10 year old leftie starting to play

goldtop57

My 10 year old son has started taking an interest in the guitar recently
so ive given him an old strat and a few lessons, but would like a guideline on what is the best way to do it as ive never given lessons before

Can anybody recommend a good book or even better, a free internet site or course for him to follow


He's also left handed but is playing right handed very well should i let him continue this way?

Thanks in advance

CianRyan

I know loads of left handed players that play on the right.
Nothing wrong with that.

As for lessons, It's be new to me but I've been giving my niece a few lessons, she's only 11.
I've just been showing her difference chords and letting her teach herself more than anything.

Once she gets to grips of how to change chords quickly and what sounds nice when played with what, I'll probably go into more detail.

At that ages, keep it fun.

Alanstrainor

I'm a lefty, and play right handed guitar. And i'm glad i did, purely for the choice of instruments available. And i have to say, i think it was an advantage having my strong hand as my fretting hand.

tim0ney

Definitely. I'm the same, a lefty, playing right-handed. He will find it handy in the future so he can just pick up a guitar that's in anybody's house and entertain them.

From the learning perspective, it could be a good idea to find some songs that he himself likes, and printing off the chords? That was how I learned anyway - it gave me more of an incentive to play the thing, rather than going with the same old same old songs that are in most guitar books [I mean I love Bob Dylan now, but it was a little dreary for me as a 9 year old to have to listen to].:)

Alanstrainor

tim0ney wrote: »

[I mean I love Bob Dylan now, but it was a little dreary for me as a 9 year old to have to listen to].:)

Haha, very true!

-=al=-

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I'm a lefty, and play right handed guitar. And i'm glad i did, purely for the choice of instruments available. And i have to say, i think it was an advantage having my strong hand as my fretting hand.

im the same only im right handed and play left


either way let the kid pickup the guitar whichever way is more natural to him or whatever way his first instinct is to play

NoQuarter

-=al=- wrote: »

im the same only im right handed and play left

How on earth did that happen?

OP: try get one of the half size electric guitars, you can get a mini version of a strat, ive played it and its great!

-=al=-

those half guitars are cool i had a small kids one i used for traveling, quite handy indeed


and ive no idea how it happened but i wouldnt change it for anything, cant even hold a right handed guitar correctly

NoQuarter

-=al=- wrote: »

and ive no idea how it happened but i wouldnt change it for anything, cant even hold a right handed guitar correctly

Iteresting because id love to know the potential my better hand would have for fretting...

Shryke

There's a simple test for which way to hold a guitar. Do an air guitar. Which ever way you did it, that's how you want to hold it.

goldtop57

Sorry for thge late reply, got called away for a few days
Thanks for all your answers

I have him playing dylan alright,started him off on Knocking on heavens door but turned into the G&R version which he relates to a little better & a few more G&R tunes as well
Hes really picking it up fast

alexosborne

hi great age to start,and I'm all for fun and finding out BUT I found out the hard way that self taught can lead to a lifetime of relearnig
e.g. using the wrong fingering on the "G" shape
all the best

I play rubbish with both hands

goldtop57

So i bit the bullet & bought my son a vintage v 100 in ice tea from gear4music
But they want copies of my credit card & pasport to verify the order Is this normal ?

Lands Leaving

I've been asked for a bill before and I'm pretty sure Thomann ask for something along those lines, so I guess it's normal enouogh. Just black out anything you don't want seen

Banjo

A lot of companies in the US do this too, as do E-buyer as far as I know. It's a security thing, prevents credit card fraud and it's usually only on your first transaction with the company. You can chance your arm and tell them you have no access to a scanner or fax machine, they'll sometimes let it go.

iwb

I said I would ask here rather than start a new thread. I am left handed and woud air guitar left handed but like the idea of 'forcing' right handed due to better choice. Also, the main reason I would like to learn is that my ten year old son is learning at the moment and I wanted to join him. He is right handed and plays right handed.

I was also wondering if I could learn on an electric guitar or is it easier/more sensible to get an acoustic? I like electric as it will make practice quieter using headphones.

Thanks.

goldtop57

iwb wrote: »

I said I would ask here rather than start a new thread. I am left handed and woud air guitar left handed but like the idea of 'forcing' right handed due to better choice. Also, the main reason I would like to learn is that my ten year old son is learning at the moment and I wanted to join him. He is right handed and plays right handed.

I was also wondering if I could learn on an electric guitar or is it easier/more sensible to get an acoustic? I like electric as it will make practice quieter using headphones.

Thanks.

Start playing his guitar & see how you get on with it
My lad started playing my right handed guitars & now he's flying at it

As for the electric acoustic issue it depends on your type of music

Also I have to say i am very impressed with the vintage v 100 les paul he got himself
Its a really good player with a very attractive iced tea flame top,I changed the pots & caps & now it really sounds great for €200 .
Im usually a bit of a guitar snob but i might sneak one into my collection

iwb

Thanks, I will give his a go and report back.