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I'm in the process of teaching my 8 year old son how to play. Just looking for some tips or whatever to help keep him from doing all of the bad habits that I had when learning. He's starting out on a Dean Playmate Acoustic. I'm thinking of getting him a Epi Pee Wee V. Or should I go with something full size. Remember, he's only 8, and has small hands. It's funny, at this age he is like a sponge soaking in info. Any thoughts would be great.
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Re: Calling all teachers!
Cool!!! A 8 years old shredder to be!!
Anyways, the best tips for beginners are on page 9 of "Speed Mechanics for Lead Guitar"
It shows pictures and gives explainations on how to position the fingers in the "correct" way.
You can save the rest of the book till your kid starts playing some Sabbath riffs. [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img]
Fong -
Re: Calling all teachers!
Is that the Troy Stetina book? I was thinking of getting that.I'm taking him through one of the first Hal Leonard books now. Showing him simple chords etc.Comment
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Re: Calling all teachers!
Yup! That’s the Troy Stetina book I’m talking about. I highly recommend it, but I’m recommending it to you, not your kid.
Other then page 9, the rest of the book would pretty much be a turn off to any beginners due to the boredom and time required in order to achieve results.
In order to keep guitar learning interesting, try exposing them to all kind of music, therefore, when they found one they like, they will be motivated to practice.
And hopefully, they will be motivated to guitar heroes of our time, then that would be a great time to introduce them to Troy Stetina’s book.
My two cents
FongComment
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Re: Calling all teachers!
Thanks for the 2 cents!Comment
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Re: Calling all teachers!
Anyone else??? (bumpage)Comment
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Re: Calling all teachers!
I've taught a lot of people, but never professionally. One thing I've learned, and this is especially true with a kid, is to keep it FUN. With most beginners, after I show them the names of the strings and tune up, I go straight to teaching them a song or a riff. It's one thing to make sounds; it's another thing to actually play something you can hear on the radio. I think this applies to adults, as well. It helps them to keep their motivation up. Years ago, I would have gone with something like Smoke on the Water or Black in Black. Try a song that he already loves, whatever that may be.
Good luck!Member - National Sarcasm Society
"Oh, sure. Like we need your support."Comment
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Re: Calling all teachers!
It is extremely challenging to teach kids under 10 years old. Their fingers and the strength in their hands just aren't developed enough IMHO. My advise would be to forget teaching him chords. G's and A's are easy but youngsters have a really tough time with C's and D's and mostly every other chord including bar chords. 1 finger melody riffs seem to work pretty good. For example. Find a New Found Glory or Blink 182 or Good Charlotte song he likes and teach him the chorus portion of the VOCAL melody on guitar.
That seems to work pretty good.Comment
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Re: Calling all teachers!
As far as the guitar goes, I always hook up kids under 11 or 12 with smaller size guitars, like those little Martins and Taylors or the mini-Squier Strats. It depends on the kid but if he is 8 then a full-size guitar would just be too big. Good luck!Comment
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Re: Calling all teachers!
Even the small sized guitars are hard for an 8 year old to play. Violin would be a much better choice because of all ths size options from 1/16 to full sized. Both of my daughters play violin. Violin is a VERY cool instrument and if your school has a string program he could even play it in elementary, middle and even HS if he sticks like it. My son just crushes people on the football field and has no interest in music except listening to it. Maybe one day he will be interested but I am certainly not going to push or even encourage him until he expresses the desire first. I hope one day he does.Comment
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Re: Calling all teachers!
I'm a novice myself, but what I did was teach my son (10 when he started, now 11) strictly the basics... how to hold it in a comfortable but proper position, proper fingering and strumming, and then I just let him have fun from that point.
Oh dayum.... we're talkin about guitars? Yeah, I taught him the basics in that too. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]My future band shall be known as "One Samich Short Of A Picnic"!Comment
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Re: Calling all teachers!
Thanks guys. I tuned his guitar to drop D to help keep it interesting. He's loving it because he can make some "cool sounds" easily. He was burned severely a year ago, got his hands pretty bad. He's healed up now and guitar is great therapy. Thanks for the advice.Comment
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Re: Calling all teachers!
thats awesome that you're teachi nthe youngster to play, i can honestly say now that musically i would be much happier now if my parents encouraged me to play music when i was that age instead of 6 or 7 years after that.Comment
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Re: Calling all teachers!
Does he play any other instrument? If not you might want to start him on piano. Music theory is, IMHO, the best starting point. While guitar is my instrument of choice, the piano lays out the relationship of the notes so much easier. Once he has learned that, the guitar, as well as any other instrument, will come so much easier."I have so much gayness at times. My wife walks in my music room, and there I am, in my undies, listening to "Sister Christian" while lighting fireworks..doin' blow." - Bill Z
"I leave off the back plate and pinch my forskin between the tension springs. That may not work for everyone. But I find that the people love it. Half the tone is in the pud." - Bill ZComment
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Re: Calling all teachers!
Actually, he's already getting the starting point in theory. My oldest son plays bells in Junion high band. My youngest is came to me and had figured out several note variations on his own just from that. I probably will pick up a cheap keyboard to help.Comment
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