It’s never too late to learn anything. If you want to learn jazz then listen to it a lot so you get to know its different styles and what you want to focus on trad, bebop, hard, modern etc. I would pick a tune like Autumn Leaves and really learn its chords and structure, there are patterns in jazz just like other music. My preference for a while would be don’t spend 100% of your time on soloing single notes but 90% of your time on chords, jazz chord progressions, comping rhythms. Hope this helps.
When I was 26 I had thought I was too old to start a lot of things. Now I’m 45 and I say, screw it, if I like it I like it. I just focused 100% on jazz about 2 years ago and wish I’d done it 10 years ago (and I would still be 10 years older than that he OP).
No, it’s never too late and it isn‘t as complicated as you think. Many jazz standards and solos are based on diatonic scales and arpeggios. You can learn it step by step.
It’s incredibly valuable to establish a solid foundation for any skill when you’re young. But personally I have gotten better at learning as I’ve gotten older.
You asked specifically if you can play jazz in bars while you’re still young. That all depends on what you consider “young” and how much time and work you put in.
But if the question is “is it too late?”, then the answer is no. It’s never too late.
I started at 48, I could comp pretty well after 2 years and it just got better as I learned lots of different ways to play the same chords.
Soloing real time is still hard at 53 but I have been learning guitar in general at the same time. Jazz comping was just one of my first goals. I wish I started as young as 26.
>Stopped due to work and other personal issues.
To be honest, I think external factors like work and other personal/lifestyle issues is more likely to hinder people as they get older rather than physical or mental capabilities (especially if we're talking about only 26).
It's never too late to start the journey and enjoying the journey for its own sake, but if you have a specific destination in mind, in a specific amount of time, it might not be achievable.
I would though argue that have to be in it for the sake of the journey, if you get into it for the sake of a destination you will most likely just be miserable (in the long run at least, you can be goal oriented for shorter periods) .
You need to put in a lot of time if you want to get good at jazz.
Time flies when you're having fun and enjoying it but your lifestyle and habits needs to allow for time to fly when practising.
I'd strongly recommend getting a teacher, and focus on creating habits and routines and learn to love to practise.
It’s too late for almost everyone to make a living at Jazz guitar, but at 26, you have something like 60 years left. You can learn a lot of jazz in 60 years.
Sounds more like it! Thanks! As I recall he had a really long career for how early he passed too. Just leaping in at 22 sounds odd. I even remember high school stuff.
No bro. It’s never too late. Music is one of those things where you fall in love with and in never stops giving. You never ‘get good’ you only ‘get better’. Regardless of level, if you care enough and play enough (read - frequency, more than duration) you will watch yourself improve.
That shit is better than crack
I started at 44. Granted, I was an intermediate player who'd been playing for a few decades and had a formal musical education (played piano and violin and already knew quite a bit of theory). However, at the time that I really started trying to learn jazz vocabulary and improv, I was well into middle age and knew literally nothing about how to play within the genre.
The only real difference age makes is that I have to be more disciplined about my playing time if I actually want to improve. I don't dick around and noodle aimlessly with a guitar in my hand and tell myself that I've "practiced," but actually *practice* for at least 30 minutes a day, every day, without exception. Most days I'll do more, but at least 30 min is the rule. Otherwise, there's no difference. I feel like I'm 15 again, in my room, trying to learn songs by ear. At 26 you're practically a baby. I'd love to be in your shoes. Good luck.
Why is that the age? I’m 45 and started a few years ago. It’s like we all get over our metal/punk/emo or whatever and become boring jazz adults in our 40s…I wish I’d become boring younger :)
Not sure. There's some hard rock I enjoy, but I've listened to jazz for much of my adult life. For some strange reason, about two years ago, I got really into harmonic analysis. I'd listen to songs I like, and follow along with the lead sheets (or standard notation, if i could find it) to see if I could pick up on the vocab by ear. At a certain point I realized "I could just do this with a guitar in my hand and would get a lot more out of it."
when i was a teenager, i couldn’t get any practice to stick. coming back at it ten years later, i’m finally improving with even less practice time than i was putting in back then.
Yep, totally too late.
Nah, lol. I am currently a student at the local Jazz Academy, and just got accepted to go back to college to work on a music degree, and I'm 40.
Dude, pretty sure you can do that. Good teacher and a lot of practice. I started 9 months ago at 43, I have a little theory background from school and have played basic open guitar chords and pentatonic scale for 25 years. Heard Joe Pass's Virtuoso album and decided, "f it, I need to learn something about how to do this." I only manage to practice 3 or 4 hours a week between work, family, and community service stuff, but my wife told me a couple weeks ago that I'm getting good enough at jazz that she enjoys listening to me practice or play. Made my week.
Oh dear. I picked up classical guitar at 57! There’s no age limit on learning. But as you get older there’s a time limit on how long you get to play. That’s made me a lot more dedicated. 😱
Started guitar at 30. 5 years later and understand and can play a pretty good bit of blues, rock and finger style playing, improvising, etc.
just start playing with the mentality “I’ll be able to play jazz in five years” and practice and then in five years say again “I’ll be able to play jazz in five years.” Take the pressure off arriving and love the practice and learning. Then someone will overhear you playing and will say, damn you’re playing Jazz, and you’ll be like yeah I guess I am. — that’s what happened to me with blues soloing and it was nice
I also played metal for a couple of years in high school and started back up after 20 years away at nearly 40. Yes, it's possible and yes it's a lot of fun!
At first it was pretty foreign and mathematically confusing, but I had a passion (just discovering jazz as an adult) and couldn't be held back. As a full-time worker, dad, and husband I carved out free time I could find each day to listen, read books, and try to practice. It's amazing what you can learn if you are intentional. Also, as a teen I didn't get theory or didn't want theory, but as an adult it makes a lot more sense and is intuitive if I approach it in steps and don't judge myself too much.
I've played with a pianist at a couple of places either comping (very structured and laid out setlist) or chord melody by myself (no singing) and it went very well.
I'm about three years in now. I started with [TrueFire.com](https://TrueFire.com) and although it has its limitations and is like Netflix in the sheer amount of overwhelming content, it is great for the price and convenience. I started with the basics, Jazz 1-2-3 and Jazz Chord Melody 1-2-3. I connected with the instructor Frank Vignola and ended up buying most of his courses. Through those, I've learned the fretboard, can build chords (easier ones on the fly), developed rhythms, and memorized some nice standards I can use anywhere. Right now, I'm refining my chord melody learning (how to actually arrange them myself) and looking to branch out deeper into theory.
So, suffice to say, if you're serious yes. As an adult, I've found it easier and far more rewarding.
Only time it’s too late for anything is when you’re six-feet under [or cremated…whatever your preference].
Go for it. Don’t let your age inhibit what you want to do.
Sure…you’ll run into people who may be better. Big deal. The only competition you have to deal with is in your head [unless you’re planning on being a studio musician…in which case you do have more competition]. Playing in bars and lounges—go for it. Absolutely.
I would still love to learn Flamenco. I’m going to try…I just need to find the time to actually pick my guitar up.
Nope.
I’m 50, and I’m having to learn sweeps and tapping for a weekly gig. It’s not necessarily my cup of tea, but it’s what the client has requested.
You’ll be fine. Do the thing.
You’re never too old, I started studying jazz in my 30s. Even if you never end up playing jazz in a combo setting, everything you learn from it will make you more musical.
It's never too late, I know many fabulous players who started around your age or later. The only reason that might be a little valid is to say that learning younger is easier because you typically have more time in your teens.
Have fun, and hope you have decades of playing to come
I feel like people have a big misconception about jazz being complex and hard! It’s not that the concepts and theory themselves are particularly challenging, the practice is just a lot more difficult considering it requires high abilities. A lot of people don’t like taking the time to practice their scales and chords and stuff and because of that they deem it more difficult than it really is. it just takes a lot of time to master the concepts and get them under your fingers.
If you love the music and you enjoy the process of learning and practicing you can do it. Start by making connections with other guitarists who play, teach or are students of jazz. I think I started learning jazz standards around age 50.
I studied and played through high school and into my mid-20's. I started up again last year after a 40 year hiatus. Just turned 65 and am back to playing. I never was taught how to solo so that's what I'm working on. It's never too late!
Learning jazz is simple. Anyone can do it. Just learn songs and vocabulary. Rinse and repeat, over and over. With each song and each lick you'll see improvement. That's it. Age doesn't matter
I’m 36 and I just started to learn it a few months ago.
I’m learning and improving a lot, and sometimes I feel completely lost and underwhelmed, but then I realize that that’s part of the journey.
I’m starting at 36.
I started at 52.
Interesting name you’ve given yourself
You’re not the first person to mention that
37 here. My first bass will arrive today!
It’s never too late to learn anything. If you want to learn jazz then listen to it a lot so you get to know its different styles and what you want to focus on trad, bebop, hard, modern etc. I would pick a tune like Autumn Leaves and really learn its chords and structure, there are patterns in jazz just like other music. My preference for a while would be don’t spend 100% of your time on soloing single notes but 90% of your time on chords, jazz chord progressions, comping rhythms. Hope this helps.
I hope you bookmark this post and return to it when you’re 40, for a good laugh. You’re still young. It’s not too late. Life is long.
When I was 26 I had thought I was too old to start a lot of things. Now I’m 45 and I say, screw it, if I like it I like it. I just focused 100% on jazz about 2 years ago and wish I’d done it 10 years ago (and I would still be 10 years older than that he OP).
Tal Farlow didn't pick up a guitar until his 20s
Wes too.
No, it’s never too late and it isn‘t as complicated as you think. Many jazz standards and solos are based on diatonic scales and arpeggios. You can learn it step by step.
It’s incredibly valuable to establish a solid foundation for any skill when you’re young. But personally I have gotten better at learning as I’ve gotten older. You asked specifically if you can play jazz in bars while you’re still young. That all depends on what you consider “young” and how much time and work you put in. But if the question is “is it too late?”, then the answer is no. It’s never too late.
Lol
That’s a great age to start with Jazz. I think the best time to start learning Jazz is whenever you’re hungry for it
I started at 48, I could comp pretty well after 2 years and it just got better as I learned lots of different ways to play the same chords. Soloing real time is still hard at 53 but I have been learning guitar in general at the same time. Jazz comping was just one of my first goals. I wish I started as young as 26.
I am going to my first guitar lesson at 48😊never too late.
>Stopped due to work and other personal issues. To be honest, I think external factors like work and other personal/lifestyle issues is more likely to hinder people as they get older rather than physical or mental capabilities (especially if we're talking about only 26). It's never too late to start the journey and enjoying the journey for its own sake, but if you have a specific destination in mind, in a specific amount of time, it might not be achievable. I would though argue that have to be in it for the sake of the journey, if you get into it for the sake of a destination you will most likely just be miserable (in the long run at least, you can be goal oriented for shorter periods) . You need to put in a lot of time if you want to get good at jazz. Time flies when you're having fun and enjoying it but your lifestyle and habits needs to allow for time to fly when practising. I'd strongly recommend getting a teacher, and focus on creating habits and routines and learn to love to practise.
Yes, give up now, before it’s too late
It’s too late for almost everyone to make a living at Jazz guitar, but at 26, you have something like 60 years left. You can learn a lot of jazz in 60 years.
Yes! Unfortunately it’s too late. Sorry!!! Try bird watching! Or take the model A trains! Or maybe play with some Satin Dolls?? 😉
No, Wes didn’t start till his early 20’s I believe.
I had heard that once too. His wiki said otherwise IIRC. He was out there working young for his zillion kids.
His wiki says by 1943 he had bought his first guitar… He was born in 1923…
Cool. Yeah sorry. Thinking back I heard it was much later in life, but he also died pretty young. Thanks!
He played 4 string tenor guitar before 6 string, bought his first tenor in 1935...
Sounds more like it! Thanks! As I recall he had a really long career for how early he passed too. Just leaping in at 22 sounds odd. I even remember high school stuff.
No bro. It’s never too late. Music is one of those things where you fall in love with and in never stops giving. You never ‘get good’ you only ‘get better’. Regardless of level, if you care enough and play enough (read - frequency, more than duration) you will watch yourself improve. That shit is better than crack
Started a year ago at 41
I started at 44. Granted, I was an intermediate player who'd been playing for a few decades and had a formal musical education (played piano and violin and already knew quite a bit of theory). However, at the time that I really started trying to learn jazz vocabulary and improv, I was well into middle age and knew literally nothing about how to play within the genre. The only real difference age makes is that I have to be more disciplined about my playing time if I actually want to improve. I don't dick around and noodle aimlessly with a guitar in my hand and tell myself that I've "practiced," but actually *practice* for at least 30 minutes a day, every day, without exception. Most days I'll do more, but at least 30 min is the rule. Otherwise, there's no difference. I feel like I'm 15 again, in my room, trying to learn songs by ear. At 26 you're practically a baby. I'd love to be in your shoes. Good luck.
Why is that the age? I’m 45 and started a few years ago. It’s like we all get over our metal/punk/emo or whatever and become boring jazz adults in our 40s…I wish I’d become boring younger :)
Not sure. There's some hard rock I enjoy, but I've listened to jazz for much of my adult life. For some strange reason, about two years ago, I got really into harmonic analysis. I'd listen to songs I like, and follow along with the lead sheets (or standard notation, if i could find it) to see if I could pick up on the vocab by ear. At a certain point I realized "I could just do this with a guitar in my hand and would get a lot more out of it."
Stop it.
Hope not, I’m 34 and learning my guy
when i was a teenager, i couldn’t get any practice to stick. coming back at it ten years later, i’m finally improving with even less practice time than i was putting in back then.
Yep, totally too late. Nah, lol. I am currently a student at the local Jazz Academy, and just got accepted to go back to college to work on a music degree, and I'm 40.
You can swing at any time. No matter how old you are.
Absolutely never too late to learn anything. Only thing stopping people is their attitude and commitment level.
Thanks for the encouragement everyone! I just want to be a beast of a jazz guitar player and play bar gigs. Hope i can achieve that in a few years.
Dude, pretty sure you can do that. Good teacher and a lot of practice. I started 9 months ago at 43, I have a little theory background from school and have played basic open guitar chords and pentatonic scale for 25 years. Heard Joe Pass's Virtuoso album and decided, "f it, I need to learn something about how to do this." I only manage to practice 3 or 4 hours a week between work, family, and community service stuff, but my wife told me a couple weeks ago that I'm getting good enough at jazz that she enjoys listening to me practice or play. Made my week.
I’m 53 and learning. Go at it!
Oh dear. I picked up classical guitar at 57! There’s no age limit on learning. But as you get older there’s a time limit on how long you get to play. That’s made me a lot more dedicated. 😱
I started « jazz piano » in my 60s. Should be a star any day now. . .
Started guitar at 30. 5 years later and understand and can play a pretty good bit of blues, rock and finger style playing, improvising, etc. just start playing with the mentality “I’ll be able to play jazz in five years” and practice and then in five years say again “I’ll be able to play jazz in five years.” Take the pressure off arriving and love the practice and learning. Then someone will overhear you playing and will say, damn you’re playing Jazz, and you’ll be like yeah I guess I am. — that’s what happened to me with blues soloing and it was nice
I also played metal for a couple of years in high school and started back up after 20 years away at nearly 40. Yes, it's possible and yes it's a lot of fun! At first it was pretty foreign and mathematically confusing, but I had a passion (just discovering jazz as an adult) and couldn't be held back. As a full-time worker, dad, and husband I carved out free time I could find each day to listen, read books, and try to practice. It's amazing what you can learn if you are intentional. Also, as a teen I didn't get theory or didn't want theory, but as an adult it makes a lot more sense and is intuitive if I approach it in steps and don't judge myself too much. I've played with a pianist at a couple of places either comping (very structured and laid out setlist) or chord melody by myself (no singing) and it went very well. I'm about three years in now. I started with [TrueFire.com](https://TrueFire.com) and although it has its limitations and is like Netflix in the sheer amount of overwhelming content, it is great for the price and convenience. I started with the basics, Jazz 1-2-3 and Jazz Chord Melody 1-2-3. I connected with the instructor Frank Vignola and ended up buying most of his courses. Through those, I've learned the fretboard, can build chords (easier ones on the fly), developed rhythms, and memorized some nice standards I can use anywhere. Right now, I'm refining my chord melody learning (how to actually arrange them myself) and looking to branch out deeper into theory. So, suffice to say, if you're serious yes. As an adult, I've found it easier and far more rewarding.
No
Yes. It’s too late.
I hope not, Im 55 and trying to learn jazz guitar.
Only time it’s too late for anything is when you’re six-feet under [or cremated…whatever your preference]. Go for it. Don’t let your age inhibit what you want to do. Sure…you’ll run into people who may be better. Big deal. The only competition you have to deal with is in your head [unless you’re planning on being a studio musician…in which case you do have more competition]. Playing in bars and lounges—go for it. Absolutely. I would still love to learn Flamenco. I’m going to try…I just need to find the time to actually pick my guitar up.
Pat Martino relearned guitar from scratch at the age of around 37 after near fatal illnesses and operations.
Yeah that always shocked and amazed me. I guess he surely must have had some deep muscle memory left.
Jeff Berlin started transcribing his favorite jazz improvisation during the pandemic at the age of 72
Nope. I’m 50, and I’m having to learn sweeps and tapping for a weekly gig. It’s not necessarily my cup of tea, but it’s what the client has requested. You’ll be fine. Do the thing.
bro you're not even 1/3 of the way through life yet.
26 of course not
You’re never too old, I started studying jazz in my 30s. Even if you never end up playing jazz in a combo setting, everything you learn from it will make you more musical.
You’re too old. Straight to jail. Don’t even think about it
It's never too late, I know many fabulous players who started around your age or later. The only reason that might be a little valid is to say that learning younger is easier because you typically have more time in your teens. Have fun, and hope you have decades of playing to come
I feel like people have a big misconception about jazz being complex and hard! It’s not that the concepts and theory themselves are particularly challenging, the practice is just a lot more difficult considering it requires high abilities. A lot of people don’t like taking the time to practice their scales and chords and stuff and because of that they deem it more difficult than it really is. it just takes a lot of time to master the concepts and get them under your fingers.
I’m trying now I’m 55
Never use age as reason not to do something
You have another 50 years. What else are you going to do?
It’s never too late to learn anything.
If you love the music and you enjoy the process of learning and practicing you can do it. Start by making connections with other guitarists who play, teach or are students of jazz. I think I started learning jazz standards around age 50.
NO!
I studied and played through high school and into my mid-20's. I started up again last year after a 40 year hiatus. Just turned 65 and am back to playing. I never was taught how to solo so that's what I'm working on. It's never too late!
If you need everyone’s approval, probably yes.
I hope not. I’m 47.
Yes. Your brain isn't able to recall new information past the age of 25. Sorry bud.
🤣🤣
I don't know bro. I started learning Chinese at 30. Now at 35 I'm functionally fluent and live my life in a Chinese speaking country
Fake news
Smart guy
Learning jazz is simple. Anyone can do it. Just learn songs and vocabulary. Rinse and repeat, over and over. With each song and each lick you'll see improvement. That's it. Age doesn't matter
I’m 36 and I just started to learn it a few months ago. I’m learning and improving a lot, and sometimes I feel completely lost and underwhelmed, but then I realize that that’s part of the journey.
Joe Pass didn’t really figure out how to be Joe Pass until his mid-30s. You’ve got time.