing at the age off 54 -

"It's never too late to become what you could have been". Don't know who originally quoted that, but I like it.

Butch B.

Dieselten - Posted - 05/08/2012:  18:54:51

I began banjo at 60 but I've been playing pedal-steel and Dobro since the mid 70s (with some time off due to work and associated lifestyle constraints).

Dobro naturally leads to banjo because of the similarities in the Open-G tuning on the Dobro, especially with Bluegrass players. I use the same tuning for country playing, and actually played Bluegrass Dobro for a while in the 70s. I'm wondering why I took so long to add the 5-string to the "menagerie". Dobro and banjo complement each other well; I even use the same picks for each (although my finger-picks for pedal-steel are shaped differently).

Another reason for taking up the banjo is one of the bands I work with needs to have a different and distinctive sound so it stands out amongst the rest of the bands doing the rounds in my local area. Steel, Dobro and banjo are essentially backup instruments to me, although an intro, tasteful ending or a lead-break is handy and tends to relieve some of the burden from the guitar-players...if you can prise the musical opportunities away from them, that is!

I intend my banjo-playing to add to the sound of the band without taking away anything from the vocalist or the other musicians. It doesn't need much, just the right licks played at the right place with the right timing. If I do it properly the effect will be out of all proportion to how little I actually played.

krt - Posted - 05/08/2012:  19:01:17

I started in 1980 and took lessons for a couple years. Put it away and ended up selling the banjo. Had a Vega. I was 33 in 1980. Now I am 64 and going to try it again. Got in touch with my teacher from the first time. Hadn't talked to him since late 80's. How cool is that. Doug Covington. Hope he don't mind. He is good. I get my banjo tomorrow.

Hankon5 - Posted - 05/08/2012:  20:19:27

quote:

---

Originally posted by krt

I started in 1980 and took lessons for a couple years. Put it away and ended up selling the banjo. Had a Vega. I was 33 in 1980. Now I am 64 and going to try it again. Got in touch with my teacher from the first time. Hadn't talked to him since late 80's. How cool is that. Doug Covington. Hope he don't mind. He is good. I get my banjo tomorrow.

---

 Congrats my friend!  Same instructor--wow!!!!!!

BJD - Posted - 05/08/2012:  21:25:54

50...last August.  My wife calls my banjo "The Mistress".  

piwo1960 - Posted - 05/09/2012:  08:29:58

I have played wind instruments since the age of 10. Started my love affair with the banjo about 4 months ago at the age of 51 and having the time of my life.

Stevewed - Posted - 05/09/2012:  08:34:18

Got a banjo for my 41st birthday last summer. Been playing every day since.

dzen - Posted - 05/10/2012:  08:30:06

I didn't start banjo late in life, I started when I was 57, about 2 months ago.

allen_m - Posted - 05/10/2012:  11:05:05

Banjo was an early birthday gift from my wife celebrating my 51st birthday- next week.

DeanT - Posted - 05/10/2012:  12:16:56

Got my first banjo at 44. I’ve always had a guitar in the corner. Learned three chords and the pentatonic scale over 30 years ago. Went to open G on guitar maybe 20 years ago. Played a lot of rock and blues, never got too serious. Tried a friend’s banjo at the young age of 44, and was hooked. Loved it so much, I started taking it very serious. It’s changed my life.

OldTimeGal - Posted - 05/10/2012:  12:20:25

Age is a matter of perspective - when you're young at heart, nothing is ever too late.  I started later in chronological years, but my heart is still young.

Old Time Young Gal

arohdhtr - Posted - 05/10/2012:  18:27:30

I'm 61 years old and after reading everyone's comments I see I'm in the same boat as well. I've had a banjo for 40 years and tried over the years to teach myself Scruggs-style off and on. It just seemed so hard that I'd get frustrated and quit for awhile. Course working rotating shifts for 20 + years had a negative effect on free time as well. After I retired,  I decided about a year and a half ago that learning an instrument was still something I needed to do. So I contacted a local teacher, whose bluegrass band I'd seen perform several times over the years. He played everything in the band so the first time I went I mentioned that I wanted to learn the guitar although the banjo was still my favorite. He suggested I bring it along next time. Long story short, I've been taking lessons for guitar, mandolin, and banjo ever since. My goals were just to be able to play a few of my favorite songs, well, on each of them, and I'm getting there. I'm really enjoying them all and have just started working on clawhammer style as well. Like a lot of others, I wish I'd started years ago but it's never too late IMO. And it does keep the old brain cells active!

dfltil - Posted - 05/10/2012:  23:11:52

I started with a Fender banjo in November 2011 at age 68. I couldn't read a note of music but had a great instructor. Now I'm 69 and can play notation music pretty good, almost any song in the song books to where you can recognize the tune. I recently purchased a Gibson banjo and am now taking bluegrass lessons so I can play the songs with more p-zazz. (is that a word?)

I practice 2 or more hours a day and have a couple 3 chord songbooks with over 100 songs that I play every day. Most of the time with no errors. I am looking for some neighborhood kids that I can jam with so I can improve more quickly.

Like everyone here, I wish that I could have started earlier. I'm not a good player and probably never will be, but I love my banjo!

don

Bertie Wooster - Posted - 05/11/2012:  02:47:31

quote:

---

Originally posted by Unclouie

Ya'll inspire me, I thought age 43 was late start. 

---

 Like wise, I'm 43 and started a few weeks ago!

Jonny R - Posted - 05/11/2012:  16:08:20

I started last year at age 51. I've played around with acoustic guitar since I was 16, never very seriously. I thought that gave me an advantage. I am working a little harder with this banjo thing and it is helping me with the guitar as well.

pcfive - Posted - 05/12/2012:  17:01:41

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jonny R

I started last year at age 51. I've played around with acoustic guitar since I was 16, never very seriously. I thought that gave me an advantage. I am working a little harder with this banjo thing and it is helping me with the guitar as well.

---

I think people either get obsessed or give up. So make sure you get obsessed!!

Hankon5 - Posted - 05/12/2012:  17:18:59

quote:

---

Originally posted by pcfive

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jonny R

I started last year at age 51. I've played around with acoustic guitar since I was 16, never very seriously. I thought that gave me an advantage. I am working a little harder with this banjo thing and it is helping me with the guitar as well.

---

I think people either get obsessed or give up. So make sure you get obsessed!!

---

 I couldn't have said it better!!! It doesn't take a village to raise my banjo--it takes OBSESSION!!!!

Doc1970 - Posted - 05/13/2012:  20:31:08

41 here and just bought my first banjo about a month ago. Teaching myself at the moment, but plan on taking some lessons later this year when my work schedule allows more practice time. I too felt as if I were starting late in life and am encouraged by all of the comments from everyone. I have no delusions of grandeur; I started picking for MY enjoyment.

NCjones - Posted - 05/14/2012:  10:51:20

45

kc8tby - Posted - 05/15/2012:  00:22:10

I'm a young'en compared to some of you guys and gals....
I'm just 59 (be 60 this July!).
I was told by a lot of folks both here at BJH as well as elsewhere that you are NEVER too old to start somethng new!
Best of luck to all of us "older rookies!"
:)

banjogeezer - Posted - 05/15/2012:  11:54:42

Started the banjo at 61. It's been on my knee ever since.

Logtown - Posted - 05/15/2012:  14:21:59

Have played music since I was a teenager but am just now adding the banjo and starting to learn at 52! We never get too old to learn!

cb777 - Posted - 05/15/2012:  15:29:06

quote: Don't believe that "5 years and 5,000 hours" stuff. There is no way to quantify when a person will be "stage" ready as people vary and "stages" vary as well. I've just started back trying to seriously playing scruggs style and I am about half-way through "Foggy Mountain Breakdown". I won't have any reservation about getting on a stage once I'm finished with it. I was "stage" ready in the clawhammer/frailing style about 2 weeks after starting last year and have performed 3 times. I am 49 years old. Besides God's grace, of course, it really all boils down to practice time and adaptation (muscle memory) nothing else.     

---

Originally posted by Phil - MO

Very interesting post.

I tried in the early 1980's for a short time but with two in college and working two jobs to pay for it I didn't last long.  At 69 and retired to raising beef cattle I started seriously playing 3 to 4 hours a day. A lady that plays on stage and is active in bluegrass activities told me that it will take 5 years and 5,000 hours before a person is stage ready if starting from scratch. I now have about 3 years and over 3,000 hours in and can keep up with the big boys on a lot of songs at jam sessions (not stage ready yet).  I'm going to get there if I don't die first or my wife kills me for making so much noise all hours of the day and night.

---

phrogpilot - Posted - 05/15/2012:  19:29:54

quote:

---

Originally posted by Ira Gitlin

A lot of my students have started playing banjo in their 40s, 50s, 60s, or even 70s. (One of my best students currently is 72 and has been playing for two years.) Many have some prior musical experience, but not all of them by any means. It's never too late!

---

Thanks, Ira!  I'm my own worst enemy.  You inspire me.  I love learning the banjo...someday, I might just be able to play it.

Dennis7 - Posted - 05/15/2012:  19:55:35

I think age might just be a state of mind. My dad who lives in Niagara Falls is 83, I just bought him a banjo , and he love learning. When I call and ask if he s been practicing , his reply is always, every day son . Never to late , Never to early

Charlie Sometimes - Posted - 05/15/2012:  22:28:44

I started last summer at 49 during my divorce for therapy, am 50 now. I don't know what to consider "late in life" these days, but may be as late as anything else one can do, I guess. LOL

Jacques Desrosiers - Posted - 05/15/2012:  22:32:51

I started a few days shy of my 52nd birthday and I've been playing for five years.  I started with a few lessons (clawhammer) and on the day of my first lesson, coincidentally my Larson Far Side calendar cartoon was the one where the maestro goes to hell and is introduced by the devil to his new orchestra - gormless looking banjo players - I've had that picture framed and it hangs on my study wall.  My wife thinks I love my banjo more than her which is ridiculous - I love them equally but in a fire the banjo would probably need more help in getting out than she would.

idmiller17 - Posted - 05/16/2012:  05:07:01

Retired at 68. Started banjo at 69. Mandolin added at 71. Fiddle at 72. Now 73, and working hard to keep the three balls up in the air! Background in music has helped, as has lessons and jamming.

Don Rahelich - Posted - 05/16/2012:  06:27:03

I started in my mid-sixties.  Still working so don't have enough to practice as much as I would like.  Also, these old hands don't move as well as they used to.  That said, it's one of the best things I've done.  Enjoy the music and the people I meet.  Banjo picking is good for the soul.