| kosimodo 22.12.2006 04:54 |
Hej! My son (6) is wild with electric guitars!! And i dunno anything about it! For the 3rd time he is asking for christmas an electic guitar... Should i?? Can u learn to play guitar on an eletric?? Or should u start with an acoustic 1?? or is he 2 young or so...?? Any advices?? |
| The Fairy King 22.12.2006 05:07 |
Let him start with the acoustic guitar. link has some nice tutorials on the basics. |
| thomasquinn 32989 22.12.2006 08:24 |
<b><font color="#FF1493">The Fairy King wrote: Let him start with the acoustic guitar. link has some nice tutorials on the basics.It's bullshit that you have to start on an acoustic. Electric ones are more expensive, but slightly easier to play, especially if you're still small. Get your son a 1/2 sized guitar (acoustic or electric) and get him lessons. |
| AspiringPhilosophe 22.12.2006 08:49 |
This is the perfect age to start learning guitar! Numerous studies have shown that kids with musical training do better in all areas of schooling (math, analytical subjects like science, creative subjects like writing, etc.), and learning to read music is a bit like learning another language. If you start when you are young, it is easier to get it. (Trust me, learning how to read music at your son's age was much easier than learning french as a 17 year old). Plus, those of us here who have musical training can attetest to the emotional and mental benefits music gives, either playing it or just listening to it, if you have a background understanding of music. As I don't really know anything about guitar (I was primarily a vocalist) I can't give you much help there. But definatly get him started! He'll thank you for it later, and you'll thank yourself for it too (once those rough initial months pass) |
| john bodega 22.12.2006 11:30 |
Get your son the shittiest guitar in the shop. If he can make it sound good, then get him the nice one. Sounds stupid, but it works. |
| kosimodo 22.12.2006 13:09 |
Thx folks.... Reason was there was a cheap 'shitty' one for sale... Could be a play thing.. but was real enough! Lets see what i do 2morrow... Pirates or guitar?! |
| user name 23.12.2006 00:26 |
An electric is not necessarily cheaper than an acoustic anyway. One can easily get a starter electric guitar pack at a reasonable price. In fact, one of the best ways to make someone disinterested in the guitar is by giving them a shitty acoustic. No lie. In fact, The Fairy King is pretty much wrong in every aspect (no offense). Don't start him by using internet tutorials. Get him a guitar instructor. Get him a guitar instructor. Get him a guitar instructor. Let me stress this one more time...get him a guitar instructor. Sure, if he's dedicated enough, he could teach himself. Yeah, and if I were dedicated enough, I could have learned everything I learned in high school by myself - but guess what? I wouldn't have. The guitar is mostly an "on your own" instrument. If you play it, you're not going to get a heck of a lot of motivation from your school or your coach or your teachers - most times even your parents, since they likely don't know how to play...all you have is your instructor. And those who don't have that - they have nobody. |
| john bodega 23.12.2006 00:54 |
Well, whatever works for you. I didn't have an instructor, I just loved the guitar - it sounds like this kid is crazy about it too, so you never know. |
| iGSM 23.12.2006 02:46 |
And ol' Zeb is pretty *thumbs up* good in my book. Mind you my book is dedicated to me. |
| kosimodo 23.12.2006 03:32 |
He is 'crazy' about the sound!! It is going to be the cheapy 1. we will c.... TYMD is his favorite! Other favorites are 'Killing in the name of' RAM and 'enter sandman' Metallica Nothing acoustic about that:) |
| john bodega 23.12.2006 03:51 |
"And ol' Zeb is pretty *thumbs up* good in my book." Hahaha, you'll make me blush or something. "Nothing acoustic about that:)" You'd be surprised at what can sound good on an acoustic - or a ukulele! |
| Raf 23.12.2006 06:09 |
<b><font color=666600>Music Man wrote: An electric is not necessarily cheaper than an acoustic anyway. One can easily get a starter electric guitar pack at a reasonable price. In fact, one of the best ways to make someone disinterested in the guitar is by giving them a shitty acoustic. No lie. In fact, The Fairy King is pretty much wrong in every aspect (no offense). Don't start him by using internet tutorials. Get him a guitar instructor. Get him a guitar instructor. Get him a guitar instructor. Let me stress this one more time...get him a guitar instructor. Sure, if he's dedicated enough, he could teach himself. Yeah, and if I were dedicated enough, I could have learned everything I learned in high school by myself - but guess what? I wouldn't have. The guitar is mostly an "on your own" instrument. If you play it, you're not going to get a heck of a lot of motivation from your school or your coach or your teachers - most times even your parents, since they likely don't know how to play...all you have is your instructor. And those who don't have that - they have nobody.I am NOT advising Kosimodo to ignore you and let his son learn on the internet. I think a guitar instructor is a good idea. But I don't agree with all you said... I don't have an instructor, I've been learning by myself. I confess sometimes it's a bit irritating, because when I'm trying to learn something new, such as a new song, and it doesn't sound right to my ears, I have to figure out by myself what's wrong, what I'm doing that I shouldn't be doing and what I should be doing but I'm not doing. Still, I have friends who play the guitar, so when something is really bothering me I can share it with them, ask for advice, etc. You're actually someone who helped me a lot on MSN - thank you. I have non-guitarist friends who give me motivation, show interest in hear me (and although I feel incredibly shy playing with people watching me, I like to know there are people who care)... And I've been getting some motivation from my family. I confess their motivation is a bit unwelcome, because my mom and her mom actually bug me saying they're ansious to hear me playing something interesting, etc and I take it as an insinuation that I suck and should try harder. But it's still a kind of motivation, right? If no one ever complains about me being a newbie, I'll feel comfortable as a newbie forever. |
| The Fairy King 23.12.2006 07:05 |
<b><font color = "crimson"> ThomasQuinn wrote:It's not. If you're that young and you want to learn the basics, an acoustic guitar is much better. Instead of buying that stuff and realising later he has no talent or feeling for it, you could just start off with the acoustic and in a few years move on to the electric.<b><font color="#FF1493">The Fairy King wrote: Let him start with the acoustic guitar. link has some nice tutorials on the basics.It's bullshit that you have to start on an acoustic. Electric ones are more expensive, but slightly easier to play, especially if you're still small. Get your son a 1/2 sized guitar (acoustic or electric) and get him lessons. |
| The Fairy King 23.12.2006 07:14 |
<b><font color=666600>Music Man wrote: An electric is not necessarily cheaper than an acoustic anyway. One can easily get a starter electric guitar pack at a reasonable price. In fact, one of the best ways to make someone disinterested in the guitar is by giving them a shitty acoustic. No lie. [/quote] In fact, The Fairy King is pretty much wrong in every aspect (no offense). Don't start him by using internet tutorials. Get him a guitar instructor. Get him a guitar instructor. Get him a guitar instructor. Let me stress this one more time...get him a guitar instructor. Sure, if he's dedicated enough, he could teach himself. Yeah, and if I were dedicated enough, I could have learned everything I learned in high school by myself - but guess what? I wouldn't have. The guitar is mostly an "on your own" instrument. If you play it, you're not going to get a heck of a lot of motivation from your school or your coach or your teachers - most times even your parents, since they likely don't know how to play...all you have is your instructor. And those who don't have that - they have nobody.Private lessons are the best, but not everyone can afford it dear "Music Man". Nothing wrong with that site, see it as something extra. It's free you know. ;) I don't think giving a 6 y.o. an electric guitar is a good idea. Just my opinion. |
| john bodega 23.12.2006 07:55 |
I think the roughly 3-way misconception in this thread is that only *one* method will work. Ya know, a bit of fusion in the learning process never killed anyone. :P |
| iGSM 23.12.2006 08:02 |
I wish I had a guitar instructor. I watch people playing, I listen to people playing and I try and teach my stuff..that's about. I'm not sure what I'd say to an instructor. 'Teach me to play like George Harrison!' or 'Make me a sandwich!' |
| JoxerTheDeityPirate 23.12.2006 12:32 |
get an acoustic first,a good starter book would be RUSS SHIPTON'S.it will teach them the basic chords,no need for an instructor straight away just see if they pick up the chords ok and take it from there.make sure they learn A,D AND E chords first.that will give them the basic blues chords.also,the acoustic will harden the tips of the fingers quicker. |
| user name 24.12.2006 00:04 |
I see where you're all coming from, but I have to reiterate: A guitar instructor is not necessary, but it is always worth it. It is far more difficult to unlearn something than to learn it right the first time. My instructor helped me with so many things that I could never have gotten from the internet, and since many of my friends didn't play the guitar (or didn't play it well), he was my only source of infallible tutelage that I could trust. Some things like how to hold the pick (most beginners are stuck on this for a long time), left and right hand placement, or how to fine tune those damned barre chords - it would have taken me ages longer to learn on the internet, or with a library of books. If he's that young, I doubt he could just go to the local high school and ask the local guitar players for advice...I'd definitely recommend the teacher. Young children also do not teach themselves well...they need to be taught. |
| Sherwood Forest 24.12.2006 00:48 |
get him guitar hero II for PS2 |
| john bodega 24.12.2006 01:02 |
"It is far more difficult to unlearn something than to learn it right the first time." Aha, see yes - I would count that as the most valuable thing a teacher can give you. Stopping you from getting used to doing it wrong! |
| iGSM 24.12.2006 01:32 |
That is a good point. I'm probably playing the guitar wrong *uses leg of chair to play guitar* That is a good point to make though. |
| Poo, again 24.12.2006 07:20 |
Air guitar is much cheaper. Get him one. |
| thomasquinn 32989 24.12.2006 09:05 |
<b><font color="#FF1493">The Fairy King wrote:Playing anything other than rhythm is more difficult on an acoustic. Plus, as I stressed, the range of your hands needs to be a LOT bigger, as acoustics have a far wider neck. You don't want to injure the kid's hands.<b><font color=666600>Music Man wrote: An electric is not necessarily cheaper than an acoustic anyway. One can easily get a starter electric guitar pack at a reasonable price. In fact, one of the best ways to make someone disinterested in the guitar is by giving them a shitty acoustic. No lie. [/quote] In fact, The Fairy King is pretty much wrong in every aspect (no offense). Don't start him by using internet tutorials. Get him a guitar instructor. Get him a guitar instructor. Get him a guitar instructor. Let me stress this one more time...get him a guitar instructor. Sure, if he's dedicated enough, he could teach himself. Yeah, and if I were dedicated enough, I could have learned everything I learned in high school by myself - but guess what? I wouldn't have. The guitar is mostly an "on your own" instrument. If you play it, you're not going to get a heck of a lot of motivation from your school or your coach or your teachers - most times even your parents, since they likely don't know how to play...all you have is your instructor. And those who don't have that - they have nobody.Private lessons are the best, but not everyone can afford it dear "Music Man". Nothing wrong with that site, see it as something extra. It's free you know. ;) I don't think giving a 6 y.o. an electric guitar is a good idea. Just my opinion. |
| john bodega 24.12.2006 09:57 |
I'd say 'yeah' to most of that. I'm one of the ones who grew up on an acoustic - I spent my first couple of years (up until I was about 9) learning all the Beatles solos (by ear with a shitty tape player... I miss those days), so as your hands grow I guess you get used to whatever guitar it is you're doing most of your playing on. My Dad could've copped out and gotten me an undersized acoustic (as barre chords were nigh on impossible when I was that age) but I'm glad he got me a normal sized one, because I can still play the thing without feeling like I have tarantula hands or something. You know what'd be ideal? Getting the boy an acoustic AND an electric. I really enjoyed having both when I was little. |
| Donna13 24.12.2006 11:14 |
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| john bodega 24.12.2006 11:20 |
I wish I'd started earlier! It's not unheard of for people to start when they're 4 even. And lets not get onto that Japanese kid that can play xylophone like no one else... CREEPY. |
| Donna13 24.12.2006 11:51 |
4? How could they even lift the thing? Ha. |
| iGSM 25.12.2006 00:51 |
Extremely muscular arms. I curse myself and my parents for not musicisicing me before hand. I've been playing for about 18 months now and I'm only just beginning to feel confident in my playing but I think it's a good idea to learn on an acoustic guitar. Most of my songs seem to end up 'acoustic'. Bastards. |
| john bodega 25.12.2006 22:11 |
Maybe I'm aging prematurely, but I'm getting more comfortable with just acoustic stuff. Not to say I don't enjoy jumping around with a very loud amp, but it's weird.... this sort of beige person is emerging inside my head. |
| iGSM 25.12.2006 23:01 |
So long as you continue to feed 5000 people with two fish and five loaves of bread in your advanced age, I will be fine with that. I rather the sound of my acoustic guitar even though watching people set their electric guitars on fire is still quite entertaining. |
| john bodega 25.12.2006 23:05 |
Seafood extender. That's all I'll say about my 'feeding the masses'. Hehe. |
| deleted user 26.12.2006 13:24 |
Start him on acoustic because if he can play that, he can play anything. Once he gets used to it, get him a guitar...and may I recommend the Brian May digitech pedal, it makes any guitar sound amazing. Oh, and if you're considering getting him lessons, go with classical/jazz first, if you can play that, you can play anything. |
| The Real Wizard 26.12.2006 13:44 |
<b><font color = "crimson"> ThomasQuinn wrote: It's bullshit that you have to start on an acoustic. Electric ones are more expensive, but slightly easier to play, especially if you're still small. Get your son a 1/2 sized guitar (acoustic or electric) and get him lessons.Well, that's your opinion, and as a guitar teacher with years of experience, I completely disagree. I've taught plenty of kids who start on electric guitars, and they usually develop very lazy technique. When a kid starts on an acoustic guitar, their agility becomes stronger, because acoustic guitars are generally harder to play. But not too hard, of course. The guitar just needs to be set up properly, with the proper action, so the kid doesn't get discouraged because the strings are "too hard to hold down". There's also the mentality aspect. For kids, the acoustic guitar can be seen as more of an instrument, whereas the electric guitar is something cool to play. Kids can develop a better mentality for music as a whole when they have an acoustic guitar from the start, rather than thinking their ultimate goal is to play three songs by Green Day. I would start someone aged 8-12 with a medium-sized acoustic, but a six-year-old should probably start with a small classical guitar (not a crappy toy one) - or even a ukulele. I've had plenty of kids who started on ukulele at age 5 or 6, and they're flying on the guitar by age 7. |