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[H1637]How To Start Guitar

by Casey Turner, Cas

I was 11 the first time I really saw anyone play the guitar up close and personal. Up until then, the playing of musical instruments held little appeal next to pickup football and baseball games with my friends in my little suburban town. But on this particular day, one of my friends showed me how adept he had become at playing a tune that I knew very well: "Stairway to Heaven".

OK, so it's the typical cliched beginning, but I was dumbfounded. I had heard this tune so many times, and never did I think it possible that it could be re-created with such ease and grace by someone like me. I guess I had always assumed that this was something that "other" people did - you know, those "musician" types, which would never apply to me. But I never thought of my friend as a "musician" type. He was just a nice kid who had apparently been spending a fair amount of time with the guitar, and was making great progress. The die had been cast.

When you start learning how to play an instrument, I think the most important thing is to have some kind of goal in mind. This helps you stick with it even when you feel you aren't making progress. The worst thing that can happen is to feel compelled to go through the motions, like the kid who dreads his piano lessons and the practicing thereof. If you're not particularly thrilled to be playing an instrument, then you've probably lost sight of why you started in the first place. I know, because I once played the trumpet for a few years, and in the end, I never really had a concrete reason for why I was doing it. I played the trumpet for a few years and probably couldn't have told you the name of one famous trumpet player. How sad is that?

With the guitar, I had a clear-cut goal in mind: to play the intro to Stairway to Heaven. At the start, I became aware of some of the things that go into basic guitar technique: tuning, chords, scales, using a pick, strumming, finger-picking. I didn't know how to use them all, but I knew they existed, and I knew that it would be important for me to learn all these things at some point. I knew that I would have to "pay my dues" before I could begin my quest to be Jimmy Page, and that was OK.

After about 8 or 9 months of learning my basic chords, strumming patterns, and some Beatles tunes, I felt like I had enough skill to plunk through the intro to Stairway, so I fired up my GE cassette recorder with the Zofo tape in it and started to slowly pick out the guitar part. I had so much trouble that my mom (being the very supportive soul she was) bought me the Led Zeppelin Complete book that had music for the intro. For a week, I had problems getting the strings to ring properly, my rhythm was completely off, and it sounded terrible. But I didn't care. I knew that it was a matter of time. I had set a goal, and each day I was inching closer to reaching it.

I think that's when I knew I would always have a very close relationship with the guitar, and music in general. For me, playing the guitar is a meritocracy. Those that work hard are rewarded. If you spend enough time with it, you get better. If you've been lucky enough to have that one event happen that sets your goals for you, then you've got nothing to worry about - you're on your way.

Starting your child on a musical instrument is an exciting prospect. Many parents dream of being the proud parent sitting at their child's music recital, hearing the final strains of a beautiful selection coming from his fingers. However, starting a child too early on an instrument can lead to failure and frustration. Most instruments require some measure of strength and understanding that a small child does not have. If you are considering guitar for your child, here is what you need to know.

The Best Age

Children need to have strong enough wrists and fingers in order to successfully play chords on the guitar. For this reason, experts recommend waiting until a child is at least seven years old to start this instrument. Children who want to start playing before the age of seven can start on the piano. They will learn basic chords, notes, and rhythms while their bodies grow strong enough to play the guitar.

Choosing the Right Type of Guitar

One of the first decisions you will have to make when you are ready to give your child guitar lessons is the type of guitar you are going to have him play. You have two basic choices: acoustic or electric. An acoustic guitar is typically played by strumming chords as an accompaniment to a song. Electric guitars can also be played by playing chords, but they are also used to play "leads" in modern songs. Children can learn to fingerpick easier with an acoustic guitar, but power and barre chords are easier on an electric. The choice is really a personal one. You will have to think through the situations when your child is likely to play his instrument and then decide which one is a better fit.

Considering Group Lessons

Beginning guitarists often learn in a group setting. There are benefits and downsides to group lessons. Most parents choose this option because it is the most affordable. Also, children may feel more comfortable in a group setting, especially if they are not used to being one on one with a grown up outside of their families. On the other hand, students do not get to benefit from this one on one attention in a group setting. In an individual lesson, the teacher is able to pinpoint areas that the child needs to work on much easier, because she is not assessing the needs of several students at once.

You will have to decide which lesson structure is the best fit for your child's needs and your family's budget. Your son or daughter will be able to learn guitar in either setting, so do what works best for you.

Encourage Good Practice Habits

Once you have started lessons, you must work hard to encourage your child to practice. Keep the guitar in a visible location, and allow your child to practice whenever she wishes. However, insist on scheduled practice times as well. Schedule a practice time every day, and make sure your child sticks with it. Keep distractions and interruptions to the minimum when it is practice time. Make sure your child's music is readily accessible, and record the amount of practice time when it is over so you can show the guitar teacher.

When your child is practicing, be encouraging, not critical. Your child is going to make mistakes, and that is part of learning a musical instrument. It's the teacher's job to correct mistakes. Your job as a parent is to encourage and support. Soon you will be enjoying the beautiful sounds of precise chords coming from the practice room as your hard work and persistence begin to pay off!

Article Source : Pg. 15

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Both Casey Turner & A Nutt are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

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