Thinking of buying a guitar for 3rd Birthday pressie...

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and would love some advice/feedback. Am I crazy? Which one to buy?

DD loves singing and never stops. She is also very interested in guitars (and violins) and often pretends to play household items. I don't want to waste £20 on a toy guitar that does nothing when for an extra £15 I could get a real one that she could learn on. Also don't want to be a pushy parent and feel she has to learn if she then isn't interested.

has anyone else done/been through this? Should I just get her a karaoke kit and leave the proper instruments until later?

If it's an acoustic guitar you mean, younger children need a quarter-sized guitar, then move up to a half-sized one and by 10 are on an adult-sized, because there is no way they can reach and hold down the strings on a full-sized instrument. So even if you buy a proper guitar, you are going to have to splash out on the smallest size which will soon have to be replaced as she grows.

I personally think you would be wasting your money. A guitar is not a particularly easy instrument to play and doesn't produce very satisfactory results until it can be played reasonably well! If she's very into music, an electronic keyboard might be better - far easier to learn a tune and more fun messing about with sounds.

If it's the guitar shape and portability that's the key, I would get a ukulele. Much cheaper and lighter than a guitar, and it IS a proper instrument that can play tunes, but on a 3-year-old it's proportionally similar to a guitar!

If it's electric you're after - again, full-sized guitars are EXREMELY heavy and there's no way a 3-year-old could carry one! I think they do make mini electric guitars for kids but I imagine they are more than £30 plus you'll need an amplifier.

thanks MLW. I was looking at the £30 1/4 sized ones which apparently can be used up to 8 (ish) depending on size of child. Hmmm. I read all the child music threads of pianos and things. I started piano lessons at 4 and carried on til 15, and whilst I like them, the practising kind of haunted me so am a bit averse to going that route.

I wouldn't give her one yet. First, her hands' movements are not yet fine enough for it, she still needs to develop that for a few years more, otherwise she might find the guitar somewhat frustrating. I guess at this age it is more about getting them to enjoy music and making some noises, rather than getting into the real thing, as starting to early can back fire by making them feel they are useless at something, when in reality, they are just not yet mature enough.

There is a very good book called "The right instrument for your child" which explain very well when is the best time to start, how to recognise the signs of them being ready, and also how to choose an instrument that suits your child's personality.

Thanks Chandra, sounds good. She really needs a pretend guitar and I just thought it might make sense to get her the real thing as it may be useful later. She isn't going to expect to make tuneful sounds yet anyway, just enjoys mimicing adults playing guitars whilst she sings. Don't like the idea of buying a large piece of useless plastic!

120, just to say be sure to keep your eye out for second hand at car boots etc - we have just bought DS (3.5) an electric guitar with leads and amp for £35, in good condition. Don't expect him to learn on it for another couple of years, but he loves to strum it now, and it means we haven't spent an extra £20 on a toy one that he would do the same thing on. It is quite heavy but he sits on the sofa with it, or lies it on the sofa. We were also given a piano, which he likes to fiddle around with, but I have heard that 6 is the best age for starting to actually learn instruments properly.

I am more of the line of thought that if you are going to buy a toy one anyway, get the real thing. it will make nicer sounds and may serve them down the line. certainly doesn't mean you need to push them, start them practicing or anything, can more or less be treated as another toy.

We bought ds (3) a proper little drum kit. DH is a drummer and he asked and asked and asked for it. We got one for less than the toy ones cost as dh works in a store so gets trade prices. For us it didn't make much sense to buy a character plastic one when he could have a proper one for the same price or less. IF he enjoys playing it will do him up to about 8 yrs old and if not, we'll sell it on. No harm done.

I would say leave real guitar until she is at least 7. It's a hard instrument to learn and if you have a few years of it gathering dust she may not feel inclined to learn it properly later.
Get the karaoke kit I say.
(Am ex music teacher)

am late to this thread but dd is also desperate for 'a real guitar like daddy's' for her 3rd birthday
like MrsLadywoman we are planning on getting a ukelele - it's a proper instrument and the right size for her to handle, and you can also tune it so it plays a nice chord without having to put your fingers on the strings, iyswim. They're also less than £15 and come in some fab colours thus, though dd wants a brown one 'like daddy's'...

Oh sorry hadnt realised how old this thread was.
But yes, ukelele good idea!