I Need Guitar Lessons?

This week’s question is a good one. Let’s have a look:

Question: im 11 i have an acoustic guitar that i never played ever i have no experience with guitars i get frustrated easily and i want online guitar lessons and/or theory is there and online for free
Answer: Every top professional including athlete, actor and musician uses a coach or teacher.
Many of these teachers and coaches are in the background, never receiving the recognition of the public.
This gives the misconception that we can become a great athlete, actor or musician entirely free and on our own.
Adding to this are those with huge egos that claim to have achieved greatness all by their selves.
Find lessons or classes and work with other live face to face musicians.

It is extremely easy to get frustrated when you have no one to turn to when you do not understand something.

How Old Should a Child Be to Begin Guitar Lessons? How Best to Start?

This week’s question is as follows:

Question: Our son is almost seven years old and is asking to take guitar lessons. He has loved guitars since he was three years old — he has a $30 kids’ acoustic guitar.

He loves electric guitar music and has asked to start lessons. My husband and I are assuming that kids should begin with acoustic guitar lessons and move to electric guitar later. Is that so?

Also, I wondered if, because of his young age (7), it might be smarter to start him on an instrument that is easier, so he can feel like he’s progressing. Is a ukelele a good choice?

My husband played trumpet from middle school through college. I play CDs… :)

Any sound advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

Answer: I have been teaching for many years. I have students that start as young as 7. Start on the acoustic and eventually he can go to an electric. (they are essentially the exact same instrument) Do not worry about difficulty. At that age they are like a sponge and will "soak up" all of the pertinent information.
The ukulele is not the same instrument. The tuning is different and the chord shapes are different. Unless he expresses an interest in it, you should stick with the guitar. Be sure to find a good local instructor who has some experience with kids this young.
The sooner you start, the sooner he will start experiencing the many advantages that music lessons offer children. It has been well documented that children who are exposed to a structured music lesson format do much better in math, reading, language skills, spatial and tactile coordination, and many other aspects of higher learning. He obviously has the desire and I encourage you to nurture that as much as possible.
In this day and age when music and extracurricular activities in schools are being cut left and right, and Game boy and Play station are quickly replacing them, you definitely owe it to yourselves and to your son to help him develop a lifelong love for music and the arts.
Good luck to you.

Where to Learn the Guitar in KL, Malaysia ?

A tough learn guitar question this week. Let’s dive straight in

Question: I am 17 and I want to know stuff like the construction of guitars, how to repair faulty switches. stuff like that. Do I need to be a hell of a guitarist to be able to learn those stuff as I’m not much of a good player. Where can I get a teacher that can help me with this and how much does it cost ?
Answer: You don’t even need to know how to play guitar to fix them, but it will help lol
Check collages to see if there any courses, ask local shops to see if they will teach you
There some great books on the internet that will get you started

What Are Some Funny Things I Can Say in Guitar Lessons?

Well here’s a question I just had to answering straight away:

Question: I take a weekly guitar lesson and I want to know some ways I can make my teacher laugh. Can yu tell me some random statments and jokes about guitars and playing shows? Thanks :)
Answer: Wait for him to say that something is in D Minor, then say "…the saddest of all keys"

Or any other Spinal Tap references

Thinking of Trying to Learn How to Play Guitar, How Hard is It?

We’ve had a reader question come in on the subject of learn guitar. Let’s take a look:

Question: Can play piano and the only thing I know about guitars are the string across are egbdf. How long if would it take appox to learn basics for example. (Acoustic)
Answer: Its all down to commitment ….get some Tabs to download … it will help ..Your fingers will be very sore from the "Fret Work" good luck mate. ( Rock on )

Im Learning to Play the Guitar is There Any Websites That Are Good for Teaching You?

What a great learn guitar question:

Question: I have literally Looked EVERYWHERE on the internet that i can possibly think of and nothing explains things for beginners. Any help? I have no experience with guitars.
Answer: Go ahead
The Guitar

There are two main categories of guitars: acoustic and electrics. Within each there are subgroups.
Acoustics

Nylon string guitars, often called ‘classical’, are the friendliest of all guitars, and my recommendation for beginners. The nylon strings are thicker, looser and much easier on the fingers than steel. Getting a decent sound out of a nylon is easier. The neck is wider which gives your fingers clearer access to the strings. They are ideal for learning finger style guitar.

Steel string guitars are the most popular of acoustics. They are louder, janglier and more versatile than nylon. The only problem with starting out on a steel string is that they are more difficult to play. The steel strings are tough on soft, pink beginner’s fingers. It hurts to press them down hard enough to get a tone and it takes a couple weeks at least to develop calluses thick enough to feel no pain. I’m sure thousands upon thousands of beginning guitarists gave up within days of trying to learn on a steel string. You’ve really got to love it to get through those first two weeks.
12-string guitars have 6 pairs of strings — the six normal strings paired with thinner strings tuned to the same note or an octave. 12-strings are large, cumbersome, very difficult to play and I wouldn’t recommend them if you’re starting out.

Resonators are usually acoustic, always steel string, and have a speaker-like ‘resonator’ built into them. Originally designed to add volume to the instrument, they are now often played with a slide or bottleneck.

Electrics

Hollow body guitars are, generally speaking, the preferred instrument of jazz guitarists. The fact that some of the acoustic quality gets amplified gives them a mellow tone. They are traditionally simpler in their set up, relying more on their natural sound rather than gadgetry and electronics.

Solid body. Rock players prefer solid body guitars. Because they are untainted by any acoustic sound, they are more versatile. They can be played at high volume with more control and their sound can be more easily processed.

There are no hard fast rules though. Getting a good sound out of any electric guitar is the difficult bit, and I recommend you start out on acoustic, preferably nylon.

go to :

http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/anatomy.html

to find the anatomy of the guitar

go to:

http://guitar.about.com/library/weekly/aa071200a.htm

http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/forum/

http://www.fenderplayersclub.com/woodshed/beginners/beginners.htm

Guitar Players , What Guitars Do You Own and Given Any Amount of Cash What Would You Like to Own?

Keep the guitar players questions coming! I liked this one:

Question: I would like to own a gibson voodoo explorer if i had the cash lol.
Answer: I have a Les Paul Goddess and a Stratocaster and a 67 Telecaster which was passed down from my dad.

But if I had a ton of cash to blow right now I think I would go for this Gibson SG Custom which I have had my eye on for a while: http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/5/1/8/396518.jpg It’s just so beautiful….

Does Anyone Know the Size of an Average Electric Guitar?

This week’s question is as follows:

Question: I’m looking at guitars and am wondering the size of an average ELECTRIC guitar! if you have any ideas xx help xx
the length of an average electric guitar
Answer: Do you mean length? My Strat is 39 inches long or 1 metre and 13 inches at It’s widest point. The arm is 2 feet long.