Guitar for 4 year old

Ok, so my Daughter is just 4 1/2 but has asked Santa for a guitar, and not just any guitar, she wants a real guitar and wants to learn how to play it. I will point out at this stage that is an exceptionally bright and determined child and does not get bored of anything, so I know that if she takes this up she will stick at it.

I'm just wondering though, how difficult will it be for her to learn to play at her age? Also, she's a lefty but Santa is bringing her a right handed Guitar, as recommended by the nice man in the music shop. Any information/advice would be greatly appreciated.

Also, neither my husband, or I, play any instrument.

Dord

It might be possible to teach her a few easy songs or so on the guitar. But don't push her too hard. One thing I would suggest though... get her a left handed guitar.

BTW, what music shop did you go to?

went to Everest, the guy basically said that because of her age, she will easily adapt to the right handed guitar which will save her alot of hassle in the future, between finding guitars, the extra expense involved (my cousin had to get one made) and the fact that when she's older she'll be able to pick up any guitar and play it. I wouldn't push her at anything, it will be all on her terms, don't want to be one of those mothers!!!

Alanstrainor

I'd be thinking 4 and 1/2 is quite young for the guitar tbh. It's not the kind of instrument you can play something on immediately, like the piano, and learning chop sticks or something. But that said, i'd be thinking something along the lines of a half size classical guitar with nylon strings, well the size of it would really depend on what she can hold, just guessing a half would suit. The nylon strings would be considerably easier on the fingers than steel.
As for learning, i'm a lefty who plays right handed guitar, it has it's advantages. There is far more choice when it comes to guitars, and i found having my left hand as the fretting hand to be an advantage in the beginning, that's just me though.
Not too sure i really helped there, just my 2cents.
Best of Luck with it

Yeh I'm getting her a 1/2 size Spanish Guitar which I'm told is perfect for beginners, I thought she was a bit young myself so was just going to get her a crappy small guitar from smyths or something, but I was told, categorically, that it was not a toy guitar she wanted, but a real one so who was I to argue eh!?!

What I don't want to happen though is that we do nothing about lessons for her so it gets put away and she never takes it seriously, she has told me she wants to actually learn how to play it properly and I would like to encourage it, maybe I could do as Dord says and get someone to teach her a few easy songs to play so she can entertain the family etc until she's old enough for full on lessons?

Thanks guys....

Dord

Deleted User wrote: »

Yeh I'm getting her a 1/2 size Spanish Guitar which I'm told is perfect for beginners, I thought she was a bit young myself so was just going to get her a crappy small guitar from smyths or something, but I was told, categorically, that it was not a toy guitar she wanted, but a real one so who was I to argue eh!?!

What I don't want to happen though is that we do nothing about lessons for her so it gets put away and she never takes it seriously, she has told me she wants to actually learn how to play it properly and I would like to encourage it, maybe I could do as Dord says and get someone to teach her a few easy songs to play so she can entertain the family etc until she's old enough for full on lessons?

Thanks guys....

Are there any family members that can strum a few chords? :P
If not I'd say it might be ok for you to do it yourself. There is plenty of information on the net. You should be able to find lyrics to some childrens songs along with chords.

Oh and youtube is great for lessons.

You never know, you might end up learning guitar yourself in the process.

maybe so! have always wanted to learn the guitar but never bothered doing anything about it..

Squirrel

I'm a lefty who plays right handed. In the beginning as Alan says it might seem a bit easier for fretting with your strong hand. But surely a half size classical guitar would be alright for a restring to a lefty. Although that means if anyone wants to show her something they'd have to be able to do it left handed or on a different guitar.

A good way of seeing which way she's more comfortable with is to hand her a sweeping brush and tell her to pretend to play. I know as a kid if i was messing about like that I'd always hold it like a right handed guitar

Keyzer

Get her the Jimmy Page double neck Gibson SG....

-=al=-

grr i hate people i.e guitar palces who tell leftys to play righty, :mad: they think its just as easy as flipping the tihng over!

but for most it is ok, and it is a 4 year old after all!


there's some half size ones in argos that might be easy to pickup no problem, kids ones, half size ones and normal ones

nah he wasn't telling me to flip it over, he was telling her to actually learn it as if she was right handed, not upside down, anyway, to be honest I agree, I have a cousin who has always played right handed even though he's a lefty. She plays basketball and dribbles with her right hand so maybe that will build up the strength for her. I was going to pay for lessons for her but I think now I might just hold off on that for a while, I've chosen a half sized spanish guitar I don't want to buy her something out of Argos as I've heard from a few that they are crap, and the one I've picked is only €70 anyway and it's beautiful. I really wish now I had learnt the guitar - or any instrument for that matter as I think she'll be at a disadvantage, not having a parent who knows what she's doing....

-=al=-

yeah i ment that too, maybe it just annoys me more since im right handed and play left handed or the bitchy salesman when i picked up my first guitar in the shop and held it like a lefty and he told me i was playing it wrong, i sure showed him who was wrong

and yeah they mostly are crap, but handy for kids n stuff since your not gona care to much if anything happens to it!

raindog.promo

Get her lessons. Even one or two. So she'll have something to work on.

claiva

hi,
theres a music shop around the corner from me here on south william street, not sure what the name of the street is, but its the street that break for the border is on. Theres a little music shop on this street call Musik Instrumente or sometning to that effect, its a proper old fashioned music shop. They have qtr sized real guitars in the window on special for 27 euro. I'm thinkin of getting one for my 6 year old.

sixpointfive

Hi, ok sorry to sort of hijack your thread but can anybody tell me if i should have steel or nylon strings on a first guitar for a 7 year old? i dont want him to get tired of it hurting his fingers but dont want to have him learning the wrong way.
Thanks.

sixpointfive

sixpointfive wrote: »

Hi, ok sorry to sort of hijack your thread but can anybody tell me if i should have steel or nylon strings on a first guitar for a 7 year old? i dont want him to get tired of it hurting his fingers but dont want to have him learning the wrong way.
Thanks.

well I'm clearly no expert but the guy in the Guitar shop told me Nylon is best for kids who are just starting out.

Thanks for that Claiva, I went and bought the 1/2 size spanish guitar, tis gorgeous!

sixpointfive

Ah, thanks very much, apologies for the cheek.

That's ok, you owe me a thread though

brendansmith

Lads, where is karl kungus lately?

killwill

I am a lefty who started off learning on a right handed guitar and found it a little difficult at first but once I started picking I found it a great advantage. I believe starting at such a young age it would be no huge problem.
And as said, much better selection for right handed guitar. I heard there is a fantastic music store after opening in Dublin. Not sure of the name though

Alanstrainor

Xmusic is probably the one you're talking about. Out near the red cow/naas road

I've started to notice that when she plays her guitar, which she does on a regular basis! she's strumming with her right hand, phew! hoping that's a good sign?!

-=al=-

sounds like you got a righty goin on there, well done shes not an evil left hander!

claiva

Thanks for that Claiva, I went and bought the 1/2 size spanish guitar, tis gorgeous![/QUOTE]


Great, might buy one today myself !!!!:)