What guitar????

[JustAShopGirl]

DD(13) plays piano - just got her grade 4 and wants to take up guitar, just wondering if there is any knowledge out there -

I know ideally she would like to play electric guitar as she is into Rock music.. but didn't know what sort of thing to get really, is there anything in particular I should be looking at?

Should we get an acoustic to start? Is it very different? I am clueless..

Apparently she plays acoustic (well, she informs me they have 5 with a variety of missing strings!?! hence wanting her own) at school and has learned to play Tab notation.

Help...

Guitar is great for teenagers. You can get quick results (if you can play 8 basic open chords you can learn a LOT of songs) and there are lots of resources for motivated independent learners. I think it is also great for theory/ general musical understanding - after a year of guitar (admittedly a pretty intensive year) DD has more natural understanding of chords, harmony and rhythm than I did with grade 6/7 piano/ theory.

you can play an electric in bed if the amp is near enough!

My DD plays the guitar- started on classical then electric then finally landed on acoustic- she took her GTR grade three at Christmas but has decided not to carry on with exams as they are like pulling teeth for her.

Have a look at crafter light electro acoustics. They are relatively inexpensive but just amazing sound with an in built tuner. We went to a large guitar warehouse and she tried about ten ( most of which were much more expensive) but came back to this Crafter model. Think it was about £250.

She literally plays all the time- looks stuff up on the internet and her very very fabulous guitar teacher ( professional musician) knocks up Sibelius files for her to practice. She has just come back from a music tour with her school where she and a friend did a set each night- she just loves it!

I am a music graduate and never played as much as she does- as far as I am concerned that is what playing an instrument is all about.

Just came back to say quandary solved.... my aunt saw on facebook where I was also asking about guitars and gave her my late uncle's old Yamaha acoustic - which has a lovely mellow sound to it. (so grateful)

So we have delayed the choice of acoustic/electric telling her we will get her an electric one for her birthday in December if she wants to keep it up.

She has tuned it up using the iPad and started playing Smoke on the water main guitar riff (and that annoying song from Frozen) - I am amazed...

Oh that is brilliant - she is doing really well too. Astounding how quickly they learn isn't it. I have heard nothing but good things about Yamaha guitars. How lovely it has found such a good home - I bet Aunt is really pleased.

My Aunt is over the moon - especially at the beaming smile and spontaneous hug my DD gave her - she could see it meant a lot.

My parents bought my daughter's guitars during my divorce - I know having music and creativity and calm time to herself saw her through the most hideous time. It is a fabulous gift to give someone.

That's great. A good acoustic is such a versatile instrument, take it anywhere, great for singalongs at barbecues, solo performances etc.

Starting on an acoustic will make the transition to electric very simple (if you can play a barre chord on an acoustic then it will be a piece of cake on an electric).

DD finds it great therapy too, she plays a lot when she is angry or upset (just back from music camp and suffering the post holiday blues so we've had hours of guitar today).