First Guitar Lesson - what to expect?

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

So…

I bought my 10 year old daughter a Fender Telecaster (her choice) on Saturday. She tried a few acoustic guitars and then said, “I want an electric guitar.” It’s difficult to find a left handed guitar and they didn’t have anything inexpensive for lefties... She wants to learn how to play AC/DC…

I have a strat. Our guitar lessons start tonight.

What should we expect? What do we need to do to prepare?

Rot 911 · 09-11-2023, 07:41 AM

First off, I’m left-handed. If it was me, I would take back that left-handed guitar and get a right handed one. She will probably have an instructor that is right handed and almost every video I have watched the person is right handed. It’s hard enough learning guitar without having to translate, everything right handed to left-handed. And to me, at least, it’s easier to learn on an electric guitar as the strings are not as high up off the neck, if that makes sense.

Superman · 09-11-2023, 08:52 AM

Acoustic guitars are harder to play. Compared to electric guitars their strings are fatter, higher tension and further from the fretboard. I, and many, learned on acoustic guitars. After that, electric guitars seem to almost play themselves. Also, acoustic guitars travel better because there is no amp needed. I'd suggest this approach but she's already got an electric and learning on acoustic could be daunting. We want her to continue, not give up.

Find and print a chord chart. It will show ALL the chords. The chart will show several dozen chords on a single side of a piece of paper. Practice those. Also, learn and play scales. The major scale, and the several minor scales. The pentatonic.

If the instructor will teach the classical style, then there will be emphasis on how you hold your hands and fret the strings and pluck the strings. If the teacher does this, then listen and learn. Most of us cheat, using poor hand and finger positions. But it's like golf and so many other things......if you get the fundamentals correct (stance, grip, backswing, etc.), then your playing later on will have fewer barriers. The glaring example is Andres Segovia. He basically makes all other guitarists look and sound like amateurs. Plus....it's just good music.

I suspect AC/DC music is pretty basic stuff, in major keys.

Superman · 09-11-2023, 08:54 AM

Oh....and I'd agree with the left-hand right-hand suggestion. For every 50 or so guitars in the world, one of them is a lefty. I feel sorry for those guys when it comes time to find, or sell, a lefty.

avensis · 06:10 AM

I agree too with the left-hand right-hand suggestion.

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Paul_Heery · Paul_Heery's Garage

I disagree with having her play right-handed. Im a lefty and have had a few left-hand guitars over the years. Years ago when I had an instructor, he simply told me to watch him play like I was looking in a mirror. I found that to be an easy way of following along.

flatbutt · 09-11-2023, 10:19 AM

You can use the Hendrix method and string the guitar upside down and then play lefty. Oh and as you know there will be very sore fingertips.

ckissick · 09-11-2023, 10:50 AM

I also agree that she should play right-handed. I remember the first time I picked up a guitar, it felt more natural to play left-handed. My friend turned the guitar around and said told me to play right-handed. It took about half an hour to get used to it. When starting out, there's no reason to not play right-handed.

Also, she can expect sore finger tips.

WolfeMacleod · 09-11-2023, 11:22 AM

Blisters. Expect blisters.

And a steep learning curve.

By the way, I'm a lefty as well. And I can ONLY play right-handed.

Steve Carlton · 09-11-2023, 11:27 AM

Are you taking lessons together? I'm sure if you've got a good teacher, the teacher will have opinions on what to work on and whether to play right handed or not. But I assume she has a lefty guitar already. I look forward to hearing what happens tonight.

ckcarr · ckcarr's Garage

I've heard the old "acoustics are harder to play than electric" thing before. Maybe if you used a pick through your acoustic journey. But if you grew up learning finger picking acoustic, it's really hard to make a transition to electric when you want to keep finger picking. Although, eventually that's how George Thorogood got his sound. I, unfortunately have a few electrics in the closet. Tommy Emmanuel, best acoustic guitarist in the world, but his electric playing sounds average to me.

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Are you taking lessons together? I'm sure if you've got a good teacher, the teacher will have opinions on what to work on and whether to play right handed or not. But I assume she has a lefty guitar already. I look forward to hearing what happens tonight.

Yes we are taking lessons together.

I bought her guitar from the place that is providing the lessons and actually suggested that the first lesson be guitar selection so I wouldn’t wind up in this quandary. The lesson coordinator told me that any of the salespeople should be able to help make the right suggestion.

Depending on what the instructor says tonight, she may learn to play right…

flatbutt · 09-11-2023, 12:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ckcarr

I've heard the old "acoustics are harder to play than electric" thing before. Maybe if you used a pick through your acoustic journey. But if you grew up learning finger picking acoustic, it's really hard to make a transition to electric when you want to keep finger picking. Although, eventually that's how George Thorogood got his sound. I, unfortunately have a few electrics in the closet. Tommy Emmanuel, best acoustic guitarist in the world, but his electric playing sounds average to me.

I played classical for years. The neck of the classical guitar is much wider than the neck on an electric guitar. So, going to electric from acoustic requires some retraining.

sc_rufctr · 09-11-2023, 01:01 PM

Quote:

What should we expect?

It depends on the teacher but count on sore fingers and ringing ears (lots of practice & nagging).

You really are starting from scratch but if you stick at it, it's very good for your brain. Like learning foreign language.

Superman · 09-11-2023, 03:45 PM

Yes, it takes some time and discipline to get past the mechanical difficulties. With keys, you are doing the same thing with both hands. With guitar, you are doing very different things with the right hand compared to the left hand. At first, fingering the chords is the hardest part. But stick with it and it becomes much easier. At first the hard part is your fretting hand but later, the other hand becomes the holdup, at least for speed. Eventually, you can fret notes better and faster than you can pluck them. Which makes for an argument to use your dominant hand for plucking.

But the main point is that it gets easier, and to stick with it. With her, or you, or anybody else, it all depends on whether practicing is fun. Show me a gigging guitarist today and I will show you someone who spent hours practicing in their bedroom as a teenager. Because it was fun. The time flew by, and I didn't want to stop. I'm working on new music today, and it is still fun. Hard, but fun. The bass player for Duran Duran is really good. Here is the bass line for Rio:

flatbutt · 09-11-2023, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superman

Yes, it takes some time and discipline to get past the mechanical difficulties. With keys, you are doing the same thing with both hands. With guitar, you are doing very different things with the right hand compared to the left hand. At first, fingering the chords is the hardest part. But stick with it and it becomes much easier. At first the hard part is your fretting hand but later, the other hand becomes the holdup, at least for speed. Eventually, you can fret notes better and faster than you can pluck them. Which makes for an argument to use your dominant hand for plucking.

But the main point is that it gets easier, and to stick with it. With her, or you, or anybody else, it all depends on whether practicing is fun. Show me a gigging guitarist today and I will show you someone who spent hours practicing in their bedroom as a teenager. Because it was fun. The time flew by, and I didn't want to stop. I'm working on new music today, and it is still fun. Hard, but fun. The bass player for Duran Duran is really good. Here is the bass line for Rio:

L miss playing live instruments but life decided o'wise. So, now I make electronic music. It is fun as well.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 09-11-2023, 04:23 PM

Another lefty who chose to play righty, but I play air guitar lefty.
She can always restring a righty guitar Jimi Style if needed.

Steve Carlton · 09-11-2023, 04:41 PM

I don't know about electric, but on acoustic you have to change the nut and the saddle to get it to play correctly. Here's an example of a right handed Martin being played Kurt style. This was an amazing concert, BTW. This guitar sold at auction for $6M.

LEAKYSEALS951 · 09-11-2023, 05:07 PM

Yeah, worse comes to worse cut a new nut and saddle. No biggie.

Jeff Alton · 09-11-2023, 05:31 PM

Left hand/ right hand, no difference for the player as long as they have an appropriate guitar.

You can hide poor finger placement, fret position easier on an electric (as a basic statement). If she wants to learn to PLAY guitar, get an acoustic as well.

As far as what to expect on her first lesson? All you need is a guitar. Expect her to go home with some work do. Basic reading, basic single note picking. Some exercises to do to make that become second nature. It is all habit forming....

Cheers