Hey Guitar Guys v2.0

[Dan Gilmore]

Nice. Love the slanted figure of the top.

[romad1]

daughter was asking for a guitar for her 16th birthday.  I was generally supportive but the wife was and is tight with the cash.  Anyway, saw the girl up on stage at the most recent HS cabaret singing like a bird.  Dad's ears might have been hearing more than existed but she seems to love performing and she's putting effort into it.  I wouldn't have gone up on stage like at at at 15.  I was more worried about hitting a baseball. 

Some of the kids in the performance were playing guitars, some were playing piano.   So, the father-in-law had a banjo he left for the kids.  When i brought up the idea of the guitar for her birthday again the green eyeshade wife said..."We have a perfectly good banjo she can learn to play!"  and I'm like, DID YOU SEE ANYONE HERE PLAYING THE F'IN BANJO!?"

so, took the girl to guitar center last night and the salesgirl who came up to help us through our dumbness looked like a 4 years older version of my daughter.   She did a good job taking some of the nerves my daughter had about the purchase away.  We didn't buy last night but will as her birthday gets closer.  I think my daughter and my money will be at that place or places like it much more in the coming couple years. 

[romad1]

Just now, romad1 said:

daughter was asking for a guitar for her 16th birthday.  I was generally supportive but the wife was and is tight with the cash.  Anyway, saw the girl up on stage at the most recent HS cabaret singing like a bird.  Dad's ears might have been hearing more than existed but she seems to love performing and she's putting effort into it.  I wouldn't have gone up on stage like at at at 15.  I was more worried about hitting a baseball. 

Some of the kids in the performance were playing guitars, some were playing piano.   So, the father-in-law had a banjo he left for the kids.  When i brought up the idea of the guitar for her birthday again the green eyeshade wife said..."We have a perfectly good banjo she can learn to play!"  and I'm like, DID YOU SEE ANYONE HERE PLAYING THE F'IN BANJO!?"

so, took the girl to guitar center last night and the salesgirl who came up to help us through our dumbness looked like a 4 years older version of my daughter.   She did a good job taking some of the nerves my daughter had about the purchase away.  We didn't buy last night but will as her birthday gets closer.  I think my daughter and my money will be at that place or places like it much more in the coming couple years. 

Also, I was able to share the story about the Ibanez guitar in the game thread... 

[CMRivdogs]

20 minutes ago, romad1 said:

daughter was asking for a guitar for her 16th birthday.  I was generally supportive but the wife was and is tight with the cash.  Anyway, saw the girl up on stage at the most recent HS cabaret singing like a bird.  Dad's ears might have been hearing more than existed but she seems to love performing and she's putting effort into it.  I wouldn't have gone up on stage like at at at 15.  I was more worried about hitting a baseball. 

Some of the kids in the performance were playing guitars, some were playing piano.   So, the father-in-law had a banjo he left for the kids.  When i brought up the idea of the guitar for her birthday again the green eyeshade wife said..."We have a perfectly good banjo she can learn to play!"  and I'm like, DID YOU SEE ANYONE HERE PLAYING THE F'IN BANJO!?"

so, took the girl to guitar center last night and the salesgirl who came up to help us through our dumbness looked like a 4 years older version of my daughter.   She did a good job taking some of the nerves my daughter had about the purchase away.  We didn't buy last night but will as her birthday gets closer.  I think my daughter and my money will be at that place or places like it much more in the coming couple years. 

Get her lessons, at least to start with the basics. Then let her play to her hearts content. 
A few years ago I paid for piano lessons for my grandson. He may have been a bet young at the time but seemed interested. We had an older electric keyboard we bought before my wife decided she wanted a grand (another story) and we let them have it. The biggest problem, at least to me, was his parent(s) complained too much about the noise and discouraged him. 
Same thing happened when he decided he wanted to play sax. But I also think that was because one of his friends also wanted to play in the school band.

[romad1]

Just now, CMRivdogs said:

Get her lessons, at least to start with the basics. Then let her play to her hearts content. 
A few years ago I paid for piano lessons for my grandson. He may have been a bet young at the time but seemed interested. We had an older electric keyboard we bought before my wife decided she wanted a grand (another story) and we let them have it. The biggest problem, at least to me, was his parent(s) complained too much about the noise and discouraged him. 
Same thing happened when he decided he wanted to play sax. But I also think that was because one of his friends also wanted to play in the school band.

Yes, lessons are definitely in the cards.  We will seek out a teacher in her same demographic (another piece of advice I received).  

[Shades of Deivi Cruz]

52 minutes ago, romad1 said:

daughter was asking for a guitar for her 16th birthday.  I was generally supportive but the wife was and is tight with the cash.  Anyway, saw the girl up on stage at the most recent HS cabaret singing like a bird.  Dad's ears might have been hearing more than existed but she seems to love performing and she's putting effort into it.  I wouldn't have gone up on stage like at at at 15.  I was more worried about hitting a baseball. 

Some of the kids in the performance were playing guitars, some were playing piano.   So, the father-in-law had a banjo he left for the kids.  When i brought up the idea of the guitar for her birthday again the green eyeshade wife said..."We have a perfectly good banjo she can learn to play!"  and I'm like, DID YOU SEE ANYONE HERE PLAYING THE F'IN BANJO!?"

so, took the girl to guitar center last night and the salesgirl who came up to help us through our dumbness looked like a 4 years older version of my daughter.   She did a good job taking some of the nerves my daughter had about the purchase away.  We didn't buy last night but will as her birthday gets closer.  I think my daughter and my money will be at that place or places like it much more in the coming couple years. 

If she happens to be left-handed, she can have my guitar. I stopped trying to learn awhile ago, and I haven't been able to find another lefty to give it to.

[romad1]

47 minutes ago, Shades of Deivi Cruz said:

If she happens to be left-handed, she can have my guitar. I stopped trying to learn awhile ago, and I haven't been able to find another lefty to give it to.

ahh nah.  she's RHH RHP.  All this music interest would suggest left handedness 

[Biff Mayhem]

Did you decide on a guitar? I’m happy to help in any way if you have questions. 
 

Everyone who mentioned lessons is right. I did lessons at first and then when I came to a certain point I started being self taught. This was good and bad as I didn’t learn a lot of the “why’s” until much much later. In fact this last year, after playing for 45 years, a pursuit of some “why’s” really kicked down a door for me. 
 

Guitar learning never stops; even for us geezers. 

[romad1]

9 minutes ago, Biff Mayhem said:

Did you decide on a guitar? I’m happy to help in any way if you have questions. 
 

Everyone who mentioned lessons is right. I did lessons at first and then when I came to a certain point I started being self taught. This was good and bad as I didn’t learn a lot of the “why’s” until much much later. In fact this last year, after playing for 45 years, a pursuit of some “why’s” really kicked down a door for me. 
 

Guitar learning never stops; even for us geezers. 

My hausfrau won't allow us to get anything beyond entry level for this first model.  I told her as we surveyed the various guitars on display that having that next cool thing in mind would be the reason she gets a job and works her ass off in life.  Just as it was for her older brother who saved all sorts of cash to buy himself a newish Camaro.   Basically I told her: life is short buy the shoes but you have to work for that money to buy them. 

Now, she's been umpiring for cash but since she can't drive she won't have a job for a while.  But maybe we plant the seeds with this. 

Specific models she seems to want are a Fender Squire in a certain color she loves.  

Edited October 3, 2024 by romad1

[Hongbit]

2 minutes ago, romad1 said:

My hausfrau won't allow us to get anything beyond entry level for this first model.  I told her as we surveyed the various guitars on display that having that next cool thing in mind would be the reason she gets a job and works her ass off in life.  Just as it was for her older brother who saved all sorts of cash to buy himself a newish Camaro.   Basically I told her: life is short buy the shoes but you have to work for that money to buy them. 

Now, she's been umpiring for cash but since she can't drive she won't have a job for a while.  But maybe we plant the seeds with this. 

Specific models she seems to want are a Fender Squire in a certain color she loves.  

You are teaching a great lesson for kids to learn about working to save up for things they want.  

Many a rock band started with  members selling weed to their classmates to scrape up enough money for gear. 

[pfife]

I've got about 30-some years into the instrument now too..... and I've long thought if I had to do it over again I woulda/shoulda played piano/keys.    That said, if it's too late to call the audible....

Folks are right about lessons.   I didn't have any lessons until about 2 years ago, and they were extremely helpful.   But there are different kinds of lessons..... Some folks teach songs, and even take requests.... like you have a fav song and they'll figure it out and teach it to you.   This can be good b/c it can be motivating to learn songs that you love and show off to your friends, but there's a limit to it.    I think some sort of hybrid where they have songs and also teach scales, arpeggios, and CAGED would be the gold standard.     Or maybe teach the songs in the context of scales, arps and CAGED so you can generalize what you're learning to other things.   That was what lessons did for me, he tied all of the scales and CAGED and whatnot together for me.  

When I called him to set up lessons, he asked me how long I was playing and I said over 25 years and was was like.... You Should be teaching.... and I said... yeah no **** that's why I'm calling you right now.

Don't forget to budget for an amp as well.   Positive Grid Spark has some pretty cool lil amps that are super versatile and seem great for beginners.  

I'm a hard core guitar snob cork sniffer as Biff calls them (very fairly) so I'm not too informed on what's a good beginner value but I think Squire is as good as any for that purpose.  

[romad1]

2 minutes ago, Hongbit said:

You are teaching a great lesson for kids to learn about working to save up for things they want.  

Many a rock band started with  members selling weed to their classmates to scrape up enough money for gear. 

two different models for success in the arts.  There is that one where they all work their way out of the crab bucket and the other is the one where parents have money and organizational skills that navigate the (possibly) talented youngster to the promised land.  Two examples I'm thinking of the latter are Rebecca Black and Taylor Swift.  

For long term success I dunno which is better.  We probably won't be doing the latter unless I get a huge settlement or win the PowerBall.  

An older brother was a talented photographer and video artist.  I learned from his example that the best skill an artist can develop is the ability to talk to people with money.  

[romad1]

2 minutes ago, pfife said:

I've got about 30-some years into the instrument now too..... and I've long thought if I had to do it over again I woulda/shoulda played piano/keys.    That said, if it's too late to call the audible....

Folks are right about lessons.   I didn't have any lessons until about 2 years ago, and they were extremely helpful.   But there are different kinds of lessons..... Some folks teach songs, and even take requests.... like you have a fav song and they'll figure it out and teach it to you.   This can be good b/c it can be motivating to learn songs that you love and show off to your friends, but there's a limit to it.    I think some sort of hybrid where they have songs and also teach scales, arpeggios, and CAGED would be the gold standard.     Or maybe teach the songs in the context of scales, arps and CAGED so you can generalize what you're learning to other things.   That was what lessons did for me, he tied all of the scales and CAGED and whatnot together for me.  

When I called him to set up lessons, he asked me how long I was playing and I said over 25 years and was was like.... You Should be teaching.... and I said... yeah no **** that's why I'm calling you right now.

Don't forget to budget for an amp as well.   Positive Grid Spark has some pretty cool lil amps that are super versatile and seem great for beginners.  

I'm a hard core guitar snob cork sniffer as Biff calls them (very fairly) so I'm not too informed on what's a good beginner value but I think Squire is as good as any for that purpose.  

Great advice. 

[romad1]

I'm enjoying Motownforums a lot today.  Lots of fantastic stuff. 

[pfife]

This is the single most important thing I've ever learned on guitar.   I'd guestimate that 80% of sick guitar solos leverage this:

[Hongbit]

8 minutes ago, romad1 said:

two different models for success in the arts.  There is that one where they all work their way out of the crab bucket and the other is the one where parents have money and organizational skills that navigate the (possibly) talented youngster to the promised land.  Two examples I'm thinking of the latter are Rebecca Black and Taylor Swift.  

For long term success I dunno which is better.  We probably won't be doing the latter unless I get a huge settlement or win the PowerBall.  

An older brother was a talented photographer and video artist.  I learned from his example that the best skill an artist can develop is the ability to talk to people with money.  

It’s the Beatles vs. Rolling Stones

Always surprising that Stones were the rich kids and the well groomed kids in suits from Liverpool were working class.  

[Biff Mayhem]

26 minutes ago, romad1 said:

My hausfrau won't allow us to get anything beyond entry level for this first model.  I told her as we surveyed the various guitars on display that having that next cool thing in mind would be the reason she gets a job and works her ass off in life.  Just as it was for her older brother who saved all sorts of cash to buy himself a newish Camaro.   Basically I told her: life is short buy the shoes but you have to work for that money to buy them. 

Now, she's been umpiring for cash but since she can't drive she won't have a job for a while.  But maybe we plant the seeds with this. 

Specific models she seems to want are a Fender Squire in a certain color she loves.  

There are two levels of squires. Avoid Affinity if you can. Also scour Facebook marketplace and Craigslist for people who had big ideas and then gave up for any number of reasons. No need to buy new but also do your homework. 

[pfife]

Actually ROMAD I do have an additional opinion about beginner level guitars, the beginner level ones from Gretsch (which is now made by Fender as well) are a super great value.   A lot of their models are old-timey looking but if she likes them or there's one that's not old timey it could be a great way to go.

[Biff Mayhem]

12 minutes ago, pfife said:

This is the single most important thing I've ever learned on guitar.   I'd guestimate that 80% of sick guitar solos leverage this:

And if it’s a major scale, move down three frets and it works there. 
 

Am? Start that pentatonic on the 5th and 17thfret. A major? 2nd and 14th fret. 

[CMRivdogs]

Damn, I need to spend more time on scales

[romad1]

the force we are fighting is the naysaying penny swallowing mom.  All things are up against the "you never play with your barbie dolls anymore, why did we buy the blasted things in the first place?"  standard. 

I'm the Phil Dunphy and she's Clare. 

[Biff Mayhem]

Funny thing about CAGED: the concept always confused me but when I finally learned it, I found out that knew it all along but didn’t know there was a name for it. It was just a thing I knew but didn’t see the bigger picture. It really opened up understanding triads which is the door that got kicked down this year. Triads are monsters! Delay, reverb, a little dirt and triads? Gold!

[pfife]

Just now, Biff Mayhem said:

Funny thing about CAGED: the concept always confused me but when I finally learned it, I found out that knew it all along but didn’t know there was a name for it. It was just a thing I knew but didn’t see the bigger picture. It really opened up understanding triads which is the door that got kicked down this year. Triads are monsters! Delay, reverb, a little dirt and triads? Gold!

Im working on triads too right now and it def helps get around the fretboard and follow the chord changes with the solo as opposed to staying in the same key. 

[pfife]

6 minutes ago, CMRivdogs said:

Damn, I need to spend more time on scales

My $.02 is you cant practice them too much.    If you think you know then its time to practice them a different way 

[CMRivdogs]

Just now, romad1 said:

the force we are fighting is the naysaying penny swallowing mom.  All things are up against the "you never play with your barbie dolls anymore, why did we buy the blasted things in the first place?"  standard. 

I'm the Phil Dunphy and she's Clare. 

It's a lost cause if she's not being encouraged. And it's a fine line between encouraging and nagging them to practice. Maybe she's past the Barbie Doll stage. In the end if it doesn't work out you can always sell the guitar.

My 40 plus year old son took lessons for a while, then stopped in his later teens. He still picks it up once in a while. I didn't pick up the sax until my late 50s. Dental issues an COVID got in the way in recent years. I still pick them up occasionally, unfortunately there is not the plethora of community bands around her that I found in SE Michigan.