My experience is with the piano





Trae? With you, I would have guessed ORGAN...not piano.

Give her beans.

I personally like the piano. I've been playing since I was five years old. Getting bored with it wasn't an option because my mom forced me to like it. Now I appreciate it.

Has she expressed interest in learning the guitar?

I live on the third floor of an apartment building.



Piano = not an option



Beans? Magic beans???

Trae, why don't you pass down your knowledge and teach her to play the skin flute.

If you give her a guitar, she will turn into Melissa Etheridge.



I always wish I'd learned piano. I suppose I still could, eventually.

Silly Oliver.



She's a virtruoso playing "The Slobber-lipped Blues" on the Meat Whistle.

I live on the third floor of an apartment building.



I didn't know they stacked single-wides on top of each other in Georgia.



Isn't that unsafe for when them "twisters" come?

Electric or acoustic?



My son is taking electric guitar. They suggested he learn acoustic fisrt but that was "for babies" so we opted to go right for the electric. You can get a starter guitar for like $69 dollars and a parctice amp for around $40. I suggest you buy headpones for her to practice with.



TRUST ME.



Acoustics you can get for around the 40-50 dollar mark. The key however is to look around for a good teacher. My sons first teacher was like Otto the bus driver from the Simpsons.



He didn't learn much and may have lost a brain cell or two trying to talk to him. I asked around to friends who have taken or given lessons for advice about what makes a good instructor.

Declan, yes she has. She can already play the piano (keyboard) pretty well. I taught her from the time she was 3yrs old.



Now, she wants to play the guitar. Just can't decide between electric or acoustic. I'm leaning towards the acoustic.



We've thought about taking lessons together actually.

Most of the instructors I spoke to explained that leaning the acoustic will give the student a better base for the instrument.

I live on the third floor of an apartment building.



Piano = not an option



Ever heard of a keyboard? Hen Jr. is on her 4th year of piano and has done it all on a keyboard with pressure sensitive keys.

Don't worry so much about the quality, just make sure it's a really good looking guitar. That way if she loses interest but still goes on to front some hip new indie band, she'll look cool as she's faking it.

Or teach her the hobbit dance so she'll have something to do while her drummer plays the wrong song.

I play the guitar.



And i hate when people ask "Electric or Acoustic?"



They're both a Frost-ing guitar, The same music laws apply to both. There is no such thing as an Acoustic Scale.



I would get her an acoustic, But honestly, Opt for a higher quality one. They just get better with age.

Seagull Acoustics

Ever heard of a keyboard?



*points at post above*



Nope.



And Sombrero, yes they are both guitar, duh. However the feel of each is different, is it not?

Those sure are some nice guitars Sombrero.



But do you realize HOW MUCH Cheez Whiz Trae's poor kid'll have to eat until that thing is PAID for?



I hear Wal-mart has some purty fine gee-tars.

ATTENTION MR GARRETT:



PLEASE PUT DOWN THE FUNNY. YOU HAVE TO LET OTHER PEOPLE PLAY TOO!

No.. You're totally right...



I'm just saying when people ask me 'Oooh, You play guitar? Electric or Acoustic?'

I usually reply:

Both at the same time!!

Oh.. the feel of each.



Well.. Acoustics have stiffer strings, And thicker bodies.



However the skills involved in actually playing either of them are completely the same.

Hmmmm. I would've thought the next words after "Ooooh, you play guitar?" would be "Wanna Frost?"





Oh.... maybe that's just with drummers.

Trae,



Speaking from my own experience, start her off on an electric guitar.



1. Cheap electric guitars are easier to fret than most cheap acoustics. This will make it easier for her to learn on - she'll learn more quickly and be more likely to stick with it if she does learn quickly.



2. You can still get a quasi-acoustic sound out of an electric.



Most guitar stores sell starter-kits for guitar these days, which usually include a guitar, strap, amp and cable.



You can always step up to a different guitar later, once you've determined that she's going to stick with it.

If you get her an electric, and this is a wicked bonus, she can play it unplugged and only she will be able to hear it. So when she practices for hours on end, it will be known only to her. Then one day she'll plug it in to the amp and ROCK YOUR WORLD.

Thank you, Donk. Can you please change your name back to The Rockin' Donkey?



Dweezil makes me think of Zappa, which makes me think of Valley Girl, which makes me think of when I was a kid, which makes me feel really old.





Thanks

Xylophone.



All the cool kids play the xylophone.



Many's the time I've danced around in my underwear rocking out while playing the "air xylo".















Yeah I got beat up a lot.

I beg to differ, Donkey.



Electrics give off much more noise when a note is slightly hit.

Which happens alot with beginners.

Which is a huge deterrent when it comes to "wanting to be good" at playing.



Get her an acoustic. They sound nicer for actual skilled music, Cost less in the long run, and will skill her fingers much better for when she decides to get an electric.

I've found that a shoebox with a few rubber bands makes a good beginner guitar.



Trae: "Here's your new guitar! Yay!"

Trae's kid: "...I'm running away."

Let's look into Ltl. Trae's future a bit.



Accoustic?



or Electric?

Acoustic first. Electric later. Everyone I know that started off on electric, sucks. People that start off on acoustic, end up studying more, and learning things other then the power chord.

I play both the acoustic and electric butt trumpet.

I beg to differ, Donkey.



Electrics give off much more noise when a note is slightly hit.

Which happens alot with beginners.

Which is a huge deterrent when it comes to "wanting to be good" at playing.



Get her an acoustic. They sound nicer for actual skilled music, Cost less in the long run, and will skill her fingers much better for when she decides to get an electric.



Most teachers are going to start her playing rhythm, which really makes that a non-issue. Learn the basics on something easy to play, then move up to something that's going to be more difficult.



As far as that goes, I've never noticed alot of "noise" coming from the guitar unless i'm using lots of distortion.

Power chords = power ballads. Is there any other reason to learn guitar?

You can get her a perfectly playable starter acoustic for about $100.00. Get her one of those. If she has natural talent and interest she will be able to play perfectly good music on it and can some day upgrade to a much nicer sounding guitar.



Re: acoustic vs. electric. It's true that they're tuned the same and play the same but they do tend to be played differently in a sense. Acoustics emphasise open chords and electrics tend to emphasise barre chords, but if you can play one you can play the other.



Some kids are better off starting with electrics just because they're more "rock stary" and as a result they put more effort into them. If she doesn't care about that then she'll be better off with an acoustic since it's less forgiving and will start her off on the right foot.

All I gotta say is, Tenacious D. If your daughter plays acoustic, she may some day rock as hard as the D.

Have you considered Bagpipes?

Courtney Love plays electric guitar.

Thank you chickens, for making me look cool in comparison.

Holy Frost, epiphany. Two words Trae, and this thread is CLOSED:



Flying V.

Joan Jett plays electric guitar.

If she starts on an acoustic and she's out at a party and there's an acoustic guitar sitting around, she'll be able to pick it up and impress everyone. If she learns on an electric and she picks up an acoustic guitar, people will laugh at her when she attempts to play Van Halen tap licks, which is pretty much the only thing most electric-learning rock star wannabees can do.



Although ChiChi is on to something, I think.

I used to want to be Joan Jett.

I used to want to do Joan Jett.



Sexiest "Owww!" in the business.

You know, I could have sworn we had this same thread last Christmas.

No, last Christmas it was about what kind of vibrator Trae should get.



Interestingly, the general consensus then was also against electric, and that she'd be better off learning good fingering technique.

Most teachers are going to start her playing rhythm



We're not "Making the band".



Most teachers will start her out with theory, Learning the notes, what they look like and where they are on the neck.

Then they'd move to fingerpicking and scales, Then the basic chords.

Sombrero,

we are still talking about Trae's vibrator right?

The only musical instruments I had when I was a wee lad were my moms empty wisky bottles.

That was some damn good tootin'.

We're not "Making the band".



Most teachers will start her out with theory, Learning the notes, what they look like and where they are on the neck.

Then they'd move to fingerpicking and scales, Then the basic chords.





I guess it all depends on the instructor. My teacher started me on rhythm, then when I had the basics of playing down, we moved into theory.



Alot of kids are going to get bogged down in theory and wind up giving up. I guess my instructor was just more concerned with getting his students excited about the instrument.

Also, it's easier to play an acoustic guitar on the street corner while begging for loose change then an electric.

ORGANS!

I just find it absurd how a guitar instructor will get their students started playing barr chords.



They're easy, And they're blink 182 enough for a teenager to play and enjoy. Thats probably as far as most of them would venture into it. But then again, the instructor still gets paid huh?

< Shakespeare eating grin>



I picture a group of 20-some kids playing the same 4 chords over and over while teach gets to solo over it all, Judas Priest style.

I just find it absurd how a guitar instructor will get their students started playing barr chords.





He got his students excited about playing. If you wanted to learn theory, he taught it to you.



I suppose alot of his students never got into the theory side, but his method worked for me, and alot of other students that would have otherwise gotten discouraged learning theory first.

My instructor taught us to play the songs we wanted to learn. That included barre chords, basic chords, and theory as it was needed.



But, like I said, if you wanted to learn theory, he was more than happy to teach you.

Fair enough, Donk.





...



......





I'm glad you now see that acoustic is better!

You people are overlooking the most obvious answer.



My parents bought me a great Peavey electric acoustic for my birthday/christmas last year. Best of both worlds.

Buy her a clairnett



that way when she catches you...uh...'gobbeling', you can tell her you're practicing your scales.

electric tamborine

How about the wash tub, harmonica, or that empty moonshine jug with the "XXX" on it? You live in Georgia... I'm just sayin'.

If the Traette was a boy, I'd say drums...



...so he'd have something to beat besides his vienna sausage

bass is a guitar. or a fish.

Send me your street address and I'll send her a fife. You just can't beat the fife for pure musical enjoyment, and annoying the neighbors. E-mail in profile.

I play guitar...it is easier to start out on electric than acoustic...but electric is much louder so you might want to rethink that as well...

how much are you willing to spend? Ebay has great prices and great selections...or you can try a pawn shop...starting out with a used guitar is probably better than buying a brand new one when she doesnt have any experience...email me if you have any questions! I would be happy to help!

A serious word of advice here. When I decided to try the guitar, someone told me that if I bought a recognizable brand name guitar, it would be easier to trade or sell when I was looking to upgrade or quit. It was good advice. I bought a Fender. When I realized that I should stick with wind instruments, I was able to sell it for about what I paid for it.



EJ did very well with a nice student model Yamaha classical guitar. I can't remember exactly, but it was less than $200, I'm sure. We were able to trade that in when she upgraded, again for near the original purchase price.

Oh, one more thing: nylon strings. A steel strung acoustic will discourage a child. And hurt her little fingers.

I just play a Maha.



I rocked its Ya off.

you can get a good quality Ibanez electric guitar for $100...whether its a starter pack or the guitar itself....Gibsons are a great brand of guitar...but they are a little on the expensive side

fenders are good quality as well...I started on a sivertone electric and I wasn't that impressed with it

If you are leaning towards an acoustic, I'd personally suggest a nice classical acoustic, and nylon strings are a good idea. Don't be afraid to check out second hand guitars either. As for electric maybe a Barricuda to start out with? They are relatively inexpensive and decent sounding. Not great sounding, but also not anything she will complain about until she gets good enough to require a better one.

If you are leaning towards an acoustic, I'd personally suggest a nice classical acoustic, and nylon strings are a good idea. Don't be afraid to check out second hand guitars either. As for electric maybe a Barricuda to start out with? They are relatively inexpensive and decent sounding. Not great sounding, but also not anything she will complain about until she gets good enough to require a better one.

Aw, butt!

Here you go Trae.



Acoustic: Harder on little girlie fingers, better for faggie songs.



Electric: Easier to play fast, better quality in a cheaper instrument. Rocks out with Coleridges out.



Spend a little more and get her one of these.



And buy Elixir strings. They're smooth as butta, last forever, and are highly resistent to kid's finger crud.



And when she's ready to move up to a real intstrument, get her an Ernie Ball guitar. All other guitars are for wussie asswipes.



Trust me. I went to Berklee.

Uncle Al has spoken!

Why not the harmonica? You're in the southern states eh?

If you're looking for a cheap, decent beginner electric, my New York Pro hasn't let me down in three years.

Sooo get her an acoustic. They sound so much better. But I may be biased, my brother has one of these.

Trae - I did not read all of this thread - I don't have the time.



My ex is an instructor/studio musician. He tells me that electrics are easier to learn on than acoustics. (Easier for kids to press the strings down.)



You should buy a Squier by Fender - it is cheap and almost just like a Strat. My daughter plays a Squier and so do I. Mine is a Venus that is not available anymore.



Your kid will love to play a "Strat" - they sound good and they have sort of the Fender name.

Sooo get her an acoustic. They sound so much better.



Go back to Retardtown. That's the dumbest thing typed all week.

Unless Tommy Hilfiger makes Fender guitars my daughter won't care about the name.



Thanks for all the input though. I appreciate it.

White Meat's right. Squier is the best bang for the buck... Kind of like Jane's mom.

That's why you tell her that Courtney Love played a Squier - and she won't care...

She's only 11.... Courtney who?

My girl is 10 and she knows all about Cobain and his wife...



My girl is hip to the rock scene.



(But I don't let her know about drug over doses...)

You just can't beat the fife for ...annoying the neighbors.



We should have an annoy-off. You bring your fife, I'll bring me bagpipes.

Get her one of these



I like the spiffy blue flower.



But then again I play bass, 6 strings were far too complicated for me.

Get her a Hohner acoustic guitar. they can be as low as about $99 but still play beautifully. i've been playing guitar for about 5 years and own 8 guitars. and i am going to be getting one for myself and one for my girlfriend this upcoming christmas.

one word.........

























banjo

My girl is 10 and she knows all about Cobain and his wife...



Great. But my kid knows about REAL musicians.

My soon to be 12 year old is into AC/Dc and the Ramones. Don't ask me why because no one I know listens to them.



I will give the kid credit he has his own musical tastes and I wouldn't discourage that even if he was into Shakespeare that would make me puke.



My little satan is into jazz and the blues. Go figure.

Careful about that Ac/Dc and Ramones Shakespeare. He might start blowing things up TNT style and liking heroin.





/rimshot

My little satan is into jazz and the blues.



Ah, Jeeziz. A future jazzhole. Lock him in a room and pummel him with AC/DC and Ramones for a week straight. You'll be doing him a favor--Blues fans are lower on the evolutionary ladder than bike messengers.

If you get an inexpensive guitar, make sure it stays in tune.



My Silvertone.

what about a big stand up bass? there needs to be more of those I think. Or hoaw about a cello? Cellists do it with their legs spread.

Silvertone = Sears n' Roebuck



For real.



Gibson = Overpriced crap for stoobid wannabeez with too much disposable income



PRS = For emo kids with trust funds and "rockers" who need to make up for their lack of talent with figured woods and abalone inlays





...good god I'm such a Frost-ing dork.

I play the (Blues) harmonica, so that is what I'll suggest.



The instrument is cheap (under 20$ for a standard Hohner model in C, which is the same kind the great players use).



It's easy to carry around (I have one with me at all time. I use it mostly during meetings at work, whenever someone's cell phone goes off, but still)



It's easy to learn (I learned to play the violin when I was a kid. It took me two years to get a decent sound of the damn thing. The harmonica is much easier, and it's rewarding because you feel that you're making progress everyday. What I'm saying, your daughter won't sound like Bob Dylan for very long)



It makes you practice your mouth muscles (Trae, you better than anyone here know how that can be useful)



It sounds cool (forget those southern states jokes up there, and listen to some Little Walter, John Hammond, or the simple little solo in the Doobie Brothers' "Long Train Running")

Silvertone = Sears n' Roebuck



Yep. I loooove that guitar.

I say just go nuts with old analog keyboards, samplers, vocalisers, mixerboards and random types of microphones.



Add a few drum machines here and there, and she could be doing powernoise projects within a day

Right, and this comes from a guy who dances on stilts, wears girls clothing, make-up and breathes fire.



I love you T4, but you know I gotta pass, right? RIGHT??

what about an electric bagpipe? all the noise and none of the baggage!

That looks like a Frost-ing recorder!

(remember that dumb ass whistle thing that we all used in grade school)



And Trae, what's wrong with power noise, or ambiant noise art? Granted it has a very small fan base, butshe is at a young enough age to speak german, and do a few recordings that would be worth cash to the right people.

that guy looks like he's pushing a grogan.

and poopin too

All this talk of musical instruments and no one mentions my two favorites ..



Get her two turntables and a microphone mixer!

ahhh!



now that stupid beck song is on repeat in my head.