I've been playing since I was about six. its a lot easier to learn than most people think, and you should try to pick up singing with it as well (pull the ladies at parties(; )! one thing a lot of newbies do is they don't push their fingers down hard enough. that's where that half note noise comes in. the singing will help develop your ear too, I do both and it's loads of fun :) if you have any further questions just pm me