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So my 8 year old wants to play the guitar.

E

Epoman

Platinum Member
We were at Sams Club and he saw a $200 package that had a Electric Fender guitar plus a pretty nice Amp. and a few other pieces. That was 3 weeks ago and he has been bugging me ever since asking for it.

What do you think?

I have warned him that I would expect him to actually take private lessons and study 3-4 days a week. And take it very seriously. I have also told him that it will take quite a while to be able to play well.

He does very well in school and is also in the gifted program.

I guess the good thing about Samsclub is their very liberal return policy.
 
Those kinds of packages typically aren't really that good but since he's like 8.. I doubt he'll even know the difference at that age.

Are you the guy who got his son a PSP? You seem like a cool dad.
 
Id say maybe just pick up a used acoustic? It really doesnt matter anyway, at that young of an age, like Corp said, he won't know the difference.
 
I agree with starting on an acoustic, builds strength and speed to sound good so when you move to electric you can fly..

Plus no loud amp with an 8 year old in command of it 😀
 
Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
Those kinds of packages typically aren't really that good but since he's like 8.. I doubt he'll even know the difference at that age.

Are you the guy who got his son a PSP? You seem like a cool dad.
Click to expand...

Yeah 🙂 I got it for him and he takes REALLY good care of it, no drops, no scratches. Thanks for the compliment. I tell him I will basically buy him anything he wants as long as he gets straight A's, does chores without hassle, and remains kind and respectful.

He is showing interest in a musical instrument and I don't want to hold him back.
 
Originally posted by: Epoman
Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
Those kinds of packages typically aren't really that good but since he's like 8.. I doubt he'll even know the difference at that age.

Are you the guy who got his son a PSP? You seem like a cool dad.
Click to expand...

Yeah 🙂 I got it for him and he takes REALLY good care of it, no drops, no scratches. Thanks for the compliment. I tell him I will basically buy him anything he wants as long as he gets straight A's, does chores without hassle, and remain kind and respectful.

He is showing interest in a musical instrument and I don't want to hold him back.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:

He sounds like a good kid, and you sound like a cool and reasonable father.
 
Originally posted by: Epoman
Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
Those kinds of packages typically aren't really that good but since he's like 8.. I doubt he'll even know the difference at that age.

Are you the guy who got his son a PSP? You seem like a cool dad.
Click to expand...

Yeah 🙂 I got it for him and he takes REALLY good care of it, no drops, no scratches. Thanks for the compliment. I tell him I will basically buy him anything he wants as long as he gets straight A's, does chores without hassle, and remain kind and respectful.

He is showing interest in a musical instrument and I don't want to hold him back.
Click to expand...

I'm glad my mother didn't, I had 13 years of classical piano training, started earlier than your son to boot. It really helps to be honest, I taught myself guitar because of that musical training and my natural music ability combined. I was playing the first movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata from memory (all 12 pages) when I was 12 lol.

Glad you're starting him young, I would look into an acoustic guitar that isn't too large, dunno how big a guy he is but his hands will need to be pretty big to get some of those chords. The electric might be a smaller scale, and they have children's sized guitars avaible so you could look into that.

Great to hear about the PSP working out, I remember that thread really well for some reason and thinking how cool that situation was.
 
Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
Originally posted by: Epoman
Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
Those kinds of packages typically aren't really that good but since he's like 8.. I doubt he'll even know the difference at that age.

Are you the guy who got his son a PSP? You seem like a cool dad.
Click to expand...

Yeah 🙂 I got it for him and he takes REALLY good care of it, no drops, no scratches. Thanks for the compliment. I tell him I will basically buy him anything he wants as long as he gets straight A's, does chores without hassle, and remain kind and respectful.

He is showing interest in a musical instrument and I don't want to hold him back.
Click to expand...

I'm glad my mother didn't, I had 13 years of classical piano training, started earlier than your son to boot. It really helps to be honest, I taught myself guitar because of that musical training and my natural music ability combined. I was playing the first movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata from memory (all 12 pages) when I was 12 lol.

Glad you're starting him young, I would look into an acoustic guitar that isn't too large, dunno how big a guy he is but his hands will need to be pretty big to get some of those chords. The electric might be a smaller scale, and they have children's sized guitars avaible so you could look into that.

Great to hear about the PSP working out, I remember that thread really well for some reason and thinking how cool that situation was.
Click to expand...

WOW! :Q

BTW here is my sons PSP thread:

PSP for 8 year old thread. 😉
 
well, in my opinion, it sounds like he'll just be interested in it for a few weeks, then get bored and never touch it again. i'd say you should have him earn some money, and then see if he wants to spend his own money on it.
 
Originally posted by: wfbberzerker
well, in my opinion, it sounds like he'll just be interested in it for a few weeks, then get bored and never touch it again. i'd say you should have him earn some money, and then see if he wants to spend his own money on it.
Click to expand...

hence the return policy 🙂

Although I know from personal experience that it gets hard to practice a musical instrument every day as time goes on, especially in a year or so. Maybe go to Costco and return the guitar 5 years later if he quits 😉
 
actually, on second thought, maybe it's too soon right after his birthday where he got PSP+games. Rather, I would wait and give it as a Christmas gift 🙂
 
Ehh...throw it out there and see what happens. Your kid seems to have a good head on his shoulders so it might work out. Kids tend to drop out early due to the finger pain involved the first month or so. My daughter loves to watch me play, but she's not committed enough to learn to play herself.
 
Originally posted by: CorporateRecreation
I agree with starting on an acoustic, builds strength and speed to sound good so when you move to electric you can fly..

Plus no loud amp with an 8 year old in command of it 😀
Click to expand...

It also causes more finger problems when starting out due to the heavier strings and increased tension. Electric strings are much easier on the fingers. I started on an acoustic too, and I wanted to quit so many times it wasn't funny. I stuck with it because I'm the type that gets pissed if I can't do something right and then keeps going until I do it, but most people aren't like that.

The #1 reason people quit playing when starting out is due to finger pain- I say make it easier and start electric.
 
I would encourage it, both my sons are playing the calrinet and trumpett...I played bass before..you never now they could really do well at it plus it allows the to express their creativity
 
Yes, definitely lessons, but it would be better if he practiced 5-7 days per week, for at least 30-45 minutes. He's also got to understand that, like pretty much everyone else, he's gonna suck at it for a while.
 
Originally posted by: Fritzo
It also causes more finger problems when starting out due to the heavier strings and increased tension. Electric strings are much easier on the fingers. I started on an acoustic too, and I wanted to quit so many times it wasn't funny. I stuck with it because I'm the type that gets pissed if I can't do something right and then keeps going until I do it, but most people aren't like that.

The #1 reason people quit playing when starting out is due to finger pain- I say make it easier and start electric.
Click to expand...

I was 13-14 when I started, on a Yamaha dreadnought, with medium strings, and I never once wanted to quit 🙂
Of course once my parents saw that I was going to stick with it, they bought me an Aria Pro II that was pretty nice, but that was after I'd been playing for four and a half months, and my step-dad wanted his Yamaha back.
To this day I wish I hadn't blown off practicing as much as I did.
 
I think that an acoustic would be a great choice, like other have said.

Being in a wheelchair, you could still probably learn to play a bit (not well or anything, just a bit even on a kids' guitar). Might provide some good bonding time between the two of you, and would likely keep him interested to boot. 🙂
 
start on an acoustic. by the time he learns a ton of music on the acousitc, he will shred on the electric.

my first guitar was an ibanez starter pack, i was 14 or 15 at the time.
 
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