Anyone's kids learning to play guitar?

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

aliasojo wrote: »

OMG what have I done? Toddled off to the music store where a lovely lad helped choose the best size for her and then tuned the thing.

We got home with it and let's just say 'strumming' has taken on a whole new meaning.

Let the lessons commence. Soon. Please.

:rotfl:

Acoustic job, btw, £34.99. Saw cheaper ones but they looked it so we opted for a slightly better (but still entry level) 3/4 size. It's wood colour with a fancy pattern round the hole. (That's probably got a name and isn't just called 'hole' is it? :rotfl: ) Lad said nylon strings are far better for her fingers right now so that's what we got.

Send all spare earplugs to:

aliasojo
1 earache drive
Scotland.

Yay! Best course of action IMHO! And why is that the lads working in music shops are just sooo cute?

floss2

Another suggestion - buy a tuner - battery-powered gadget that will save a lot of ear-distress and make most strumming sound reasonable!

zebidee1

I've just seen this thread and was in exactly the same position recently. We bought a guitar that sounds like it might be just the same. Great minds eh? I dont think there's a huge choice in beginner's guitars and most of them are pretty alike.

My neighbour's son plays guitar and his young daughter has a small classical one which my daughter took a real shine to and wanted one too.

I'd like her to be able to play a musical instrument so I didn't mind buying a guitar for her. We paid £46 but that included a case.

A lot of the schools in Scotland seem to be having visiting music and also sports teachers just now. I wonder if there's some kind of promotion going on.

HC_2

When she was 10, my DD said she wanted to learn the guitar so we bought her one from Argos - cost £10, I think!

This was perfect for a good six months, until we were satisfied that it wasn't a flash in the pan. Then we bought her a good classical acoustic... then an electric guitar with a cheap amp... then a much better amp plus other gadgets that produce sound effects.

She's nearly 18 now, and plays very well. But there's no way I would have immediately shelled out for good-quality equipment when she was small until I knew she was serious about it. (I know what I was like at that age!)

shimmershelly

My son has been learning the guitar for 2 years now, 15 mins a week at Junior school, although he has just started private lessons too. He has just turned 11.
We recently bought him a new Guvnor Acoustic guitar for an early birthday present only to find out afterwards he could only take his exams (Trinity Guildhall), on a nylon stringed Classical guitar. He borrowed one from his teacher for his Grade 1, but now as he is due to take his next exam soon we have to go and get him another guitar. I am thinking of getting this one in the 4/4 size, as its a decent price and also the same as the one he borrowed for his last exam. His teacher recommended a solid wood guitar but that is out of our price range for now.

So really this is just a warning not to waste your money on a steel stringed Acoustic for a child if they are likely to do their classical grades.

He is also due to start Rockschool exams at Senior school but luckily he already has a decent Electric guitar and amp that we inherited, and the acoustic will come in handy for later years.

snails's_pace

I play guitar both elec and acoustic..started teaching my son to play last year.
Make sure your son's fingernails are short/verging on non existent..if he wants to use a plectrum get a thin one (less than 0.4mm) the flappiest the better ...also the tips of his fingers may hurt (depending on how much he plays) until they harden up in time..I sped up this process by dipping my finger tips in surgical spirit.
Get him to learn how to tune the guitar..many websites are good for this see here:
http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/onlinetuner.html

hth and have fun!!!

Buttercup.x

My school is doing it for my Dd's for £3.00 per lesson (an hour) you can get guitars for children for about £20?
My dd is not intrested in doing this, nor tae kwon do or dancing tut lol