Guitars - alms for the rhythm challenged

[Purrybonker]

I have a lay-about 19 year-old son that seems to possess no initiative beyond laying around and being charming and entertaining (particularily toward the fairer gender).He continues to defy all of my attempts to mold him into a capitalist.

He has however, expressed an interest in a guitar/lessons for his birthday.

I'm ecstatic! It's a form of initiative I guess. (Even though he's probably just speculating about incremental tail)

I know zilch about music.

What kinda (brand, type, etc) should I consider should I decide to fulfill this desire?

[nostatic]

acoustic or electric? and how much do you want to spend?

[Purrybonker]

Originally posted by nostatic
acoustic or electric? and how much do you want to spend?

I was kinda hoping you would tell me...

acoustic seems to make more sense - I assume that's cheaper than electric - he can always graduate if it sticks.

$ ? Who cares about money - I drive a Porsche man, obviously I have no respect for dollars and cents...

[mikester]

Acoustic.

Having been that lay about I would say that if he only wants it to get girls unless he has some talent after the lessons he'll drop it like he has everything else.

Stop supporting his habit, you're enabling him and just as much to blame. In the end he's the one who will pay with a lack of education (you didn't say he was in college or not) and a lack of determination.

I'm sorry if that was harsh or off base but I was that lay about and I'm still paying for it. I don't have kids (one on the way though) so I can only speak from the lazy kid's experience.

Flame on.

[Don 944 LA]

here's a little bit to think about.
I've been playing for 19 years.. and have become quite good. I have been in bands before and even play the newest hard stuff..

Anyway, early on in my learning, I gave it up dozens of times. If it wasn't for the determination to succeed and actually hitting milestones where things just came naturally, I would not be playing today..

So, if your son doesn't seem to follow through on things, it may just be a bad idea.
Chicks also don't care if you play " My Dog has fleas " or a popular song, just that you play..

Just some thoughts.... Don

Get him a 7-string.. if he learns that, he's ahead of the curve..

(edit)
Acoustic ... you get to hear the screaching sounds that make the ears bleed.
Electric ... some very good headphone amps ( Korg ) that re-create a guitar rig ... silence is golden...

[FenderGuy]

Get home a vintage guitar that way if he stops playing it you can get your money back and get a FENDER

[nostatic]

I started on acoustic (hmm...34 years ago...egad), then got an electric after about 5 years. It depends on what he wants to do/learn. If he wants to play rock, then get him an electric and a headphone amp. If he wants to play acoustic on the beach to serenade chicks, then get an acoustic. Either way you can get a servicable guitar for under $200. But if he doesn't want to learn, he won't. And if he really wants to play an electric and you get him an acoustic, it will likely sit untouched, then you'll need to sell the guitar at a loss.

Hmmm...I'll send you specs on a nice acoustic to buy, then when he gives it up you can sell it to me for pennies on the dollar

[Rot 911]

Or get a hollow body electric and have the best of both worlds!

[Purrybonker]

This is an amazingly tough and thoughtful crowd. The headphone amp idea is intriguing - opens my mind to the prospect of electric. Stupid question but - how do you do lessons with a headphone amp?

Obviously I need more information from him.

Thanks for your musical and child-rearing advice (ah hem)...

I will consult with you guys again on the guitar stuff when I get more info. As to the child-rearing stuff - I'll have to think about whether my ex is likely to take your advice any more seriously than she has mine for the last 19 years.

The laying-about actually takes place at her house - because we don't have much truck with laying-about at my house. But that's a whole 'nother subject...

[turbocarrera]

I'd look in some pawn shops.. it's like getting a dog from the pound - they love you for it(guitars have feelings, I'm quite certain), and you can get some great stuff for cheap. Lots of great albums were done with junk-shop-stella guitars.. Make sure the neck is basically flat(with just a hint of concavity from about the 10th fret towards the bridge), frets are crowned on the top and not flattened out from playing, and the strings don't buzz(check each string at each fret and you should have a nice clear tone).. and you're good to go.. it will probably have crappy strings on it too, and new ones will make it sound a whole lot better..

Start with an acoustic.. an electric means you have to get an amp and a decent one at that.. many a nice electric guitar sounds like ***** with a crappy amp - and they aren't cheap.

As far as lessons go, I wouldn't.. buy a big chord/scale chart poster and a music book of songs from his favorite band/s (with tabulature if he can't read music, but he really should learn to read music).. I just think it's best to learn your own way to play.. not saying lessons are bad but, alot of my favorite music was made by people that never had a music lesson.. another idea is to get lessons from a piano teacher or sax player or something.. call me weird..

[mikester]

When I was learning I took a couple of classes at the Community college on classical guitar.

I won't say I'm that good but the lessons really helped me get a handle on the whole thing. Oh, and since I was a lay about that was the only class I got decent grades in.

[Moses]

Lots of guitar shops have specials. You buy the guitar and it comes with a matching bong. Get 'em started right.

To me, the guitar is a gift I would use to reward achievement or enterprise. If the kid is directionless and lazy, it's just another useless temporary distraction.

[mikester]

I certainly believe it behooves any musician to learn about music before they try to pick up an instrument.

My Wife was just telling about the on-going saga of her coworkers little brother (19). He's a lay about as well and he smokes pot. He had a job working with children in some fashion which he happened to love but because he got busted on the pot and now has to serve 90 days he's lost that job and will likely never be able to work with children again.

It's pretty sad really.

If the guitar is his salvation then help him but if it's another in a long list...

I have had some of the best times playing in a band or just with friends. It really can be good therapy.

[dhoward]

Ditto on the don't buy a cheap guitar.
When first learning, a nice light action makes it easier to fret. Use light gauge strings. For an decent acoustic, Yamaha and Alvarez make (or used to) a nice instrument. The good thing about an acoustic is you can pick it up any time, and play it anywhere. For a reasonably-priced electric, the foreign-made Fender Strats aren't bad neither a are some of the Jacksons. Relatively inexpensive. Ditto again on a headphone amp. Digitech makes a nice modeling processor for around a hundred bucks. You can get that nasty crunch that he's undoubtably looking for.
THe Metal Method guitar series on DVD by Doug Marks is a good way to get someone started. In just a few lessons he can grind out his favorite tunes just using 5ths. Doug is a pretty way out 80's kind of guy though. Good lessons on licks.
If you've got a Guitar Center nearby, go ask.

[VaSteve]

I bought my first guitar at a pawn shop. An acoustic. It taught me how to play without covering it all up with the distortion from an electric.

There are a bunch of sites on the internet where you can find sheet music (sort of) for free. If it wasn't for this constant source of free music, I wouldn't have started.

[dhoward]

www.tabcrawler.com

[Don 944 LA]

Originally posted by dhoward
www.tabcrawler.com

good place to start...
I'm all self taught myself...
Thank ( someones God ) for Tablature !!!

Here's a few of my babies ( 1-6 2-7 strings )

[targa911S]

what the hell do I know I'm a bass player! However, I do agree with the acoustic / electric school of thought. If you HAVE to buy a Fender (just for Fenderguy) look at the Telecoustic, or maybe they make a Stratacoustic. Best of both worlds PLUS if he loses interest you could always use it for a boat paddle!

[GettinHeadStuds]

I would start him off with an acoustic. Spend $200 on a guitar from guitar center, get him a couple lessons and then see where HE takes it. I kind of shun starting off with an electric. I'm not sure why... it just doesn't seem right.

There is no reason to spend any more or less for a first guitar. I spent two hundred on my guitar 8 years ago and it plays just fine. I have had the urge to buy a $1000 Martin since, but always come back to my old faithful. If I was playing on stage or studio, then yes I'd buy better quality, but for sidewalk performances and everyday playin' I find my guitar does just fine.

If he really wants to play he wont need much instruction (lessons). Both my brother and I learned how to play from tabs off the net. I've been doing that for years and I'm still not bored of it. Maybe at some point he might want some blues instruction, or something else, but for now he should have plenty to learn. It is america's favorite instrument, there is a ton of free stuff out there.

Tabs are wonderful b/c as you play the songs of other artist you learn different chords depending on the artist style. Eventually you start mixing and matching the chords you've learned and badda boom, you've got you're own chord bank and style. Mix "The Girl from Ipanema" and the Dead Kennedy's and see what you get.

Ok, I've over extended my stay, good luck, I hope it works out for him. The relm of guitar playing and song writing is wide open. Just remember, he'll only go for it if he wants it.

[Shuie]

Find a nice solid top acoustic. No electronics or amps to worry about or spend more money on.

A few years ago there were several companies from Canada making high quality new solid top acoustics in the $300-$500 range. The only brand I remember off the top of my head is 'Seagull'. I bought one for around $300 and I'll never get rid of it. No frills. Mahogany back, solid spruce top, bone nut, bone bridge, good quality hardware. Incredible sound. Very tough to beat for the money.