Need some info from you Guitar players

[Ponytail]

Our 8 year old is interested, at least for now, in learning to play the guitar. I suspect that once lessons start and the mandatory practice starts, that interest will die quickly.

What do I do? Any guitar recommendations? Can get cheapo from kmart or target, but I know that those can be difficult to play...strings too far from frets, frets too high, etc. I know VERY little about Guitars but I do know that buying cheap, even if the chance for sustained interest is low, may not be the best route.

I fear that Guitar Hero has given him a false sense of talent and ease but we do want to give him a chance.

 

[Bonehead]

Can you rent or borrow one ?

 

[PsyOps]

Our 8 year old is interested, at least for now, in learning to play the guitar. I suspect that once lessons start and the mandatory practice starts, that interest will die quickly.

What do I do? Any guitar recommendations? Can get cheapo from kmart or target, but I know that those can be difficult to play...strings too far from frets, frets too high, etc. I know VERY little about Guitars but I do know that buying cheap, even if the chance for sustained interest is low, may not be the best route.

I fear that Guitar Hero has given him a false sense of talent and ease but we do want to give him a chance.

You can get cheapos from Kmart, WalMart, Sakketti's (I think I spelled that wrong), HotLicks, eBay, ... You can always (even with the cheaper guitars) have the neck and bridge adjusted to lower the strings. I would recommend going to a place where he can sit down with someone that knows what they're talking about and try some guitars out. Electrics, with light strings, are typically easier to play because they have lower actions to them than acoustics; so you may want to consider a place like HotLick in Pr. Fred or Waldorf.

I bought a Takamine Jasmine acoustic a couple of years ago for about $250. It's really a decent guitar with a night low and playable action. You can also plug it in to an amp. Yamaha also make some decent lower-end guitars.

I think guitar hero actually develops the hand position, finger motions, and technique that is quite similar to a real guitar.

And get him lessons.