Why must you play the guitar?

Why must you play the guitar?

When I ask folks over 50 this question, the answers usually sound like:

“I’ve wanted to play since I was a kid.”

“I don’t want to leave this world without finally doing it."

“I want to play songs my wife / kids / grandkids recognize.”

“It relaxes me after a long day.”

"I'm getting an early jump against dementia" 

“I just don’t want to feel ‘too old’ to learn something new.”

Mine is similar:

I play guitar so future‑me doesn’t look back and say, “You wasted so much time consuming other people's creativity and instead of contributing your own." 

That’s not my only reason, but it’s a big one.

What’s yours?

Take 30 seconds and actually answer that for yourself.

This little reflection does two things:

1. It reminds you why this matters more than scrolling on your phone.
2. If you’re not playing the songs you want yet, it pokes the frustration you already feel about being stuck.

Most of the students who come to me:

• Spent money on a guitar (or three or four) that mostly sits in the corner
• Watched YouTube videos and tried random apps
• Know a few chords or bits of songs, but can’t really “just play” anything all the way through
• Feel annoyed at themselves for not being further along

Sound familiar?

“I’ve had this guitar for years, and I STILL can’t sit down and play real songs I love.”

I get it. It’s a rough place to be.

It’s the pain of unrealized potential.

From here, most people do one of three things:

1. Quit quietly and tell themselves, “Maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.”
2. Become Guitar Collectors, buying nicer instruments hoping the next one will “make it click.”
3. Become Lesson Collectors, bouncing from video to video, never really finishing anything.

None of those solve the problem.

What works is a simple combo of:

• The right information
• The right actions
• Feedback

Too much random information just leaves you overwhelmed. The right information gives you a clear path.

Nothing changes until you put your fingers on the strings, so taking the right actions (in short, focused sprints) is where progress actually happens.

And when you add feedback, everything speeds up:
“Here’s what to adjust. Here’s what to ignore. Here’s the next song.”

Information + action + feedback.

That’s how a 50+ beginner goes from “I wish I could play” to “I can play 60 songs,” one sprint at a time.

Here's to you learning to play the guitar THIS summer.

Jam soon,

- J.B.

PS - this Saturday I'm opening up registration for our Summer Sprint: 90 Days to Play Guitar. Keep your eyes peeled tomorrow for details on how to learn more.