Guitar Lessons in Her Teens Still Paying Off in Her 50s

Karen Davis picked up the guitar after a 10-year hiatus and is now playing at open mics and has submitted an original song for copyright. "Woman with Guitar" painting by Irving Amen.

I am 56 years old, and have been playing guitar since I was 15. I started performing in public when I started college. I used to play shows at Borders, and I quit for 10 years after my husband died. In January 2009, I decided to get back into my music. I play open mic nights in the Phoenix/East Valley area, and I love to fingerpick and perform more obscure songs, but I am learning new songs all the time. I always wanted to write my own songs, but wasn’t sure if I had the talent. Finally, this past August, I wrote one that I thought was good enough to send off for a copyright.

I play a 6-string acoustic, Martin D-35. I can remember back 41 years ago: While I was working on my finger callouses, my first guitar teacher had me work on a simple song that I liked, with simple chords, getting me to make smooth chord changes. Once I got that down, I could work on strums (or picking style) and embellishments (like note hammering).

I loved to be able to play a complete song! It gave me a feeling of accomplishment and made me hungry for more. I had a few teachers in my past, and each taught me something none of the others could – irregular tunings, picking styles, more interesting chords, songs I would not normally know of (or play). I bought lots of music/guitar books (now you can get a lot of songs off the internet…but not all), and I’m glad I still have those.

Also indispensable is my guitar chord encyclopedia. Basic theory was often interwoven in the lessons, and I learned about intervals and how to change keys, and I learned how to figure out some songs on my own and how to vary the original to suit my style better. And, always, repetition, repetition, repetition! That was never a problem for me, because I loved (love) playing, and I never get tired of playing a song or making it better (perfect, if possible). A good, patient teacher is indispensable, and worth every dime!

I’d like to be able to play with other, 50+ musicians in the area. At the Univ. of Illinois, I sang with a dear friend who had an incredible ear for harmony. I would love to find those kinds of vocalists again. I play for the joy of it, but I wouldn’t mind playing in a group publicly.

Karen Davis
Phoenix, AZ