Guitar Question (Music Question)

[Fargull]

Okay,

Have been reading a lot here.  I have probably reached a point in my life that precludes me from ever jumping into a music insturment with any ability to master.  The question is not for me, but what would be best to help my boy.  He will turn five this year.  When did you get started and was it a motivation by a parent, or a choice you made?  I dont want to push him into anything, but would like to at least present the option and encouragement.  I know if I played then it would be a natural motivation for him to learn.

Also, would the guitar be a good start, or another insturment?

Anyway, thanks for any input. 

[HaemishM]

I started when I was 12 or thereabouts, pretty much gave it up around the time I was 23-24 because I realized I'd never be good enough to make money at it. If you want the kid to play it for enjoyment, anytime is good. If you want to try to get him something he wants to do for a vocation, the earlier the better. The real important part is going to be where his passion lies; if he's passionate enough about it, he'll play it with an obsession that transcends other things. That's where the people who are really good get their motivation.

The bass guitar is simpler, but probably harder for a kid to play because the strings are so much bigger. Piano is always a good start, because of the training in reading music that it teaches. Guitars get the chicks. 

[trias_e]

If you want him to actually consider a career as a musician or composer, piano is your best bet in my opinion.  It worked for all those other brilliant composers, might as well give your kid the same shot at it  ; )

Just for fun, any instrument works.  Just make sure he likes it.  If he doesn't he may be put off on music forever, which could definitely be unfortuante if he had talent.

[plangent]

Okay,

Have been reading a lot here.  I have probably reached a point in my life that precludes me from ever jumping into a music insturment with any ability to master.  The question is not for me, but what would be best to help my boy.  He will turn five this year.  When did you get started and was it a motivation by a parent, or a choice you made?  I dont want to push him into anything, but would like to at least present the option and encouragement.  I know if I played then it would be a natural motivation for him to learn.

Also, would the guitar be a good start, or another insturment?

Anyway, thanks for any input. 

I should know better than to answer this question again, but here we go.  Forget guitar.  For a first instrument your options are piano and piano.  As for motivation, the only thing I've ever seen that works reliably is to go out and meet as many piano teachers as possible.  Have them play for you.  Find one that you like personally and whose playing you like.  Then sign both your child and yourself up for lessons.  Your motivation will have a large impact on him, so practice hard.

Wish there was an easier way, but that's the only one I've ever seen work.  If this doesn't work for you, you should just wait until he hits 15 and is desperate enough for attention to pick up a guitar like everyone else on the damn planet.

[Sky]

I started out on a tennis racket, "playing" Dave Gilmour and Hendrix. Dad bought me a cheesy mall guitar/amp combo for my birthday one year and three hours later I formed my band, the same core lineup for the next decade ;) I'm mostly self-taught. My first guitar teacher taught philosophy, not actual playing, and that was great. He gave me the tools to get good on my own. Took some theory and fingerpicking in high school, then a couple years later took some college courses for theory, improv and studio recording engineering.

One reason the guitar might be a good choice: it's cool. Pianos aren't so much. Few people I know who took piano lessons (were forced to take lessons) stuck with music, they grew to resent it. Most guitarists I know will never quit. I wish I had started on the piano, so I could play keyboards better and have a much firmer grasp of written notation and sight reading (which I can't do well, I use fake books, which just outline the chords, rhythm, and major licks), but again, I may have grown to resent being made to take piano lessons. Hard to say.

I'm not a parent, so take my advice with salt. But I'd sit down your son and talk it over. Maybe listen to some music, see what he is drawn to. Give him a good cross-section of genres, or if he's already drawn to a certain type of music, play a bunch of stuff in that genre. He should find something in particular that he likes across several artists, that's what you want to encourage. And once he gets up and running (it simply takes time, no getting around it), encourage him to spread out and try different instruments. If our bass player hadn't left us just before some big gigs, I'd never have known how much booty I kick on bass (way better than guitar, though I enjoy both differently).

As others have said, for a career, piano makes a lot of sense. Beyond the theory and reading skills, SO much modern music is done on keyboard. Listen to any rap or Britneyesque song, it's loaded with keyboards and samples (which is why the industry loves it, pay your one inhouse guy instead of bringing in a full band!).

[stray]

I started out on a tennis racket, "playing" Dave Gilmour and Hendrix.

Heh, well, if we're going back that far, I could say I started when I stretched a rubber band between by two big toes. Didn't get anything resembling a guitar until I was 12 though.

One reason the guitar might be a good choice: it's cool. Pianos aren't so much. Few people I know who took piano lessons (were forced to take lessons) stuck with music, they grew to resent it. Most guitarists I know will never quit.

Agreed. Guitars are cooler, there's more sound to experiment with, and coming up with something resembling songs they hear on the radio is much more easily accomplished. The reward for their efforts is almost instant too -- with pianos, it doesn't really pay off until much later. Guitars are also more convenient and take up less space.

As far as learning more about music through piano: Yeah, it's probably true. But I know a few piano players who know the in's and out of music theory, and can play Chopin or Beethoven without flaw --- but if I ask them to play some blues or Jerry Lee, they look confused. They know very little about jamming and instinct, and worst of all, coming up with something on their own. Not always the case, but you never know..

The same thing could be said for any instrument though, guitar included (ref: Malmsteen). So don't worry about lessons or theory right away, I say. It's better that he (or she) learns by ear and gets a better feel for music in their own way imo. A simple chordbook (or if you have a friend who can teach a few basics) will do. After that, just let them do their own thing (unless of course, they want lessons...Wanting to learn more is never a bad thing, of course. It means they do, in fact, have passion).

And lastly, do not skimp too much on the instrument. With amps, it's not so important, especially at that stage. The guitar is another thing. One reason why people give up so quickly is that their guitar is a piece of trash. So stay away from pawn shops, and whatever you do, don't buy any Wal-Mart brands. You don't have to go nuts for a new instrument or anything, but it'd be hard to find anything that isn't complete crap under the $200-$250 range.

[Sky]

One reason why people give up so quickly is that their guitar is a piece of trash.

 

[Fargull]

Wow.  Thank you everyone for the responses.  I was thinking along the line of piano to get him the feel, especially with myself taking classes along the way.  One nice thing about being in Austin, Tx is that there are oodles of musicians around.

[plangent]

Wow.  Thank you everyone for the responses.  I was thinking along the line of piano to get him the feel, especially with myself taking classes along the way.  One nice thing about being in Austin, Tx is that there are oodles of musicians around.

Oh, Austin is definitely a great place to be.  I would highly, highly recommend that you hunt down a jazz player (the older the better).  They will give you a good mix of music theory and intuitive playing (blues).  I don't know anyone in Austin or anything about the scene, but North Texas has one of the best jazz schools in the country and the piano guy up there is sure to know of someone good.  Their site is here.

The guys to talk to are Mr. Karlsson here, or Dan Haerle.  Be warned, Haerle is well known nationally and super busy so I don't know how helpful he can be.

[Miguel]

I really believe that piano is a great instrument for learning about basic music theory, then all kinds of other avenues (and instruments) open up to you as a result.

First off the piano really gives a strong visual representation of western music structure, and how notes/chords/intervals are related in both the physical as well as musical senses.  The keyboard can really give you a great visual impact of playing a three note major chord, then realizing you can take the 3rd down a half step to move to a minor chord, add a 7th for a major seventh chord, etc.  It also shows how these patterns repeat regardless of what key you are in.  Another example is that you can space your fingers a fixed distance apart and play nearly any major chord, and you can change keys just by moving your hand around.  On guitar, this relationship is a bit more muddled for a young learner (since the fingering positions can change rapidly).

Also keep in mind that guitars are made for adults, and some things are going to be difficult to accomplish with little hands.  I think piano's are a bit more forgiving in this regard.  I would forget bass for a little dude:  hell, I stand 6'5" tall, and my fingers can span over 10" across, and I have some difficulty, especially low on the neck where the fret spacing is widest.

I was more classically trained as a musician.  In this regard, I was taught to play what others had written as exactly and with as much perfection as I could.  I never learned chord progressions, scales (other than major scales), riffs, or anything else until very late in my musical career.  It is something that I struggle with today.  I really wish I had a better grounding in the mechanics of music (rather than the performance of music) because understanding why notes are 'legal' in any given musical context really de-mystifies the entire process.

My vote would be to start out on the piano, even if there isn't any intention of staying on that instrument.  Then, learning the guitar makes a lot more sense (for example, it becomes clear why the intervals were chosen for guitar is you know anything about common chord progressions, and minimzing the amount of fretboard movement in order to play them).

I hope this helps!

[plummerx]

I had the self awareness to realize that I sucked so I gave it up, although a few beers made goofing with the guitar an enjoyable pastime.

But I too found that many friends who had the knack for it took piano lessons as kids, even if they didn't carry on with it.
Seems to have worked for this guy:http://www.justinking.com/knockVideoBig.html

[Arnold]

I wanted to play some sort of instrument when they were exposed to me in middle school.  I probably would have had the inkling, if they were exposed to me earlier.

My mom made it sound tedious to me, with all the practicing I'd have to do everyday.  So, being the slacker I am, I decided not to pursue any instrument... until I start listening to HEAVY METAL!!!

I wanted to play bass, but one of my friends picked up bass, so I picked up the guitar at age 17.  I sucked for a long time, due to no formal training.  I still am not that great, but I can play well enough to satisfy myself and continue playing the instrument.

I'd suggest borrowing a guitar from a friend, or finding a good, cheap one that you can expose your kid to.  You'd be surprised, but these days, you can find KICKASS, budget instruments.  Let your kid decide if it's something he likes, or not.

[Arnold]

Okay,

Have been reading a lot here.  I have probably reached a point in my life that precludes me from ever jumping into a music insturment with any ability to master.  The question is not for me, but what would be best to help my boy.  He will turn five this year.  When did you get started and was it a motivation by a parent, or a choice you made?  I dont want to push him into anything, but would like to at least present the option and encouragement.  I know if I played then it would be a natural motivation for him to learn.

Also, would the guitar be a good start, or another insturment?

Anyway, thanks for any input. 

I should know better than to answer this question again, but here we go.  Forget guitar.  For a first instrument your options are piano and piano.  As for motivation, the only thing I've ever seen that works reliably is to go out and meet as many piano teachers as possible.  Have them play for you.  Find one that you like personally and whose playing you like.  Then sign both your child and yourself up for lessons.  Your motivation will have a large impact on him, so practice hard.

Wish there was an easier way, but that's the only one I've ever seen work.  If this doesn't work for you, you should just wait until he hits 15 and is desperate enough for attention to pick up a guitar like everyone else on the damn planet.

It all depends on what your aims are.  If you want to be a rocker, the piano is not necessary.  But, the guitar role is completely saturated and you should get your kid a bass, drums, and/or singing lessons.