As a longtime guitar teacher, I’ve been asked many times. What is the best age to start learning to play the guitar? Well, that’s the $ 100,000 question. Many factors come into play. Not long ago I received a phone call from a mother asking about lessons for her son. He went on to explain to me how much he loves guitar and how good he was at Guitar Hero (the game), etc. I listened, and when it became clear that it was my turn to answer, I simply asked, “How old is your child?” She replied, “She is 8 years old.” Well here’s a scenario that can be a bit difficult to judge. Generally, an 8-year-old will not have the strength and dexterity of the hands, much less the patience or self-discipline to learn to play the guitar effectively, although there are those who will disagree. There is always an exception to the rule. Perhaps the child has unusual physical development or has already been learning to play an instrument and now wants to learn to play the guitar. However, under normal circumstances, this would not be the best way to introduce your child to music.

The guitar is probably the most difficult instrument to learn at a young age, especially if that child has never had any musical training. Many kids and adults go online and look for video guitar lessons or guitar lessons online, and this is what drives them to want to learn. The problem with the video guitar lessons themselves is that they are not interactive. You cannot ask questions and interact with the teacher. Online guitar lessons are definitely gaining popularity. Online guitar lessons allow you to learn in your own home using a webcam link with your teacher. Regardless of how you choose for your child to learn, there are still a few things to consider. Reach, strength and dexterity play a very important role. Look at learning to play the guitar like a person who wants to be a bodybuilder would. There are over 200 muscles in the hand, many of which are used in a very limited way. To develop the necessary strength and dexterity, there will be a series of boring finger exercises that your teacher will ask you to do on the guitar and every day. Just as an athlete has to exercise the muscles of the arms, chest and legs, you must develop strength in your hands and fingers. The scope is also important. Most 8-year-olds don’t have hands big enough to reach certain chord positions. That brings up the issue of having patience to see results. Unlike other instruments, it takes time to see real results on the guitar. This can be daunting for a young student and actually leave him with a bitter taste in his mouth for future learning. Like I told the mother of the 8-year-old, my recommendation would be to involve him in music in another way. Usually at the elementary school level there are band and orchestra classes. This is a perfect way to start. These instruments are much easier to learn and noticeable results are obtained much faster. Learning to read the notation and playing with others in time are valuable skills that are taught. On the private lesson front, the piano is a great instrument for beginners. These two avenues are great ways for a young student to get involved in music. The post-guitar transition, if they’re still interested, is a lot easier once they’ve developed more physically and have some basic music theory under their belt.

In conclusion, involving your child in music can be very rewarding for him. If you are an adult and want to play the guitar, this can also be a great source of fun and stress relief for you. Choosing the right teacher and then committing to daily practice is what will bring the desired results. As I mentioned earlier, online guitar lessons can be a great option for you. With online guitar lessons you can be in your own habitat and learn one on one with your instructor, at your own pace. Many students will supplement their private online guitar lessons with video guitar lessons. Whichever you choose, online guitar lessons or video guitar lessons, or a combination of both, commitment and practice is what will pay off.

To answer the initial question of $ 100,000, what is the appropriate age to start? I guess the answer is different. I personally, under normal circumstances, will not accept a child under the age of 12. There have been some exceptions, but it is an evaluation process that will be determined by the teacher of your choice. Also, keep in mind that, as a parent, you will need to participate. It is up to you to make sure your child practices regularly and keeps up with what is being taught. Without regular practice, you are simply wasting your money.

Nobody wants to do that.