You'll play what the breadwinner gives you to play. That's my thinking. Why the heck am I investing in a guitar and new amp if you can't strum an acoustic a bit to show some interest in learning some basic chords, down stroke picking, and ability to play something that is identifiable. Then, we will get you the electric upgrade with amp and cord and effects and upgrades. I'm just kidding but, in a way, I'm not. I started with a nylon string just because my Mom had one and there was nothing else to play.
For small hands, start with an electric ukulele. I think they have green ones. (I started out this post kidding, but now I wished I had one when I was a little one.)
This one was on sale for $60 last week and I bought it so my 6 year old can play with it instead of one my guitars and I don’t care what he does to it. It’s shockingly nice. The setup needs work but it’s completely playable out of the box. The tuners suck but for sub $100 it doesn’t really matter if you have to tune it every day. It sounds great. https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=610263 here’s a strat version in teal with a HSS setup so you get a bit of both worlds though at this point it makes no difference at all. https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=610037
The nice thing about used instruments is you won’t lose money. Don’t like it? At worst sell it for a 5% loss had over 30 guitars over the years low with just 3. I never took a loss (overall) in the years
Separately, I think having an eight-yr-old girl want an electric guitar is one of the few good signs for our species that we've seen recently.
If you want your guitar to stay in tune, then get one with a locking tremolo. Otherwise....you'll shoot your eye out, kid!
I have a bunch of ukes. The tuning on them is beyond bizarre, and it doesnt translate either to guitar or mandolin.
Unless she's just tiny I would get a regular guitar. I started with acoustic and loved it, would recommend that as well. Also cheap. Like the cheapest.
thats exactly why its recommended to start on acoustic. but like i said earlier, if you just want something to make some racket on for fun then go for the electric...but if you want to seriously pursue the guitar and really learn how to play than acoustic is the way to go. “I firmly believe if you want to be a guitar player, you better start on acoustic and then graduate to electric. Don’t think you’re going to be Townshend or Hendrix just because you can go wee wee wah wah, and all the electronic tricks of the trade. First you’ve got to know that f***er. And you go to bed with it. If there’s no babe around, you sleep with it. She’s just the right shape.” ― Keith Richards “I don’t have any electric guitar at home, or an amp. I never play electric guitar at home. I play acoustic all the time. If all you play is electric, you’re not just playing guitar, you’re playing electricity. You get used to the tricks. The extra sustain and all. Which is fine. But you can become over-reliant on that. When you go to an acoustic guitar, those tricks don’t work. That little round hole and that bit of wood—that’s the Truth. That’s how long a note will sustain. So when you go back to electric, you find yourself a little more precise. You should always keep an acoustic going, and work things out on that." - Keith Richards
Starting something because its harder (physically) isn't rationale for doing something first. Not everyone is the same and a poll in premier guitar etc actually revealed that pretty much unanimous myth was that you should start on acoustic. There is a ton of truth to sounding good "without plugging in" i agree. You're a pretty good guitar player yourself from what I remember, so who knows maybe it works better for some people like you. I didn't start on acoustic and it was a great decision. Same for most people I know in the electric community. I do have a Taylor sitting next to me I love, but it came with time
I think starting on an acoustic is a good idea for a teenager or adult but IMO, the most important thing for an 8 year old is keeping his/her interest. I don't think an acoustic does that as much as an electric where she can make some noise. Nothing like the look on their faces when they play their first distorted power chord! That moment could literally hook them for life! Mine started with a used Ibanez and a little Marshall practice amp we found at a garage sale. He's getting a 7-string for Christmas. (he's a metal head)
thanks for saying that, but i dont remember sharing music on here before. im really not that good for someone who has been playing as long as i have...i often think about how ive now been playing guitar for almost 10 years longer than hendrix was alive and in that respect i really suck.
its green so the kid would probably love it! at first i thought that was the mountain dew logo on there which is totally appropriate for such an x-treme ax. how about 21 strings?
Yeah I think getting kids to enjoy the practice and seek opportunity to play is key. I've witnessed (and experienced) both ends of the spectrum. One of my nieces started out doing the School of Rock lessons and picked the keyboard. Learned how to play extremely simplified Fleetwood Mac, White Stripes, etc.. songs she liked listening to, and she loved it! Every time I went over to visit, she couldn't wait to show off the new melodies she had learned. Then her School of Rock instructor told her that learning classical would make her an even better musician, so she asked mom and dad for classical piano lessons. Now she's learning the Suzuki method and still enjoying it. I think at the end of the day, the goal should be for the kid to have some outlet that they enjoy. If it sticks there will be some internal drive to improve, learn new techniques, and continue the practice.
You gave me some good musical advice a while back, and play in a band and such from what I recall . That qualifies as being pretty good to me.
word. what was the advice? and i dont even currently play guitar in a band...i play drums! im trying to find a band to guitar in, but theres so many guitarists and not enough (good) drummers out there!
Approach to lead/scales I was too focused on individual licks and patterns. Really took the scales apart up and down the neck slowly. I think your point was not to over complicate it I have regressed a lot though, haven’t played in a month and was rusty af .
