learning guitar

JohnN

JohnN

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Hi,

I'm planning to learn guitar with my daughter, she's six, we both have electric guitars, mine from a previous intention to learn and her from a car boot sale :)

We thought it might be nice to learn together as a bonding thing, but given my random no notice work hours there is no point in booking lessons so would be looking to learn from other sources, books, DVD, you tube, whatever and wondered if you have any advice.

Thanks,

John
 
Look at "Getting started on electric guitar" by Keith Wyatt as a DVD - it's by Fender but doesnt matter what brand you're using.

For a book then look at Progressive Guitar - they do both adult and kids versions but the adult one is a fairly gradual learning curve.

Some simple song books would also help - that way you're playing "real" stuff as well as just doing exercises which your daughter might enjoy.
 
The first song I learnt was Skip to My Lou, it is just two basic chords, C & G

Code: 
C
Skip, skip, skip to my lou.

G
Skip, skip, skip to my lou.

C
Skip, skip, skip to my lou.

G                 C
Skip to my lou my darlin'.


C
Flies in the buttermilk. Shoo fly, shoo!

G
Flies in the buttermilk. Shoo fly, shoo!

C
Flies in the buttermilk. Shoo fly, shoo!

G                 C
Skip to my lou my darlin'
 
Thanks for that too I'll take a look and if things start to go well may well subscribe
 
Damn, that looks good and Justin time (sorry!)
 
damn #2, just spotted on her guitar the strings are a long way from the frets so that could cause some problems, in fairness it is a Hanna Montana one (was only £1!)

I'll see how she fares but am worried she'll have to press much harder than I and the pain in her fingers (I know its going to happen anyway) and missed frets will discourage her.
 
JohnN said:
damn #2, just spotted on her guitar the strings are a long way from the frets so that could cause some problems, in fairness it is a Hanna Montana one (was only £1!)

I'll see how she fares but am worried she'll have to press much harder than I and the pain in her fingers (I know its going to happen anyway) and missed frets will discourage her.
Click to expand...

Perhaps a local guitar tech can adjust the action to reduce the gap.

Good luck with the finger pain, I hope you both get through the "rite of passage"!

I've been trying on and off, for a few years, to get to grips with the guitar, but I'm still struggling.
 
lol, cheers - I doubt it could be fixed its a plastic job, probably cheaper to pick up a £50 3/4 size from ebay.

Good luck with it too :)
 
John, it sounds like the neck may have bowed a bit and caused a much raised "action". One possible solution would be to use an alternative tuning and for her to learn slide guitar. It might be possible to get the truss rod adjusted to correct the action - take it to a decent guitar tech/shop for advice.
 
It might I suppose, but I didn't thing plastic bowed much - its actually a toy that I've now found out comes form Hong Kong although I can't find it anywhere on the net.

Now, I don't embarrass that easily but I think going into a pro tuners shot with a small plastic bright pink and turquoise guitar with Hannah Montana emblazoned over it might just do it :D

BTW thanks again for that website, I've just gone through the first couple of lessons (granted its just info on what to choose and nothing to do with learning) and signed up to the forum - at last after 40 years I may actually learn!!!
 
hmn, quite - I really think he's crap, now with added proof :)
 
JohnN said:
damn #2, just spotted on her guitar the strings are a long way from the frets so that could cause some problems, in fairness it is a Hanna Montana one (was only £1!)

I'll see how she fares but am worried she'll have to press much harder than I and the pain in her fingers (I know its going to happen anyway) and missed frets will discourage her.
Click to expand...

I'm not familiar with that guitar but unless there's something badly wrong with the neck the action can usually be sorted out pretty easily by adjusting the bridge, the truss rod, or both. If the neck has a significant bow forwards then lowering the bridge may seem like the obvious way to lower the action but actually raising the bridge and adjusting the truss rod to pull the neck back so it's more flat might give better results.

Truss rods adjustment seems intimidating with stories of snapped/ruined necks and stuff like that but they're pretty simple to adjust and you won't do any damage unless you're really reckless, just go in easy 90 degree at a time turns and keep checking it after every turn. They normally don't need much to pull them back in.

I'd definitely recommend getting it sorted though, learning an instrument can be difficult at the best of times so having an instrument that you don't need to beat into submission to fret a note will definitely be of benefit! :lol:
 
Although I play sax my youngest boy plays guitar, the best bit of advice I can give you is get the guitar sorted before trying to learn stuff, there is nothing worse and even to the point of putting you off playing if you are trying to learn on a badly tuned or incorectly adjusted instrument imo.
Good luck and enjoy it
 
A tip from this guy - heavy gauge acoustic strings :thumbs:

[YOUTUBE]_WNmbYiBWt4[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]_Vmi1P4WxmE[/YOUTUBE]
 
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Hi,

Now I don't want to come off as ungrateful, I really do appreciate the offers of advice on getting it fixed, but here it is - it really is plastic and I doubt much could be done with it - but at least now I know I should get her a true guitar, she's taking a real interest sitting down and learning the pre doing stuff lessons (we're just about to start BC-106 of Justin's lessons) such as how to hold it, what the parts are and so on and I'm really proud of her - just a pity shes a bit too small to use mine.

P1010042_-_Copy.JPG
 
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If I were you I'd dump the hanna guitar if isn't set up - tbh it's not much more than a toy.
There are a range of 1/2 and 3/4 size guitars that would suit someone younger and these start from around the £50 mark - have a look on amazon.
Or there maybe music shops near you that have second hand ones that someone's traded after their kid outgrew it - probably a better bet.
 
Thanks Chris, to be honest I was pretty much expecting that, but the real upside is that its sparked such an interest in her :)
 
JohnN said:
Hi,

Now I don't want to come off as ungrateful, I really do appreciate the offers of advice on getting it fixed, but here it is - it really is plastic and I doubt much could be done with it - but at least now I know I should get her a true guitar, she's taking a real interest sitting down and learning the pre doing stuff lessons (we're just about to start BC-106 of Justin's lessons) such as how to hold it, what the parts are and so on and I'm really proud of her - just a pity shes a bit too small to use mine.

P1010042_-_Copy.JPG
Click to expand...

LOL carp guitar and carp pic sorry
 
Now attacking the guitar is one thing, but the picture should hang in the Tate ;)
 
Foxbat Flyer said:
The best resource I have found is Justin Sandercoe's web site, he has put a huge amount of work into producing a series of videos and documents to provide a structured course and song tutorials.

http://www.justinguitar.com/index.php



Chris
Click to expand...

I used to use that site and he's a brilliant teacher.
The videos are really useful and you can build up to playing more difficult songs when you're ready. There's a good range of songs on there as well.
 
Yes, looks really good - just the pre-lesson info is very good and has really helped (so far)
 
The best thing you can do with any guitar is get it set up by a guitar tech.

One of my regular customers (many years ago when my business was running) was a local guitar teacher, she sent a young lad and his dad to me one day, he was on the verge of giving up as his guitar was proving difficult to play.
24 hours later he returned and couldn't believe it was the same guitar, he stuck with it and to my knowledge still plays today.
 
magicaxeman said:
The best thing you can do with any guitar is get it set up by a guitar tech.

One of my regular customers (many years ago when my business was running) was a local guitar teacher, she sent a young lad and his dad to me one day, he was on the verge of giving up as his guitar was proving difficult to play.
24 hours later he returned and couldn't believe it was the same guitar, he stuck with it and to my knowledge still plays today.
Click to expand...

Very much :plusone:

I've had a couple of basses set up by the techs at Manson's Guitars (Hugh makes basses for [among others] John Paul Jones) and they feel so much better for it!
 
Foxbat Flyer said:
The best resource I have found is Justin Sandercoe's web site, he has put a huge amount of work into producing a series of videos and documents to provide a structured course and song tutorials.

http://www.justinguitar.com/index.php



Chris
Click to expand...

Agreed. Justin's structured learning program is second to none as a free resource. He's a fine fella too.
 
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