Printable Version of Topic

Posted by: Kizaze44 Oct 23 2007, 05:44 AM

Hey there talented people. I have an 11-year old son who is quite a drummer. I also have an 8 year old son who is interested in playing guitar - probably because he wants to be part of our jam sessions. Drums vs. guitar - big difference for beginners, I think. I play both and drums are much easier to "get yourself off the ground."

Anyhow, how young is too young to start playing? I don't want him to get discouraged and quit forever.

When did you all start playing? Who started the youngest?

-Kizaze

Posted by: Unleash-The-Shred Oct 23 2007, 05:46 AM

I have seen kids at the age of like 5 or so who have great talent for their age.

Posted by: Robin Oct 23 2007, 05:52 AM

8 sounds pretty young, but if his older brother and dad plays instruments that might be more than enough to encourage him. If he goes totally serious in a age that young he'll probably get tired of it pretty quick, so I suppose theres no need to rush.
Try showing him some good music, that might make him motivated. Works like that for me atleast

But what do I know anyway. It seems logical to me


I started when I was 14 but I didnt START untill I was almost 18, this January when I joined GMC.
I was very motivated when I started, but I was clueless. If only someone told me that Iron Maiden also use scales and chords... then I would have been so much better today.

Posted by: muris Oct 23 2007, 05:53 AM

Hi Kizaze

IMO,just don't push them but show them what music and instrument are.
Let they choose for them self.
And also,it's never too early or too late IMO,as long passion and motivation are there.

Wish you much luck and joy in music quest of your kids tho!!

Posted by: Robin Oct 23 2007, 05:54 AM

Exactly!!

Posted by: botoxfox Oct 23 2007, 05:57 AM

To true

Posted by: ActiveX Oct 23 2007, 06:06 AM

I don't think there is any such thing as too young to start playing; I also wouldn't be worried if your son loses interest. I started playing when I was around 11, played for a few years then lost interest when I was around 18 or so. I just started playing again a while ago, and I was very surprised at how quickly I picked up where I left off...15 YEARS AGO! Now I'm enjoying playing more than ever, and I am very glad that I had my first exposure to the guitar when I was younger.

Posted by: muris Oct 23 2007, 06:12 AM

This is really nice story.
So,you're now about 33 right?
I'm 28 and can't tell from my own experience but I believe you're much
wiser and smarter now then before and music has bigger meaning to you at this moment.

Posted by: Understudy Oct 23 2007, 06:15 AM

Muris, you are 28 ??? SSSHHHHHHH a real ninja never shows his age.......

Posted by: Kizaze44 Oct 23 2007, 06:19 AM

Thanks for the advice. I think I'll give it a shot. But what the heck to I teach first to an 8 year old??

Posted by: ActiveX Oct 23 2007, 06:20 AM

Ya Muris, I'm 34. Music does have a much bigger meaning to me now. I actually want to play and create music...when I was 17 most of my inspiration was just to look cool with an electric guitar and leather pants so I could score with the ladies:)

...okay, so maybe a small part of me still wants the leather pants and chicks.

Posted by: muris Oct 23 2007, 06:21 AM

I'm silent as night,black as dump...or whatever

Posted by: muntahunta Oct 23 2007, 06:22 AM

start with the E chord?
then the A chord
then D
etc.

eventually he should be able to play along to basic songs.

when i started learning i got a guitar book (cant remember the name).
it had basic chord diagrams and was really fun. just look for begginers guitar books that you think would be fun for an 8 year old.

Posted by: Kizaze44 Oct 23 2007, 06:24 AM

OK - I'm on it. Wish us luck!

Posted by: muris Oct 23 2007, 06:26 AM

Well,few basic chords,some easier tunes.
It'd be nice start I believe.

Posted by: MickeM Oct 23 2007, 07:03 AM

+1
Couldn't agree more. If they are interested and think it's fun, let them play no matter the age.

You see kids singing and dancing as soon as they learn to express themselves. And I see no reason to stop them... other than when there's something on the TV that dad wants to watch

Posted by: Asphyxia Feeling Oct 23 2007, 07:05 AM

i don't think you can be "too young" as long as you have something to keep you going. is he interested in music? does he have any favorite bands? guitar heros? stuff like that can help encourage.

Posted by: Smikey2006 Oct 23 2007, 08:01 AM

I wanted to play drums when i was like 10 but my parents said i showed no interest.. So they got me a guitar.. but i didn't really play it until i was 16.. then i realised quickly it was not a very good guitar so i bought a new 1 and started playing seriously.. 3 years later.. i wish i had started alot younger.. because i see all these guys who r like 13 and shred circles around me. the younger you start the better ull be when your older just don't start him too young that he has no friends to impress or like school shows to play at or else he will lose interest.. but if the motivation is there get him rollin

Posted by: PacmanProductions Oct 23 2007, 08:06 AM

well i guess im in the clear playing at 12 years old...

Posted by: SDMF75 Oct 23 2007, 08:35 AM

Get the book 'Watch me play Guitar' by Bill Edwards. It's perfect for an 8 year old. It's only like $6 plus shipping of about $2-3. http://www.billedwards.com/catalog.html

I picked it up for my son who's 5. He likes it but he'll get more out of it once he can read a little bit better.

Posted by: Slammer Oct 23 2007, 08:54 AM

When I was 8 years old, My mom taught me some basic chords like A,D,Em etc.

I learned how to play a few songs... but I lost Intrest after awhile and didn't really pic it up seriously untill I was 13.

But, I definetly think Basic chords are a good place to start, and as you probably know, there are hundreds of songs written with 3 chords or less.

For me personally, even when I was eight, it was very satisfying to be able to play a couple songs. Even with just the basic A and D chords or whatever.

Posted by: Ayen Oct 23 2007, 11:07 AM

When I got my guitar, I didn't play it for two years. Then I learned how to read tabs. The first thing I learned was the intro to Crazy Train. It felt awesome being able to play even the beginning of a song I loved. While it's not a good idea to rely on Tabs alone early on, it really built confidence, and made me realize that I could get so much better with a little practice.

So, if they ever get discouraged, teach them to play something easy that they like, that'll get em interested again.


The only problem I can see with being too young to play is the fact that their hands might be too small to reach as many frets as they could need to. But there's ways around that.

Posted by: SLASH91 Oct 23 2007, 11:32 AM

I "started playing" when I was 11, but of course didn't take it seriously. I didn't actually start practicing for real until about two years ago, and being on my own, I developed many horrible habits. Thank goddness I found this guitar site though. I have broken so many bad habits and actually started practicing the right way since I joined. So here I am, 16, and I am going to be a perfessional guitarist one day.

Posted by: Kizaze44 Oct 23 2007, 10:27 PM

Thanks for all the great advice!

Posted by: kevin-riff-after-riff Oct 24 2007, 04:18 AM

never is too young, i wished i started when i was born so id be amazing now lol
but seriously, if a kid is able to pick up a guitar withh all the real stuff on but scaled down, then the kids ready to learn and kick some ass

Posted by: SDMF75 Oct 24 2007, 04:37 AM

My kid started this year but for the last 3 months he'll pick it up maybe once or twice a week for 5 minutes maybe. Kids are going to be hot and cold with anything that they can't just pick up and be good with right away but my feeling is that if it's available to him and I play almost daily the "light" will go on at some point and his interest will grow more and more. We got him an Ibanez Mikro for his birthday and for the money and it being 3/4 scale it's perfect and just a little bit more than what you would pay for some beginner knock off.