Beginners Guitar

[Noodley]

Good to have some names recommended, so thanks all.

 

[Abitrary]

If I'm honest, noodley, if she shows any signs at all of being interested in it, then find a really good guitar tutor rather than a guitar.

My dad got me guitar lessons from someone who once had reasonable chart success, but then this was london.

 

[Noodley]

....find a really good guitar tutor rather than a guitar.

Surely it would be irresponsible of me to introduce her to a grown man on the pretext of teaching her without her having a guitar to play?

 

[Abitrary]

Surely it would be irresponsible of me to introduce her to a grown man on the pretext of teaching her without her having a guitar to play?

hehe, but any guitar tutor worth its salt will have spare guitars for her to try.

Seriously, find a good tutor by recommendation or website, and the money spent on that will be more valuable than any guitar.

My guitar tutor used to play in some old semi-punk band that actually had top 40 records, and that inspired me. In fact, I'm going to teach guitar when the current career runs its course.

 

[AndyS]

How old is she?

 

[tdr1nka]

She is left handed but says she has played the guitar at school right handed...but maybe only as they only have right handed guitars. I suppose I should get her down to a music shop.

It is relatively easy to swap an acoustic over to be played left handed and some left handed folk really don't find it any harder to learn playing right handed, so there's not too much to worry about on the South Paw front.

 

[Noodley]

Seriously, find a good tutor by recommendation or website, and the money spent on that will be more valuable than any guitar.

She is quite fortunate in that her school have a very good music department, and pupils are encouraged to play more than one instrument. She has been playing the oboe for a few years and has been given the opportunity to try loads of other instruments. She seems to like the guitar. I thought buying her a decent 'my first guitar' would supplement her school access to guitars.

 

[Lardyboy]

Only to repeat again what's already been written and get down to a "proper" guitar emporium. One where you'll receive unbiased opinions and where they can set the guitar up properly. Having a decent "action" on a guitar can make or break a learner. It did with me having to learn on a cheap guitar with an action so bad you needed to be Jeff Capes to play the damn thing. I gave up for a number of years before a mate let me have a go on his guitar. Chalk and cheese was the difference.

I have three acoustics.

A late 60's/early 70's Hofner 491 (I think), plays ok but the body has seen better days.

A Washburn Rarewood 120 anniversary, plays lovely and nice tone

A Simon and Patrick SP12 electroacoustic 12 string, my favourite!

 

[Abitrary]

She is quite fortunate in that her school have a very good music department, and pupils are encouraged to play more than one instrument. She has been playing the oboe for a few years and has been given the opportunity to try loads of other instruments. She seems to like the guitar. I thought buying her a decent 'my first guitar' would supplement her school access to guitars.

I used to play trombone at school, only because I felt sorry for the visiting music teacher who said "come on, why does everyone want to play trumpet, look at these babies".

If she's got musical talent, and then goes off on a tangent, then that tangent has to be indulged. But indulged with a decent teacher rather than instrument.

 

[Crackle]

She is left handed but says she has played the guitar at school right handed...but maybe only as they only have right handed guitars. I suppose I should get her down to a music shop.

Crackle 1 is left handed. I was advised by the bloke in the guitar shop that some left handers learn to play a right handed guitar upside down which is better because there is a greater choice of right handed guitars

As I didn't know whether he was going to keep it up I bought him a cheap full size left hander after establishing which way was natural for him and when he persevered got him a better half size. He then later saved up his dosh and bought hmself an electric and an amp.

Don't know the makes but sort out the handedness bit first or elder Noodlette will struggle later.

 

[Abitrary]

Crackle 1 is left handed. I was advised by the bloke in the guitar shop that some left handers learn to play a right handed guitar upside down which is better because there is a greater choice of right handed guitars

Fair enough for acoustics, but the knobs on electrics get in the way.

I've played in various bands with left handed people who had at some stage learnt on a right handed guitar, but always end up with a proper left-hander.

If you're left handed you've got to shell out, I'm afraid.

 

[Noodley]

...."come on, why does everyone want to play trumpet...".

'Cos all the cool dudes played trumpet

It's quite good 'cos two of the teachers at her school know me due to having played with me years ago. But a bit embarrassing for her when I turned up on pre-school parent's evening when we all started speaking about 'the good old days' of being support band to some long forgotten chart fly-by-night rubbish...

 

[Melvil]

Fair enough for acoustics, but the knobs on electrics get in the way.

I've played in various bands with left handed people who had at some stage learnt on a right handed guitar, but always end up with a proper left-hander.

If you're left handed you've got to shell out, I'm afraid.

Tell me about it - they're always more expensive than right-handeds...

 

[Abitrary]

'Cos all the cool dudes played trumpet

You've actually tapped into something here. I was 10, and yes, all the cool dudes did say trumpet. It was a bit of a 'hands up'.

I chose trombone because it seemed more, er, noble. What do you think?

 

[Noodley]

I chose trombone because it seemed more, er, noble. What do you think?

Noble, or knobby? You decide