Guitars for children?

[sereneone4u]

I mean, a real guitar, not the play ones in the toy department

My daughter wants a guitar for Christmas. She will be 8 in the fall but she is little, like 46 inches tall and down to 42 pounds (she lost some weight with the surgery and the heat made neither of us want to eat much this summer) and strength is an issue for her. Not a big one, I mean she does take ballet/jazz/hiphop, karate and gymnastics and will be a brownie this year. She is capable. AND she is left handed if that makes any difference.

There are instrument stores in my vincinity, but before I go in, I would like to have some knowledge.

Oh, should she start on acoustic or electric?

I think lessons are 20 bucks for a half an hour.

 

[newbiebabe]

I mean, a real guitar, not the play ones in the toy department

My daughter wants a guitar for Christmas. She will be 8 in the fall but she is little, like 46 inches tall and down to 42 pounds (she lost some weight with the surgery and the heat made neither of us want to eat much this summer) and strength is an issue for her. Not a big one, I mean she does take ballet/jazz/hiphop, karate and gymnastics and will be a brownie this year. She is capable. AND she is left handed if that makes any difference.

There are instrument stores in my vincinity, but before I go in, I would like to have some knowledge.

Oh, should she start on acoustic or electric?

I think lessons are 20 bucks for a half an hour.

Serene,

My son took lessons when he was younger. I spoke to the instructor before buying his guitar so I would know exactly how to go. Maybe that would help?

Love that she wants to do that.. it is so much fun.

 

[sereneone4u]

There are lots of instructors here and a couple of guitar stores in the vicinity. However, I like to go in with some knowledge and there are many experienced and talented guitar players at Lit. They helped me pick out my guitar a couple of years ago.

 

[NeonSubtlety]

I got a Martin mini for travel a couple years back. I'm not sure if they're made for children specifically, but I assume it would work for her. Some guitars are built to be played either left or right handed. Others are ambidextrous and only need to be strung differently. The salesman should know.

Choosing whether to go acoustic or electric isn't a huge deal. Of course, I've never seen a mini electric. If they make them, I'd think you could let her play whatever she was most interested in.

 

[bronco_2006]

I use musiciansfriend.com, they have a ton of stuff and great pricing. Depends on what you are looking for, however acoustic is easier because you don't need as much stuff like a amp, cord etc. Just make sure it is quality one and not some cheapo that the strings are so far from the fret board they can't push them down.

 

[Hallow_Ed]

it's not so much the guitar
i learned on a real piece of crap
never had lessons, but probably should have

where the spark comes from to learn
is the unknown

i hope she excels
there is not enough music in the world

 

[GiggLeGasm]

I agree that the accoustic would be easier. You need to see which kind of strings she can handle.

See if some high school kid at the shop will play them for you. Let them know that it's for a small girl. It needs to be played so the touch can be evaluated. If it's too hard for her to "make it work," she's less likely to stick with it. If she has weak hands, she may want to start with nylon strings (classical) but most kids do ok with the steel.

She'll probably want to start with a smaller (1/2 or 3/4) guitar. Avoid the Hello Kitty, despite her begging. (It's really a cute guitar.. lol)

I guess the tricky part is.. you're asking for buying tips.
You need to know what kind of music she wants to play. That will help them find the right guitar for you.
How big/strong is she?
If you're buying a boxed package deal, will they let you take the guitar out to play it?
Is she fickle? If she tends to stick with something for a long time, a cheap guitar that she'll tire of in a year doesn't really save you much.

My youngest started on a Yamaha.. he's been happy with it. We did need to buy a small humidifier that is stored with it. He also liked having a small metronome. I had the guitar guy play about 20 before we finally settled on the one I bought. I've found that guitar guys are like young teenagers who are so excited to share what they do.. they don't seem to be in it "for the sale." They were very helpful and spent a lot of time to make sure he got the guitar that would fit him.

 

[Mrtenant]

a left handed guitar might be a good idea, unless you'd like her to learn righty?

acoustic to start, unless she's seriously wanting to rock only, but even then acoustic is good, you can do most any type music on it from classical to rock, folk, whatever.

acoustic is good to learn the chords, and its lots and lots of practice.

think piano, practice 30-60 minutes a day...

 

[sereneone4u]

Oh , she is into mostly Kiddie Pop, right now...Selena Gomez, Hannah Montana, etc...but she has always wanted to play guitar and also wants to take voice lessons.

I do not want to interfere with her being a lefty, it is one of the things that make her, her.

Thanks for the great advice!

 

[lakesailer_mi]

Oh , she is into mostly Kiddie Pop, right now...Selena Gomez, Hannah Montana, etc...but she has always wanted to play guitar and also wants to take voice lessons.

I do not want to interfere with her being a lefty, it is one of the things that make her, her.

Thanks for the great advice!

Lefties are the only ones in their right minds...

Hire a lefty, it's fun to watch them write...

The thing about lefties...they have to be creative...they live in the wrong world.

 

[sereneone4u]

Lefties are the only ones in their right minds...

Hire a lefty, it's fun to watch them write...

The thing about lefties...they have to be creative...they live in the wrong world.

She is so very creative!

I can't keep her busy enough

Ballet
Jazz
Hiphop
Awana
Karate
Gymnastics
Brownies

adding voice lessons and guitar after Christmas...

she also wants to take riding lessons...

I will be crying whenever I have to drive the car by the end of October...I am the sole taxi driver in our family...

 

[lakesailer_mi]

She is so very creative!

I can't keep her busy enough

Ballet
Jazz
Hiphop
Awana
Karate
Gymnastics
Brownies

adding voice lessons and guitar after Christmas...

she also wants to take riding lessons...

I will be crying whenever I have to drive the car by the end of October...I am the sole taxi driver in our family...

So you're kinda like Jodi Foster?

Yeah, kids want to do/try everything. Eventually they focus some...I think...maybe???

 

[sereneone4u]

So you're kinda like Jodi Foster?

Yeah, kids want to do/try everything. Eventually they focus some...I think...maybe???

I won't even mention science camps

 

[sereneone4u]

So you're kinda like Jodi Foster?

Yeah, kids want to do/try everything. Eventually they focus some...I think...maybe???

Hmmm I am not a child hooker, no...lol

She has always wanted to be a vetinarian/rock star/ballerina

See, focus

 

[lakesailer_mi]

I won't even mention science camps

Oh, my kids love science camps!

My son did Camp Catapault one year. Great time...

My did a two week camp at a college campus with all the advanced lab stuff, she was in heaven.

Nerds Untie...I mean Unite (we can't spell )

 

[lakesailer_mi]

Hmmm I am not a child hooker, no...lol

She has always wanted to be a vetinarian/rock star/ballerina

See, focus

Oh...wait...wasn't she a taxi driver? Wasn't that the movie???

Hell...the older I get...the less I remember...

I think a vetrinarian/rock star/ballerina sounds fascinating.

 

[NorthRockJohnson]

Excellent advice all around. . Let's see what I can contribute...

Yamaha is actually a really good brand guitar-wise, acoustic and electric. And they're cheap too. I learned on a Yamaha electric before I bought a Fender Strat which, 20 years later, I still play today.

I'm thinking a small scale classical/nylon string guitar might be a good instrument for her to learn on since she's so young and her tastes are developing. Just to get chords and rhythm down. But that depends on what she likes musically, of course. Like if she's a huge Motörhead fan (and what 8 y/o isn't? ) she might not be that into an acoustic. Maybe take her on a window shopping trip so she can look around.

But yeah, avoid the Wal-Mart stuff. You can get stuff for the same price but better quality at a music store. Plus you can talk to knowledgable people about what you're buying.

That's awesome you're encouraging her getting into music. Getting into music in junior high was really a highlight of my younger years.

 

[GiggLeGasm]

Excellent advice all around. . Let's see what I can contribute...

Yamaha is actually a really good brand guitar-wise, acoustic and electric. And they're cheap too. I learned on a Yamaha electric before I bought a Fender Strat which, 20 years later, I still play today.

I'm thinking a small scale classical/nylon string guitar might be a good instrument for her to learn on since she's so young and her tastes are developing. Just to get chords and rhythm down. But that depends on what she likes musically, of course. Like if she's a huge Motörhead fan (and what 9 y/o isn't? ) she might not be that into an acoustic. Maybe take her on a window shopping trip so she can look around.

But yeah, avoid the Wal-Mart stuff. You can get stuff for the same price but better quality at a music store. Plus you can talk to knowledgable people about what you're buying.

That's awesome you're encouraging her getting into music. Getting into music in junior high was really a highlight of my younger years.

so what you're saying is.. I was right

 

[Randolph]

You can get small 'slim-neck' guitars and I think these are really good for getting kids started. Because their hands are small they can have difficulty making chord shapes on a full-size instrument.

It's hard enough getting started when you have big hands and it's important that they don't get put off....

Acoustic definitely..to start with...

 

[sereneone4u]

Oh...wait...wasn't she a taxi driver? Wasn't that the movie???

Hell...the older I get...the less I remember...

I think a vetrinarian/rock star/ballerina sounds fascinating.

No, it was really about Robert DeNiro...an insane tc driver

You talking to me? Yo, you talking to me?

And JF was a child prostitute....I remember that much...have not seen the movie since I was a kid.

 

[sereneone4u]

Excellent advice all around. . Let's see what I can contribute...

Yamaha is actually a really good brand guitar-wise, acoustic and electric. And they're cheap too. I learned on a Yamaha electric before I bought a Fender Strat which, 20 years later, I still play today.

I'm thinking a small scale classical/nylon string guitar might be a good instrument for her to learn on since she's so young and her tastes are developing. Just to get chords and rhythm down. But that depends on what she likes musically, of course. Like if she's a huge Motörhead fan (and what 8 y/o isn't? ) she might not be that into an acoustic. Maybe take her on a window shopping trip so she can look around.

But yeah, avoid the Wal-Mart stuff. You can get stuff for the same price but better quality at a music store. Plus you can talk to knowledgable people about what you're buying.

That's awesome you're encouraging her getting into music. Getting into music in junior high was really a highlight of my younger years.

Excellent!

Thank you, Butterscotch Baby

 

[NorthRockJohnson]

so what you're saying is.. I was right

Lol well OF COURSE you're right.

 

[sereneone4u]

You can get small 'slim-neck' guitars and I think these are really good for getting kids started. Because their hands are small they can have difficulty making chord shapes on a full-size instrument.

It's hard enough getting started when you have big hands and it's important that they don't get put off....

Acoustic definitely..to start with...

Good to know, I started with electric, myself...but my guitar was stolen, amp too...going to get a new one when I can

 

[sereneone4u]

Oh, my kids love science camps!

My son did Camp Catapault one year. Great time...

My did a two week camp at a college campus with all the advanced lab stuff, she was in heaven.

Nerds Untie...I mean Unite (we can't spell )

She took several this year, before and after her surgery, esp.

It is good to keep kids busy doing interesting things.

We have a planetarium and science museum here.

 

[sereneone4u]

You can get small 'slim-neck' guitars and I think these are really good for getting kids started. Because their hands are small they can have difficulty making chord shapes on a full-size instrument.

It's hard enough getting started when you have big hands and it's important that they don't get put off....

Acoustic definitely..to start with...

She is petite for sure. Good to know, Rand, thanks!