Kids learning guitar

Part of Christmas for our 5 year old son was an appropriately sized guitar and lessons. He is thrilled and has been strumming it nonstop ever since he got it. Lessons start next week.

In addition to lessons, are there any aids, learning material, tricks that you folks have used with success for children this age? As enthused as he is, I fear that frustration may set in if he feels overwhelmed and/or doesn't pick it up as quickly as he would like. To stave that off, what should I do to support him?

Who knows...maybe I'll use the same lesson plan and try to learn myself!

Thanks!

Having no experience in the matter i highly recommend you learn something about guitar so that you cann help and support him during the first couple of months. He will be looking to you as a mentor to help him at some point.

When I started playing, lessons were not an option so I taught myself. The most beneficial thing I found when I was just starting out was to have pictures of some basic chords to refer to. If he finds chords frustrating at first it will be better once he has more hand strength. I also had to file down the top nut so the strings would sit a little closer to the fretboard, but that is a mod I would not do right off the bat

Learning scales is also beneficial, even though they can be boring, because they strengthen the fingers and improve dexterity while you are learning the fret positions. And of course, power chords are easy and sound cool.

http://www.guitarnoise.com/

An excellent collection of info.

www.estebanmusic.com

EastCoastMojo wrote: The most beneficial thing I found when I was just starting out was to have pictures of some basic chords to refer to.

Yup. Get a poster with lots of chords on it. They're common enough to occasionally be found at walmart.

And of course, power chords are easy and sound cool.

My 7 year old has been taking lessons for two years after "Santa" brought him an appropriate sized guitar two years ago. Just recently he has not been practicing,and I stopped his lessons because he doesn't seem to be into it any more. The biggest thing I can say is find a good patient teacher. We have/had a woman that is in her early 20's,and loves teaching kids. It makes a huge difference after taking him to another (way more local) place,and the teacher didn't seem interested in teaching a kid so young.

I hope my son will pick it back up again,but who knows. He was getting pretty good with the reading of music,and even played some simple songs in front of crowds over the years. We were so proud of him when he did these "concerts",and he seemed very proud of himself. Now when we ask him to practice for the normal 15 minutes we have always had him do everyday he doesn't want to do it,and doesn't seem even interested in the normal sized electric his uncle gave him with an amp. Maybe he will come around,but he is only 7,so I understand to a point.

I am most proud that he can read some music,and so can I because I was sort of taking lessons at the same time as him.

Chris

78 RX-7 GS 74 REPU 74 RX-4 Hardtop

You need a big amp and a wah pedal.

Really, it's all up to the interest level of the kid. My parents and my schools tried to get me to learn violin (I liked the shape of the case, made me feel like a gangster), recorder (the devil incarnate) and organ over the years. However, it wasn't until I picked up the sax that I really connected - and I ended up studying music in university because of it. You've gotta find the music and instrument that pushes his buttons.

watching this....my 6 yo son got one as well

As a hack musician - and growing up in a house that always had a guitar around - make sure the guitar is well setup & easy for him to play. It's painful enough on your fingers learning guitar, no need to make him have to fight the instrument.

Second, make it fun! Make sure he's learning music he's interested in, even if it's just short little riffs from songs he likes.

Chords are typically more difficult to learn than riffs, so don't make him work too hard at this stage. When he gets to the point that he want's to get better/go further, start opening him up to more.

Definitely start him on reading standard notation, and guitar tab wouldn't be a bad idea either(though the tab can wait until later if you don't want to overwhelm him, although he may find it easier).

Make sure that he has a decent guitar. There is nothing worse than having action that makes it hurt bad. He'll quickly quit.
What music does he like? Does he have a favorite song? Ask the teacher if he can learn that. He'll be more into it if he's playing something he enjoys.
Also, don't be offended or disappointed if he drops it. He's only 5, and if he learns something now, drops it for a while, picks it back up, no big deal. Until he's in a band, orchestra, or whatever, his only commitment is to himself--its really not that big of a deal if he doesn't like it and wants to do something else. After all, the point of it is that he enjoys doing it.

I have been teaching myself since I was about 17, my little brother has been in and out of lessons since he was maybe 13--he's 17 now, and we're to the point where there aren't any teachers in the area that can teach him much anymore... And he mostly taught himself from what I've seen. He's really good, because he spends about 20 hours a week on it. I'm not, I just learn chords and sing. And I'm okay with that.

Shameless plug for my brother: http://www.youtube.com/user/guitarl4#p/a/u/1/mh4UmVLhNF8

Datsun1500 wrote: That was about 7 years and 10 guitars ago...

Yeah, be careful... Its the same kind of addiction as cars. We currently have 13.5 guitars and a mandolin. Good thing about the guitars though, is that if need be he can sell it in a week on ebay for what he paid for it. They are an excellent investment.

In reply to mtn:

I agree with the investment part for sure. I traded a guy straight up my $400 washburn jazz box for a early '70 Tele Deluxe. Now my Tele Deluxe is easily worth $2-3k in less than 10 years.

Back to the topic. I think an AC/DC tab book and the corresponding CD is a great way for anyone to get excited about playing the guitar. Another band that is good for tab music is Nirvana. Power cords and simple hard hitting sounds are the easiest to get out of someone just starting to play the guitar. The Ramones and some other kinds of punk music can be nice and easy to "hear" quickly.

As a public service announcement: If anyone's off-spring, beloved friend or relative learns to play well enough that they suddenly think that they should pursue Rock Star-dom, I strongly recommend that you force them to watch "End Of The Century" the documentary film about The Ramones. Its definitely a cautionary tale of life in the music buisness.

Datsun1500 wrote: When I say 10 guitars I mean 10 current guitars. I can't imagine how many have traveled through the house. That being said he does seem to make money or at least break even on them. Only person I know that sold a stratocaster that was older than him because it did not have the right "vibe"

We once tried to count all the guitars that we've owned. We lost count in the 60's, we estimate it to be about 80.

My little brother told my dad to sell a 1954 Gibson acoustic because it didn't have the right "vibe" as well. My dad is the guy who buys and sells because he gets addicted to it and has money, Erik waits until he finds the real special ones. And he has found a couple.

Thanks folks! I will take the advice and run with it.

Although he claims he is going to grow up and be a rock star, so perhaps the documentary is appropriate as well.

EastCoastMojo wrote: And of course, power chords are easy and sound cool.

I have nothing of value to add to the conversation (just like a drummer, eh? ), but ECM gave me an excuse to drop another quarter into the GRM Jukebox..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXwY4Ci2Qyk

Don't turn it into a chore or a job. That's all I'd say about it. I picked up guitar when I was 15 and the teacher told me to "do my homework" every night, which included plenty of writing and I got reprimanded if I didn't do it all. That was in addition to school. I put the guitar down soon after that and didn't pick it up until I was 18, and only then because I could play it how I wanted, when I wanted.

HappyAndy wrote: As a public service announcement: If anyone's off-spring, beloved friend or relative learns to play well enough that they suddenly think that they should pursue Rock Star-dom, I strongly recommend that you force them to watch "Spinal Tap" Its definitely a cautionary tale of life in the music buisness.

There, fixed that for you.

Datsun1500 wrote: His band is www.brightviewmusic.com

Cool. Sounds really good.

To OP: My kids are 4 and 2. I was in a band in college, don't play that much these days. The 4 year old is a little interested, but he's a little young yet. I am thinking that if I can learn the Taylor Swift tunes that he likes (thanks, wife... :|), he might get a little more interested. Ha!

To me, 5 sounds early- maybe a lot will change for my little guy in the next year, but for now he's interested in art and drawing and painting. Comes by that honest, too. :)

And to be sure, don't push- he'll do it or he won't. It's a hobby (unless the stars align and he gets famous) for a lifetime, no need to master it by 8.

petegossett wrote:

HappyAndy wrote: As a public service announcement: If anyone's off-spring, beloved friend or relative learns to play well enough that they suddenly think that they should pursue Rock Star-dom, I strongly recommend that you force them to watch "Spinal Tap" Its definitely a cautionary tale of life in the music buisness.

There, fixed that for you.

I've seen Spinal Tap, Some Kind of Monster is better because its real, but not so much a cautionary tale because it was mega rich & ultra famous rock stars whinning about lifes problems. THe ramones on the other hand could barly pay the bills.

Teach him power chords. Make him realize that's how 99% of rock songs are written/played these days. He'll blow your berkeleying mind.

Be careful with the learning of riffs, I've played for the better part of my life casually. I can play the riffs from many many songs, but ask me to play a whole song and I'll have to do a little thinking. Don't stress about reading music, it is a nice skill to have but most guitar players I know and have talked with can read music but cannot sight read. Tabs and watching someone play a song are much more common. Scales and modes are great strength tools as already pointed out, but also knowing whether the chord associated with the note in the scale would be major, minor, diminished, augmented is just as important.

The punk suggestions are a good route to go, three chords for two minutes anyone can handle. You can teach someone who doesn't even play guitar most of the Ramones catalog in just a few minutes per song. Plus punk is loud and fast which is directly applicable to a kiddo. Good luck, when he hits his teenage years he'll really be thankful for this gift.

OP, Remember that fine motor skills aren't developed at the same age in all kids. He may be losing interest because of this. I have been a musician and teacher for over 49 years and have seen kids turned off because their parents pushed them when they weren't physically ready. Be supportive and encouraging. As was suggested it would be a help if you learned along with him. One of my best student's father would learn every lesson with his son and his interest/enthusiasm was a big factor in his son's progress. Above all, don't forget that music is fun!!

As far as 3 chords getting you a LONG way.... Look at every folk and country song out there.