Kid Guitars
Archive for the ‘Acoustic’ Category
When most parents buy their kids their first instrument, more often than not it is some form of beginner acoustic guitars. This is generally a sound decision, as the acoustic guitar lends itself to a more mellow and subdued sound. An acoustic guitar is also a good starting place for young children, as it works well with classic children’s songs.
As kids get older, they will predictably desire to branch off into the realm of electric guitars. Most parents no longer view rock and roll as hedonistic, but the music is undoubtedly loud and filled with energy. Although you may prefer you kids to stick with the melodious acoustic model, it is important to have an open mind and let their music tastes evolve.
If you ask virtually any young child what instrument that would like to learn, the answer is almost always the same: guitar. When I asked my son what musical implement he would like to take up, he was no different than the majority of his peers. While I was excited to promote his love of music, I was less than enthused about the prospects of hearing an electric guitar amp from his room incessantly.
In order to gradually introduce him into the guitar world, I decided to look into some acoustic guitars for children. At first he was reluctant to play a model that wasn’t akin to the ones that he saw his favorite bands playing. After a while, however, he learned to appreciate the nuances of the acoustic instrument and has developed into an adept young musician. For his birthday this year, I think that I’ll let him upgrade to an electric model.
When you think about playing the guitar, you probably are imagining a group of people sitting around the campfire singing songs and roasting marshmallows. Maybe you are envisioning yourself as the guitar player. If this is the case then you’re going to have to learn how to keep your guitar tuned. No one will want to sit and listen to a guitar that’s out of tune. Here are a few tips on keeping your guitar tuned to its best potential:
Listen to and play a note. When the note is still ringing try humming that note. Continue to play the note until you’ve managed to keep pitch with your voice. Play the second note using the same technique, if your voice higher, then the second note is higher. If your voice gets lower than the second note is lower. Make the adjustments to the notes until they both sound the same—this may have to be done more frequently on cheap acoustic guitars. Soon enough you’ll be able to tell the difference between the pitches without humming them.
Playing guitars is a valuable and rewarding experience that brings groups of people together. Once you start playing regularly, you won’t want to stop.
When my son first asked my wife and me to buy him a new guitar, I was a little hesitant. He already makes a good deal of noise around the house, and it seemed like a musical instrument would only proliferate this. After some discussion, my wife and I decided to compromise with him and purchased a kids acoustic guitar.
Not only did the acoustic guitar create minimal noise around the house, but it has also helped to mellow out our son. Instead of the hard rock that used to blare from his bedroom, he has started listening to more soothing acoustic artists. Although he has only been playing for a few months, he already has become proficient at many classic songs and will be performing in his school talent show next month.
When you buy your child their first guitar, there are some important attributes to consider. Obviously you want to ensure that the instrument is the correct size for your child. Many models are too big for children and will inhibit their ability to reach the proper tabs and fingerings.
The next thing to consider is price. Since this is their first instrument, it is probably wise to simply invest in cheap kids guitars so that they have something to cut their teeth on. Just because the price isn’t high doesn’t mean that you have to skimp on quality; there are many excellent models available that don’t carry an excessive price tag.
I have known many guitar players throughout my life. Many of them were in college and high school. They were the guys who would whip out their guitars when you were all sitting around a campfire and begin impromptu acoustic guitar lessons. It’s hard for me to recall what their names were, but I never forget the music that they played and the good times that were had by everyone.
There is one that I do remember however. I met him during college at a student camping retreat. There we were all sitting around a blazing campfire; drinking beers and talking about what our plans were for the rest of the summer, when this quiet guy I hadn’t noticed took out his guitar and began to play the song “Something in the Way She Moves” by James Taylor. His guitar strap was unlike any one I had seen before. It had drawings and signatures all over it. When he asked me to sign it I was touched. That quiet guitar player has been my husband for 25 years now. There’s something about those guitar players!
Good Posture Makes for Perfect Practice
We’ve talked at great length about how important posture can be for a beginning drummer. It can mean the difference between kicking out a steady beat and creating a lackadaisical framework for more sloppy music to build from. Posture is just as important when practicing childrens guitar. There are two primary positions that are appropriate for practicing electric.
Both positions call for one foot to be slightly elevated. In the casual position, a right-handed guitar is placed on the right thigh, with the right foot elevated. Classical position requires that the neck of the guitar is tilted upright, with the guitar perched on the left thigh and the right left leg elevated. The proper positions for classical guitars differ slightly because the right hand should be better positioned for picking.
Throughout history, the most beloved musicians have not always been the most technically proficient. In fact, when they started playing rock songs in the early 1960s, the Kinks and the Who grabbed listeners’ attention not with their musical chops but rather with their raw energy. Such artists as Lou Reed, Iggy Pop and Black Sabbath would continue in that tradition, and all of these acts had one major theme in common.
All of them relied heavily on the use of power chords – chords that lack a third degree and are therefore neither minor nor major. By mastering a few power chords, children can learn basic rock songs on their kids guitars and have a solid foundation for more challenging music to come. The idea is not to bite off more than one can chew. Instead, encourage children to develop musically at their own pace.
Exploring the Guitar beyond Rock and Roll
The electric guitar is inextricably linked to rock and roll music, and it’s really no wonder why. From the time Bob Dylan “plugged in” at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, people came to associate acoustic guitars with a soothing, folksy sound and electrics with a loud, uproarious rock aesthetic. As always, there are exceptions to this rule. Chet Atkins was one of the most famous and accomplished country performers of all time, and he used the electric guitar to make his name.
Atkins practically trademarked the clean, crisp and confident country-western guitar tone that became a staple of country music. Rather than disguising his skillful playing behind a wall of distortion, Atkins put his talent out in the open for all to see. He dared his fans and competitors to emulate his playing style. It’s important to recognize that a kids electric guitar is a versatile instrument; by playing nothing but loud rock music, you’re creating unnecessary limitations.
It’s often said that a man is only as good as his tools. This is true of any craftsman, and especially so in the case of the guitarist. But a guitar player’s tools don’t just consist of his guitar, picks, amps and the like – the hands and fingers themselves are finely controlled instruments. It takes time for a child guitarist to figure out his or her ideal setup, and finger nail length is a primary factor.
If the nails are left too long, they can interfere with normal strumming and picking technique. The fretting hand may also be affected for the worse by overly long nails – it’s important to be precise and controlled when holding down a string. Fingernails can create an undesired buzzing sound when they come in contact with a kids electric guitar. Generally speaking, it’s best to seep them trimmed so that there’s no overlap above the fingertips.