DS learning guitar - can anyone help?

[juneau]

DS2, who is nearly 8 (but tall for his age - more like a 10-year-old), has just started learning to play the guitar. We have an electric guitar belonging to DH, which he wants to take to his lessons. I think it's a bit big for him and his teacher recommended we go and talk to a local music shop. I'd like to rent/buy a 3/4 size acoustic for him to learn on, but I'm not sure what to do. His teacher says he'll soon outgrow the 3/4 size, but the electric one is heavy and I can't help feeling that a lighter guitar will be easier for him to manage. Also, do we need to buy a guitar tuner? I have no idea how to tune musical instruments and don't even know when they're out of tune! Can anyone help who has experience? DS is really keen to learn and I don't want my cluelessness to hold him back! TIA.

Have you been to the music shop? They really will be able to help. On tuning, my dh uses a snark. I’ve no idea what it actually is or does but it seems to do the job!

No, I haven't been to the music shop. DS has now told me he's determined to play DH's guitar, but I'd still like some advice and I'd like to know how to tune it for him. I'll think we'll go to the music shop this afternoon! Thanks

You can download apps for tuning!

My DS had a 3/4 size acoustic from primary age and has been playing it ever since.

He turned 18 last month so we finally went shopping for a new full-sized one 😂

He does have a tuner but has been using a free app instead for ages so .i really wouldn’t bother.

If you are anywhere near Durham, pm me and we could do you a deal on the old one.

My daughter is 12 and plays a 3/4. She can play one of my husbands electric but it's a small style (esp viper) she finds his slightly chunkier strat s bit tricky.

I think it's nothing to do with their size just what feels comfy. I knew a 6ft 15 year old who still played a 3/4 as that's what he'd learnt on and didn't like the feel of a full size lol
Having said that we're getting a full size for my daughter as she needs a better guitar so may as well get the big one.

So you could get a good 4 years use out of it!

He's having private music lessons in a group. The kids in the group are playing on a mix of electric and acoustic guitars. We just went to the music shop and had a chat with the guys in there, who are all passionate guitar players and we've bought him an inexpensive acoustic with nylon strings to start with, on their recommendation. They said that he could start on the electric, if he wants to, but that nylon strings are more comfortable to play until your fingers harden up. He says he wants to play classical music, so an acoustic seems sensible. We went for the full size, because the 3/4 looked too small already so he'll outgrow it in a year and there's no point buying a guitar he'll only use for a year. This is all new to me - DS1 is purely a sportsman and shows zero interest in music. I'm delighted I have one who loves music!

There is

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/extra_curricular_activities

where you might get more responce from parents with musical children/music teachers.

Daughter of a Pro guitarist & mother of bass player here.

A group lesson of mixed acoustic & electric sounds like a truly terrible idea. Techniques are completely different! Is he using a plectrum or finger picking? Do they have amps & speakers?

Let him play the instrument & style that he wants to play. That's the key to encouraging him to practice . If he stays keen, then get a teacher who's a specialist.

I see you have bought a full size one already. If it is too big
for now, try Gumtree/ Preloved or even freegle/freecycle for a 3/4 sized one . Parents often have them to pass on /sell and it is a shame to dump them. My DS had a 3/4 sized one for 4-5 years and then had a full size one. He also bought an electric one, but took the acoustic one to uni- as playing it was his stress buster.

BringOnTheScience finger picking for now (although he wanted a plectrum, so they threw one in for free). The lessons are not plugged in, no, everyone is playing unplugged. Initially he said he wanted to play DH's guitar, but when the guys in the shop asked him what kind of music he likes he said 'Classical', and he does like to listen to Classic FM. Drives me bonkers

78percentLindt thanks for the tip. We'll see how he goes over the next week or two, but I think the full size is fine. He's a really large DC for his age (tall, long limbs), so I think it should be fine, but I'll keep an open mind.

My 11yo is learning on a 3/4 classic and despite being tall/long not near needing to buy full size yet. We were advised to learn classic first.

Guitar tuna is the app we use to tune, it's very simple to use and DC do it themselves.