Learning to play the guitar
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No not me, I'm too old. But my son wished for a guitar for his birthday, and we obliged. It's an el cheapo, in case the interest won't last, but still a real acoustic junior sized guitar. Now I'd like some tips on resources on how to learn playing the guitar, aimed for kids. All other hints are of course welcome as well, especially about tuning. I've tuned it like a full sized guitar, but I don't know if that's correct.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
Not sure if it is the same there as it is here, but do not send him to music lessons (yet). The problem with those is that they have to go through a bunch of theory before they learn anything "cool" and often they lose interest. The best way to keep him interested is you can make him play a recognizable song quick (2 weeks to a month). He can learn that by himself or via a tutor (who focuses on playing instead of theory). Start with the open chords (A-G and perhaps the minor versions) and pick a song he likes that contains about 3 or 4 of the open chords. From there, move to songs that have similar chords, but with one or 2 different. (eg my first song was Polly from Nirvana with open chords) For songs you can go here: [ultimate guitar](https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/). (not always 100% correct, but usually not too bad) Don't worry about the up or down strokes, just yet, that mostly comes with time anyway. Some tips: - practice every day, especially the first month or so. Even if it is just for 15 minutes. - Make sure the chords you learn are played clean, don't be to happy with yourself too soon. - make sure the fingers are perpendicular on the fretboard not "parallel" (you press the strings, not sure I explain it right) For beginners this can to hurt after a while, but the pain will disappear. - for changing chords you should aim at lifting all fingers from the old chord and pushing down again on the new chord, however for beginners I would recommend a "spider" approach where you keep one finger down as a "base" only moving that at the end (or as first), usually this "handicap" disappears automatically and it helps in progressing when learning new chords and songs. - When he's still interested after a year you might want to check if he would like to learn the theory. There are some good tutorials on youtube ;-). If you want I can even try to put lessons online for you (though I'm an autodidact) on request. Hope this helps.
V.
(MQOTD rules and previous solutions)
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I recommend you get someone (a friend or family member who plays, or a guitar teacher) to help teach your son to get started - i.e. undertstand what notes are (and their names), how to tune the guitar, how to play a few simple chords, and how to strum (rhythm). But I strongly suggest not forcing your son to read and write music. DON'T DO IT. Instead, encourage the instructor to show your son how to play some of his favorite songs or artists. That will spur him and on and encourage him to keep playing. I learned on my own (many years ago), and the joy of not having been forced to take lessons and learn to read and write music opened my eyes to improvisation, which came naturally to me, because I wasn't forced to follow a strict musical regimen. My nieces took piano lessons for years and can sight read (impressive), but can't improvise. When I once told one of them "play a chord sequence and I'll just follow you", she looked and me blankly and said, "But what do you want me to play?" And tell your son, not to be discouraged when his fingers hurt and the strings buzz instead of ringing clearly. That means he's on the road to improvement! Keep playing and you'll find with time your fingers will stop hurting and the notes you're playing will sound pure and clean. Playing guitar is easy and is a great release[^]. When I was young, I also discovered it attracted women. Which was fine by me. Very fine. :) /ravi
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No not me, I'm too old. But my son wished for a guitar for his birthday, and we obliged. It's an el cheapo, in case the interest won't last, but still a real acoustic junior sized guitar. Now I'd like some tips on resources on how to learn playing the guitar, aimed for kids. All other hints are of course welcome as well, especially about tuning. I've tuned it like a full sized guitar, but I don't know if that's correct.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
I remember trying to learn guitar once and I used something called tabs I think. Just download them and run in a suitable program and just follow.
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I remember trying to learn guitar once and I used something called tabs I think. Just download them and run in a suitable program and just follow.
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No not me, I'm too old. But my son wished for a guitar for his birthday, and we obliged. It's an el cheapo, in case the interest won't last, but still a real acoustic junior sized guitar. Now I'd like some tips on resources on how to learn playing the guitar, aimed for kids. All other hints are of course welcome as well, especially about tuning. I've tuned it like a full sized guitar, but I don't know if that's correct.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
The normal tuning is what you want, as for songs, what songs does he like? If they arent what he likes to listen to he isnt going to want to play them, so get the chords and lyrics off the net, get the chord shapes off the net, and leave him alone in his bedroom for a few weeks.
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No not me, I'm too old. But my son wished for a guitar for his birthday, and we obliged. It's an el cheapo, in case the interest won't last, but still a real acoustic junior sized guitar. Now I'd like some tips on resources on how to learn playing the guitar, aimed for kids. All other hints are of course welcome as well, especially about tuning. I've tuned it like a full sized guitar, but I don't know if that's correct.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
I'd hire him a guitar tutor if I were you - After all: Why should you be the only one to suffer? :doh:
Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
Anonymous
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I'd just like a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
Me, all the time -
Jörgen, Bring your son to a local music store and sign him up for lessons. There's a huge difference between listening to your favorite music or watching your favorite band and actually seeing your guitar teacher do something that blows your mind. Encourage him to sit and try to figure out how to play songs he likes. I started playing when I was 13 (I'm 47 now). The best I can tell you is let him have his own experience with it, and if he loves it, you'll know. And he will HAVE to love it to become good at it... or even just mediocre. Guitar is an extremely difficult instrument to learn to play. You need to love it, or you give up. - Pete
pdoxtader wrote:
ring your son to a local music store and sign him up for lessons
I second that.
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No not me, I'm too old. But my son wished for a guitar for his birthday, and we obliged. It's an el cheapo, in case the interest won't last, but still a real acoustic junior sized guitar. Now I'd like some tips on resources on how to learn playing the guitar, aimed for kids. All other hints are of course welcome as well, especially about tuning. I've tuned it like a full sized guitar, but I don't know if that's correct.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
I'd suggest some lessons, at least to start out, as well. You should both talk to several potential teachers and see which one clicks with him and encourages him to play music he likes. Very few people really want to start out with Red River Valley. ;P While there are quite a few different ways to play a guitar, a few can lead to carpal tunnel and other problems, or limiting habits that are really difficult to un-learn. Having someone around who can head that off can make a world of difference. Most smaller guitars are tuned to the same notes as a full-sized guitar. They won't get the same sound in the bass as a full-sized dreadnought, but for learning they're fine. A more advanced player may keep a small instrument around and tune it to G instead of E, but you don't want to start out that way. Little electronic tuners are inexpensive and do a good job.
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Don't bother about anything, just give your son the Chance to do it, playing guitars...do it do it do it :-O [Edit] I'm something old, and I remember very well that my mother has spared a lot to allow me to take drumming lessons :((
I bet she invested in cotton balls though.
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No not me, I'm too old. But my son wished for a guitar for his birthday, and we obliged. It's an el cheapo, in case the interest won't last, but still a real acoustic junior sized guitar. Now I'd like some tips on resources on how to learn playing the guitar, aimed for kids. All other hints are of course welcome as well, especially about tuning. I've tuned it like a full sized guitar, but I don't know if that's correct.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
youtoob
#SupportHeForShe Government can give you nothing but what it takes from somebody else. A government big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take everything you've got, including your freedom.-Ezra Taft Benson You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun
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Didn't read your post and you basically gave the same message I did :thumbsup: (perhaps better :-D )
V.
(MQOTD rules and previous solutions)
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No not me, I'm too old. But my son wished for a guitar for his birthday, and we obliged. It's an el cheapo, in case the interest won't last, but still a real acoustic junior sized guitar. Now I'd like some tips on resources on how to learn playing the guitar, aimed for kids. All other hints are of course welcome as well, especially about tuning. I've tuned it like a full sized guitar, but I don't know if that's correct.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
Get a good guitar tuner and use it regularly. There's nothing more disheartening than playing something and it doesn't sound right, just because the tuning is off slightly. And lessons, definitely lessons. You want someone who is looking to see that his technique isn't causing problems. For instance, getting the hand position right for fretting chords takes some practice. The angle you hold your hand has a real effect on how clean your chords are.
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No not me, I'm too old. But my son wished for a guitar for his birthday, and we obliged. It's an el cheapo, in case the interest won't last, but still a real acoustic junior sized guitar. Now I'd like some tips on resources on how to learn playing the guitar, aimed for kids. All other hints are of course welcome as well, especially about tuning. I've tuned it like a full sized guitar, but I don't know if that's correct.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
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No not me, I'm too old. But my son wished for a guitar for his birthday, and we obliged. It's an el cheapo, in case the interest won't last, but still a real acoustic junior sized guitar. Now I'd like some tips on resources on how to learn playing the guitar, aimed for kids. All other hints are of course welcome as well, especially about tuning. I've tuned it like a full sized guitar, but I don't know if that's correct.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
Get a tuner (there's Apps that are pretty good if you have phones or tablets to hand)and keep it in tune. Teach him to tune it 'manually' (standard tuning fret the low E on fret 5 and it should be the same as the next string (A) played open, etc. I would encourage a good teacher - be fussy and insist he just learns to play with no theory - it can take a bit of time to be able to knock out anything even halfway reasonable, so concentrating on that first is paramount for kids. Also a teacher enforces practice (although when I finally got my first guitar when I was about 14, I played until my fingers bled - couldn't keep me off it!) Learn Tabs not Music (unless he wants to go the classical route) There are loads of guitar tabs online Guitar Tab Pro is cheap and has millions of tabs - I'd recommend finding some simple ones of tunes he knows and might want to play and helping him learn them (or asking his teacher to help) Learning tunes he wants to play is much better than learning tunes the teacher might think he wants to play. If he practices his fingers will hurt. Keep practicing, they'll harden up. I really like rockSmith - plug in a real guitar and play like Guitar Hero. It actually does teach you to play - although I'm not sure what it would be like for a complete beginner. Don't let him give up. My sister and I gave up piano lessons. My brother didn't. He now earns more than all of us put together, and works doing what he loves - playing music. I wish my parents had forced me to continue (although at the time I really REALLY didn't!) Tuning - you should be fine with standard tuning on a small guitar - it means the strings will be looser and so less painful - great for a beginner. Finally, get him an electric, amp and effects pedals as soon as possible :)
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