David Hutton
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Post by David Hutton on Nov 11, 2014 17:41:08 GMT
My son who is 6 says he wants to learn to play the guitar. So I am thinking of getting him one that x thing that cannot be mentioned. I don't want to spend too much (less than 100) as there is a good chance this is just a passing phase. I do want to get something thats good enough to encourage him. From bits I have read, a common opinion is that it is easier to learn on a nylon string guitar as its less painful on the fingers. Is this true if the steel string has a low action? I would have thought a narrow neck may be preferable for little hands. Anyone have any advice or even recommend a good childs (1/2 size) guitar.
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gwmpy
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Post by gwmpy on Nov 11, 2014 19:09:57 GMT
Hi Dave, Personally, I would buy a Ukulele. Just my opinion. G
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Post by andrewjw on Nov 11, 2014 19:15:26 GMT
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Wild Violet
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Post by Wild Violet on Nov 11, 2014 19:45:15 GMT
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Nov 11, 2014 23:37:06 GMT
At age 6 most kids just simply haven't developed the co-ordination to be able to make much of a stab at guitar. It's not their fault, it's just the way it is when it comes to the development of the nervous system. Yes, I'm sure many of you know kids who have done OK at that age, but from my experience of a large number of children (not all my own kids!) On average, I reckon 9 or 10 is about as early as makes sense for the majority of children. Even at that age it's unlikely many will make much progress with forming chord shapes, though many do well with learning notation and playing single note melodies, and eventually simple classical style arrangements with some bass notes in as well as a treble line. Early teenagers seem to get on well with chords though, especially as they are beginning to take more of a serious interest in listening to music by then. Nylon string or steel string? There are plenty of sub-£100 1/2 and 3/4 size (don't take those fractions too literally) nylon string guitars around but I doubt you'd find a steel stringer small enough to be sensible for a 6 yr old. I'd second gwmpy 's suggestion of a uke, which some 6 yr olds will cope with in a very basic way, or even something like the Yamaha guitarlele, (like a 6 string nylon strung guitar, but a lot smaller and tuned 5 frets higher) though even that might be a bit wide in the neck for a 6 yr old. Keith
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Martin
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Post by Martin on Nov 12, 2014 0:03:40 GMT
Another vote for the guitalele here!
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David Hutton
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Post by David Hutton on Nov 12, 2014 8:49:52 GMT
Thanks all. I think I'll go with the general advice and scrap buying the guitar for now. Embarrassingly,perhaps, I already own a guitalele which he already plays (twinkle twinkle on one string). I was thinking of the guitar because they are doing lessons at his school and I assume the different tuning would mean he could not use the guitalele. From what Keith is saying it may be a little early to invest in lessons anyway. I will either give him my guitalele or my investigate buying him a uke.
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Nov 12, 2014 9:11:21 GMT
Good plan David!
See if you can get him to play Twinkle Twinkle across the top three strings next, rather than up and down only one - the open third string is the place to start - and to use his first finger at fret 1, second at fret 2 and third at fret 3 - quite a tall order, but you never know!
I have taught guitar (beginner classical-ish) in the local primary school for some years now. From bitter experience when I started (inheriting existing very young pupils) I soon would only take on kids in years 5 and 6. Under extreme pressure I'll maybe give a year 4 child a trial term if they show promise (ie they've spent a few weeks at least in my uke classes and their fingers are capable do what is needed!).
Keith
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David Hutton
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Post by David Hutton on Nov 12, 2014 9:19:45 GMT
Good plan David! See if you can get him to play Twinkle Twinkle across the top three strings next, rather than up and down only one - the open third string is the place to start - and to use his first finger at fret 1, second at fret 2 and third at fret 3 - quite a tall order, but you never know! I have taught guitar (beginner classical-ish) in the local primary school for some years now. From bitter experience when I started (inheriting existing very young pupils) I soon would only take on kids in years 5 and 6. Under extreme pressure I'll maybe give a year 4 child a trial term if they show promise (ie they've spent a few weeks at least in my uke classes and their fingers are capable do what is needed!). Keith Thanks Keith. I will give it a go with the three strings twinkle twinkle. Probably better than my plan of teaching him power chords!
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on Nov 12, 2014 9:23:56 GMT
Keith
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gwmpy
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Post by gwmpy on Nov 12, 2014 16:38:04 GMT
Hey David, I've taught a few kids in my time, and would really advise a Uke for a real Young Un" Great thing about a Uke, its great foe kids in a car, put it in a suitcase if your kiddy winkie wants it on holiday (great also as you can play it), and my boy use to take it to school to practise his banjo rolls :-) Also, you can pick them up cheap. Easier to pay than a guitar to start off with. Whatever your desicion, it will be a great one as to get youngsters involved with music of any form can only be a bonus, G
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David Hutton
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Post by David Hutton on Nov 12, 2014 17:06:44 GMT
Hey David, I've taught a few kids in my time, and would really advise a Uke for a real Young Un" Great thing about a Uke, its great foe kids in a car, put it in a suitcase if your kiddy winkie wants it on holiday (great also as you can play it), and my boy use to take it to school to practise his banjo rolls :-) Also, you can pick them up cheap. Easier to pay than a guitar to start off with. Whatever your desicion, it will be a great one as to get youngsters involved with music of any form can only be a bonus, G I am going to go with a uke. Thanks for the advice.
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Post by jonnymosco on Nov 12, 2014 20:01:52 GMT
I teach loads of six year olds - 1/2 size guitar, capo on 3rd fret, tuned to open D... Thomann has a decent one with a solid top for c. £100. A uke is great and a good intro to the guitar though. Hope it works out.
Jonny
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Post by clydeslide on Nov 13, 2014 9:42:40 GMT
I got a half-size classical for my 6th birthday and started lessons the following week I say go for it. It will depend on how tall he is but I think a half-size would be fine, I went to a 3/4 very quickly.
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colins
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Post by colins on Nov 13, 2014 9:52:15 GMT
I'd go with the uke as well, I have made a number of them for children about that age. Many schools are using ukes instead of recorders now for their music lessons. I've found that only having four low tension strings makes it easier for the child to play and the simplicity of the chords means they achieve something very quickly, an important consideration if they are to keep it up. I'd go for a concert sized ukelele.
Colin
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