Guitar for 5 year old

[Blu]

DS has been badgering for a guitar since he was 3. generally, with all the things he persistently asks for, he is serious, and it doesn't turn out to be a flash in the pan. We bought him a toy (but tunable) small wooden guitar, and he has spent ages trying different notes / tunes, and experimenting with the frets etc.

He will soon be 5 and what he really wants (alongside a cuddly panda, a batman outfit and a 'sideways flute') is an electric guitar.

Has anyone seen the half size children's ones? Would they be too big and heavy?

I know that probably he should start on an acoustic guitar, but his dream is electric.

I have insisted to DP that we don't buy him any such thing unless he simultaneously starts lessons of some sort - as I think he could get discouraged unless he makes some progress.

Neither DP nor I play any instrument at any level of competence - DS can sing with excellent pitch, and can drum along to any music in good time with his toy kit drums.

Those with experience: should we hold off longer, or go for it?

[Blu]

I'll e mail you, too! Thank you!

[Blu]

I'll e mail you!

[Twiglett]

Blu .. I don't suppose you'd fancy sharing a guitar lesson would you? Maybe we could find someone who could teach 2 x 5 year olds at the same time and share the cost

[Blu]

aaaah!

[beety]

sounds perfect BLU. and ds2 recently sold his on ebay otherwise it would have come winging it's way to you

[Blu]

Thanks all.
I have been to the music shop Twiglett suggested, and our acoustic guitar is on order. DS has now been convinced that every rock guitarist he admires, including Mr Schneebly, had lessons on an acoustic guitar, and had an electric at home to practise on occasionally once they had learned. DP is also aquiring an acoustic to learn alongside DS...and if you do start with a teacher, Twiglett,I'd love to hear of a good recommendation.

Thanks Bundle - looks good - I wonder if it will be the same as the one we ordered? oh well..£10...

[bundle]

blu have just bought dd2 an acoustic tunable guitar (came with spare strings and plectrum) - £25 from Holz \link{http://www.holz-toys.co.uk/\toys}

[Milliways]

My DS started on acoustic, classical lessons, at age 7 and he finally got his electric last christmas (age 10). He loves both. Is taking Grade 2 in June (acoustic), and plays Greenday on electric. His guitar teacher is great as will show him the occasional riff etc for his electric at the end of his classical lesson.

Definately get proper acoustic lessons. If you get electric lessons they concentrate on chords alot, so not able to easily pick out the fab stuff like "While my guitar gently weeps".

[fsmail]

Oh and get them in to The Beatles because most of their songs only had three chords and Buddy Holly songs are easy.

[fsmail]

My DH has been playing the guitar since he was little and can now play a whole concert back to me which is quite sickening. He would always say buy the best guitar you can afford and a second hand good quality one is better as a cheap one may not keep in tune and it will be too fiddly for a kid to have to keep retuning it and this will be the first thing that puts them off. Unfortunately my DS (5) is not really interested but my DD (20 months) is obsessed by the guitars and wants Daddy to play them all the time so we could have a Courtney Love on our hands god help us! It is a lovely instrument for them to learn because it is so easy to take around. My DH would start DS with an acoustic and is saving all his electric ones for when he is older. Music schools do lessons for 5 year olds as opposed to the normal schools so give them a ring.

[Twiglett]

yes accoustic .. about £35 IIRC ..

I bought myself one off ebay too (full-size of course).. and DH bought me a 'teach yourself guitar for dummies' .. it is amazing how quickly teenage chord abilities come back

but I would still like to get him a teacher ... and maybe learn from him

[Blu]

Twiglett - thank you. Just what we need.I nip up there quite often, too.
Is your ds's guitar acoustic?

[beety]

oh yes smoke on water is one of my ds tunes too..

[Rach69]

My ds2 had a half size Crafter electric guitar from a shop on ebay - £90 including p&p plus a small amp. Apparently they are popular with adults too who can take them on aeroplanes as hand luggage, they are exact replicas of the full size models. His teacher has now gone awol but at least he can now play 'smoke on the water'!

[Twiglett]

music shop by cheeky monkeys behind dulwich college Blu

they let them try them out for size

I bought DS a 1/4 size guitar about a month ago .. I think the 1/2 size would've been a bit too big and a disincentive

they also have a list of guitar teachers

[Runnerbean]

I have bought my seven year old daughter a half size guitar from Argos. Only £14.99.
I've had it tuned by a friend and have bought a beginners book with CD so you can hear what you should be playing!
Anyone know what sort of pick I should buy?
Didn't realise there were so many sorts on ebay!!

[Blu]

That sounds great Piffle!

[Piffle]

We have a lot of Greenday, The Darkness, Queen etc...
DD is turning into a rock chick as well she is 3.5 and can handle a guitar which is really scary.

[Piffle]

He got on with it great at 5, aside from the fact that I told his teacher ds is left handed so they got him left strung guitar and ds was hopeless
He picked up my mums right handed guitar one day and it call came together :)

[beety]

oh and practice..every day.

dd has been told she must practive half an hour a day on her piano now. and the differnce in scheievemnt is amazing.

It is alot for a 5 year old, and we did have to bribe dd and the ds's at the begining. However, once they can play somthing it is far easier to get them to practice.

[beety]

Actually we pushed it a bit longer...He got his electric after a year. But is now really keen on the idea of having a dual one...

Trouble is I hate the sound of the electirc and relaly want him to go back to the acoustic but he is really really keen to play most of Green days songs. and then plays the National Anthm on his french horn

[Blu]

Thank you beety - yes, lessons are a must.
How long did it take your DS to learn two songs?

[beety]

Blu. Ds2 has a full size electris guitar. He used to own a half size acoustic guitar. We bought his this when he was about 6.

My advice would be to start him on an acoustic with the promise of an electric when he has got competant. We said to ds2 that he could have the electric once he coudl play two songs! The electric has to come with amps etc and is not at all tunefull whenthey are little.

On the other hand you can buy one that does both. I will ask ds to have a look for one when he gets home from swimming if you like.

And I recomend lessons....!

[Blu]

I think you are right, mb. I'm worried that he will start too early and go off it completely, whereas if we wait he will enjoy it - that's why I'm interested to hear how Piffle's 5 year-old did.