At your age, how is your playing?

[CarolinaGetaway]

I'm 75 and seriously disabled; also half deaf. Been playing since I was 15 (with one long break). I just started learning to play with a pick; started with fingerpicking and stayed with it (acoustic and electric) I am playing better than ever. A bit slower perhaps, but with more integrity and personal expression. It's not how many notes you can play but what they say that counts. Remember "There are no mistakes." -- Miles Davis

[Mr. Jelly]

I'm still a hack but I dress it up better now days. I have become satisfied with playing what I want to hear and not worrying about playing things I don't want to hear.

[dcopper]

After playing for 50 years (started at 16) I have learned much what the OP discussed - I have my own style and limitations. I can accept that. I try to play smarter and with more dynamics. I do mostly acoustic versions of classic rock covers and am adding in electric guitar versions now as well. Playing a Tele or PRS is much easier on my hands. I think maturing as a player has been a good thing - just hope my fingers stay straight enough to bar those chords. I may be losing the battle but triads are a whole new world to explore.
Thanks for the original post - it made my day!
Davidc

[Rogerblair]

My playing gets better every year. Of course, my hearing gets worse every year….wait, there may be a correlation there. Oh well.

Rb

[Don W]

Originally Posted by TBman

I just turned 68 and I turned in my red S some time ago,

I haven't been able to memorize full tunes for some time now, but I'm able to enjoy learning new things as long as they aren't too fast and too difficult - it just takes a bit longer than it used to.

I too have issues memorizing now at 70...that aside, I like your classical work. I began playing classical 5-6 years ago and have a Yamaha full size classical. I have played acoustic steel string for 50 years but find the classical (especially bar chords) difficult. The string height is a tiny bit over 1/8th at the 12th fret low E which I understand to be a standard for classical guitars. If possible, I would be interested in knowing what your string height is on your Cordoba.

[Alister]

The older I get, the better I was.
But seriously, I recall a fairly recent quote from Clapton, where he states he can't believe some of the stuff he used to play, and is certain he could not do so now.

I have some small library of sessions, solo albums, demos, and playing on other people's stuff, enough to be self-critical but also to assure myself I used to be a good player (at least on electric; engineers made my acoustic stuff, um...passable)

I'm 73 and two years ago got PMI, which is similar to Rheumatoid Arth except that it's genetic and most recover after 6-12 months. I could not play at all, and every muscle and tendon in my body pained me. I could not drive a car, and could barely get up off the toilet or out of bed.
It was scary as hell, but what bothered me the most was, after the guitar being my creative outlet for 60 years, I couldn't play at all.

I am back to 80% 'normal' I feel but playing "well' is now in the perspective of just enjoying music for its own sake, and playing at all.

[Charlie Bernstein]

Originally Posted by Chickee

How is your playing at your current age?

I'm 71. Been playing for 55 years. It's better than ever.

[Charlie Bernstein]

Originally Posted by Don W

I too have issues memorizing now at 70 . . . .

I've never been good at memorizing. In high school it took me three years to pass Spanish 1.

At 71, it hasn't gotten better and it hasn't gotten worse. Sometimes I remember a lyric, sometimes I don't, same as always.

Now you know.