Starting a kid out on guitar, which guitar?

[LeftyStrat]

When my children were young, I bought one of those small scale strats, hoping one of them would pick up guitar. I even built a beautiful sounding Matchless Lightning clone in a gutted Epiphone just for them.

After years of collecting dust I sold the guitar. Now my fifteen year old daughter says she wants to learn to play. I agreed to pay for lessons (I am a lousy teacher, I get impatient with myself trying to explain something, and the student thinks my impatience is because of them).

Anyway, should I get her an acoustic, or go right for electric?

I'm self taught (in everything) and I think I played acoustic for maybe a couple of months before I got an electric and starting copying Albert King licks off of records.

I know eventually she would want to play electric, and I think she'd have any amp she could possibly desire covered.

But I think it is still important to learn acoustic styles, I still play some old delta finger picking styles, a bit of slide, and even learn an occasional Tárrega piece on classical.

Just trying to find the easiest path to guitar addiction, then I know she won't give up.

[HeeBGB]

I'd go electric just because it's easier to play. The fatter strings will hurt her fingers and she will be more apt to give it up than endure the pain....although electric will still hurt it will be far less I think. Look for a used Mexi strat. If you have to re-sell you won't lose much if at all.

[Phil_S]

For about $300, maybe less, you can buy her a Baby Taylor. This is a 3/4 size acoustic that sounds good and plays well. Not always, but mostly girls have more delicate fingers and the 3/4 size is a good thing. I think it is safe to internet order one of these and maybe even get it cheap from eBait.

I know Takamine makes a small guitar. I'd want to see it and wouldn't order that one sight unseen. I'd be more wary of lesser brands. As we all know, good tone is it's own reward and some of the cheap boxes have so much plywood in them that they don't offer any such reward.

If you want to step up, see if you can find a Larrivee Parlor guitar but I think maybe these can be quite expensive -- I have one -- actually it belongs to my 25 y-o daughter. This is a real guitar in every respect (no laminate) and I think it has a 24" scale.

I would recommend against electric. I'm a bit old fashioned when it comes to this. I do not think basic technique will be learned well on an electric. Strings bend far too easily and it is more difficult to control. Electric guitars have too many distractions. She can always play one of yours? Maybe not -- are you really a lefty?

Paid for lessons are a really good idea. I applaud you. 15 is a good age to start.

[Cliff Schecht]

The problem with short scale guitars is you'll never get 'em to intonate so her ear will be off from day one!

Just kidding there, but I think it's best to learn on a full-size guitar if the kid can play one.

I play with light strings on my parlor and dreadnought and neither of them have a problem making lots of sound if you dig in. The light strings aren't for my left hand though, they are for my right hand because I play a lot in the Chet Atkins/Jerry Reed style and find my raw thumb gets torn to shreds on a fat bass string. I also think that for fingerstyle the bass notes can easily overwhelm if the bass string is too heavy. For a beginner I think a light set of strings is easy enough to play but will still sound good enough to strum with.

There is also the classical guitar route. I play an old student Hofner classical as my beater and it still surprises me sometimes how good that cheapo laminate guitar sounds. I can also play it all day because the wear factor on either hand is much less than a steel string guitar.

Electric is also an option but I think it depends on what style of music your daughter wants to play. If she's trying to rock out an acoustic might disappoint and if she's trying to write singer/songwriter stuff an electric might not sound right.

As for affordable guitars, I've been highly impressed with the laminate top Chinese made by Bristol (imported by Saga music, same guys who import Blueridge which also rock!). They sit in with Martin's that cost 5x as much without sweating a bead.. http://www.sagamusic.com/catalog/produc ... randid=126

[brentm]

I might be more of a free thinker here... but I'd say let her interests drive the decision... You can always put light strings on an acoustic but I agree, an electric is probably easier to play. It's a frustrating instrument to learn... especially when you're not doing what you want to be doing, which is woodshedding your way to rock stardom.

Then, IMHO, shopping for an instructor is probably equally as important a decision. Some instructors, in my opinion, make learning to play more drudgery than it needs to be. Again, I might be more of a free thinker here.. but I don't believe that everyone learns one way and I'd personally steer clear of instructors that have a boxed approach (not CAGED or scale boxes) Just ones that stick them in a book (e.g. Guitar Method 1) with no end in sight. A good instructor can keep them interested by playing familiar songs while tying in key concepts (notes, scales, shapes, chord relationships, theory, etc).

But how cool! Man, my daugher is 7 months old. I can't wait until she comes to me and wants to learn to play!

[LeftyStrat]

She can always play one of yours? Maybe not -- are you really a lefty?

Paid for lessons are a really good idea. I applaud you. 15 is a good age to start.

Yep, I'm a lefty, though none of my kids got my left-handedness nor my wife 's heterochromia (yes she has a green eye and a brown one).

Though I think my daughter got the best qualities of my wife and I. She likes great music. She used her babysitting money to buy tickets for her and me to see Mike Watt at the Triple Door. This was the encore:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AH6PBBNnLoM

She loves Bowie, Iggy, Damned, Clash, Pixies, Hendrix, Pink Floyd, and just about anything I turn her on to. She's well versed in the Sixties (from me) as well as the Eighties underground (from my wife). Her second concert was to see The New York Dolls, the opening band, and then wanted to leave after they played, missing Motely Crue and Poison.

When she was young she would ask me to put on the Monterey DVD, to see Hendrix and Otis Redding.

My son is in to Hip Hop and my youngest daughter is into Ke$ha, so if my wife and I can pass on any musical genes, it will be her.

[Bob Simpson]

I think I'd get the one she likes. ( within some kind of reason, I guess )

The important part is that the guitar moves her to play.

Good luck.


Bob Simpson

[brentm]

When you have a chance, check out the "Classic Vibe" line from Squier.

My first guitar was a Korean Squier, and it was cheap as hell. I later learned it had a plywood body to add to its cheapness...

But these Classic Vibe guitars are amazing quality for the price. I was checking them out the other month and nearly bought one. I was really shocked at how nice it played for the money. The CV50, I believe, has a quartersawn neck... they've made some real advancements in quality and construction. ...and the price is amazing. Here's a thread showing some pictures.

http://www.squier-talk.com/forum/squier ... -neck.html

Then if she decides to hang it up, you'll have yourself a nice little beater guitar!

[martin manning]

I think I'd get the one she likes. ( within some kind of reason, I guess ).

...yea like not if it's a $5k acoustic, or one of those pink Daisy things.

+1 on the Fender Vintage Vibe, they are a very good value. My daughter bought a V-vibe P-Bass that plays very well too.

[stelligan]

I always thought those Danelctro reissues were good chick guitars. Dainty necks - light - lots of colors - priced right....

[NickC]

I think I'd get the one she likes. ( within some kind of reason, I guess )

The important part is that the guitar moves her to play.

Good luck.


Bob Simpson

+1

[Espjr215]

If you decide to go acoustic take a look at the Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat guitar. I bought one for my wife about a year ago and was perfect for her as it is concert sized and fit well without having to stretch too much.

http://www.fender.com/products/search.p ... 0968300021

My wife is 5'3" and can sit down and play it comfortably. The tone is brighter than you would expect from an all mahogany guitar.

Good luck!

[eazilyled]

For electrics, the Yamaha Pacifica range is pretty good for the money, and you can usually buy used.

Going up from there the Ibanez Artcore range is excellent for a bit more cash.

[stelligan]

Just thought of another that would even be fun for Dad if it gets abandoned. Those Squier Vintage Modified Thinline Telecasters are short scale and fun as hell. I own one and love it.

[img:700:242]http://static.musiciansfriend.com/deriv ... _black.jpg[/img]

[Structo]

I bought one of those Squier '51 guitars when they were blowing them out for $85 at Overstock.com a few years ago.

Fun little guitar but I wouldn't want to pay more for it.

I agree, don't spend very much at all on the first instrument but it should be easy to play, not super high action or relief.