Guitar for 6 Year Old Grandson

[ade]

Hi there.

My nearly 6 year old grandson saw me playing at my club recently and would now like an electric guitar for his 6th Birthday.

Not wanting him to wait 50 odd years (like me) before getting one, I am considering getting one for him. However where to start.

I know they are available in 1/2 and 3/4 size, but would like to ask the forum for advice. What size, make, what amplifier. He doesn't live near me and I would have to pay for lessons.

Is he too young?

Looking forward to your replies.

Regards

Ade

[mojolomjl]

Hi Ade,
I had a similar situation about 3 years ago when my grandson was 6, he seemed very keen at first but he quickly lost interest. Now he is nearly 9 he has started to show more interest and is keen to learn. I know all youngsters are not the same but I would suggest buying him a reasonaby priced half size acoustic and see how he progresses.

Regards,
Maurice.

[solidlg]

Hi Ade,

I know only too well the temptation to buy ones kids all the gear at an early age, and I for one have paid the price for doing so.

My advice would be to get him a small body acoustic and pay for the lessons and tell him that he needs to get going on the acoustic first so whatever style he develops can be matched to an electric, and once he starts practicing you will soon see if he has the drive to continue.

Not sure if your own kids would enjoy the odd sounds being produced by a cheap electric through a cheap amp, you may be banned from visiting :-)

All the best
Steve

[bill]

Hi Ade,
I asked a similar question on a different forum and the answer I got was buy him a ukulele.

The problem I see with that and buying him an acoustic guitar (which is what most of us probably learned on) is that it doesn't give him the sound to which he is attracted and that is likely to discourage him.

If possible, I think you should see if there is a good teacher near him (preferably one with experience of teaching young children) and if there is, he/she can advise on equipment.

To try to answer your question, my friend bought a 3/4 size electric guitar for his son and that worked out fine and he has moved onto a full size guitar now. Obviously it depends how big your grandson is as to what size of guitar. I think there are very good value for money beginner guitar and amplifier packages (for example the Squier ones with full size guitars) these days and if you can or you can get the guitar set up well, almost any of them are good.

By the way, I believe in the buy the best you can afford approach rather than the buy the cheap one because he's only a beginner.

[harley]

Hi Ade

there are some nice 1/2 size electric guitar available with built in, battery powered amps and a small speaker where the sound hole would be were it an acoustic. These are reasonably priced instuments/toys and i bought one for Di's daughter when she was 8. The price is right, the sound is relatively quiet, it is self contained and if its not for them its still a toy which can come out whenever. I think at 6 a toy is more realistic and plants a seed. In my opinion, at 6 years old he is not so much a beginner as child wanting to play at playing a guitar

regards
Ian

[rosemary]

Hi Ade
When I was about 8 at the height of Beatlemania I had a ukelele although I can never remember it having more than one string. I used to play 'Nobody I Know' by Peter & Gordon (Lennon/McCartney) but not much else. Then not long after someone gave me a toy 'electric' guitar but it hurt my fingers too much to play so that was the end of my stringed instrument experience until I started learning last year. Maybe your grandson could try out a few guitars first?
Best wishes
Rosemary

[noelford]

I agree with Rosemary. Giving a child a poor instrument is almost guaranteed to kill any spark of enthusiasm. Buy something playable but, also, make sure the parents are prepared to give wholehearted encouragement. Many excellent musicians started at an earlier age than six!

[kipper]

hi i agree with what noel says and would add di what i do with my grandchildren spoil them. ;D
couldnt do that with my own kids no money like us all at that age so spoil them. peter

[ade]

Hi there.

Many thanks for your responses. There are loads of issues that I hadn't considered. My daughter has informed me that his primary school offer music lessons for Guitar, Piano and other instruments. As some of you stated there is a need to balance (and activly encourage) enthusiasm against the desire for another toy.

Watch this space.

Kind regards

Ade

[strat197]

Hi Ade,

I went to my brother in laws to pick him up last saturday to drop him off at some bash he was going to, when I went in I noticed a small childs acoustic just sat there.

I realised obviously it was my nephew's who is 7 years old.

So I teased a tad and said did he play it? Answer was nope, it never sounds any good - what he meant was it was well out of tune...soon sorted that out. Before I left the house, I had my nephew doing the old E A D ...I said mix them about and keep practising...he loves it now....especially a bit of rythym to Kon Tiki...I made his dad download kon tiki to desktop.

My point is enthusiasm is the key here, thats what I did from being 7, it took me back !!

Stick with a small acoustic - and if the novelty dies of then you have lost nothing ...it didnt with me.

regards Tony

[joeboy]

Hi Ade

I just spotted this on the well known auction site, I think it may fit the bill nicely not long to run though

www.the well known auction site.co.uk/itm/childs-electric-guitar-/200639793123?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item2eb71047e3

[ade]

Hi Tony, Joeboy

Thanks for the responses.

Starting to think that I should go down the child size acoustic.

Missed the the well known auction site sale, but the well known auction site is a good place to look. His birthday is in October so I have some time.

Regards
Ade

[Mark Burton]

Hi Ade

My daughter has had lessons for the past year or so - I bought her a Fender ESC80 which is a 3/4 size nylon strung guitar (she was 8 at the time) - it's a fantastic guitar which I regularly pick up and play! - the action and intonation is superb and having spoken to her guitar teacher at school it's the only guitar that stays in tune week in week out. Now I was 16 before I owned a real Fender guitar so it did feel slightly wrong to buy a top brand as her first guitar - but I don't regret it at all it's a fine instrument to learn on.

And the best part??? You can get the from Soundslive for only £54.72 - absolute bargain and that includes a gig bag !!!

www.soundslive.co.uk/product~name~Fender-ESC80~ID~13008.asp

good luck!

Mark.

[noelford]

That's excellent advice in normal circumstances, Mark, but I'd sound a small word of caution. The child in question was inspired by seeing and hearing the electric guitar and it could be a big disappointment and, worse, discouraging, to be given an acoustic which will sound nothing like the sound he heard.

There's nothing wrong with a first guitar being electric as long as it is a good one and the scale is right for the child.

[ade]

Hi Mark and Noelford

Thanks for the responses. I am gathering all the information and will discuss with his Mother. She has the problem ofvery limited space at home, but will discuss with his school about lessons.

Regards

Ade