Yay - Guitar lessons

[Smurfy]

Anyone here ever have their kid in guitar lessons, or ever take guitar lessons themselves as a kid? I'm arranging lessons for my son who has been bugging me about it. He's very excited which is cool.

Any tips? Anything I should know? Razorguns since you get paid in guitars perhaps you can chime in?

 

[needtogetarmy]

I recommend an electric guitar with headphones. Trust me, you will get tired of listening to him if he has an acoustic lol I drive my parents nut.

It is better to learn on an acoustic IMO.

Also, learning the guitar can be difficult. Make sure to encourage him because usually kids stop after the first few lessons because it takes a lot just to get the basics down, and the blisters/calluses on the fingers don't help.

After the guitar I recommend the drums. They are large and noisy so I recommend putting them in the middle of your living room so the entire household can enjoy listening to him playing )

BTW you are a cool mom for letting him do this.

 

[chris302001]

I recommend an electric guitar with headphones. Trust me, you will get tired of listening to him if he has an acoustic lol I drive my parents nut.

It is better to learn on an acoustic IMO.

Also, learning the guitar can be difficult. Make sure to encourage him because usually kids stop after the first few lessons because it takes a lot just to get the basics down, and the blisters/calluses on the fingers don't help.

After the guitar I recommend the drums. They are large and noisy so I recommend putting them in the middle of your living room so the entire household can enjoy listening to him playing )

BTW you are a cool mom for letting him do this.

she's the coolest!

 

[Bikini Mod]

IMHO when a kid shows interest in wanting to take up music RUN WITH IT!!! This will help shape their minds and thought processes in ways that other pursuits won't which IMHO is invaluable so it really doesn't matter if the child continues to play for the next 50 years or not. It will also give them HOURS of stuff to do to keep them out of places/pursuits that might get them into trouble.

I wouldn't invest in buying an instrument though until the child has enough time under his belt that they are serious enough to contribute to the cost of the intrument. I would look into renting. I don't know anything about guitars, but I know that schools will rent violins, woodwinds, etc...

Smurfy may be a cool mom (which is always good) but she most certainly is a SMART mom (which is even better).

 

[RADAR]

Go on Ebay, you can pick up alot of guitars cheaply, I played a left handed Ibanez Guitar that i absolutely loved last night, I Currently play a custom 1970 Gibson Les Paul with Dean Markley light guage strings professionally, You can get a really good Peavy amp like the "Backstage"most of the time on E bay, for $ 58.00,retails in music stores at $159.00.

Headphone jack is a must for Quiet pratice time.


RADAR

 

[swole]

guitar hero doesn't count

 

[Smurfy]

A guy who works at the local Guitar Center actually gives guitar lessons to kids. I am waiting for him to call me to set this up. They said he looks like an 80s rocker and the kids just love him (I lol @ that thinking and praying that Kip Winger might show up at my house in some leather pants, whatwhat)

 

[RADAR]

guitar hero doesn't count

hahahahaah!


Radar

 

[Razorguns]

Teach him tons of AC/DC riffs.

Let him go from there. Rest is history.

r

 

[c-sharp minor]

I used to teach kids guitar back in the day.

 

[Smurfy]

I used to teach kids guitar back in the day.

 

[BlueBird]

A guy who works at the local Guitar Center actually gives guitar lessons to kids. I am waiting for him to call me to set this up. They said he looks like an 80s rocker and the kids just love him (I lol @ that thinking and praying that Kip Winger might show up at my house in some leather pants, whatwhat)

omgomgomg But tell him to bring Eric Johnson along.

 

[Mr. dB]

A guy who works at the local Guitar Center actually gives guitar lessons to kids. I am waiting for him to call me to set this up. They said he looks like an 80s rocker and the kids just love him (I lol @ that thinking and praying that Kip Winger might show up at my house in some leather pants, whatwhat)

The teacher makes house calls? You don't have to take the kid to a teaching studio anymore?

This sounds like the kind of teacher who will give the kids fun stuff to do on the instrument in addition to teaching them boring scales. When I was a kid the teachers were old dudes who sucked, and if I wanted to do anything on the instrument that I found entertaining, I had to figure it out on my own.

 

[Smurfy]

The teacher makes house calls? You don't have to take the kid to a teaching studio anymore?

This sounds like the kind of teacher who will give the kids fun stuff to do on the instrument in addition to teaching them boring scales. When I was a kid the teachers were old dudes who sucked, and if I wanted to do anything on the instrument that I found entertaining, I had to figure it out on my own.

yeah, i sure hope they keep it fun, otherwise my kid will lose interest real fast.

 

[Mr. dB]

omgomgomg But tell him to bring Eric Johnson along.

Poor kid would flip out. Eric Johnson and Smurfy standing side-by-side, he'd be like "which one of you is my mom?"

 

[Smurfy]

Poor kid would flip out. Eric Johnson and Smurfy standing side-by-side, he'd be like "which one of you is my mom?"

lol damn Deebs, thats a low blow

 

[needtogetarmy]

I just found out Smurfy told her son he could learn the AIR guitar. That is fucked up.

 

[chris350]

IMHO when a kid shows interest in wanting to take up music RUN WITH IT!!! This will help shape their minds and thought processes in ways that other pursuits won't which IMHO is invaluable so it really doesn't matter if the child continues to play for the next 50 years or not. It will also give them HOURS of stuff to do to keep them out of places/pursuits that might get them into trouble.

I wouldn't invest in buying an instrument though until the child has enough time under his belt that they are serious enough to contribute to the cost of the intrument. I would look into renting. I don't know anything about guitars, but I know that schools will rent violins, woodwinds, etc...

Smurfy may be a cool mom (which is always good) but she most certainly is a SMART mom (which is even better).

you can get a decent guitar at a pawn shop for like 30 bucks

 

[-Ariel-]

IMHO when a kid shows interest in wanting to take up music RUN WITH IT!!! This will help shape their minds and thought processes in ways that other pursuits won't which IMHO is invaluable so it really doesn't matter if the child continues to play for the next 50 years or not. It will also give them HOURS of stuff to do to keep them out of places/pursuits that might get them into trouble.

I wouldn't invest in buying an instrument though until the child has enough time under his belt that they are serious enough to contribute to the cost of the intrument. I would look into renting. I don't know anything about guitars, but I know that schools will rent violins, woodwinds, etc...

Smurfy may be a cool mom (which is always good) but she most certainly is a SMART mom (which is even better).

+1 Woman stop beating me to the punch on everything I wanna express...
LOL

 

[Smurfy]

I just found out Smurfy told her son he could learn the AIR guitar. That is fucked up.

lol that's all we had when I was a kid!

 

[walliwalibus]

I have read it all now...... Lets see.... Boring scales. Old men who suck. LOL.....

Lets just hope your kid gets a well rounded education on it. I couldn't play the music I play if i didn't learn those "boring scales". That would be like doing joose without any knowledge of what your doing. Within the first few months you'll know if you kid is serious or not. If serious, take appropriete (sp?) action. If not then let it go off on its own because they may pick it up later. I just wish my parents would have listened to me when I really needed to learn things... or expressed the interest. Don't blow a wad of cash on gear til they are serious. You'll know when that time comes. Don't be pushy dammit!

 

[digimon7068]

my guitar sat in the corner of my bedroom for 20+ years. . .last september, my daughter (one of our 8 y/o twins) expressed an interest in learning to play. . .we've been taking lessons from a local dude. . .berkley grad. . .damn fine musician. . .we're both TOTALLY addicted. . .can't figure out why i ever put the damn thing in the corner. . .absolutely one of the most fulfilling things i've done in a long time. . .my daughter has an incredible voice. . .mine's pretty good too. . .some day. . .in a few years. . .when we both have a number of songs in our pocket. . .we'll hit one of the local watering-holes on open mike night. . .and then, when we're done, we'll come home and put our guitars away. . .and then i'll probably go out in my garage. . .by myself. . .and cry. . .yeah. . .i love it that much. . .does that answer your question?

 

[digimon7068]

I have read it all now...... Lets see.... Boring scales. Old men who suck. LOL.....

Lets just hope your kid gets a well rounded education on it. I couldn't play the music I play if i didn't learn those "boring scales". That would be like doing joose without any knowledge of what your doing. Within the first few months you'll know if you kid is serious or not. If serious, take appropriete (sp?) action. If not then let it go off on its own because they may pick it up later. I just wish my parents would have listened to me when I really needed to learn things... or expressed the interest. Don't blow a wad of cash on gear til they are serious. You'll know when that time comes. Don't be pushy dammit!

my daughter doesn't care to much for scales either. . .but she gives them a good 15 minutes each day to warm up her fingers. . .i've been exposing her to many different kinds of guitar-based music. . .i think she's starting to understand the point.

me? i play my scales every morning for at least 15 minutes. . .non-stop. . .it's all about accuracy and muscle-memory and letting your mind wrap around how the notes fit together. . .i get it completely. . .i suck. . .but i get it

 

[pdaddyII]

I've been playing guitar for over 10 years now. I took a few lessons at first but they were useless for the most part. If the kid is truly passionate about it, buy him a beginners guide book and cheap guitar, the rest will fall into place.

I suppose being involved in a band that landed lots of poon helped my drive and enthusiasm as well....food for thought.

 

[Mr. dB]

I have read it all now...... Lets see.... Boring scales. Old men who suck. LOL.....

Lets just hope your kid gets a well rounded education on it. I couldn't play the music I play if i didn't learn those "boring scales".

I'm not trying to suggest that the kid shouldn't learn scales, but that the academic stuff should be mixed with things that are fun. On guitar, for a beginner, I think that learning chords is just as important as learning single-note scales and simple "Mary Had A Little Lamb" melodies.

 

[Mr. dB]

lol that's all we had when I was a kid!

Then you graduated to the tennis racket?

 

[RADAR]

I'm not trying to suggest that the kid shouldn't learn scales, but that the academic stuff should be mixed with things that are fun. On guitar, for a beginner, I think that learning chords is just as important as learning single-note scales and simple "Mary Had A Little Lamb" melodies.

Yes!If you can't do that ! THen you're not a guitar player!




RADAR

 

[Stock69]

IMO, one of the most important things is to encourage him to pick it up every day even if it's jsut for 10-15 min. He needs to get into the habit of playing every day. After a while he will see himself getting better and better every day, and when that happens, the rest is history.