My daughter wants to play guitar...

[htismaqe]

I have 3 guitars she could use but they're all standard, right-hand configurations and she's left-handed.

My wife thinks I should teach her to play right-handed. Since she's never played before, it won't be like she'd have to unlearn anything.

However, I'm concerned that I could be potentially limiting her later on because she might not ever fully develop the dexterity she might have otherwise developed if I had just gotten her a left-handed guitar to start with.

[MahiMike]

Right handed guitars are actually easier for lefties. Most of the work is w/the left hand.

[ZepSinger]

Please, don't let this happen to her.

[headsnap]

Originally Posted by ZepSinger

Please, don't let this happen to her.

I currently play in a band with a lefty lefty... dude walked into Guitar Center in Dayton, OH last week and couldn't pick up a single guitar to play... can you imagine the horror!!!!

[Rain Man]

As a very important point, recognize that if you get her a guitar you will be forced to hear Smoke on the Water nonstop for long periods of time. However, if you get her a banjo you will enjoy Foggy Mountain Breakdown for long periods of time.

[Fire Me Boy!]

Originally Posted by MahiMike

Right handed guitars are actually easier for lefties. Most of the work is w/the left hand.

Kinda depends. I'm fully capable of fretting with my left and right. Can't finger pick for shit with my right.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

As a very important point, recognize that if you get her a guitar you will be forced to hear Smoke on the Water nonstop for long periods of time. However, if you get her a banjo you will enjoy Foggy Mountain Breakdown for long periods of time.

****, I hope so!

[Sofa King]

Originally Posted by Sofa King

Where the **** are all you left handers coming from?

Why the hell did i get so many neg reps over this?

Lefties = very sensitive about being left handed apparently.

[jspchief]

So this is an interesting thread. I have a daughter about the same age, and have been thinking about getting her started on guitar lessons. I want her to play an instrument, and just feel like the guitar has more potential than things like clarinet, etc.

I'd like to hear anyone and everyone's thoughts on the subject. Good age to start? Startup costs? How to choose an instructor? Was thinking acoustic, is that a good place to start, does it matter etc? Would also add that my wife wants her to play piano, and I'm not opposed to that so would like to hear opinions on an earlier statement that hinted that it might help her in learning other instruments. Piano first? Concurrent?

Interestingly, my daughter is also a lefty but I feel like she would do fine learning right handed because she's nearly ambidextrous anyway.

Just would like to see this thread continue on. I wish I had learned guitar as a kid instead of the worthless 1 year of f'ing saxophone, but now I'll live it vicariously through my daughter.

[htismaqe]

Well, I typed up a big long response and somehow when I hit submit, it disappeared.

In a nutshell:

1. Have her start on piano. Learn to read music and develop both hands.
2. If she wants to play in school band, check with the school. My kids' program doesn't include guitar.
3. I would start her on acoustic. I think it builds finger strength and encourages good fret mechanics. Electrics with lighter gauge strings can breed laziness.

[Bo's Pelini]

Don't do it man you'll have loser band members at your place

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by jspchief

So this is an interesting thread. I have a daughter about the same age, and have been thinking about getting her started on guitar lessons. I want her to play an instrument, and just feel like the guitar has more potential than things like clarinet, etc.

I'd like to hear anyone and everyone's thoughts on the subject. Good age to start? Startup costs? How to choose an instructor? Was thinking acoustic, is that a good place to start, does it matter etc? Would also add that my wife wants her to play piano, and I'm not opposed to that so would like to hear opinions on an earlier statement that hinted that it might help her in learning other instruments. Piano first? Concurrent?

Interestingly, my daughter is also a lefty but I feel like she would do fine learning right handed because she's nearly ambidextrous anyway.

Just would like to see this thread continue on. I wish I had learned guitar as a kid instead of the worthless 1 year of f'ing saxophone, but now I'll live it vicariously through my daughter.

My personal and professional opinion is to teach her piano.

There's nothing more satisfying than being able to walk into a room at any age, whether it's 10 or 20 or 30 or 70, read sheet music and play any song.

It's the universal language for a reason. It's an ambidextrous instrument, it teaches history (Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc.) and there's nothing like the accomplishment of playing historically significant musical pieces or a song from the present.

If you can't afford a piano, rent one to see if the desire is there. Outside of that, guitar is a difficult instrument, especially first instrument, for many reasons.

First off, it's painful to press metal strings on wood to make sound. Most guitars are set up like ****ing shit, whether it's a $100 guitar or a $3000 Gibson (I just had a beginner at my house last week with a $3k 335 that was ****ing dogshit).

Secondly, 99% of all teachers teach the instrument incorrectly, so students don't even like playing after a few weeks. Who wants to play their favorite song on an unplayable $99 dollar acoustic?

Furthermore, if your kids can't sing (i.e., sing in tune, have pitch, etc.) you're wasting your time. I hate to sound like a dick but if you can't sing (and I'm not referring to great tone, sounding like a gospel singer, etc.), your kids will bomb with any instrument.

Good luck!

[stevieray]

question, i have an idea that requires necks of guitars...what would be a good way of aquiring old guitars to confiscate the necks?

[DaneMcCloud]

Originally Posted by stevieray

question, i have an idea that requires necks of guitars...what would be a good way of aquiring old guitars to confiscate the necks?

Well, that's difficult to answer. Do you want them for a specific reason, i.e., memorabilia or re-sale? Or to trace, for a possible re-creation?

PM me. I'll help out as much as I can.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

My personal and professional opinion is to teach her piano.

There's nothing more satisfying than being able to walk into a room at any age, whether it's 10 or 20 or 30 or 70, read sheet music and play any song.

It's the universal language for a reason. It's an ambidextrous instrument, it teaches history (Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, etc.) and there's nothing like the accomplishment of playing historically significant musical pieces or a song from the present.

If you can't afford a piano, rent one to see if the desire is there. Outside of that, guitar is a difficult instrument, especially first instrument, for many reasons.

First off, it's painful to press metal strings on wood to make sound. Most guitars are set up like ****ing shit, whether it's a $100 guitar or a $3000 Gibson (I just had a beginner at my house last week with a $3k 335 that was ****ing dogshit).

Secondly, 99% of all teachers teach the instrument incorrectly, so students don't even like playing after a few weeks. Who wants to play their favorite song on an unplayable $99 dollar acoustic?

Furthermore, if your kids can't sing (i.e., sing in tune, have pitch, etc.) you're wasting your time. I hate to sound like a dick but if you can't sing (and I'm not referring to great tone, sounding like a gospel singer, etc.), your kids will bomb with any instrument.

Good luck!

I really want to learn to play the piano. If you can play the piano, you can wow people at parties or occasionally in the mall.

We didn't know it, but a fellow on our block passed away this summer, and his estate sale was this weekend. We went over there to check it out, and this guy had a harpsichord, a really nice one that was also art. I really wanted it, but it was $4,500 and the wife laughed at me.

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Well, I typed up a big long response and somehow when I hit submit, it disappeared.

In a nutshell:

1. Have her start on piano. Learn to read music and develop both hands.
2. If she wants to play in school band, check with the school. My kids' program doesn't include guitar.
3. I would start her on acoustic. I think it builds finger strength and encourages good fret mechanics. Electrics with lighter gauge strings can breed laziness.

For point 3, I've always felt that using an electric with lighter gauge strings, (coupled with low action), can show quicker results which breeds a further fascination with the instrument, thus, increasing interest in expanding her musical horizons


Did you put a patch on her right eye when she was born so she wouldn't be lazy with her sight?
Why would you want to handicap her out of the gate?