i used to play guitar recreationally, which is to say that I could play mid-level metallica, g n' r, etc. songs all the way through. I can't read music (can read tabs), don't know much theory, and basically brute forced my way through self teaching. I haven't played much in 10 years.

ANYWAY. My boy's 8, and I'm thinking about buying him some equipment to get started because he's really into music and singing. I think he'd love guitar as much as i did. i just don't know what to buy.

1) I'd love suggestions on starting equipment. I'm not looking for cheap, but do keep in mind that he is 8. Is there a nice small acoustic that would fit him? Should we go with an electric guitar setup?

2) Given my background, would it be fine for me to show him what I know, and then find him a teacher when I show him all I can, or should I start with a teacher and let him/her handle it?

I'm mostly interested in good equipment, but any suggestions for starting a kid on guitar are welcome.

As a matter of fact, I could be convinced to start him on other instruments if there is an advantage to it. I just don't know anything about them, and I don't have a lot of room for a baby grand piano...

def. guitar, i think an acoustic is a good starting point. once he shows some commitment you can upgrade to an electric, which will make it more fun..

im not much of a gear whore but i think if you go to guitar center and spend 200 bucks on a kid size acoustic you coulnd't really go too wrong. someone will prob have better idears..

since he's 8, i think he might benefit more with lessons. as it would be harder to teach himself like it is for older peeps

Teach him yourself first. My father showed me how to tune a guitar and how to play a power chord. I wish he would have spent more time with me guitar wise.

Take him to a store and let him try different instruments. He will let you know which one he is excited about the most.

-Skip the cheapest option of anything he picks.

-Get him into lessons and then play along/help him at home. That way you both will get better.

-Make sure he is having fun.

Also, make sure that he learns how to READ MUSIC

+1 to the above

Don't just think guitar. If he likes it and practises enough to become a musician, he'll eventually need to learn a couple of instruments. Maybe that will be guitar. Maybe he will love the drums or something. You never know...

Likewise, if he's enjoying it, learning music theory will be very good for him too.

If you think he might be into music in the longer term, I'd suggest piano/keyboard lessons first. I think it would have a greater common ground for other instruments he might want to branch out into. You can still jam with him on guitar too.

If not that, I'm personally biased toward percussion instruments, but the equipment space/cost is pretty high.

Either way, spring for lessons. Two reasons. 1) He'll improve exponentially faster, even compared to you teaching him (although you teaching him will probably work for the real early stuff if you wanna save a few bucks). Make sure said teacher teaches him to read music.

2nd reason.... broke undergrads need $$

Above all, make sure he's having fun playing at this point. At this point, the instrument he chooses is somewhat irrelevant. You're just trying to cultivate an interest/passion in music right now IMO, no need to worry too much if he's not a savant right away. Also, don't be discouraged if he ends up not loving the first instrument you choose.


Finally, if you're stuck on getting him a guitar, Yamaha has some really decent student model acoustic guitars at very reasonable prices. I do like the idea that was posted earlier itt about possibly getting him an electric w/amp if he gets into it and shows a longterm interest.

I'm really not stuck on any particular instrument, it's just that I never wanted to play anything else, and I can't fathom anybody else wanting to either. I have a personal bias.

I honestly don't care if he wants to play guitar or harmonica or kazoo. Or even drums (joke). The only thing I'm adamant about is that he learns to read music whatever he chooses.

Thanks for the info all, I'll consider it.

if i could go back in time i would have made my parents start me on piano and make me learn it for a couple years even if i hated it. then by the time kids were starting bands and stuff i would realize "oh **** i know how to do that."

if he wants to learn guitar, definitely let him. a lot of people always tell you to start kids on acoustic, but i would actually say electric. the difference in cost is negligible and he is more likely to enjoy it and stick with it. it's also easier. (when i started out they told me to learn on acoustic, because it's harder so by the time you switch to electric it'll feel 'easy'. but i hated it and would have probably quit if i hadn't found a cheap electric).

definitely get him some lessons. your criteria for a teacher should be really simple:
1) teaches him songs he wants to learn
2) also teaches him basic music theory (notation, names of notes, etc)
3) your kid thinks he's ****ing awesome

kids that age are naturally going to look up to guitar teachers, they seem impossibly cool to them. so if your kid doesn't love the guy and think he's mindblowingly awesome, he probably sucks.

also take some time to play with him yourself and let him show you what he's learned. playing with and watching different people is part of learning music.

for gear, he is probably big enough to get a 3/4 size electric. rondomusic is a really good site for that, or just take him to guitar center. the only things that really matter on a first guitar are that it stays relatively in tune and has reasonable action. you can also find a gazillion used guitars on CL from other people who thought their kids would love it (cautionary tale).

1.) Do yourself a favor and buy him an electric. I'd always recommended an acoustic, but there's a big advantage in being able to plug him into a tablet or something with headphones. You can also skip on the amps and pedals because of that, which is nice.

2.) Something cheapish, preferably with humbuckers and no whammy bar.

Actually I have a bunch of stuff I need to get rid of cheap, if you're in the US send me a msg. One particular guitar I have comes to mind, it had an ugly neck repair but works great and is upgraded from the inside out. Seymour '59 pickups, CTS pots, switchcraft switch, nice PW locking tuners (cut strings for you too). Nothing left of the original asian hardware except the bridge and tailpiece.

The neck "repair" was a hack job done by the prior owner but functional. It's not worth much and hard to sell because neck cracks are too scary, you can see it in the 2nd picture, but it was filled with glue and is solid. From the front the guitar looks great and only has a little chip out toward the binding.

It's playable and easy to maintain, and you wouldn't have to do a thing to it. I would have stabbed someone for this guitar as 13 or 14. Anyway I'm kinda deep in Les Paul types at the moment and this would be pretty awesome for a kid.

It's a 2007 Epiphone LP Standard btw

that is def a good looking guitar.