I have a nine year-old that wants to learn to play guitar. I know there are a number of you who play. So, I was just going to go to the local music center and talk with someone there about lessons, equipment, etc.

I think he is interested in the electric guitar and I've heard that is easier to learn especially for a younger kid that might not have the finger strength.

But, any suggestions as to acoustic vs. electric, brand of guitar, or anything else I should be looking for while trying to get him started?

I know nothing about guitars...along with many other things.

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You know me like that.

fender and ibanez both have beginner start-up kits. fender's is called the "strat-pack" and are generally around $150 but includes a guitar, amp, guitar strap, and cables.
I would recommend going to either the guitar center in highland park or sam ash in buffalo grove.
any other concerns or questions, send me a pm.

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@audioidkid

Nine year old? I'd get him a starter guitar and not pay a whole lot of money. Electric is easier to play but you have to buy an amp too. I'd start him on acoustic. Buy a little electric tuner instead of an amp and you're dollars ahead. If you buy a cheap guitar, make sure to have a guitar guy "set the action" and "file down the frets". It will make the guitar sound better.

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

no! no! no! do not buy him an acoustic guitar. you'll spend as much or more for one that is playable.
they also make smaller scale guitars for kids.

fender mini

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@audioidkid

I cut my teeth on a $75 Jasmin Acoustic...maybe I'm biased...

Doc, I don't think you can go wrong with either...

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Ба́бушка гада́ла, да на́двое сказа́ла—то ли до́ждик, то ли снег, то ли бу́дет, то ли нет.

What about the Esteban guitar

Im certain you can find something decent and cheap off Craigslist. Can probably get the amp as well.

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Go with the Strat pack or whatever like Doug said. If the guitar is too big, or the kid is too much of a sally, you can go with the smaller scale guitar too . A kid that young is probably not going to have the strength to play an acoustic guitar with anything thicker than fishing line. Though, I developed a much better ear for music with an acoustic guitar, so if it works out down the road think about getting him one of those too. They also have acoustic starter packs as well.

Practice practice practice. And after he's done practicing, practice some more. And then again later on. It takes a while to get decent, and I'm still not very good at guitar at all. I had played bass for almost a year before I picked up a guitar, so I had some of the hand eye coordination down. The first song I learned on guitar was Pearl Jam's "Last Kiss." If he can get those 4 relatively simple chords down, along with maybe 3 or 4 other very basic chords, he will literally be able to play 100s of songs. Make sure to get a tuner. Good luck.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=513287

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Thanks all.

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You know me like that.

I would start with an electric guitar. Electric guitar seems to be more forgiving w/r/t intonation than acoustic, and you have to push the acoustic strings down a little harder, something your 9y/o's hands might not be immediately ready to do.

I'll echo (pun intended in the music thread) Frank on the importance of getting a tuner. Nothing dissuades a beginnner like poor intonation: "I'm playing all the right notes, so why do they sound so bad? Screw this." Also, spending time with the tuner every time he gets the guitar out should help his pitch recognition bunches. If you get some sort of starter pack--I got one from Epiphone, a division of Gibson--then you'll get a tuner and a practice amp along with a perfectly respectable electric guitar.

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yes, buy a tuner as well. boss makes ones called the gt-10 and the gt-30 that are around $30 or less.

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@audioidkid

I also started with an acoustic Alvarez, and I think that it actually made the transition to electric guitar much easier. However, I don't think there is any set way to start playing the instrument. If the kid wants to play electric, then get the Strat-Pack and let the little one rock it out. After awhile he will probably start asking for other guitars, and will eventually own more than he needs, like I did.

I picked up an acoustic 3 years after I started playing.
Lil Dr. Ken is probably rocking out to guitar hero and wants an electric so he can make noise. how many acoustic guitar songs are on guitar hero?
don't get him a grandpa guitar Dr.

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@audioidkid

Why didn't I ask this question here back in December??? My eight yr. old had to have one...and I thought accoustic was the "right" way to go

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Tell him to forget the music pipe dream and get a job...hes 9 years old for God sake

I think it really does depend on the type of music the kid wants to play. Although, he IS only nine.

right...so, metal it is!

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@audioidkid

Steve Vai would tell you that's the way to go and look at that guy, he was so good 6 strings weren't enough. Granted he blossomed into a collosal prick but in between be became a hell of a guitarist. Now I forget his eact quote but it went something like this... Learn to play on an acoustic guitar and then when you switch to electric you're just wailing. Or something like that.
I did begin on an electric, but made by biggest leaps with an old battered acoustic that I bought from a half bald ponytailed guy named Harley. He lived somewhere out in central Lake county, but I forget where exactly.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

it's one thing to get an acoustic when you're 13, 14...whatever. but, when you're 9, i think it's best to go electric or he'll likely get bored with it. he'll likely get bored with it anyway.....

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@audioidkid

Thank you all. The young man is now the proud owner of a Fender Squier SE Special Strat Pack. Lessons begin this weekend.

After messing around with it for about 10 minutes, his first question to me was, "Dad, how do I make it rock?"

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You know me like that.

see...he already wants a distortion pedal.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Danelectro-D1-Fab-Distortion?sku=151847&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=26018601
you'll need another 1/4" guitar cable and a 9 volt battery or dc adapter.

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@audioidkid

I prefer muff that is small and tight...

Naw man. Try this pedal. It will change your life

I don't think that works with my plastic guitars...

i don't think the 9 year old needs an $80 pedal just yet...wait until he's 10.

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@audioidkid

Exactly. If he really wants a distortion pedal, find an el cheapo pedal at same ash or something

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hence the $14 danelectro...

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@audioidkid

Actually, I've always been a fan of the Danelectro's I've used when friends have brought them over...they have cool names too...

i'm a pedal whore.
i pretty much buy all the cheap ones. i have all of the danelectro fab models, and a few of the other weird ones: tuna melt, chicken salad, black licorice, etc...
everything guitar pedal that is under $40 I either own or will at some point. sad, really.

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@audioidkid