Guitar for child learner?

TimmyO

This is a subject that has been done before I know, but back on the other forum, so thought I'd ask again as it has become relevant.

My 8yo has again expressed an interest in learning (did so once before a couple of years or so ago - I used a toy acoustic we had kicking about but he lost interest very quickly). Today he asked again, and took one of my too-big and too-heavy electrics to his room and learned a bar or 2 of Happy Birthday from a Youtube video lol.

I'm wondering whether a nylon string acoustic might be kinder on his hands than an electric - and if it's worth getting a 3/4 size one of whichever is the best bet.

Be good to hear your thoughts and experiences, both from parents and teachers

ta

Tim

guitarcookie1

Anything by Yamaha should do fine. I started on (and still have) my Yamaha classical guitar, 30 yrs later...

ICBM

How big are his hands? 3/4 guitars are a bit of a mixed blessing. They're obviously physically smaller so easier to get their hands around, but the trade-off is poor tone and tuning stability (even with nylon strings) so they can be offputting.

If you're going electric I'd get the smallest 'nearly full size' one you can - something like a Squier Duo-Sonic, which although still short scale is a much better instrument than the average 3/4-size. Not cheap, but it will keep its value.

bertie

Morgan double cut

ThePrettyDamned

Plus one for a short scale squier. Not a 3/4 guitar, as then there is a transition moving from that to full size, but a mustang, duo sonic, jaguar... All are shorter than normal. Duo sonics crop up nice and cheap, and I think they're the shortest ones

And very cool, to boot.

jaygtr

Danalectro. Full size but very light.


And if he doesn't keep it up, you get to keep it.

ICBM

My kids like my Danelectro Convertible, but it's still too big for my 9-year-old really - and it doesn't balance that well, which makes holding up the neck a problem when it's already too far to the left for her.

Phil_aka_Pip

3/4 size classical, with the carrot of an electric when he's done his Grade 1 classical.

stonevibe

Let him play your most expensive guitar.

That way you'll stick around to teach him, let him know how much you like your guitar and share it with him, plus you can work out if he'll get on with a full size guitar yet.

Then find out what he likes the look of and take him shopping sometime.

TimmyO

ICBM;44352" said:

My kids like my Danelectro Convertible, but it's still too big for my 9-year-old really - and it doesn't balance that well, which makes holding up the neck a problem when it's already too far to the left for her.

Have you considered a career in sales? :-)

TimmyO

stonevibe;44386" said:

Let him play your most expensive guitar.

That way you'll stick around to teach him, let him know how much you like your guitar and share it with him, plus you can work out if he'll get on with a full size guitar yet.

Then find out what he likes the look of and take him shopping sometime.

I like the thinking, it's just that in the week I'm barely in the house while they are awake so a 8yo getting out and putting away an R7 or DGT on his own fills me with dread.

TimmyO

Phil_aka_Pip;44363" said:

3/4 size classical, with the carrot of an electric when he's done his Grade 1 classical.

One of the reasons I consider acoustic/classical is that he already reads more music than I do (he had some piano lessons - only stopped because the teacher stopped to have a baby and he didn't like the new teacher) and I'm assuming most electric-beginner teachers don't teach music reading

ThePrettyDamned

Classical guitars are, relative to electrics, a pain to play. Fat necks! However, I seen where you're coming from.

How about playing some brit pop to them? They're normally easy to play, and thus the sheet music is good. Maybe Coldplay or something that's easy to listen to, has melody, easy to play... And electric.

As far as the r7 goes, consider it free relicking

JookyChap

Another on the Squier Duo Sonic - my 7yo has one and it is perfect for her (when she manages to get it out of my hands)

ICBM

They seem to have stopped making them, which is slightly frustrating!

They come up fairly often second hand though. Of the two versions, the earlier Fender-badged red/black/cream one with two angled Strat-like pickups actually goes cheaper and has a shorter scale (22.5"), so may be more suitable for a young child.

The later gold-anodised-pickguard Squier '50s' version is simply one of the coolest electric guitars ever made - it's actually better than the original 1950s Fender Duo-Sonic because it has a 24" scale and a wider neck. I really should get one .

http://www.premierguitar.com/ext/resources/archives/4eb6f42e-ab4b-425e-ad28-8bd24632d4e6.JPG

JookyChap

That's the one - lovely thing to play and the pickups are excellent. Picked it up for £30 on Gumtree which was crazy cheap, but they seem to come up on t'bay for less than a ton quite often

ICBM

JookyChap said:

Picked it up for £30

:-O

TimmyO

Ok this sounds like a good plan - thanks guys

JookyChap

ICBM said:

JookyChap said:

Picked it up for £30

:-O

I know, it felt like a mugging

ICBM

JookyChap said:

I know, it felt like a mugging

Are you sure it wasn't when the seller got it?! 

They were nearly £300 new when they were discontinued and usually sell for around £150, very rarely a bit less.

I'll be happy to double your money when you don't want it any more .

JookyChap

Sorry, that's what I meant - when I went to collect it he was already talking himself down from that - 'I won't take less than £25' and was really shocked I didn't haggle.

Ah, if she decides to trade it in for a Barbie I'll give you a shout