How old do you have to be to start the guitar?

Ruth Murphy

I'd love my son to play guitar, obviously I'm not going to push him but encourage but I don't know what's a good age to start! I'm assuming his hands would need to fit around the guitar head but when is this?! He's 3.5 years and is into dancing and messing around banging etc. I played the piano for years but when I left home, I didn't bring my piano with me and also my job took over so I thought guitar would be good as you can easily travel with it. Or is buying those toy guitars good to mess around on too? Thanks in advance.

sentient_6

Old enough to want to do it himself.

I remember hating having to learn piano as a kid but i happily took up guitar around 12/13, mostly because of all the good music i was thankfully getting into of my own accord(beatles, thin lizzy etc etc etc).

-=al=-

The younger the better to get as much experience as possible but any age once your willing to learn to play is great

I was talking to Jon Gomm recently who started playing at the age of 2!

I was 13/14 myself and thought that was perfectly fine

68 lost souls

I think it should not be forced but an interest should be encouraged, there is no harm in having the likes of a half or 1/4 sized guitar lying about for them to mess with and then let him play with it if he wants but maybe not necessarily look at lessons until they actually start showing an interest. At 3.5 he isnt even going to primrary school yet so why would a child who's brain hasnt developed enough yet to learn in school be forced into lessons etc. ALso kids dont like to do what they are told I find so letting them develop the interest themselves is important.

I let my nieces and nephews come and mess on some of my guitars when I am there sometimes and they will ask me, come over and say "can we play on your guitar?" So I take it down and get them to strum or makes sounds while I fret the notes or the other way around I say look press here and I will make a sound and then press here and see a different sound. THey are amazed by it and everytime teach them a little more but dont overload them.

martinedwards

sentient_6 wrote: »

Old enough to want to do it himself.

WISDOM!!

my kids we pushed the "proper" instruemnts.

one has grade 5 piano & cello, one is waiting for the grade 5 results

the youngest has started french horn.

one plays football!

I've played guitar for 30 odd years,and there are many instruments laying around the house.

I've always been of the opinion that guitar is a rebelious instrument, so although I allowed acses any time they wanted it, and even bought a giutar and converted it to lefty for the footballer, only the musical star among them went for it.

he can play anything with strings or a keyboard, and is a far better musician than me, and is rapidly catching up on guitar, all because HE wants to, not because I say so.

dont get a TOY guitar, get a small real one. a toy will put him off forever.

Ruth Murphy

Great thanks everyone. I didnt know if he was too young to even buy a small guitar to have lying around. I certainly would never push the instrument or lessons because I was in that boat once and I hated it. Maybe ill wait till he's in primary school and see then about his maybe interest. Thank you all.

Squidgy Black

You could always do what my parents did at that age, and buy him a little ukulele, I never actually learned how to play it until I was much older, but from what I was told and from photos it got me into music and I never put it down.

As for actually learning, I'd say wait until he's a bit older, maybe 7 or 8 possibly, there is a fair bit to learn like chord shapings and stuff and they have to have an interest in it for them to learn and practice.

68 lost souls

Thats a great idea actually, dunno why I didnt think Ukelele, damn it now Im gassing for a Ukulele for the little ones that do be around here. Smaller for little hands and less strings to worry about.