guitars for beginners

[girlsmiley]

we give back as well this time of year, and around the year. the gift of music from me to him is something i hope he will be able to build upon for his own future.



he's still learning what he's into, and will listen to just about anything.

Do they offer lessons at his school?

Is he in a music class?

A couple of lessons first perhaps?

 

[neci]

That would be welcomed in an acoustic coffee shop setting.

heh.

i'm trying to picture that in my neighborhood coffee shop.

i am just shaking my head.

 

[cjh]

When we had little shops, it was artsy but the music sucked.

we're so rooted in blues that most of it's pretty good if that floats your boat.

the folkier stuff--a bit of a mixed bag.

 

[neci]

Do they offer lessons at his school?

Is he in a music class?

A couple of lessons first perhaps?

they don't have music lessons at his school. it's not until high school that they are exposed to that around here. he'll get lessons as a part of the gift. i will find him a decent teacher. i have one more that appears to be quite musical, so when she's big enough, i know for certain anything i buy him will get played on and used.

 

[BotanyBoy]

This. Funnily enough.

Any guitar would do. I learnt on an acoustic. Classical. It's important to learn chords etc. Depends on what he likes to play I guess. Is he into classical, or is he into rock or metal? A first guitar isn't about what brand or anything, it's about learning chords and having fun. Stretching and the basics.

BAH see I say fuck chord memorization....make your own shit up, play with your tuning, chug that ass with some shred on top and kill it, kill it till it sounds good.

It really boils down to what kind of tunes kiddo wants to jam....is he still on mom and dad's jams or is he branching into his own jams?? He a alt pop kid? Math metal? Djent? Classic rock? Stoner metal? Prog?

What you want to play dictates what instrument you should be looking for. Who are some of his favorite bands? What kind of guitars are they playing ??

If you want him to play you have to make it fun...

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

mine's pretty good at committing to something, once he decides to learn, so i am excited about it. we've never ventured into the realm of music lessons and learning. it's going to be fun.



thank you! this is going to be a learning process all around.



i need to take this thread with me to the pawn shop!



i plan on going cheaper for this exact reason. next birthday or next christmas, we can go fancier, if he's still into it.

Youre wise. Youll know soon enough. My chums and I bought guitars, they were in heaven, my fingers hurt. 50 years later they have expensive equipment and guitars, and my fingers aren't sore or callused.

 

[Disgustipated]

we're so rooted in blues that most of it's pretty good if that floats your boat.

the folkier stuff--a bit of a mixed bag.

Starbucks. We have one every 3 blocks here and I'm not joking. Add in Coffee Bean and bye bye. There's 3 strip malls in a direct triangular pattern, each has a Starbucks. Plus the grocery store with a kiosk.

 

[Disgustipated]

BAH see I say fuck chord memorization....make your own shit up, play with your tuning, chug that ass with some shred on top and kill it, kill it till it sounds good.

It really boils down to what kind of tunes kiddo wants to jam....is he still on mom and dad's jams or is he branching into his own jams?? He a alt pop kid? Math metal? Djent? Classic rock? Stoner metal? Prog?

What you want to play dictates what instrument you should be looking for. Who are some of his favorite bands? What kind of guitars are they playing ??

If you want him to play you have to make it fun...

Pay attention. He's starting with some coffee house kids. He can't make shit up if he can't tune.

 

[DesEsseintes]

If he starts playing a proper classical, nylon strung guitar - Yamaha do decent starters for around $130-40, and decent second hand ones higher up the range can be found easily on Ebay - and gets proper classical lessons, anything else he learns will be easy. I learned classical and flamenco guitar for several years - when I was asked to join a sixth form rock band it took me literally a week to learn everything I needed to know, because all the techniques were basically there - and when you know scales, keys, dominants, arpeggios, etc, rock and blues come easily. It also makes improvising so easy because you know how music works and what goes with what.

Same with reading music - well worth doing, and not hard when you are young and everything comes so easily to those sponge-like young minds. Only learning tab is like only learning to drive on an automatic - fine if you know that's all you'll ever do, but limiting.

 

[BotanyBoy]

that's a heavy-metal 8-string tenor?



damn, you change the pic. what was that?

Tosin Abassi Ibanez 8, standard scale.
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lt6h8weunk1qcunqno1_500.jpg

I want the M8M, baritone extended scale, the ultimate chug monster
http://www.gigasonic.com/images/ibanezm8mbk.jpg https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSEZwCHThw6pfBoITgP-nDO2LOzS8imGkNysRg22-gf8fUABJ7i

That's right...no bolt on neck....so much sexy...so much tone.

Speaking of tone...
http://magazine.dv247.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/mesa-boogie-ra-100-royal-atlantic.jpg

https://c1.staticflickr.com/7/6107/6269363815_6de277dca0.jpg

That would be welcomed in an acoustic coffee shop setting.

Just make it some upity indiprog shit and you're golden!!

tab pro. i will check it out. magazines are the gift that keeps on giving! he has mentioned before that he likes the classical look. i don't know if that was an educated comment or random comment. i think he would take the guitar around to places, and for that, acoustic would be easier, as no electricity is required.

It's a easy to use program that will help him play his favorite tunes.

Mags are great too..they usually have some tabs educational stuff but I love them mostly for gear porn because cool gadgets and things that plug in to make weird noises

 

[spacekowboy]

Okay.... First I need to know what his musical tastes tend to lean towards.

Is it classical or more traditional route.
This is important to gauge whether a nylon stringed classical guitar is needed or a steel string acoustic.

I lean towards the steel strings myself.

Also, there are plenty of "starter" kits on the market.
I would steer clear of those. Typically the workmanship of those guitars are shoddy. Slapped together by machines and shipped out the door. Guitars just like anything else, you get what you pay for.

Why is workmanship important in a first time guitar?
Because the poorer the workmanship the more difficult it is to keep in tune and the more difficult it is to get the correct sound out of the guitar. The more difficult it is, the harder young fingers have to press. The harder young fingers have to press, the more they hurt. The more they hurt the more likely it is that they get frustrated and give up on the instrument.

That's not to say that you need spend an astronomical amount on a guitar that you are not sure he'll stick with. There is plenty of good not great quality out there.
I will say that buying new will be hard to find the right balance of quality and price. A new guitar at mid level quality will run between the $200-300 range.
I know it's more than you want to spend, but the jump in quality from a $120-$150 to a $200-$300 is enormous.

As NN said, if you have a friend who plays get them to go browse with you if you can.

My recommendations for an acoustic in this range are Yamaha, Washburn, Ibanez, Takamine or their "lesser" brand Jasmine.

Worst case scenario you could sell it and get at least a good portion of your money back.

 

[cjh]

Starbucks. We have one every 3 blocks here and I'm not joking. Add in Coffee Bean and bye bye. There's 3 strip malls in a direct triangular pattern, each has a Starbucks. Plus the grocery store with a kiosk.

Mine has been here 20 years.

Lots of good players from Memphis.

Some from Nashville traveling through.

 

[spacekowboy]

Also, bass players have no business in the upper register, but that's just me.

 

[remy_lebeau8]

In the 150 range I would go with either a yahama or epiphone acoustic. Before you buy run your hands up and down the neck to feel for sharp spots. Sometimes the frets aren't dressed very well on lower end guitars. I would suggest used from a music store over a pawn shop unless you take someone with you who knows guitars. A pawnshop find could have a fucked up neck and you wouldn't know it.

The starter packs generally arent too bad. Most come with picks, strap, stand, and maybe a book or dvd. If you ask they may do a set up free of charge (tweaking the guitar for optimum play ability). I know guitar center will. Ask them to put on lighter strings too. Odds are the guitar will come with .12 gauge strings. I'd go with .10s for a beginner. Decent tone on an acoustic and better on the fingers.

I know this goes against the idea but I would take him in and let him choose. If the guitar isn't comfortable for him to play then it'll end up in the back of the closet.

Edit.

Spacekowboy hit the nail on the head.

 

[BotanyBoy]

H8terz gonna H8 the 8!!

It's just a different toy for a different jam....sometimes it's a caster kinda day because I want to guitar hero up some ZZ top or The Sword....

Other days it's all kinds of 7th heaven on the Universe...because Jeff Loomis god damn it.

And sometimes you just need some mindless chugging at 11....

 

[eyer]

we give back as well this time of year, and around the year. the gift of music from me to him is something i hope he will be able to build upon for his own future.

I understand.

Here's hoping your wish for your gift is as dear to your son as it is obviously to you.

 

[neci]

Pay attention. He's starting with some coffee house kids. He can't make shit up if he can't tune.

he does want to play with the cooler, older coffee house kids. totally. i see it clearly now. i will go in and talk with some of them. they all know my kid, as i've had him in there since he was learning to walk.

If he starts playing a proper classical, nylon strung guitar - Yamaha do decent starters for around $130-40, and decent second hand ones higher up the range can be found easily on Ebay - and gets proper classical lessons, anything else he learns will be easy. I learned classical and flamenco guitar for several years - when I was asked to join a sixth form rock band it took me literally a week to learn everything I needed to know, because all the techniques were basically there - and when you know scales, keys, dominants, arpeggios, etc, rock and blues come easily. It also makes improvising so easy because you know how music works and what goes with what.

Same with reading music - well worth doing, and not hard when you are young and everything comes so easily to those sponge-like young minds. Only learning tab is like only learning to drive on an automatic - fine if you know that's all you'll ever do, but limiting.

my first inclination was for a classical acoustic. now, the more i read, the more i question. now, i want to learn on a flamenco guitar!

It's a easy to use program that will help him play his favorite tunes.

Mags are great too..they usually have some tabs educational stuff but I love them mostly for gear porn because cool gadgets and things that plug in to make weird noises

so it's a computer program? he does not have a computer, and only gets to use it for research at this point. if it's a program that can be used on an ipad, that would work.

Okay.... First I need to know what his musical tastes tend to lean towards.

Is it classical or more traditional route.
This is important to gauge whether a nylon stringed classical guitar is needed or a steel string acoustic.

I lean towards the steel strings myself.

Also, there are plenty of "starter" kits on the market.
I would steer clear of those. Typically the workmanship of those guitars are shoddy. Slapped together by machines and shipped out the door. Guitars just like anything else, you get what you pay for.

Why is workmanship important in a first time guitar?
Because the poorer the workmanship the more difficult it is to keep in tune and the more difficult it is to get the correct sound out of the guitar. The more difficult it is, the harder young fingers have to press. The harder young fingers have to press, the more they hurt. The more they hurt the more likely it is that they get frustrated and give up on the instrument.

That's not to say that you need spend an astronomical amount on a guitar that you are not sure he'll stick with. There is plenty of good not great quality out there.
I will say that buying new will be hard to find the right balance of quality and price. A new guitar at mid level quality will run between the $200-300 range.
I know it's more than you want to spend, but the jump in quality from a $120-$150 to a $200-$300 is enormous.

As NN said, if you have a friend who plays get them to go browse with you if you can.

My recommendations for an acoustic in this range are Yamaha, Washburn, Ibanez, Takamine or their "lesser" brand Jasmine.

Worst case scenario you could sell it and get at least a good portion of your money back.

okay. he is still discovering his musical style, and i really mean that. i see him jamming to old school funk as well as heavy metal as well as journey. he loves the folk music that is played in the coffee shop. he is a true beginner, and those preferences are just now forming.

In the 150 range I would go with either a yahama or epiphone acoustic. Before you buy run your hands up and down the neck to feel for sharp spots. Sometimes the frets aren't dressed very well on lower end guitars. I would suggest used from a music store over a pawn shop unless you take someone with you who knows guitars. A pawnshop find could have a fucked up neck and you wouldn't know it.

The starter packs generally arent too bad. Most come with picks, strap, stand, and maybe a book or dvd. If you ask they may do a set up free of charge (tweaking the guitar for optimum play ability). I know guitar center will. Ask them to put on lighter strings too. Odds are the guitar will come with .12 gauge strings. I'd go with .10s for a beginner. Decent tone on an acoustic and better on the fingers.

I know this goes against the idea but I would take him in and let him choose. If the guitar isn't comfortable for him to play then it'll end up in the back of the closet.

Edit.

Spacekowboy hit the nail on the head.

thank you for the tip on checking for splinters. i never would have thought about that.

I understand.

Here's hoping your wish for your gift is as dear to your son as it is obviously to you.

thank you.

 

[BotanyBoy]

so it's a computer program? he does not have a computer, and only gets to use it for research at this point. if it's a program that can be used on an ipad, that would work.

Internet site you pay a script to it's like 20/year I think, you get the tabs (music) you can slow down the play along, break it down into sections etc...it's just my personal favorite.

And is music study not study? Even if it is Slayer.....

http://www.demotivationalposters.net/image/demotivational-poster/1107/slayer-slayer-greg-gutfeld-nickelback-sucks-demotivational-posters-1309739841.jpg

I'm pretty sure it's srsbznz.

 

[spacekowboy]

It sounds like more the traditional American music route.
I would go with a steel stringed guitar then. Any of the brands I mentioned would be good for his needs.
Also, I cannot stress this fact enough. If you end up getting him a mid range guitar, he will need a hard shell case fairly soon.
Proper storage of an acoustic or any guitar is very important. Acoustics are just a little more easily affected by the elements.
Until you get a hard shell case make sure that it is kept in a good safe place.

By good I mean, a place where it is not going to get too hot, too cold, too wet, or too dry.
All of those factors can make wood expand or contract. When the wood expands and contracts it will make the neck bend and twist making it more difficult to play. Also effecting tonality.
A severe case can ruin a guitar entirely.
This is important especially if he does not stick with the guitar so that later on you can resell it if need be.

Safe is pretty self explanatory. Somewhere it won't get beat up or broken. Don't lean it up against a wall at a severe angle for weeks on end. Don't hang it on a wall next to a window. (A friend did this and absolutely ruin an epiphone SG)


Many guitars come with a soft sided case and that is okay for temporary housing, but a hard shell case is optimum and will last much longer.

 

[Skiddles2014]

For a first guitar just go to a big music store and pick up a cheap electric and amp for $150.

Brand doesn't matter as long as it feels solid.
.!..!

 

[Skiddles2014]

Internet site you pay a script to it's like 20/year I think, you get the tabs (music) you can slow down the play along, break it down into sections etc...it's just my personal favorite.

And is music study not study? Even if it is Slayer.....

http://www.demotivationalposters.net/image/demotivational-poster/1107/slayer-slayer-greg-gutfeld-nickelback-sucks-demotivational-posters-1309739841.jpg

I'm pretty sure it's srsbznz.

There's plenty of free sites out there, plus with youtube, learning an instrument is a lot easier.

 

[BotanyBoy]

There's plenty of free sites out there, plus with youtube, learning an instrument is a lot easier.

True...

I just like the 20 dollar one that gives me the right stuff every time with a bunch of nice features and no bullshit.

No songs tabbed out by glue sniffing 15 year old /basement rage....no adds....just click and learn at my own pace 100% of the time every time.

It's like Rosetta stone for the language of Br00tal.

 

[Disgustipated]

Also, bass players have no business in the upper register, but that's just me.

 

[eyer]

thank you.

Usted es más que bienvenido...

...and gracias: this's a great orgy of a thread of guitarotican vanity that seems perfectly natural for Christmas time in the mighty materialistic USSA today.

 

[cowslinger64]

I agree with taking him to a used/vintage guitar shop. Those guys will know how to help you, and can show him the guitars they have and which would be good for him to try out. They can probably direct you to someone giving lessons too. Establishing a rapport with a good music shop can pay dividends and it helps out the little guy in town too.