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Beginner Guitar Packages
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I would say that 5-10% of our incoming students are children that do not have a guitar. In this case, the children want to learn how to play and the parents are willing to take them to lessons, but neither child nor parent is sure what kind of guitar to buy, acoustic or electric.
Another valid concern parents have is how much to pay for a guitar, especially considering the unknown of whether the child will "stick with it".
In this post, I'll give you a few guidelines on what kind of guitar is best for your child and then post a few guitar packages that are both price friendly and good quality.
What kind of guitar should I buy, acoustic or electric?
This simple question has a different answer from every person you ask!
There are those that believe that everyone should start with an acoustic guitar. The thought being that if you can make a good sound on an acoustic, and play a song on an acoustic, you'll be much better off when you pick up the electric guitar. The reasoning is that many people cover up mistakes and/or sloppy playing on electric guitar with effects like distortion and overdrive.
Another reason for choosing an acoustic over an electric is simplicity. No cables, no amps, just you and your guitar.
Valid reasons...
On the flip side though...
Most children that take up guitar do so because they like current popular music and love the thought of strapping on an electric guitar and rocking the crowd!
Face it, electric guitars and amps are way cooler than acoustic guitars (to the kids).
Other valid reasons include, electric guitar strings are much easier on the fingers than acoustic guitar strings since they are usually a lighter gauge and easier to press down. Electrics can reproduce sounds similar to what they hear on their favorite songs whereas an acoustic has one sound, Country / Folksy type music.
(before the flames begin folks - that statement was made with the understanding that a beginner is playing, not a master like Phil Keaggy)
So, both acoustic and electric are valid choices for a beginner guitar. And if that is the case, then let your child help you decide what they want.
For example, if your child loves Country music, they'll probably enjoy playing their acoustic guitar. On the other hand, if your child likes Pop or Rock music, they'll want an electric.
The point is this -
Get the guitar they desire, acoustic or electric. In doing so, they are likely to pick it up and play it more often once the "newness" wears off and the work begins (aka practice). keeping the guitar in their hands is a large part of the battle in their growth as a musician..
What to buy?
Kids these days have it great!
Gear manufacturers today take all the guess work out of buying your instrument by putting everything you need into one tidy package.
Guys and Gals my age had to pick out a guitar, pick out an amp, get a cable ... had no idea what a tuner was other than something that swam in the ocean. We forgot the strap and had to go back to the store to get one. Didn't even care about extra strings (until we broke one the first night seeing how high we could get the note to go).
Today, you get everything in one box! Which makes things on the parent much, much easier.
Here are our recommendations on acoustic and electric guitar packages!
Acoustic Guitars
Ibanez
Fender
Epiphone
Michael Kelly
Daisy Rock - for the ladies
Electric Guitars
Behringer
Daisy Rock - For the ladies
Epiphone SG
Yamaha
Epiphone Les Paul
Laguna
guitar beginner guitar guitar lessons fender epiphone laguna daisy rock acoustic guitar electric guitars guitar tuner guitar lessons in little rockphil keaggy ibanez
I would say that 5-10% of our incoming students are children that do not have a guitar. In this case, the children want to learn how to play and the parents are willing to take them to lessons, but neither child nor parent is sure what kind of guitar to buy, acoustic or electric.
Another valid concern parents have is how much to pay for a guitar, especially considering the unknown of whether the child will "stick with it".
In this post, I'll give you a few guidelines on what kind of guitar is best for your child and then post a few guitar packages that are both price friendly and good quality.
What kind of guitar should I buy, acoustic or electric?
This simple question has a different answer from every person you ask!
There are those that believe that everyone should start with an acoustic guitar. The thought being that if you can make a good sound on an acoustic, and play a song on an acoustic, you'll be much better off when you pick up the electric guitar. The reasoning is that many people cover up mistakes and/or sloppy playing on electric guitar with effects like distortion and overdrive.
Another reason for choosing an acoustic over an electric is simplicity. No cables, no amps, just you and your guitar.
Valid reasons...
On the flip side though...
Most children that take up guitar do so because they like current popular music and love the thought of strapping on an electric guitar and rocking the crowd!
Face it, electric guitars and amps are way cooler than acoustic guitars (to the kids).
Other valid reasons include, electric guitar strings are much easier on the fingers than acoustic guitar strings since they are usually a lighter gauge and easier to press down. Electrics can reproduce sounds similar to what they hear on their favorite songs whereas an acoustic has one sound, Country / Folksy type music.
(before the flames begin folks - that statement was made with the understanding that a beginner is playing, not a master like Phil Keaggy)
So, both acoustic and electric are valid choices for a beginner guitar. And if that is the case, then let your child help you decide what they want.
For example, if your child loves Country music, they'll probably enjoy playing their acoustic guitar. On the other hand, if your child likes Pop or Rock music, they'll want an electric.
The point is this -
Get the guitar they desire, acoustic or electric. In doing so, they are likely to pick it up and play it more often once the "newness" wears off and the work begins (aka practice). keeping the guitar in their hands is a large part of the battle in their growth as a musician..
What to buy?
Kids these days have it great!
Gear manufacturers today take all the guess work out of buying your instrument by putting everything you need into one tidy package.
Guys and Gals my age had to pick out a guitar, pick out an amp, get a cable ... had no idea what a tuner was other than something that swam in the ocean. We forgot the strap and had to go back to the store to get one. Didn't even care about extra strings (until we broke one the first night seeing how high we could get the note to go).
Today, you get everything in one box! Which makes things on the parent much, much easier.
Here are our recommendations on acoustic and electric guitar packages!
Acoustic Guitars
Ibanez
Fender
Epiphone
Michael Kelly
Daisy Rock - for the ladies
Electric Guitars
Behringer
Daisy Rock - For the ladies
Epiphone SG
Yamaha
Epiphone Les Paul
Laguna
guitar beginner guitar guitar lessons fender epiphone laguna daisy rock acoustic guitar electric guitars guitar tuner guitar lessons in little rockphil keaggy ibanez
Don't forget to check the size out! The first one we got ours was a beginner model and he didn't really take off on guitar until we got him a smaller one that he could handle properly. And the first bass we got him we had to trade in because it was too heavy and cut into his leg! I was afraid the smaller guitar would be a waste of money because he'd outgrow it quickly, but he still enjoys playing on it.
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Great point, especially if your child is starting very early (5-7 years of age). And as for bass, you are dead on. A bass is much larger than a guitar and can be too unwieldy for a child.
Most children will start lessons a bit older (9-12) and should be able to handle a typical electric or acoustic guitar.
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Just wanna inform that I noticed that some people recommended beginners to use acoustic guitar first even though they wanted electric. This is totally a wrong idea to me. Coz most of the time such recommenders argue that if the newbie guitarist loses interest shortly after buying it, then the money wasted is insignificant. While they maybe right, but the truth is, such person tend to recommend those acoustics with higher actions. These higher action guitars are soo difficult to play and this makes newbie guitarist give up on playing easily. To further add to the point, the acoustic strings are not 'newbie friendly', unless the newbie likes pain, i bet he will definitely give up after a lesson or two. Hope that helps
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A lot of guitarists do offer the advise of practicing on acoustic guitar first, and as a guitarist myself, i would give the same advise. I started on acoustic, and i do believe it really does help.
hope this helps
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