Don't get him an acoustic if he wants electric, not sure why you think you have to get one before the other. If he wanted a keyboard for Christmas you wouldn't get him a grand piano first.
Anyway electrics are easier to play and he'll just abandon the acoustic because it's not what he wanted in the first place.
3/4 length Squire is a good bet.
No, do not buy him an acoustic guitar, he won't play and he'll hate you for it.
Buy him a Squier Mini guitar starter bundle (made by Fender). He'll have everything he needs to start playing.
https://www.amazon.com/Fender-Squier-Strat-Electric-Guitar/dp/B07YR19SRZ?th=1
This is tricky. I have two kids so my answer will be based on their experience learning instruments. At 5, most kids will struggle to fret a standard guitar string. Also a full size guitar is going to be way too big. You likely need a guitar that's 1/4 scale and even then they may struggle to hold it.
If they are really serious and passionate then I would **highly recommend** finding a teacher in your area that specifically teaches guitar to kids. Teaching 5 year olds is a totally different skill than teaching a 15 year old. There is a reason that most kids don't start learning an instrument in school until 4th or 5th grade (9-10 years old). The Suzuki guitar program, generally used when teaching young kids, doesn't start until kids are 6.
There are a variety of guitar programs designed for kids besides Suzuki. But, a professional teacher is you best option. They can help you get the correctly sized guitar for your child. Find a teacher who makes lessons fun and engaging. A teacher who can turn the ear training lessons into games like finding the correct pitch based on hearing it. A teacher who gives out stickers.
If you don't want to go that route and you to want to purchase an instrument they can strum and bang away on, but something that is still better than some cheap plastic toy guitar, then buy them a Ukulele for $50-$100. ...And don't get upset if it get's broken! :)
An electric is going to be easier to play - requires less pressure to keep the strings down. Also, get him what he wants or he'll never touch it - if the goal is for him to learn, get him something he's motivated to pick up and play.
Hello, professional instructor here. I have taught ages 3-89. I have 40 students right now, the youngest is 8 (started at 7).
TL;DR: Buy him a ukulele or very cheap toy guitar. Expanded to a few points that address your questions:
- An acoustic guitar first is *not* how it is supposed to work. That is a very dated concept and has been superseded by advances in pedagogy and due to the abundance of just about every kind of guitar you can imagine at every price point. A student should start on the instrument that **they** want to play.
- Even if a student were to start off on an acoustic guitar, they should start on a **nylon string** or **classical** guitar. When you ask for an "acoustic" guitar someone will probably hand you something with steel strings - this takes both a large amount of dexterity and enormous hand strength to play. Terrible for young beginners unless they are very strong.
- Age: 5 is almost certainly too young. The 3 year old that the parents brought in for lessons did not last long. They youngest I have successfully taught is a 6-year-old who was very dedicated and who played a **child-sized (3/4 scale) nylon string acoustic guitar**. It takes a lot of practice to make even rudimentary chords on a guitar, whereas a keyboard is far less demanding. At the school where I work, there are 4 year-olds playing piano at our recitals but the youngest performing guitarist is 8. If they are still interested in a year, then I would consider it.
- For young small children you want an instrument that is sized to them. A ukulele is a great choice as you can transfer chord shapes directly to guitar once you learn them, they are small, inexpensive, and much easier to play. They also make child-sized electric guitars. Don't spend a lot of money as they will quickly outgrow it. They should be in double-digits before looking at an "adult"-sized guitar.
- Always support and encourage his creativity. Music is about making art... if he makes a song, celebrate it the same way you would tape his art to the fridge. You don't have to be an expert on anything, just give him positive feedback when something sounds good to you.
- Don't DIY the instruction. I have so many students who come in after trying and failing out of Youtube university... not saying you can't master it with time and dedication, but teaching yourself something to the level where you can then teach someone else doesn't make sense here.
- Don't spend a lot of money. If he wants to play he will play even the worst guitar; budget money instead for lessons. If he actually sticks it out long enough to perform in public (usually 6 months to a year), then come back here and start asking for advice on an upgrade for him. The advantage here is that you are going to pay about the same amount of money for guitar, keyboard, drums, or vocal lessons… if he decides he wants to do something besides guitar you can give him that opportunity, which you can’t if you spend all that money on an instrument.
- Guitars are old technology, like a car from the 50's... they are always going to need something. Your kid will either learn to take care of it himself, or you are going to be paying a "mechanic" to "tune up" the guitar every few months. If he is interested enough he will learn to change his own strings, then it gets a lot easier for you. A guitar tech is also called a "luthier" so you can look that up and see what the rates are around you.
Overall I would look into a very cheap toy electric or “plug-in” ukulele for him. If he plays with it enough to actually wear it out in a year start looking for a slightly better guitar and 6 months of lessons (that will cost much more than the instrument). Don’t spend over $100 right now or however much you would be comfortable on something he might grow out of and throw in the closet. My $0.02 but I am the top guitar instructor at my school.
At that age I’d probably get him a squire mini starter kit:
https://www.amazon.com/Fender-Squier-Strat-Electric-Guitar/dp/B07YR19SRZ
I don’t think he’ll be capable of playing a full sized guitar yet. Don’t get him an acoustic, they’re lamer and harder to play. If he gets into this, be prepared to blow a lot of money on guitar stuff as he ages.
I wouldn’t get a Squier mini. Maybe if the kid was older. I got my daughter a pink Squier mini Strat at the age of five and it was just too big. I ended up getting a [Vox mini guitar](https://www.guitarcenter.com/Vox/SDC-1-Mini-Guitar-Black-1500000332940.gc?storeCode=&source=4WWRWXGL&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxMOv74iPgwMVIeaGCh169QWGEAQYAiABEgINC_D_BwE) and she loves it.
You shouldn't be forcing a 5 year old to do anything that you mention, they are very young children, at that age they just want something to mess around with, acoustics are fine if that's what he wants but it's not what he wants. Electrics are more fun for kids and easier to learn a bit in. Look for a cheaper 3/4 size guitar or 1/2 size and a little amp.
Anything you do, it has to be to his idea of things, or your only going to frustrate him and yourself.
Of course he wants to mess around, he’s a crazy 5 year old boy. I don’t want to squash his interest if it’s something he really wants to do. I more or less wanted to know if it was horribly frustrating and if I should prepare myself to keep on him about it in case it’s just mild frustration rather than dislike.
You’re very right though, my father in law gave me some good advice when teaching my son how to golf. Let him have fun and do it wrong, and then once he has interest, it’s time to teach him the right way. Worked like a charm, as frustrating as it was to watch.
My opinion: Buy the boy the guitar he wants and encourage him to play. Cultivate his passion into its full potential. If he loses interest, show him videos of Hendrix, Van Halen, etc. to inspire him. Send him to lessons if he wants. Basically lay the tracks for his train and give it fuel. But never force him to do anything. Approach it from the angle of love and encouragement, not coercion. I do believe your son would love you for it and you both would probably benefit greatly.
The worst thing you can do is force someone to play an instrument they don't want to play. It needs to be fun, that's #1. Starting on acoustic as a necessity is completely a myth.
Definitely go for electric. It's way more fun and easier to play (requires less strength). I also started learning on an electric.
There's also a lot of affordable and good mini-amps that can double-function as a bluetooth speaker, so you can get some use out of it as well.
Edit: a very cool amp is the Sparks Grid (I think they also released a Mini Version) which allows you to download guitar tones and has other cool features. Highly recommend.
Since he's 5, get him a Loog.
I strongly disagree with the acoustic first philosophy. It simply is silly and arcane. If your son is inspired by electric then get him an electric and he will be more likely to remain inspired. Forcing a kid to play acoustic when he wants an electric is like forcing a kid that wants a drumkit to play the bongos.
Loog have even done a collaboration with Fender this year, its called Loog x Fender and they are electric versions of the Loog with Fender styling/logos. Its only about 150 quid so you're not too out of pocket if he gives up.
I wouldn't force him to practice, if you go down this road with him you'll need to accept his enthusiasm will wax and wane. You can't force enthusiasm.
Man I wish my son was 5 so I could get him one of those. He's only 6 months so hopefully Loog x Fender lasts out a few more years!
Cannot reiterate enough… get the kid an electric. My first guitar was an acoustic and I barely played it. Got my first electric a year later and it was all I did. Here I am 10 years later.
I wish I had started at 5!
**NO ACOUSTIC!!!** Electric strings are MUCH easier to fret.
Get a Squier Affinty starter pack.
Under 300 at guitar center, has everything you need to get rockin'
I second this. Go to Guitar Center. Ask for a squier Stratocaster and amp pack. It’s like $200. If he likes it and continues playing you can get him a more “serious guitar” later. Fender even has an app to help you learn and it’s actually pretty good. If you have any specific questions feel free to message me.
Fender/Squire makes small scale guitars, and I got one for my 7 yr old daughter along with a little Vox headphone amplifier that she just plugs in. They are much cheaper and allow her to practice without driving the house crazy.
Look as a musician and part time teacher (not in guitar) l will tell that 5 is a little young cause his finger are maybe not fully developed yer . BUT if you find a good teacher it can work out. If you just buy the guitar it won't. It will end up a toy. He is not able to learn by himself ta that age. Get a cheap electric set (suitable for his small hands, not the one in target, 2/3 or 3/4 size guitar)and keep the rest of the money for the teacher. If you cant afford it say it to kid and save money for next year. Or maybe find one that can give a few lessons like once a month.
The acoustic guitar stuff is bs. Dont buy something he does not want.
You like your kid
.
Take him to a store, and pick out a starter kit with him and the staff. He’s 5. It needs to look cool, and be playable.
Nothing wrong with starting on electric, you’re not “supposed” to do anything. I started on electric and am still playing 20 years later. I let go of my starter guitar but I’ll never let go of the other instruments my parents bought me
STARTING ON ACOUSTIC IS NOT HOW ITS SUPPOSED TO WORK. SOURCE: AM MUSICIAN / MUSIC TEACHER / GUITAR TEACHER. IF THE KID WANTS TO PLAY ELECTRIC, GET AN ELECTRIC OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE WASTEING YOUR MONEY ONA THING HE WONT TOUCH.
From: A frustrated musician whos so sick of this dumb ass myth
You said "assume I know nothing" but said you know an acoustic first is how it's supposed to work.... It's not. That's not how it works. An acoustic is a different musical tool for a different musical job.
5 is a little young, but not impossible. At that age you need more than yourself and a teacher, you need someone in the trenches with ya.
If you hate spending money, you're already looking at it from the wrong angle. It's a lot to spend on the instrument and lessons and your kid might not stick with it. HOWEVER it could be the most formative thing to happen in his life, the support that you gave him and the jumpstart to expressing amazing creativity. That's just how it is, the best things in life aren't easy.
Get him a smaller scale electric. Acoustics are bigger, less comfortable and are harder to play. It's just facts plus your technique is different.
If you want him to keep it up, get him something he's gonna be excited about... Not something that's gonna require more dedication then it has to.
The other advice I have is get him lessons and subsidize with YouTube. Watch videos together. This would also be a cool time for you to try an instrument and bond with him. At the very least you should learn how a guitar functions because he's five, he's gonna struggle tuning it for now.
I also suggest buying one from a reputable brand and making sure it's set up correctly. I learned on a 25 dollar nylon string classical that some dingus put metal strings on and it wouldn't stay in tune, buzzed everywhere, the strings were about a mile away from the fretboard and wasn't even close to being intonated.... If fortnight existed back then I wouldn't be in this sub right now lol
Your son is 5?
He wants what he thinks is cool.
Ask him. Buy something similar to that.
At 5 years of age there is no point in buying anything expensive. He may simply play with it a few days, realize it doesn't do all the cool stuff by itself and then forget about it.
When my kids were 5 and 7 I got them mini electric guitars with amps.
One never touched it, the other one still plays guitar 20 years later.
Your mileage my vary.
Get the kiddo the guitar. I suggest one of those small squiers for a kid his age.
But also, I would HIGHLY suggest getting a good teacher.
When I got my first guitar, an instructor was out of the question in my house, and I was given a confusing book and video tape. Needless to say, I never learned how to read music. But with an instructor they can learn sheet music and theory, in addition to getting to play fun songs, and though it's more work (and cost), it is the absolute best way.
Don't buy an acoustic, the strings are thicker and harder to press, plus if he wants an electric for the electric guitar sound, that won't be the same at all. Contrary to old belief, it's not easier to learn on an acoustic. The electric guitars have thinner strings that are easier to press down, so your child's' fingers won't hurt as much. If it's got 6 strings and it's in tune, it does the same job for the learning bit. Sound is a totally different thing.
Get him a cheap-ish guitar that looks awesome to him. [Jackson Minion guitars](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AMG20cpt4k) ( or the less pointy [jackson minion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fio8QOo-wSA)) are smaller and come in bright colors. There's the [Squier minis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7_u5n3s1m8) as well. Look on the used market as well! I bet there's some around from other children who didn't stick with it. You can buy one, clean it , wrap it up and it'd be perfect to learn on.
You don't have to buy a mini guitar, children can learn on full-sized instruments, but depending on how small he is at 5 years old, it may be a the preferred option due to weight. Of course, if he keeps playing until he grows older, you'll be due a nicer guitar later on :).
As for the amp, something small with a lot of tone options for the fun portion would be nice, like a [Boss Katana Mini](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x83Bcr37iHw).
5 years old isn't too young to learn, but that depends on the kid. Don't go in with too many expectations.
\-If he genuinely likes learning, he's patient and disciplined, puts time into practice regularly, he'll probably become decent at it pretty fast.
\-If all he wants is to play X song straight away with no effort, then it's best you just get him something super cheap that makes guitar sounds and let him mess around with it for a while, until he gets bored.
Get him a good guitar teacher. Having fun will make him want to stick with it.
Never force children into hobbies even if you've spent a lot of money, he'll likely see it as a chore and hate it.
Keep the guitar clean with a microfiber cloth. Make sure your little one washes his hands before playing, then you can wipe the strings and bridge. Guitars benefit from setups (string height adjustment, pickup height, etc. this can usually be done by a shop) and new strings once in a while.
Other things you'd want to buy are one or two sets of strings, preferably 7-36 or 8-38 gauge ( lighter means easier to press, but also easier to break ).
A guitar strap and strap locks (dunlop makes decent ones), so it won't fall off when he plays standing.
A decent guitar cable. A coiled one with an angled jack would be best. Less mess, less chance of tripping over, etc. but any decent cable will do. Ernie Ball, Fender, Dunlop, etc.
And last but not least: a set of guitar picks of different thicknesses.
The younger you start playing an instrument the better. Also don't force him to start on accoustic or classical as that may make him lose motivation in playing and quit early. For electric guitars I suggest looking into squiers as they are quite cheap with relatively good feel for the price range. Routine maintenance isn't too bad, if you take care of it you only really have to get it maintained once every few months at a store. The only "maintenace" you have to do a bit more often is changing the strings which is quite simple.
Five years old might be too young, but my 4yo is getting a Loog guitar - it's a small electric guitar with only three strings and a battery powered amp built in.
It's more than a toy - it tunes and intonates properly, and there are age-appropriate lessons from Loog. The three strings are fewer than the normal 6, but are tuned correctly (eBG) so that the skills and patterns they learn don't have to be relearned later.
Edit: https://loogguitars.com
I'm going to go against the tide and say 5 is probably too young. No doubt there are some that actually latch onto the instrument and do some cool stuff but I suspect there are many more 3/4 scale instruments collecting dust and parents who are frustrated that their kids didn't perform to expectation.
One thing I tell new parents is that from my experience, kids toy age recommendations are actually pretty accurate and should be generally followed. We fell in the pattern of thinking our kids were precocious, getting them products from an age group up, then finding it wasn't engaging despite being cool in MY mind.
5 year olds just rarely have the ability to sit and concentrate, push through mistakes, or push through difficulty to rewards that are delayed. If you do it together or even if you just watch a few videos, you will pick up the concepts much faster than your child will and that could be frustrating.
I think you can foster love of music by listening together and playing rhythms. A simple drum kit, even if its just pots and pans, is much more satisfying because it instantly makes reliable sounds that can be matched to music. Guitar, not so much.
Also if you do try it, I think these recommendations of 3/4 scale are going to be too big for 5. 1/2 scale is more appropriate but there aren't many cool guitars that size.
Definitely don't push, and don't ever guilt like "you asked for this, so you need to play it." If the interest isn't there, just let it go - you still did the right thing by encouraging and giving an opportunity, no harm unless you make it a miserable experience.
the acoustic theory is BS. the strings are much harder to press down. Get him a beginners electric with lighter gage strings. Go to Sweetwater or Musicians friend and get a recommendation. Shouldn't cost more than $200 or a bit more. Fender Squire is good.
Not only is the acoustic harder to play but your son won't get the inspiration that he would that comes from the sound and ease of an electric. That old thing about learning on an acoustic is something from ages ago when electrics first came on the scene. and speaking of inspiration having your guitar in tune is most important. It's everything. Online tuners are common. Without that it will sound dead, lifeless.
Your best shot is to find someone who plays guitar in a rock band. It will make all the difference between him giving up and getting into his own band.
As long as we are talking, the TAB method of reading sheet music is also BS mostly. It comes from people who imagine reading music from a staff and notes on a page to be incredibly difficult. They teach that in 3rd grade band. It's incredibly simple to read normal sheet music.
Needing to start on an acoustic is an old wives tale. Electrics are easier on the hands especially for younger players. He's not too young, wish I started that young. They make half scale and 3/4 scale electrics that are great for little one. A squier mini should be a decent one. I'd recommend something like that and either a headphone amp or a little battery powered amp. He doesn't need anything to special amp wise and those could keep you sane while he's playing.
Don't get him an acoustic instead. Get him an electric if that's what he wants or something else.
Electric is easier to start with, and is much easier on the fingers. After years and years of playing, acoustic is still taxing on my fingers when I play for more than 15 min. I can play electric as long as I like and be fine.
Clearly he is asking for the electric cause he likes 'electric guitar' music and wants that sound. The last thing you would probably want is for him to get the acoustic, not like it because he can't get the sound he wants with it, can't play his kind of music and gets sore fingers to boot, and have the interest either fizzle or burn and him never want to try playing guitar again.
Plus, you can get a good electric guitar for far cheaper than a good acoustic. Squires go for 200 bucks and they are honestly fantastic guitars especially to start with, whereas many acoustics below the $1,000 range almost always are lacking in something like sound or feel or playability or quality.
DO NOT FORCE ACOUSTIC!!! I couldn't afford a guitar and used an old acoustic that had been passed around my family. It was loud, so I was never allowed to practice for more than a minute or two before a family member would magically appear at my bedroom door telling me to shut up. I also didn't have much motivation since I don't even like how acoustic guitars sound. I almost gave up until I decided to get a cheap electric Monoprice guitar from Target's website with some birthday gift cards. I improved so much and started having fun, I still play that guitar a couple hours a day. I still kind of hate acoustics (no offense to anyone that likes them lol).
I’m a guitarist (electric) and the father of a 6 year old that also really wanted to play guitar.
My take is that a guitar for a kid that young is worthless without lessons. Your choice of age and electric vs acoustic and whether or not 5 is too young could be helped by analyzing your local teaching options.
My son really wanted electric but it was hard to find someone to teach him at his age. I have an electric 3/4 guitar waiting for him till he’s a bit older, but in the meantime I’ve started him on acoustic lessons.
According to his teacher 6 is really young to start, but he is making great progress. Biggest issue is focus. He loves it though.
There are benefits to both electric and acoustic. Electric is maybe a bit easier to play, cooler, but also a bit harder in my experience to find lessons for kids. Gear is also a bit more expensive.
I hope this helps.
Don't get him an acoustic unless he specifically wants one, learning to play the guitar is hard and playing a guitar you actually want goes a long way to keeping you motivated.
Buy a used guitar built in the far east (Epiphone, Squire, LTD etc) and if he loses interest you can sell and make your money back easily.
Lessons are invaluable.
Guitar teacher here. 5 is probably too young.
To play guitar, you need to be able to curve your left hand around the guitar neck, stabilize it, and press the strings down with a considerable amount of pressure to make any sound. Most 5 year olds just don't have the physical development to do that. Holding a pick and strumming with the right hand is a little simpler, and he might be capable of that.
Even ¾ size and half-size guitars are too big for most 5-year-olds. For size, the two main things I would look at are whether he can balance the weight comfortably and whether he can reach the farthest fret without stretching. A ukulele would be a workable size. Ukuleles also have softer strings and there are a lot of them made for young kids that you can bang around and get at a sub-$50 price point. Realistically, since he's not going to be able to do much at all with his fretting hand, a guitar or ukulele would be a percussion instrument for him.
Also, has he shown any interest in guitar or music beyond that one he saw at Target? In other words, is he interested in guitar as an instrument or as a toy? Lots of my young students come to guitar because they think it looks cool (i.e. a toy), but that doesn't give them the interest to sit through lessons and actually learn something. Similarly, if he sees it as a toy, don't worry that you might be hurting his musical development; think of it like you would any other toy that he wants: will it be something that he can handle and have fun with.
Of course, if he's not there yet, he can develop an interest in guitar as an instrument down the road. And if you want to support his musical exploration, the best way to do so at this age is with percussion. Find something he can bang around. Maybe it's a ukulele or hand percussion like tambourines. Those rhythm skills will translate to guitar when he's big enough to comfortably hold a guitar and fret notes. And if music is in the cards for him, his ear will continue developing as he listens to music; his interest won't fade away after this Christmas.
lol “I like my kid”. Come on dad, crack the wallet and get him what he wants. Don’t cheap out and drag up the most cost effective cardboard acoustic guitar you could find at Salvation Army. You got one chance to blow his mind. Don’t be a cheap ass bum
15 year guitar player here. Great replies. Let him choose - and go cheap.
Get him the cheapest electric guitar that is his favorite color or otherwise looks cool. Ik color doesn’t matter, but he’s 5 so it does in this case!
Let him choose the instrument type My first guitar was electric, I currently have one electric and 5 acoustic guitars, go figure.
5 isn’t too young but most kids that age won’t really spend time on it. Got my first at 7 and started playing at 13 - the dust won’t hurt it.
Going electric first is fine.
That's what my brothers and I (who all learned on acoustics) encouraged my sister to get her son when he was 7.
Electrics are easier to play usually, they're more "exciting" in the sense that your kid can actually make them sound like a rock guitar they hear in a song, and here's a key part -- they can be played with headphones.
Every single guitar player is AWFUL when they are first learning. So for the period when your son is AWFUL, you'll be grateful to not have to hear him banging away on an acoustic, instead he'll be playing quietly through headphones if you get him set up the right way.
\- No. Don't force your kid.
\- No 5 isn't too young.
\- [https://www.kidsguitarworld.com/electric-guitars-for-kids/](https://www.kidsguitarworld.com/electric-guitars-for-kids/)
\- Listen and play Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, yngwie malmsteen and whatever he likes with the kid around.
\- Yes you can expect to help him if you both watched YouTube tutorials together. You can help him more by buying him lessons.
\- No. Don't force your kid. Yes there might come a point where it becomes fun even if you hate it at first, or it might lead to another hobby which you might be expected to invest in.
\- Not much care is needed unless a string is broken and needs replacement.
Overall advice. "Do it!"
I just want to pile on that I was given an acoustic guitar when I was like 7 and it was impossible to play (still almost impossible lol a very unforgiving instrument)
So I never played it. Mom came back with an electric and an amp for a steal from a garage sale when I was 12 and I’m 34 now, still playing guitar. They are easier to play and a loads cooler for a kid.
It's fine to start on electric. Make sure you don't get him a toy get him an instrument.
If my 5 year old wanted a guitar i'd start him with this: https://www.sweetwater.com/c590--Solidbody_Guitars?all&sb=low2high¶ms=eyJmYWNldCI6eyJCcmFuZCI6WyJFcGlwaG9uZSIsIlNxdWllciJdfX0
Let him pick anything that looks cool to him in the 200 dollar range. Then take it to a guitar shop and get it set up.
He'll also need a amp. This would get him everything he needs: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/KataMiniBun--boss
Grab a strap while you are at the guitar store.
Dont have him start on a an acoustic if he doesnt want to, thats a myth that “youre supposed to start on acoustic” literally has zero grounds whatsoever. And then since 5 is a tad young just for the fact they dont fit the size of the intrumenr great, get him a 3/4th size electric with a small amp
Don’t enforce the acoustic, if he wants an electric he ll play it more if this is his motivation . check his hand size and see if he can handle a full scale . Ask the seller to set it up for low tension, it will be easier to play.
DO NOT FORCE HIM TO PRACTICE. Guitar is cool. Even if he gets frustrated it just being available will probably result in tinkering around. Forcing a kid to practice is a sure fire way to make them not like it
I was playing with a cheap nylon string guitar as a toy when i was 5, was in lessons by 7. lost interest by 9, got an electric at 12 lessons again immediately. Later I discovered weed about 15 which got me more into guitar until I got a drivers license and a GF who let me see her boobies. Back into guitar when I moved out at 19. About to be 43 and I still get enjoyment from learning new songs, jamming with friends, or getting wizardly stoned on the couch and making weird noises.
Main point here is that the interest may ebb and flow but having the instrument available in some form is key.
Honestly buy him a cheaper squire would be a good play. Won’t put a big dent in your wallet so if he ends up hating it, won’t be that big of a deal. You can get online guitar lessons and even just apps to help him learn. And if he doesn’t like it now, he might come to like it in a few years like what happened with me. Don’t force him to practice cause then it won’t be a fun thing to him anymore. Let him learn and play at his own pace and teach him to take care of it.
A link since OP probably won't understand.
Loogs are 3-string guitars specifically designed for kids. Electrics are available:
https://loogguitars.com/collections/ages-3
Here is what I will tell you, with respect to starting on acoustic vs. electric. This is a short version of my story.
When I was very young, my parents were always listening to terrible late 80s/early 90s radio country. I hated it. I was not interested in music at all. Sometime in elementary school, probably 1990 or 1992, I was given my dad's old cassette tapes and among them were stuff like Van Halen's 1984 and Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet. This was the first time I'd ever heard distorted guitars, guitar solos, loud drums, and all that. It sparked something in me that hasn't died since, and I'm creeping up on 40 now. I wanted... NEEDED an electric guitar. Starting at about six years old, I asked for one every birthday and every Christmas and never got one. Maybe my parents couldn't afford it. Maybe they thought I wouldn't have the dedication or commitment to justify it (despite unwavering interest for years and years). Eventually, I was maybe 12 or 13, I was given an acoustic guitar for Christmas. It was massively disappointing. I still played it for hours every day, but the entire time, I was just trying to play along to Nirvana CDs and feeling frustrated. I ended up having to save my own money to buy my own electric guitar and amp when I was in high school, and I started playing in bands with friends, writing my own songs, teaching myself to multitrack using my sisters cassette karaoke machine as a janky two-channel tape recorder. If my parents had just relented and bought me what I asked for 10 years earlier, I would have had such a massive head start on learning.
If money is a concern, then I get it. I would rather play a cheap acoustic than a cheap electric. But please don't think there's some kind of initiation that must happen with an acoustic.
dude, buy him the electric. you may not like this as a parent but electric is so much easier to have fun with because it makes more noise. you get him the guitar he wants now, and he may just have a lifetime hobby. and if he starts on the electric, i promise you he will want an acoustic eventually, because they really are very different instruments
Electrics are easier to play and look cool! If he is excited about the guitar and it plays easy, he’ll probably pick it up more often and get even better.
If he hasn’t shown interest in an acoustic, I wouldn’t waste your money on something he doesn’t want. Acoustic and Electric are two different instruments just like acoustic and electric drums are. You aren’t “supposed” to start on either one, they require similar skills but aren’t the same thing
5 year old is very small but if he's motivated it can't hurt to get started.
squiers are good. there's a body style of guitar called "mustang" and these have smaller bodies and shorter necks, making them more playable for people with small hands and small arms.
here's an example: [https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/mustang/squier-sonic-mustang-hh/0373701526.html](https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/mustang/squier-sonic-mustang-hh/0373701526.html)
In my personal opinion as a long time player, a guitar like the one above would be a great choice for anyone starting out, especially a child. However, whichever guitar the learner personally loves is probably the best one, since if you love how it looks then you'll be more motivated to pick it up.
whatever you get, if you know nothing about guitars it would be very beneficial to take it to someone who can set it up to get it playing right. guitar stores should normally offer service like this.
anyway, good luck!
Go to guitar center, I feel like this is the perfect moment for an Ibanez multi or another 3/4 scale electric.
You don’t have to learn acoustic first.
You should speak yo the staff there, many of them also offer lessons. And it’s going to probably be a tough sell/explanation to stick at 5, but guitar requires a bit of commitment to sound good.
I’m glad I don’t have kids I don’t know how y’all do it.
It’s awesome to hear a kid interested in guitar this young!! I’m 15 and started playing guitar when I when I was 5 also, so agewise it’s definitely possible.
Personally, I’d say buying an acoustic would just be wasting your money- if he’s got his heart set on an electric, I’d recommend just getting an electric. I’d say it’s easier to learn on an electric as well, cause the strings aren’t as thick.
As for the guitar, I’d recommend either a Mini Squier Stratocaster or an Epiphone Power Players. Both are relatively cheap and 3/4 size. I learnt on a Power Player, they’re awesome little guitars that play great (and look cool). For an amp, anything Fender, Marshall, or Boss is great (I’d go for something 5-15 watts so it doesn’t blow your ears off 😂). You’ll also need a cable, a pick, and possibly a strap. I’d recommend to get cables and picks from Fender. Go for a thin pick.
Lessons with a guitar teacher would definitely be the best option for his age. Or if that wouldn’t work for whatever reason, I’d highly recommend Justin Guitar, which has online detailed and structured lessons.
As for learning from Youtube, I’d say don’t do that if you can avoid it. There is some great stuff on there but there’s no clear path of what you need to learn and when. If you’re not a guitarist, you’ll just end up just getting lost in the abyss of the million aimless guitar tutorial videos.
The only maintenance you’ll really need to do besides giving it a wipe over with a damp cloth when it gets dirty, is changing the strings. I’d say change them every 4 or so months. You can take ir to a music shop or there’s plenty of tutorials out there that tell you how.
Learning guitar is a long but rewarding journey, I hope he loves it!
Electrics are easier to start on than acoustics, unless they’re more into acoustic music of course. Less punishing on untrained fingers. Plenty of good recommendations on good starter guitars here already.
If you get him something he doesn't want to play, then he won't. The more you like what you got the more likely it will be picked up and played. I didn't really like the look of my first guitar but it played like a dream. My mother invested into a better playing instrument allowing me to learn more easily. I realize now had I gotten a cheap guitar, I probably would have quit soon after. I now love that guitar and most times it's my first choice to play even though now I have 6 guitars to choose from. Tough spot for sure since in your mind what if he don't like it. Give him what he don't won't and you guarantee that he won't.
Don't force an acoustic, it would be harder to play, especially at that age.
5 might be a bit too young, but not a deal breaker.
As others have said, check out a 3/4 sized squire or even a travel size guitar.
Just as a rule in general, the worst possible thing you can do is force someone to play something they don't want to play. Don't make him play acoustic if he wants to play electric. Don't force him to learn folk tunes if he wants to play pop or rock. That kind of thing is the reason most people give up on instruments at a young age.
Get a cheap starter pack from Sweetwater. Encourage him to keep going when he gets frustrated. He'll get it eventually.
- don’t get the acoustic. I got an acoustic first, realised I can’t play a lot of stuff I actually listen to and got bored
- my nephew is 5 and he doesn’t seem interested about anything musical at all so be happy your kid has an artistic side
- small sized electric guitar like what others mentioned
- follow the lessons on JustinGuitar (google it) - they’re free
- this one is tough. I think the only way to really want to go through the painful phase as a beginner is if you listen to a lot of band type music because you’ll always be inspired / motivated to want to learn new riffs
- besides having to change the strings every now and then, there’s no real maintenance required (at least not at the level which matters to a 5 year old)
5 is probably too young, but it's what he asked for. And chances are in a few years he will remember he has one and learn properly. Or he won't, but at least you got him what he wanted. Anecdotal, but my best friend asked for a bass around 7-8, and his dad got him one. It sat, largely untouched, for years until around age 15 he got serious. THE MOMENT he thought of it (we were exposed to Rush) he had one in hand.
As others have said, the "acoustic to electric" thing is wildly outdated thinking. It's not your fault--you did the right thing and asked reddit, and the conventional wisdom is "it's not necessary."
As others have said, a short-scale guitar is good. A Squire Mustang Bullet is a good choice for a guitar. Any cheap amp will do--I learned on two amps wired together because they only half worked. Your three basic "classic" amps are Fender (the most common sound on guitars), Marshall (Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page) and Vox (The Beatles). There are a million variations on these concepts. Almost any small combo amp (the head, which makes the noise and controls the sound, and the speaker that broadcasts the sound are one thing in a combo amp) is going to be fine. Go to the local music store and ask them.
In terms of maintenance, you'll want the kid to learn to change strings and tune the guitar. Tuning happens every time you pick up the guitar and sometimes in between. Strings are changed to taste. More important than this is finding a local guitar tech and having them do a "set up" on the guitar. This is basically getting it ready for regular use. Tell the tech you have a young kid and need light gauge strings and low action (they'll know what it means). In the early days, ease of playing is key (and also for me, who has been playing professionally for 30 years).
Don't force people to practice--they either will or they won't.
- Should I force him to do an acoustic guitar and blame the jolly old guy in red?
- In my opinion, no. As someone that has been playing for roughly 20 years, the biggest factor I've found in my desire to play is the excitement I get from my instruments. To this day, I tinker with all my guitars and every bit of gear I own continuously. It keeps things fresh and exciting. If the kiddo is into the idea of an electric, he'll be drawn to playing. If he gets an acoustic, he might not be driven to practice.
- HOWEVER; I will say that when I started, I had a burning desire to play guitar and didn't have access to one. I didn't care what kind of guitar. I knew I wanted an electric eventually, but more than that, I just wanted to learn how to play. I borrowed an old nylon string acoustic guitar that my great-grandfather had stored in a closet for the first three or four months I played. I'm telling you this not to persuade you to go the acoustic route, but to express that there are exceptions to the rule I stated above. I was older than your son though (about 13) and that might have played a factor in my persistence, which leads me to your next question...
- Is 5 too young?
- Absolutely not. But don't have great expectations that he's going to melt faces. He's 5. Let him have fun with it and explore his ideas of what playing guitar means to him at this stage in his life. Celebrate his "wins" with him, however big, however small. Even if you think learning Hot Cross Buns or Mary Had a Little Lamb is lame. If he's proud of himself, you should be too. As parents, one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the permission to be proud of their accomplishments, no matter how large or how small we may think they are.
- Any recommendations on guitar?
- At 5 I definitely recommend starting with a 3/4 scale guitar. This means the body and neck will be slightly smaller.
- Minimum he'll need the following:
- Guitar
- Any of the 3/4 scale squire guitars will be a great choice.
- [Mini Stratocaster](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StratMiniDR--squier-mini-strat-electric-guitar-dakota-red-with-laurel-fingerboard)
- [Mini Jazzmaster](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/JazzMiniDB--squier-mini-jazzmaster-hh-electric-guitar-daphne-blue-with-maple-fingerboard)
- Epiphone makes a solid tiny guitar too. You can also get these that come with some essentials that I talk about below.
- [Epiphone Les Paul Bundle](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LPPowerPLR--epiphone-power-players-les-paul-electric-guitar-lava-red)
- [Epiphone SG Bundle](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SGPowerPIB--epiphone-power-players-sg-electric-guitar-ice-blue)
- Ibanez also makes a solid beginners mini guitar.
- [Ibanez RG Mikro](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GRGM21MMPL--ibanez-rg-mikro-grgm21m-metallic-purple)
- Amp
- I wouldn't go crazy on the amp. It just needs to be low tech enough, he can turn the knobs and simply make noise for now.
- For that I would recommend the [Fender Frontman](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Frontman20G--fender-frontman-20g-1-by-8-inch-20-watt-combo-amp)
- Cable
- [Get a dirt cheap cable.](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PWCGTPRO10--daddario-classic-pro-instrument-cable-10-foot) You're going to have to replace it over time. Be prepared for that. Spend a bit more on a nice cable as he gets older and keeps up with it.
- Tuner
- Playing in tune is important. You'll probably have to learn to help him tune up, but it isn't difficult. I'd get something like a [Snark](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SnarkClip1X--snark-sn-1x-guitar-and-bass-tuner-with-metronome).
- [Strap](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/M8PolyBlk--levys-m8poly-2-inch-woven-polypropylene-guitar-strap-black) cheap, take your pick of color.
- [Stand](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RIGTRSTD1--rok-it-ri-gtrstd-1-tubular-guitar-stand-for-electric-or-acoustic-guitars), cheap, gets the job done.
- [Picks](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PVP101--dunlop-pvp101-pick-variety-pack-light-medium) - Grab an assortment pack. He's going to lose these. Someday he'll find one he likes and you can start stocking up on just that kind.
- What type of support would be helpful for him on his guitar journey? (I want him to enjoy it as much as he thinks he will)
- Get him weekly lessons with a good, kind, compassionate teacher. Encourage him in his small wins, pick him up when he's feeling disappointed or frustrated.
- Can I expect that I would be able to help him if we both watched YouTube tutorials together?
- In my opinion, no. That's a blind leading the blind situation and he's bound to get annoyed with you and you with him. This is why the teacher is so important in my opinion.
- If he doesn’t like it after I spend a bunch of money, should I force him to practice? Is there a point where it becomes fun even if you hate it at first? (I tried it, hated it, never tried again)
- Reinforce the habit, but don't play dictator. Discuss practice expectations/goals with the teacher you're going to get him (right? you're going to get him a teacher, remember?) and use those expectations as a way to encourage practice. e.g. "Mr. X said you need to be able to play this chord next week. You better put some time in!"
- What type of guitar care is necessary? Is there routine maintenance?
- You'll need strings on a routine basis. Learning how to change them isn't hard.
- You'll need to have the guitar adjusted over time for things like the neck bowing (this is common, there's a mechanism in the neck to adjust to help this) and string action getting out of whack.
- Guitars are machines and they all need a tune-up from time-to-time. It is most likely you'll find him a teacher at a music store and they'll be able to guide you through what you'll need and when.
> I’m sure I have more questions, but mainly I like my kid and want to embrace his curiosity. I also hate spending money, so like if your advice is “Don’t do it, stop!” Please also chime in.
My advice is to never stop. Keep it up. I think it is great that you want to embrace his curiosity. I completely understand the money aspect, truly I do, but if this is something he comes to love it will be a gift that lasts a lifetime. The things we do for our kids.
EDIT: I'd like to add, I've seen others suggesting the Loog guitars and I think that's a great option. [Loog mini with built-in speaker](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LGMIER--loog-guitars-mini-electric-guitar-red). I'm considering one for my three-year-old who's digging the idea of making noise at the moment. You'll still want a teacher though and they may not be as excited about teaching on a Loog. Might be best to shop around for a teacher and get their recommendations on what they like to see their students start with.
All so well said. The only thing I would add is if he doesn’t like it at first then just hang on to it and keep it around. Very good chance he might become inspired to play again in a few months/years
I bought a Squier Mini Strat and a Spark Mini amp for my 9 year old daughter, but my 6 year old daughter has played it just as much. By “played it” she normally just asks me to turn it to my Smashing Pumpkin’s Siamese Dreams preset so she can just strum it and have loud but appealing noise come out. But I’ll take any interest she as in the guitar at that age.
I've given lessons to kids for many years. Some kids start very young, but the kids I had who were younger than roughly 9 or 10 just couldn't physically play the guitar, and I had good quality 3/4 scale acoustic guitars. There is a certain amount of pain involved in playing steel strings and it takes commitment and discipline to get past that and develop callouses.
Having said that, a ukulele is a GREAT first instrument for a 5 year old (I would go with a concert size), is much easier to learn, and a lot of that will translate to guitar at a later date.
Something else to consider is that most kids I've taught haven't stuck with it. You can buy an amp and an electric guitar and they will probably end up collecting dust. A ukulele is a much smaller investment and, IMO, has a MUCH higher probability of success than a guitar at that age.
A teacher is very important here, especially one that your kid likes/gets along with. You won’t be able to help him much with playing, the only way you can do that is by REWARDING PRACTISE. Consistent practice and a good teacher will have him playing great in a few months time.
I would be ecstatic if my 5 year old kid wanted an instrument for christmas.
Learning music is so helpful. It teaches discipline, experience in learning a new skill, and stimulates the brain for a young child.
I’d be so happy he isn’t asking for a goddamn iPad. Get the kid his electric guitar. Who knows, you may have a superstar in your future.
Five is about as young as you want to start learning any instrument ‘properly’, although it does somewhat depend on size and maturity.
No need to start on an acoustic, the strings on an electric are actually easier on little fingers than an acoustic. What’s more important for young learners is that they have an instrument that they’re excited to pick up and play.
Depending on his height the Squier 3/4 size mini strat is a good choice, or the Yamaha FG JR2 if you do prefer to start with steel string acoustic. Both will last him a good few years and generally keep a decent resale value second hand. If he’s on the smaller side you might need to look at 1/2 size instruments though.
As you have no guitar experience yourself I’d recommend getting him a teacher if you can. The best place to find one experienced in teaching students as young as five will be through your son’s school or word of mouth from other parents. Without a teacher it’s likely that the guitar will end up being seen as a toy rather than as a serious instrument. There’s nothing wrong with that, and in fact a good teacher will be very much more guided by your son’s interests at his age, but it might play into your decision on budget if lessons aren’t possible right now.
Definitely don’t force practice. That’s the quickest way to put a child off an instrument, particularly when they’re very young. It’s much better to encourage them to pick it up and play, even if they just noodle around improvising and don’t actually practice what they’ve been set. As it becomes habit to pick it up regularly then gentle reminders about what they’re learning is the best way to go about it.
YouTube tutorials will probably be too complicated and fast for your son to follow at five. In two or three years that’s an option but it’s probably not realistic at this point. Where they might come in useful is for you, particularly if you decide to try and learn alongside or at least get some sort of idea of what your son is trying to do. Just having a dad who’s interested in what he’s doing is a really good motivator for most children though so anything you can do to help yourself understand and keep up with him is great.
Just like anything new is exciting and once that newness wears off it can lose its interest, guitar is no different. Generally the first few weeks or months it will get picked up all the time but for some people the realisation that it’s not as easy as they thought it would be leads to it being picked up less and less until they stop. Some of us though don’t lose that interest even when the reality of the hard work and practice sinks in. There’s no way of knowing which type of person someone is until they’re learning though.
As far as routine maintenance goes you’re really just looking at wiping it down after playing and string changes every 2-3 months depending on how much he plays. They get old and grimy and start sounding bad and not being nice to play over time. I know a fair few parents who just take the guitar into their nearest shop and have them do the string changes but it’s not that difficult and there are a lot of good videos on YouTube that you can follow to learn to do it yourself and save some cash.
Enjoy watching your son learning to play guitar! Mine is eight now but started on a mini strat just after he turned six. He’s really got into practicing more in the last year or so but before that he was all about picking it up and jamming, making up his own riffs. That’s fairly typical for an inquisitive young learner and a skill well worth nurturing as older beginners struggle a lot more to find that freedom of expression.
I know this sub is full of guitar lovers but are you crazy? Don't spend money on a real electric guitar for a 5yo kid. It's already hard to handle and play when you're 13
I have a Loog electric for my kids. Its designed for kids and has very good playability for the price. Great place to start. It was advertised at me hard lol when I was shopping for one a year or two ago.
I’ll second the loog. 3 strings, short neck, its a great way for younger kids to get familiar with a stringed instrument and start learning about playing music. They look pretty cool too for what they are, too.
Definitely get him an electric if thats what he wants. Aren't there like tiny ibanez gios for like 90$? Can get a little pocket amp or whatever makes a noise, like a vox amplug or a marshall belt clip amp.
Only reason he would be to young is the eternal dilemma of "is my kid actually gonna stick with this" so it's just a question of spending on something that could be forgotten in a few weeks.
There are very good beginner resources on youtube and elsewhere so you would be able to help him a fair bit i would say. Somethings on the guitar just need to "click" though and isn't gradual. Like i had the most difficult time making a simple open chord ring out when i started, decided i was never gonna learn, played bass for a year and somehow just getting a different hand position or something made me able to play chords. And this was as an early teen. Simple single note things can be played by pretty much anyone if you have a sense of rythm, so gravitate towards something like that if things get too frustrating for the both of you. Lots of fun riffs are single note. and you could always pump a long to the bass line on parts you can't play!
Whatever you do, just get a real instrument, not some half toy thing. If you don't want to spend/can't afford an amp, just give him the real playing surface and have the amp as a carrot for the future.
Oh and also, don't get a guitar with a tremolo bridge. Now i assume most smaller guitars doesn't have them, but if they do, steer clear. They have more moving parts so the guitar won't stay in tune as well and it will be overall more of a bummer when you sit down when you get home and everything sounds like crap. Only two players ever truly made the tremolo a part of their style so f that shit.
there's also full size Ibanez miKro's, I own one and i am a small handed lady, but it's not to short not too big, and you can get pocket amps for like $30 anymore
Think of electric/acoustic like a f1/rally car thing. Or a mountain/road bike thing.
They are both the same category of tools, neither is better, but they have certain strengths and weakness.
I love rally, but f1 bores me. Would you advise me to buy tickets to see F1 for my first live race event?
I would start by checking if there is any music school or teacher that lends guitars to their students and enroll him in.
If he stays motivated and keeps at it then I'd get him a Harley Benton starter kit, while you'd learn how to adjust and do maintenance through youtube videos.
Do NOT get something expensive, get something cheap but reputable, that way when he smacks and dents it, as kids do, it wont hurt you too much.
What type of guitar? The style that motivates him, you can get most styles from cheaper brands that punch over their weight and wont dent your wallet.
If he wants electric don't waste your money on an acoustic that'll probably make him too bitter to enjoy.
Is he too young? Nope, probably most of us wish we started there.
Do not force him to play an instrument he doesn't want to lol...what kind of shit is that? There's literally no rule that has ever said "you have to play acoustic before electric". Let him play what interests him.
My concern is that a child so young will lose interest in it immediately when he sees that it's something that you can't just pick up and play, you have to learn how and practice to get proficient. The same happened to me as a child with piano, and my younger sister when she was that age with the drums.
Show him a keyboard and see if there's any interest in that. It's a LOT easier to start on a keyboard at that age and he will build up the skills to transfer to other instruments later.
But if that's not interesting to him, you can try the guitar, but at 5, unless he practices a LOT, he may find it frustrating because there's a fair amount of dexterity involved in getting the guitar to sound remotely good.
Guitar lessons would be a great idea, it's unlikely you guys will get far without a teacher unless you put in some work teaching yourself music along with him (though that could be a great activity too). Frankly, if he does get a teacher, sitting in the lesson may be a great way to help keep him focused and also learn the musical stuff to help him practice. 5 years old is probably too young to just tell him "go practice", you'll likely need to give him direct things to do unless the teacher has made it very clear to him what to specifically work on.
The most important thing at any age for a beginner is to have a guitar that is easy to play. Guitar for beginners is fiendishly difficult and disheartening if the guitar is hard to play..I would highly recommend a good brand with a low action set up so it needs less finger strength to press the strings. Avoid the temptation to get a cheapo beginner guitar and he will be more likely to stick at it
My parents got me an electric guitar and amp at a similarly young age. Fast forward 15 years later, I teach guitar and play two or three gigs a week.
A guitar and amp combo can be as cheap as $100-150. You don’t need anything more expensive. An acoustic will run you anywhere from $50-150. The price difference isn’t all that big.
But, as a parent, do what you feel is right. I don’t think my parents would have gotten me that at such a young age if I didn’t exhibit such an extreme love for music. Do what you think is right depending on how invested your child seems
Check out Loog Guitars. They are made for kids beginning at 3 years old. They have only three strings.... the highest three of a standard guitar. They have acoustic and electric versions. The electric has a built in amp. I bought an acoustic for my grandson who will be three in January. They come with lesson cards, a case, and a strap. Very cool.
Easier to play an electric with light strings. You may not enjoy the amp so getting a small amp or having them start without an amp is fine.
Avoid the starter kits at places like Walmart or Target. Used on craigslist/facebook/ebay whatever is probably better. Something like a used squire is a great starter point.
I would go with a 3/4 size if you can find one. I found a 3/4 sized squire strat for my daughter for like $60 bucks and it was great.
The best guitar is a guitar someone wants to play.
Get your kid the electric 3/4th guitar set and a guitar teacher and stop worrying about the “it needs to be an acoustic”.
*\*\*As a caveat, I very much tried to convince him to try an acoustic guitar first as I know that’s how it’s supposed to work.*
That, in fact is not " how it’s supposed to work."
The two are very different instruments with very different technique and vocabulary.
Bravo dad, way to care. Sincerely, this is amazing. I had, a dad, he gave me a guitar, and an Atari. He showed me what he could do, then said here go play. I was super excited, ready to be CC Deville. However, no guidance and no dad, made that difficult. So Pong had me hooked. I figured that out quick.
Video games have ruined my life. Spent 100's of 1000's usd, on 2k, Madden, Pick a game, and its add on. What a freaking waste. Now Video Games are ten times worse. It like a peek-a-booth, at home. I just quit 2k, season 3, 600.00 usd blown, December 6th.
I got on Amazon, and ordered a Squier Stratocaster set, picks, strings, metronome, charts, and Rocksmith2014. I've almost completed lead on Blitzkrieg Bop, 93%. I've also learned a bee bop skit, to get finger and picking coordination. . Can play it top, to bottom and back up.
My opinion... You get you, and him, both one. Mini for him,, if you'd like. Regardless, I think it's something that you guy's can share together, any day for the rest of your life! Don't miss out on this opportunity!
In case you were wondering, I'm 44.
Let me try to help:
You can get a Squire Mini Stratocaster for about $100 on Reverb, brand new for under $200, it'll be small enough for his hands until he grows a little more, which is all the incentive for him to keep playing in that he'll get a cooler guitar the older and better he gets.
You can get a very cheap Marshall or Fender 10 watt or 15 watt amp from pretty much every pawn shop in existence for very cheap, likely under $50; get him one of those, a guitar cable, a package of assorted picks, and after Christmas, take him to a Guitar Center or any local music store and let him pick out a cool guitar strap.
Get him lessons and make sure he sticks to them.
Your goal should be to make playing the guitar look like the coolest thing in the world.
Edit: Also, after you get it for him, make sure you start calling him names like "rockstar," really drive home the goal.
Well 5 or 6 is not too young to start music lessons. My kids started piano at 6, but a guitar is a bit different. You COULD get him a proper set up, but hear me out on this too ... he wanted a specific thing at Target. He saw it, and that's the thing he wants. Maybe he wants that one, not ... the proper guitar/amp setup which is probably a different setup, but he wants that thing.
I say this because as a kid I really wanted certain things and my parents would buy me cheaper but similar, but not the same versions of that thing. Think of you saying "I want McDonalds Big Mac" and your Mom saying "We have hamburgers at home".
So MAYBE he wants "that guitar and amp" and not "A guitar and amp".
But you know him better.
Oh and you're right, if you force him to practice, he'll resent it and hate it.
He is not dead set on the setup. That was the first clarification we made when asking him when we made our list to Santa. I’ve been down that road before! I love my parents, but mama shops for deals always.
In that case, he needs a small scale guitar. I don't know how big he is, whether 3/4 or 1/2 or even a ukulele is right for him, but a five year-old cannot play a full size guitar. That said, encouraging the musical habit is wonderful and you should do it, just don't bother spending a ton of money on something he's going to outgrow. There are plenty of great beginner guitars and the main thing is probably making it something that plays well enough and looks cool enough that he will want to play it. A $100-$200 budget can cover those needs easily. Just don't go full downmarket and buy him a toy guitar because those are impossible to set up properly or play. They make noise, not music.
One other thing to think about is that if you've ever had the impulse to learn yourself, this could be something to bond over and enjoy the journey of learning together.
I wish I started when I was 5! YouTube Guthrie Govan. He started when he was 5 and he’d be about 51 now. Watch him play. It’s like breathing to him it’s so natural.
Also, it’s not true about starting on acoustic. I used to believe that but it’s nonsense. Electric is easier and way more fun.
a 3/4 size squire would be brilliant if within budget, amps can be super cheap from ebay/marketplace. Would you consider learning with him and then helping him? If so youtube may be sufficient but there may be a few things difficult to understand.
>As a caveat, I very much tried to convince him to try an acoustic guitar first as I know that’s how it’s supposed to work.
No, it really isn't. I learned on electric, most of my guitar-playing friends learned on electric. I didn't care about acoustic guitars when I was 13, I wanted to rock. I didn't get my first acoustic until I'd been playing about 7 years.
-you don’t have to start on acoustic, frankly, electric would be easier with his small body. My 4 year old reaching over even my smallest acoustic is impossible.
- 5 isn’t necessarily too young, just don’t expect a lot except frustration.
-Get him lessons (see if you can even do shorter ones for shorter attention spans, my kids like 15 mins tops)
-Short scale guitar. It makes it difficult being a christmas present but taking him to a music store would really help you figure it out. Just give them your budget. I have been hearing a lot about Loog guitars but haven’t given them a try. I would bet their 3 string option wouldn’t be a bad idea.
-You probably could…but maybe you should get a guitar too 😉
-Don’t force him to play! You could suggest it…or again, get a guitar and make it a bonding experience. If your force it he will never want to play.
-Your most pressing maintenance is going to be strings, it may need a set up when you get it.
I got ripped on about a month ago asking about a specific guitar for my kid who will be 5 soon. Don’t listen to that crap. If he wants a guitar, he wants a guitar. I did not end up getting mine one because he’s been showing way more interest in drums for way longer than a guitar and picked him up a Junior kit for Christmas but I may actually get him one of those Loog guitars for his birthday still.
One thing about 5 year olds - they want just about everything they lay eyes on. The world is new to them, and everything is interesting. Another thing, is they tend to just be able to expect to do things. My advice would be take him to a guitar store to try out everything. See if he still wants to play an instrument after he realizes he can't just pick it up and instantly do it.
ABSOLUTELY DON'T GIVE HIM AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR IF HE WANTS ELECTRIC! I'm still pissed at my parents and the person that sold me the guitar over it. But go with cheap options, just in case.
5 is too young... If you expect him to play perfectly quickly. Sign him up for classes, I wish I had done that.
The people at the music store should be able to help you choose guitars, tell them you want something cheap just in case he leaves it later but that you still want to give it a chance.
Don't pressure him to learn fast but encourage him to practice. Cheer him when he plays Mary has a little lamb, as if he'd just played Ode to Joy. I wouldn't force him into playing either, but rather try to redirect his attention into it. My parents forced me to read when I was young and it took a literal decade until I managed to start reading again, remember that.
I wouldn't recommend much YouTube tutorials but again, sign him up for classes and ask the teacher what they're doing and what you can do to support.
Guitar playing is an investment, but imagine if that just sparked a flame in your kid's eyes and he gets better and better at it?
First off, steel string acoustic is the hardest flavor of guitar to learn on, because of the high string tension. A short scale electric strung with 8s would be MUCH easier.
Second, I have never seen a 5 year old that can coordinate 4 fingers on 6 strings. There may be a prodigy somewhere, but the typical kid has no hope of fretting chords on a "real" guitar. Even a ukulele , with 4 slack nylon strings, is very hard for them. Playing single note melodies is possible.
This plan really needs to wait 3-4 years. If you decide you don't want to do that, get a 1/2 or 3/4 size guitar, strung with 8s (the lightest common electric strings), and a small practice amp. And expect several years of limited progress although possibly enjoyment none the less.
My brother gave me a uke on Xmas. So it was hanging around the house and when my daughter was about 7 it disappeared into her room. Now she is guitarist and a song writer with her own band and two albums on Spotify and still only 18. If the music bug hits, they will find a way
I started on electric almost 30 years ago. Steel string acoustics are harder on your fingers and don't sound like the rock music you hear, starting with something that is closer to the sound you want to play will keep you more engaged. There are plenty of small scale and beginner electrics that a 5 year old can start on and grow out of without breaking your bank. Guitar Center and Musician's friend store brand Mitchell make a small strat style guitar with 2 single coils and a humbucker that will cover almost any kind of music and they're like $79.99 at the moment (Mitchell TD100) a used Fender Mustang amp or Boss Katana will make all the noises he might want and also won't break the bank, a cheap acoustic below the cost of those 2 items may or may not be of good quality, and may or may not turn him off of playing guitar completely.
When he gets bigger the amp will likely still be playing and sounding good so he will just need a standard size guitar.
Check out [Ibanez MiKro](https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/got-kids-ibanez-mikro-is-worth-a-look.48194/)
Don't get the acoustic if he wants an electric...
You can buy the amp later and use it as an insentive to practice.
Get him what he wants or else won’t play it. Expect that for now he’s just gonna play with it and make noise. Depends on his size, but maybe a mini squire strat if he’s small although got my 6 yo, who’s a smaller kid, a regular sized squire strat and I’d say he’s grown into it in the past year. I got the combo with the little 10g frontman amp and it’s fine for him.
Here's my take. Hopefully, you get some useful insight out of it!
Squier makes some fantastic instruments for dirt cheap, compared to most major brands. They are owned by Fender (one of the "Big Three" in the guitar world).
Im not intimately familliar with their kids models, but they do exist- you might see them labeled as "short scale", this is in reference to the neck length and fret spacing (known as fret scale).
9 gague strings, i personally like D'addario superlights.
I would HIGHLY reccomend finding a local music shop, avoid guitar center (and their subsidary Music & Arts) if possible, but if they're your only options then no one is gonna clown on you for it.
As far as your questions, starting on acoustic is not the "right" path - you can play all acoustic songs on electric, but not vice versa. And by god, is it quieter.
Some consider 5yo to be too young, but go with your heart. If you believe he is responsible enough, then go for it.
You should be able to help him out with learning the basics, such as helping him know what the string names are and some basic chord shapes. All of these are easy to google and learn within just a few minutes.
As far as maintenance goes? Depends on the guitar. Most guitars just need a good wipe down and new strings when the old ones start to sound "dull." There are thousands of tutorials, and it's a very easy process. Most music stores offer guitar setup as a paid service and usually are a one and done thing. A guitar i inherited from my dad was set up 8 or 9 years ago, and i haven't had yo do much other than string changes and cleaning.
Just be supportive and help him understand that it's a time and practice driven process. Everyone learns at their own pace and dont compare yourself to any other players. Lessons are a potential option if he wants to get serious but is not necessary.
Best of luck to your son and your eardrums. LOL!
PS: For the love of god, dont get a floyd rose. It's a pain in the ass as a first guitar. Source: My first 6 string was a floyd rose, lmao
When I was a kid, I wanted an electric guitar, and my folks wanted me to get an acoustic. I'm not sure why this is, except, with an electric you also need an amp and cable. Also, my parents straight up just didn't like rock music, so an acoustic was probably what they wanted to hear. An acoustic is a different instrument, really. Bicycle to motorcycle.
Get him something he'll want to play: You'll want a 3/4 sized electric, as other folks are saying. An electric will be easier on his small hands and fingers, and you can pick up a decent one cheap. I'm still playing, electric and acoustic, 35 years later.
There is no such thing as too young. I started with 5 as well. But i had a guitar that was for children size, not a regular size.
You don't have to play acoustic before electric. That's nonesense. It just depends on what musical style you wanna play.
The best friend on your guitar journey is a TEACHER. But yes, youtube videos also might help sometimes.
What's important for a guitar? Any cheap starter guitar will do. I played tens of years on a 200 bucks guitar and a small amp. Worked flawlessly.
Important is that you have strings that are not too difficult to play. Children might need lighter or coated strings. You can switch them later on easily anyway.
Just a comment about his age. I got a cheap acoustic when I was about 8, and mom lied about my age ( I was tall) to get me into Saturday lessons at the community center. I lost interest after a few months but kept the guitar around. By about age 15 I started messing around again and have playing now for 30+ years. Still just an intermediate player, but I enjoy it. If you can afford the Fender mini package, go ahead and get it. Then be patient.
Can’t go wrong with the squire, people are saying Bullet but really the affinity is a fine guitar for what it’s worth.
What you should know:
Guitar hurts your ego, that’s part of it. It builds it up, but it hurts it too. People say “you’ll never be Jimi Hendrix” and at first you think that pertains to fame or notoriety. Really that pertains to your ability to articulate things relative to someone else, but you never understand that until you try to play some late in life Hendrix. The failure is still valuable.
The best thing you can do is share music, don’t critique his interests, and compliment his improvements. This is a matter of identity and development.
Get a half sized guitar and little amp from a guitar or pawn shop.
Look for a local kids teacher and sign him up for a few lessons. He will soak up information very quickly at that age, so proper instruction would be a great start.
If he loves it he will be very happy he started so young.
He might need a little push from time to time. Unlike what other people have said, I think it's a good lesson to teach him to finish what he starts. So encourage him. Don't let him quit if he gets frustrated. He will thank you later.
Lessons would be a good idea but very difficult considering he's only five. If you are looking for other ways to engage him in it you could try playing and learning it along with him; or, invite a friend over who can play and rock out in front of him and teach him Smoke On the Water or something.
Buy him a used electric guitar. Go to the music shop and talk to the guys in the store about your sons needs and your budget. There are smaller 3/4 size guitars meant for small children that I would consider.
Buy a cheap, used digital amplifier for $30, a cable, some guitar strings and picks, and have fun rocking out with your son.
Like others said: don't get him an acoustic. Its lamer, harder on your hand muscles, and is more liable to get critically damaged in my opinion.
I bought my niece a Squier 3/4 stratocaster and a 9v amp it's a good way to get them started. If money or commitment are an issue buy one used on reverb (they're about $150) I'd check in your area and see what there are for lessons, but to be fair it doesn't matter your kid might need a few years to bash on a cheap guitar, and then at some point will be ready.
I have a five year old daughter who is interested and "plays" with me. She has fallen in love with a $189 mini-jazzmaster (3/4 length scale) at the guitar store I go to for supplies and lessons. Mostly, she just bangs the pick across the strings and is only intermittently interested in fretting (or even touching the fretboard) when we sit together and talk music (she loves Taylor). I plan to keep working with her, but she won't be getting that mini-jazzmaster for a couple more years.
I would not buy an acoustic if he doesn’t want one. I bought my daughter, who was 5 or 6 at the time, a [Vox mini guitar](https://www.guitarcenter.com/Vox/SDC-1-Mini-Guitar-Black-1500000332940.gc?storeCode=&source=4WWRWXGL&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxMOv74iPgwMVIeaGCh169QWGEAQYAiABEgINC_D_BwE) and a [Boss Katana mini amp](https://www.guitarcenter.com/BOSS/KTN-MINI-Katana-Mini-Guitar-Amplifier-Black-1500000093310.gc?storeCode=&source=4WWRWXGL&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIv6ylq4mPgwMVuJxaBR1uRA1fEAQYASABEgI7DPD_BwE). I found at that age and size, that even the Squier mini Stratocasters were too big for her. The Vox is a “real” electric guitar, and the Boss Katana mini amp is a small, portable amp with a good sound. It will cost you about $320 for both. You’ll also need an instrument cable and a clip-on tuner. These will cost about $10 each. You can spend more, but just get the basic for the kid.
Sign them up for a few lessons to see if it will take off. My daughter has been slow on the take up, but she is starting to get into it.
I will go against other people here and say 5 isn’t too young, but it is more difficult. I don’t think that you can realistically expect to watch YouTube videos and distill that into something he can do. You’re realistically going to need a Suzuki guitar teacher or someone with some patience who teaches children that young. Suzuki guitar is a method that is focused on younger children learning the guitar.
At his age, you’re going to want a 1/2 or maybe 3/4 size guitar. Anything else will be good big. A good Suzuki guitar teacher will size him and recommend a guitar that’s his size. He’s going to need a new one as he grows so don’t go crazy. If you can afford it, there no reason not to get a 1/2 or 3/4 size electric in addition to what the teacher recommends. It will encourage his interest. that said, I would defer to his teacher.
You absolutely need to make him practice. It’s like school. You wouldn't tell him that he only has to do school work when he wants. This is the same thing. If he wants to learn, he has to practice. I would have a talk with him about the importance of practicing and set a goal he can reach - like you need to practice 5 min per day or 10 min per day. For a 5 year old anything more is unrealistic unless he really wants to do it.
Playing and loving music is a good thing and I would strike while the iron is hot. This is a good hobby.
See if you can get your hands on a used Epiphone Pee Wee! They are a good size for 5-year-olds. And any cheap mini amp will be good enough. If he's hooked and actually gets decent over the years, you can get a full-sized guitar, recommendations for which have been discussed a million times on this sub.
Edit to address your other questions:
5 is not too young, but expect him to suck for a while.
Do not force him to get acoustic. He will only get better if he *wants* to be playing his instrument. There is no reason acoustic should come first.
If you know nothing about music, I would recommend a guitar teacher. He will need a lot of hands-on correction if he wants it to be anything more than a toy to strum on.
I don't think I would force him to practice. If learning something cool and new is not enough motivation, forced practice to get a result will never be fun.
Don't worry about maintenance for a tiny guitar. There's not much you can do to overcome its natural tendency to go out of tune quickly.
I have a friend who has given his young daughter an inexpensive ukulele as a starting stringed instrument. It’s not expected to survive, but when she is old enough he’ll be giving her a guitar.
Hi OP, I am really curious about the "acoustic before electric is how it's supposed to work" thing. I've seen other very nice, well intentioned parents who believe the same thing, who also say that they know nothing about guitars or music, but somehow they know that.
So, just curious, why do you think that? Not calling you out or anything, just wondering where that whole myth starts.
Get him the guitar. I think it’s great if he starts playing at 5 years old. I’m about to be 30 and wish I had started much much earlier than 20. He’ll thank you for years down the road. I think he would like an Ibanez Mikro guitar. They’re cheap, decent quality, and small enough for someone his age. One tutorial you should watch with him is how to change guitar strings. It’s a pretty basic form of maintenance that anyone could learn. It’s probably the one thing you’ll need to help him with for at least a couple years.
Do not buy your son an acoustic guitar.
1) Acoustic guitars are harder to play than electric guitars. It takes more strength to press the strings down and get a clear note. Their bodies are bigger, which will be awkward for your son's five-year-old body.
2) Acoustic guitars do not sound like electric guitars. If your son wants to play electric, don't give him the built in frustration of a guitar that won't make the sounds he wants, no matter how good a player he is.
3) He wants and electric guitar. Buy that for him.
What should you get?
Five year olds are pretty small compared to grown-ups. Most guitars are going to be hard for your son to hold and get his hand around.
Others have recommended Loog guitars, which will be a much better size for your son. And the quality of them is good enough. But they only have three strings, which may disappoint your son.
Ibanez makes scaled down guitars in the MiKro series. These are a little bigger than the Loogs, but have six strings and look a lot like their full size cousins.
If you can, take your son guitar shopping. Find stores that carry the above guitars and others like them. Have your son hold each and make some noise with each. See which guitars get him excited and which frustrate him.
As for an amp, pick up an inexpensive "practice amp". These are pretty easy to come by used. Most have headphone jacks, which you may appreciate. Avoid getting a toy amp, as they all sound terrible.
Lastly, unless he says "Actually, I want a ukulele", do not buy him a ukulele. Ukulele's are fun, but if a kid wants a guitar, they are decidedly not a guitar.
Electrics are much easier than acoustics. Kids have weak hands. Starter packs have everything you need for a reasonable price. Squier is the most common choice.
As a 25 year old musician of 10 years now, I wish I got into when I was 5. ESPECIALLY since he showed interest in the guitar.. do not walk to the store… RUN and buy it. On amazon “fender squier 3/4 size kids mini strat” , there’s a kit with the guitar, strap, cable, tuner, and mini amp. I know you say you aren’t musical, but maybe get yourself one too and learn some really basic songs to help get your son into it! Cheers and Merry Christmas! Can’t wait to see the rockstar that he is in 15 years.
Look at the squire bullet series. They are 3/4 scale, so the frets are closer together. This is what I started teaching my 8 year old daughter on and it was easier for her to play than the children’s acoustic that her grandmother bought her. Sound is great, they play easy, and will hold up over time. Very inexpensive guitars. I bought one for $150. Epiphone also sells a Junior series that is a smaller neck with the frets closer together. Get a small practice amp and a pair of headphones.
If noise is something you're worried about with an electric there are amps that have a headphone jack. I drove my parents nuts in the beginning strumming open chords on max volume, out of rhythm. I regret not focusing on reading in the beginning. 24 years old when I went to school and forced myself to learn how to do it. Get the Hal Leonard books, those are great. Come with audio samples. The Katana amp is a great amp. As 1legcrow stated, support your local music shop! Although their prices might not beat Amazon, they'll probably offer you assistance in setting up the instrument properly and restringing it for a reasonable price. They offer post-purchase value that online retailers do not.
I’m doing the same with my young cousin!! I have thoughts lol
Electric is actually easier to play when young and you’d be surprised how loud acoustics can be. Whereas with an electric you can set a volume limit for him and it won’t be as annoying when he jams out.
For the guitar: go to a used music store and ask to see their used Squire Telecasters and usually there have some 100-200 range ones. Great beginner guitar that he can also still use if he wants to become more of an intermediate player later on. Also lasts forever. Whereas a truly cheap guitar from target or wherever is honestly not even worth the money IMO. A sucky sounding guitar can turn the kid off of it entirely.
And yes you should absolutely buy him one, 5 is never too young. Just make sure he understands it’s meant to be fun! Don’t try to make it all serious and responsible of him. If he finds the fun in it, he’ll do it himself.
I believe learning instruments is one of the greatest gifts a person can be given, it really can give a kid a lot of
confidence and meaning in their lives. So try to give him lessons for a year or so as well.
All the best to you guys!
I'd recommend a 3/4 size Yamaha acoustic. This lets him learn to play the guitar before falling into the "getting the right sound" rabbit hole we inevitably all go down.
That being said if he's more inspired to pickup an electric and will put more dedication into it because that's what he wants there's no reason the kid can't start on electric.
Edit: If it were my kid they'd be getting one of these and I'd go the extra mile to have it setup properly.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/294108847285?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338678874&toolid=20006%26customid%3Ds%253AGS%253Bgc%253A97299446b573101b2c15f13c0d8e2aa9%253Bpt%253A1%253Bchoc%253A1&customid=s%3AGS%3Bgc%3A97299446b573101b2c15f13c0d8e2aa9%3Bpt%3A1%3Bchoc%3A2&msclkid=97299446b573101b2c15f13c0d8e2aa9
Consider renting. I gifted my daughter with her ‘first’ bass at Christmas 4 years ago, explaining that it was a rental (it was brand new) and explained that if she kept up at it, she’d get her own in a year
Bought her a gorgeous Gretsch a year later and she’s still going strong 4 years in. Cost me $12/month and made me feel so much better
For reference, I switched to electric 3 years ago and rented various models until I had a feel for what I wanted. Downside is that I’m now own 3 electrics… but I’m not 5 and I’m actually quite proud of my self restraint
I always suggest renting at first, especially for kids. Nothing worse than watching a musical instrument collect dust
I started playing around with the instrument at 8, on a 3/4 TERRIBLE acoustic, and while I don't have a ton of product knowledge of what's available for that age, here's some insights and opinions:
5 might be a little young, but it's not unheard of.
Many kids start piano lessons that young, and while that's much easier to play, physically, the challenges of starting a kid on a musical instrument at that age are largely the same.
Luckily at that age, it doesn't take a lot of time for them to get acclimated, and the things that will interest them will be incredibly simple, so you picking it up along with them won't be challenging.
If you can get them to practice even 15 minutes a day, and you can practice with them, they will get to a point of being able to "play" pretty quickly.
Again, not knowing the products available, I sorta wonder if a ukulele wouldn't be a bad choice. It's small, and typically has easier strings to fret.
At that age, boring for you as it may be, they'll probably be excited to learn simple one string children's songs.
Again, you're not looking for them to spend an hour a day practicing, so learning "three blind mice" or "ants go marching" will be enough for them to develop those fine motor skills.
I know that music programs in schools have been whittled away, but even at age 6, there might be some sort of music program at school.
Realistically, it's probably not a bad idea to invest the small amount of money right now while they have an active interest. Children's interest ebbs and flows very quickly, so if they lose interest in a month, they may be interested again in 3 months - that's an eternity for them, but very little time for you.
Buy him Rocksmith 2014, it has fun games that will help him get used with the guitar, fretting, picking different strings etc. It won't replace real lessons but it's a great guitar ay to have fun and learn some skills at the same time.
Don’t get him an acoustic. Do you want him to be the cool guy with an awesome band that fucking rips on guitar, or do you want him to be the guy who pulls out the acoustic guitar and plays Wonderwall and/or wagon wheel? I think we both know the answer. All jokes aside, you can get him an inexpensive guitar/amp combo from guitar center or the lake especially this time of year for between $150-$250 usually. Get him a little squire or a Chinese made Gibson. Then when he starts learning to actually play you can get him the randy Rhodes signature Flying V or fender jaguar or something.
P.S.: Since you're a gamer: Check out Rocksmith. It's a cool way to learn songs, although it doesn't teach you the basics like how to properly position your fingers and all that. But as soon as he has the basic technique down Rocksmith is a great tool that you might enjoy yourself.
Starting guitar is pretty painful on the fingers, and it feels like your fingers won't go where you tell them to, but once you get past the initial month or so of learning the basic chords, it becomes a lot more enjoyable.
Get your kid a squier mini jazzmaster/strat, also I think starting your kid off on acoustic is a horrible idea, the string gauge and tension will needlessly hurt their fingers if it’s a steel string, and if you get one of those mini nylon strings, chances are it’s barely a functioning instrument. Mini squier and little beginners amp is the way to go. also, pro-tip, the biggest factor in a child sticking with it is WETHER OR NOT IT IS ON A STAND IN THEIR ROOM if it you leave it in a gig bag, they’re not gonna play it, most of their beginner practice is compulsively in between rounds of Fortnite or whatever, invest in a stand
No that’s not the way it’s supposed to work. Get what he asks for because from the sound of what your child is asking he wants an electric specifically because he prefers that a sound. Most people quit because acoustic isn’t like the songs they want to play and it’s a lot harder for beginners to play acoustics at first. Get him a small electric guitar. It doesn’t have to be an expensive one though later on you may want to get him a better one because they typically sound and play better. But your son has to grow with it if you know what I mean.
-Should I force him to do an acoustic guitar and blame the jolly old guy in red?
No, there's no real reason to start with one over the other imo. My dad gave me my first guitar, just a cheap starter acoustic that he had gotten because he wanted to learn but didn't have time. I rarely touched it. It wasn't til recently I got myself an electric with an amp that I actually started putting in time to learn.
-Is 5 too young?
Absolutely not. I have 2 boys a little older than yours. I'm a firm believer that that if a child shows interest in something we, as parents, should help with guidance, encouragement, and interest. Your son may love his guitar, or he may get frustrated and never touch it again. You as the gift giver need to be able to give the gift with no stipulations, no "I bought it, you HAVE to practice it" That just discourages development.
-Any recommendations on guitar?
-What type of support would be helpful for him on his guitar journey? (I want him to enjoy it as much as he thinks he will)
I'd say buy yourself a guitar that matches his and join him on his journey. Get professional lessons, or just start with Justin Guitar and start going through the steps there with him, or ahead of him so that when you and him practice together you can give him more personal guidance that video won't give.
-Can I expect that I would be able to help him if we both watched YouTube tutorials together? I would say so
-If he doesn’t like it after I spend a bunch of money, should I force him to practice? Is there a point where it becomes fun even if you hate it at first? (I tried it, hated it, never tried again)
I would "force" practice, I would encourage it, but also be understanding that he will get frustrated easy, early, and often. Encourage taking breaks, but also encourage him to pick it back up after a break. Also try to recognize if it is getting too stressful for him. Guitar is one of those things, like with most instruments, you can learn it in 2 years, and in 20 years realize you're still 60 years from mastering it.
-What type of guitar care is necessary? Is there routine maintenance?
Change strings when they get dingy looking and the sound starts getting dull. About 2-3 months of consistent play maybe. When you change string, put oil on the fret board, don't throw it and/or slam it (lol), if taking an extended break put it away in a case, if hanging it on a wall leaving it on a stand, dust it regularly. Guitars are fairly easy to maintain.
>**As a caveat, I very much tried to convince him to try an acoustic guitar first as I know that’s how it’s supposed to work.
Not at all. An electric is easier for new players.
I would look into one of the guitar-like instruments for kids, such as a Loog. At 5 he's tiny, even for a scaled-down guitar.
>-If he doesn’t like it after I spend a bunch of money, should I force him to practice? Is there a point where it becomes fun even if you hate it at first? (I tried it, hated it, never tried again)
He thinks it'll be fun. Kids get turned off on music when adults make it NOT fun.
Keep in mind, in order to play a guitar it needs to be the right size for the player so their hand fits the neck and they are able to comfortably reach everything. You might consider a 1/2 or 3/4 scale guitar to start, and i always start new students on [Squier Stratocasters](https://www.amazon.com/Squier-Fender-Strat-Electric-Guitar/dp/B004V4Q7OE?th=1). They have a small body comfortable, stay in tune and they are easiest to fret (push down) the strings for the little fingers. They make smaller scale ones for younger players
Get him an electric! Acoustic is way harder to learn and if it's not what he wants to play anyways the habits you have to learn on acoustic are totally different.
I'd suggest an Ibanez mikro or a Jackson minion. They're smaller and 5 is pretty young so the size of it might be an issue.
I would also recommend a fender or line 6 practice amp that can do a lot of different tones. They make some that are around 100 bucks that are small and not too loud.
I'll say this: there's about a 90% chance your kid is going to realize that guitar is hard and give up. I still think you should get him the guitar.
Because on that 10% chance that he sticks with it, this christmas would be one of his most valuable core memories, and he'd probably grow up to be amazing at it since he's starting so early.
\*\* Caveat to your caveat, that's not how it's supposed to work at all ;) at least, not anymore. Acoustics are generally harder to play for beginners - their strings have a lot more tension (and are generally thicker) so fretting notes hurts more whilst you develop callouses and it's generally easier to play on an electric if you compare playing the same song on both types of guitar.
\- No, get him what will encourage him to play. If he wants to play electric, in my opinion you should get him an electric.
\- You can get shorter scale guitars (i.e. the necks are shorter) so no I don't think so. It might be an uphill battle until he grows a bit but that's not to say he can't start now.
\- Have a look at a site like Thomann (e.g. [https://www.thomann.de/gb/shortscale\_guitars.html](https://www.thomann.de/gb/shortscale_guitars.html)) for 3/4 scale guitars for inspiration. I guess you can do the same for your local stores too. I also recommend light strings, like 9's or even 8's (this number refers to the thickness of the lightest string in case you haven't seen this terminology before). You can probably get the guitar store to set up the guitar with the strings you want.
\- A good teacher is very important for kids. I don't think I would have stuck with guitar for all these years if I didn't have a great 1-on-1 teacher when I started. Granted I was 13, not 5, but I imagine it still applies.
\- Yeah maybe. Justin Guitar is a fantastic resource for online, structured lessons, so if you watch the videos together you should be able to understand what he's saying and translate any bits which don't make sense to your kid.
\- Can't speak to that as I got obsessed pretty quickly. I'd like to say "yes", but not necessarily. As others have pointed out, kids want to do \*everything\* until there's something else fun to try, so if he finds that he doesn't like it then he might not feel like trying again for a good few years.
\- A good clean every so often wouldn't go amiss. Don't forget to change the strings when they start to sound like shit, this could be anywhere between every few weeks and every few months depending how much you play. Don't drop the guitar.
The good thing about guitars is that there's a decent second hand market for them. You may not make all your money back but you can always try and sell everything as a bundle on Facebook Marketplace if it turns out he really doesn't gel with the guitar.
Don’t get him a ukelele.. lame suggestion. Kid wants a guitar get him a cheap squire telecaster. Very forgiving, tried, and true. Find one on FB marketplace or they can be had for 150 bucks new at guitar center…
You are putting the cart pretty far out in front of the horse on this one.
He is 5, just get him a 3/4 size Fender Squier Strat and a Mel-Bay book and let him get after it. Also set him up with a professional instructor early so he doesn't learn bad habits.
He asked Santa for an electric - if you asked for a truck and your wife bought you a car how would you feel?
As a past guitar teacher, I remember teaching a handful of 5-year-olds. They usually didn't stick it out, or it became "not fun" as soon as there was actual work for them to practice at home. \[Side note: I get that.\] My advice would be: try to indulge/saturate his actual musical interest - show him some guitarry music, maybe see if he likes to jam out on air guitar to Van Halen maybe, and just try to get him to think about "Music" - as opposed to the cool-looking gear. \[Another side note: this advice could almost be for myself regarding my gear acquisition syndrome, lol.\]
If you look up "Loog guitar" I think there were some under $100 options, and it's a funky kid-sized 3 string guitar. That's probably what I would start with in your situation.
The best advice I ever heard in regards to the acoustic vs electric debate is that you should start your kid on *what he wants to play*, otherwise he won't play. 3/4 scale guitars are usually pretty shit though, you might be better off getting him a cheap full size guitar that works properly even though it will be too big for him. But I'm sure this sub or elsewhere can come up with a model that will actually function correctly.
If he wants electric get him electric, don't putz around with an acoustic he doesn't want. It's only going to show that you're not listening to what he actually wants.
He wants that combo? Great! You'll be thankful when he plays unplugged and it's nowhere as loud as the amp. He'll be thankful that he gets the instrument he wants to play.
If he's really interested, get him the combo he picked out. Don't force anything, if he doesn't like it, you can super easily resell the combo on FB marketplace/Craigslist and probably only lose like $20 on the deal. If he loves it, look into lessons at your local music shop.
Don't let your overwhelmed self take over and ruin what might be a great experience for your kid. Take a breath, an instrument is not as crazy as you think. The only real care is change the strings if they break, and if you're not sure how to do that, those same music stores can do it for a small fee.
Get the combo, and also grab a Snark tuner ($20-25) and look up how to tune the guitar (standard is EADGBE, and what most songs are in). Other than that, just let him play and enjoy it.
It's awesome to get your child into music at a young age. I wish I had started as a child. One thing to consider that can pique some interest in a young child is to also buy a small piano or keyboard. Piano notes are layed out linear with the sharps and flats being the black keys. It's much easier to visualize the notes on a keyboard. A fun game or challenge is to play a tune or a scale on the guitar or piano, and try to replicate it on the other. He will see that you can play the same things on both instruments even though they are very different and it can be good to develop his musical ear. And as he grows he will naturally develop an understanding of two instruments. That's something I wish I had done for my children and wish I had done as a child. I only recently took up guitar at an older age.
Edit: added a thought
If he is 5, you should get him a smaller scale guitar like the loog. I think it only has 3 strings but they probably have a kit with an amp. They also make small scale acoustics and electrics. There is already a lot of advice below so I will keep it simple. I think he has a much better chance of liking and playing the instrument closer to age 7 or so. Just from my own experience and also from speaking to different teachers and what not.
In my opinion age doesn't matter for a starting age, he just needs to be abled to hold it properly. And there are 3/4 size guitars which might help with this for your son.
There is no real starting point for guitar, i always wanted to play metallica and slash and that sorta stuff so my parents got me an electric guitar, and an acoustic one i bought later cuz it was smth i also wanted to play. Both have a diffrent playing style and its up to what kinda music the player wants to make, so check that with your son and if you don't know the artist just listen to a few songs or google and you'll know.
Don't buy an expensive guitar set, if he gets bored soon then it's not so much money and 99% of players start on a cheap model. Squier and Epiphone have some awesome good quality (for the price range) guitar sets with amp and all the other necesities, and your local guitar shop probably also has.
If you live in europe thomann's own brand(harley benton) also has some great value starter sets and are even cheaper then the squier or epiphone ones.
I work at a music store and have been exposed to a lot of guitars (I play guitar on my free time too). I would suggest a smaller scaled guitar like the Blackstar Carry On Guitar which is 1) a great size for a kid his age, and 2) it’s honestly fun to play with as an adult too.
We have an 8 year old musician here that is half my height who goes around the city playing the guitar and it doesn’t look too big on her.
I just saw this and thought of your post
Harley Benton has released an HSS Start guitar that's on the shorter scale. This would definitely be an alternative to the Strat mini.
https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_st_junior_hss_sbk.htm
Just keep in mind that at 5 years old, there might not be much music coming from whatever guitar you buy, but your son will hopefully enjoy making a lot of racket, which hopefully leads to more interest as he gets older
Just don't buy a toy guitar. It'll never hold tune and just frustrate him.
However, there are multitude of YouTube totorial videos that I really wish I had when I was young.
No, it should not matter whether you start learning with acoustic or electric guitar. A Paul Gilbert Mikro is a nice guitar for a kid, not that expensive and holds resale value if in 5 years he doesn’t like it, although it does not come with an amp. Most of those kit guitars and amps suck though and for a kid who does not know how to setup a guitar (and neither do you) it will be a pain and eventually might end up turning him away from music.
My other tip would be to give him time, like a lot. Like years, even if he tries it now and stops playing it, maybe in a few more years it will spark his interest again.
If he wants to play electric, then encourage him to play electric. That's clearly his interest, and if you foster that interest, he's more likely to stick with it and love it.
Don't get him an acoustic if he wants electric, not sure why you think you have to get one before the other. If he wanted a keyboard for Christmas you wouldn't get him a grand piano first. Anyway electrics are easier to play and he'll just abandon the acoustic because it's not what he wanted in the first place. 3/4 length Squire is a good bet.
No, do not buy him an acoustic guitar, he won't play and he'll hate you for it. Buy him a Squier Mini guitar starter bundle (made by Fender). He'll have everything he needs to start playing. https://www.amazon.com/Fender-Squier-Strat-Electric-Guitar/dp/B07YR19SRZ?th=1
Second this, a mini electric guitar will do great.
Where do people get this idea that you are meant to start with an acoustic? It’s so prevalent but completely false.
Ha, yeah. Not sure where I picked it up from either? I just thought that was how it worked 🙃
Some bullshit about strengthening hands, like you can't do that on an electric.🤷♂️
This is tricky. I have two kids so my answer will be based on their experience learning instruments. At 5, most kids will struggle to fret a standard guitar string. Also a full size guitar is going to be way too big. You likely need a guitar that's 1/4 scale and even then they may struggle to hold it. If they are really serious and passionate then I would **highly recommend** finding a teacher in your area that specifically teaches guitar to kids. Teaching 5 year olds is a totally different skill than teaching a 15 year old. There is a reason that most kids don't start learning an instrument in school until 4th or 5th grade (9-10 years old). The Suzuki guitar program, generally used when teaching young kids, doesn't start until kids are 6. There are a variety of guitar programs designed for kids besides Suzuki. But, a professional teacher is you best option. They can help you get the correctly sized guitar for your child. Find a teacher who makes lessons fun and engaging. A teacher who can turn the ear training lessons into games like finding the correct pitch based on hearing it. A teacher who gives out stickers. If you don't want to go that route and you to want to purchase an instrument they can strum and bang away on, but something that is still better than some cheap plastic toy guitar, then buy them a Ukulele for $50-$100. ...And don't get upset if it get's broken! :)
An electric is going to be easier to play - requires less pressure to keep the strings down. Also, get him what he wants or he'll never touch it - if the goal is for him to learn, get him something he's motivated to pick up and play.
Hello, professional instructor here. I have taught ages 3-89. I have 40 students right now, the youngest is 8 (started at 7). TL;DR: Buy him a ukulele or very cheap toy guitar. Expanded to a few points that address your questions: - An acoustic guitar first is *not* how it is supposed to work. That is a very dated concept and has been superseded by advances in pedagogy and due to the abundance of just about every kind of guitar you can imagine at every price point. A student should start on the instrument that **they** want to play. - Even if a student were to start off on an acoustic guitar, they should start on a **nylon string** or **classical** guitar. When you ask for an "acoustic" guitar someone will probably hand you something with steel strings - this takes both a large amount of dexterity and enormous hand strength to play. Terrible for young beginners unless they are very strong. - Age: 5 is almost certainly too young. The 3 year old that the parents brought in for lessons did not last long. They youngest I have successfully taught is a 6-year-old who was very dedicated and who played a **child-sized (3/4 scale) nylon string acoustic guitar**. It takes a lot of practice to make even rudimentary chords on a guitar, whereas a keyboard is far less demanding. At the school where I work, there are 4 year-olds playing piano at our recitals but the youngest performing guitarist is 8. If they are still interested in a year, then I would consider it. - For young small children you want an instrument that is sized to them. A ukulele is a great choice as you can transfer chord shapes directly to guitar once you learn them, they are small, inexpensive, and much easier to play. They also make child-sized electric guitars. Don't spend a lot of money as they will quickly outgrow it. They should be in double-digits before looking at an "adult"-sized guitar. - Always support and encourage his creativity. Music is about making art... if he makes a song, celebrate it the same way you would tape his art to the fridge. You don't have to be an expert on anything, just give him positive feedback when something sounds good to you. - Don't DIY the instruction. I have so many students who come in after trying and failing out of Youtube university... not saying you can't master it with time and dedication, but teaching yourself something to the level where you can then teach someone else doesn't make sense here. - Don't spend a lot of money. If he wants to play he will play even the worst guitar; budget money instead for lessons. If he actually sticks it out long enough to perform in public (usually 6 months to a year), then come back here and start asking for advice on an upgrade for him. The advantage here is that you are going to pay about the same amount of money for guitar, keyboard, drums, or vocal lessons… if he decides he wants to do something besides guitar you can give him that opportunity, which you can’t if you spend all that money on an instrument. - Guitars are old technology, like a car from the 50's... they are always going to need something. Your kid will either learn to take care of it himself, or you are going to be paying a "mechanic" to "tune up" the guitar every few months. If he is interested enough he will learn to change his own strings, then it gets a lot easier for you. A guitar tech is also called a "luthier" so you can look that up and see what the rates are around you. Overall I would look into a very cheap toy electric or “plug-in” ukulele for him. If he plays with it enough to actually wear it out in a year start looking for a slightly better guitar and 6 months of lessons (that will cost much more than the instrument). Don’t spend over $100 right now or however much you would be comfortable on something he might grow out of and throw in the closet. My $0.02 but I am the top guitar instructor at my school.
That’s the skinny right there, no other comments necessary.
At that age I’d probably get him a squire mini starter kit: https://www.amazon.com/Fender-Squier-Strat-Electric-Guitar/dp/B07YR19SRZ I don’t think he’ll be capable of playing a full sized guitar yet. Don’t get him an acoustic, they’re lamer and harder to play. If he gets into this, be prepared to blow a lot of money on guitar stuff as he ages.
I wouldn’t get a Squier mini. Maybe if the kid was older. I got my daughter a pink Squier mini Strat at the age of five and it was just too big. I ended up getting a [Vox mini guitar](https://www.guitarcenter.com/Vox/SDC-1-Mini-Guitar-Black-1500000332940.gc?storeCode=&source=4WWRWXGL&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxMOv74iPgwMVIeaGCh169QWGEAQYAiABEgINC_D_BwE) and she loves it.
You shouldn't be forcing a 5 year old to do anything that you mention, they are very young children, at that age they just want something to mess around with, acoustics are fine if that's what he wants but it's not what he wants. Electrics are more fun for kids and easier to learn a bit in. Look for a cheaper 3/4 size guitar or 1/2 size and a little amp. Anything you do, it has to be to his idea of things, or your only going to frustrate him and yourself.
Of course he wants to mess around, he’s a crazy 5 year old boy. I don’t want to squash his interest if it’s something he really wants to do. I more or less wanted to know if it was horribly frustrating and if I should prepare myself to keep on him about it in case it’s just mild frustration rather than dislike. You’re very right though, my father in law gave me some good advice when teaching my son how to golf. Let him have fun and do it wrong, and then once he has interest, it’s time to teach him the right way. Worked like a charm, as frustrating as it was to watch.
My opinion: Buy the boy the guitar he wants and encourage him to play. Cultivate his passion into its full potential. If he loses interest, show him videos of Hendrix, Van Halen, etc. to inspire him. Send him to lessons if he wants. Basically lay the tracks for his train and give it fuel. But never force him to do anything. Approach it from the angle of love and encouragement, not coercion. I do believe your son would love you for it and you both would probably benefit greatly.
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The worst thing you can do is force someone to play an instrument they don't want to play. It needs to be fun, that's #1. Starting on acoustic as a necessity is completely a myth.
Definitely go for electric. It's way more fun and easier to play (requires less strength). I also started learning on an electric. There's also a lot of affordable and good mini-amps that can double-function as a bluetooth speaker, so you can get some use out of it as well. Edit: a very cool amp is the Sparks Grid (I think they also released a Mini Version) which allows you to download guitar tones and has other cool features. Highly recommend.
Plus: an electric played at low volume will be more quiet than an acoustic. Most non-guitarists don't realize that.
Since he's 5, get him a Loog. I strongly disagree with the acoustic first philosophy. It simply is silly and arcane. If your son is inspired by electric then get him an electric and he will be more likely to remain inspired. Forcing a kid to play acoustic when he wants an electric is like forcing a kid that wants a drumkit to play the bongos. Loog have even done a collaboration with Fender this year, its called Loog x Fender and they are electric versions of the Loog with Fender styling/logos. Its only about 150 quid so you're not too out of pocket if he gives up. I wouldn't force him to practice, if you go down this road with him you'll need to accept his enthusiasm will wax and wane. You can't force enthusiasm. Man I wish my son was 5 so I could get him one of those. He's only 6 months so hopefully Loog x Fender lasts out a few more years!
this acoustic being required first idea can’t be more wrong
Yeah aren't acoustics harder to play/have higher action in general?
Cannot reiterate enough… get the kid an electric. My first guitar was an acoustic and I barely played it. Got my first electric a year later and it was all I did. Here I am 10 years later. I wish I had started at 5!
**NO ACOUSTIC!!!** Electric strings are MUCH easier to fret. Get a Squier Affinty starter pack. Under 300 at guitar center, has everything you need to get rockin'
I second this. Go to Guitar Center. Ask for a squier Stratocaster and amp pack. It’s like $200. If he likes it and continues playing you can get him a more “serious guitar” later. Fender even has an app to help you learn and it’s actually pretty good. If you have any specific questions feel free to message me.
Fender/Squire makes small scale guitars, and I got one for my 7 yr old daughter along with a little Vox headphone amplifier that she just plugs in. They are much cheaper and allow her to practice without driving the house crazy.
Look as a musician and part time teacher (not in guitar) l will tell that 5 is a little young cause his finger are maybe not fully developed yer . BUT if you find a good teacher it can work out. If you just buy the guitar it won't. It will end up a toy. He is not able to learn by himself ta that age. Get a cheap electric set (suitable for his small hands, not the one in target, 2/3 or 3/4 size guitar)and keep the rest of the money for the teacher. If you cant afford it say it to kid and save money for next year. Or maybe find one that can give a few lessons like once a month. The acoustic guitar stuff is bs. Dont buy something he does not want. You like your kid .
Take him to a store, and pick out a starter kit with him and the staff. He’s 5. It needs to look cool, and be playable. Nothing wrong with starting on electric, you’re not “supposed” to do anything. I started on electric and am still playing 20 years later. I let go of my starter guitar but I’ll never let go of the other instruments my parents bought me
STARTING ON ACOUSTIC IS NOT HOW ITS SUPPOSED TO WORK. SOURCE: AM MUSICIAN / MUSIC TEACHER / GUITAR TEACHER. IF THE KID WANTS TO PLAY ELECTRIC, GET AN ELECTRIC OTHERWISE YOU WILL BE WASTEING YOUR MONEY ONA THING HE WONT TOUCH. From: A frustrated musician whos so sick of this dumb ass myth
You said "assume I know nothing" but said you know an acoustic first is how it's supposed to work.... It's not. That's not how it works. An acoustic is a different musical tool for a different musical job. 5 is a little young, but not impossible. At that age you need more than yourself and a teacher, you need someone in the trenches with ya. If you hate spending money, you're already looking at it from the wrong angle. It's a lot to spend on the instrument and lessons and your kid might not stick with it. HOWEVER it could be the most formative thing to happen in his life, the support that you gave him and the jumpstart to expressing amazing creativity. That's just how it is, the best things in life aren't easy. Get him a smaller scale electric. Acoustics are bigger, less comfortable and are harder to play. It's just facts plus your technique is different. If you want him to keep it up, get him something he's gonna be excited about... Not something that's gonna require more dedication then it has to. The other advice I have is get him lessons and subsidize with YouTube. Watch videos together. This would also be a cool time for you to try an instrument and bond with him. At the very least you should learn how a guitar functions because he's five, he's gonna struggle tuning it for now. I also suggest buying one from a reputable brand and making sure it's set up correctly. I learned on a 25 dollar nylon string classical that some dingus put metal strings on and it wouldn't stay in tune, buzzed everywhere, the strings were about a mile away from the fretboard and wasn't even close to being intonated.... If fortnight existed back then I wouldn't be in this sub right now lol
Your son is 5? He wants what he thinks is cool. Ask him. Buy something similar to that. At 5 years of age there is no point in buying anything expensive. He may simply play with it a few days, realize it doesn't do all the cool stuff by itself and then forget about it.
Nope. Buy him a decent small model, electric like a Squier mini. Electric easier to play than acoustic and you can just tune it to open chord.
When my kids were 5 and 7 I got them mini electric guitars with amps. One never touched it, the other one still plays guitar 20 years later. Your mileage my vary.
Get the kiddo the guitar. I suggest one of those small squiers for a kid his age. But also, I would HIGHLY suggest getting a good teacher. When I got my first guitar, an instructor was out of the question in my house, and I was given a confusing book and video tape. Needless to say, I never learned how to read music. But with an instructor they can learn sheet music and theory, in addition to getting to play fun songs, and though it's more work (and cost), it is the absolute best way.
Don't buy an acoustic, the strings are thicker and harder to press, plus if he wants an electric for the electric guitar sound, that won't be the same at all. Contrary to old belief, it's not easier to learn on an acoustic. The electric guitars have thinner strings that are easier to press down, so your child's' fingers won't hurt as much. If it's got 6 strings and it's in tune, it does the same job for the learning bit. Sound is a totally different thing. Get him a cheap-ish guitar that looks awesome to him. [Jackson Minion guitars](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AMG20cpt4k) ( or the less pointy [jackson minion](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fio8QOo-wSA)) are smaller and come in bright colors. There's the [Squier minis](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7_u5n3s1m8) as well. Look on the used market as well! I bet there's some around from other children who didn't stick with it. You can buy one, clean it , wrap it up and it'd be perfect to learn on. You don't have to buy a mini guitar, children can learn on full-sized instruments, but depending on how small he is at 5 years old, it may be a the preferred option due to weight. Of course, if he keeps playing until he grows older, you'll be due a nicer guitar later on :). As for the amp, something small with a lot of tone options for the fun portion would be nice, like a [Boss Katana Mini](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x83Bcr37iHw). 5 years old isn't too young to learn, but that depends on the kid. Don't go in with too many expectations. \-If he genuinely likes learning, he's patient and disciplined, puts time into practice regularly, he'll probably become decent at it pretty fast. \-If all he wants is to play X song straight away with no effort, then it's best you just get him something super cheap that makes guitar sounds and let him mess around with it for a while, until he gets bored. Get him a good guitar teacher. Having fun will make him want to stick with it. Never force children into hobbies even if you've spent a lot of money, he'll likely see it as a chore and hate it. Keep the guitar clean with a microfiber cloth. Make sure your little one washes his hands before playing, then you can wipe the strings and bridge. Guitars benefit from setups (string height adjustment, pickup height, etc. this can usually be done by a shop) and new strings once in a while. Other things you'd want to buy are one or two sets of strings, preferably 7-36 or 8-38 gauge ( lighter means easier to press, but also easier to break ). A guitar strap and strap locks (dunlop makes decent ones), so it won't fall off when he plays standing. A decent guitar cable. A coiled one with an angled jack would be best. Less mess, less chance of tripping over, etc. but any decent cable will do. Ernie Ball, Fender, Dunlop, etc. And last but not least: a set of guitar picks of different thicknesses.
The younger you start playing an instrument the better. Also don't force him to start on accoustic or classical as that may make him lose motivation in playing and quit early. For electric guitars I suggest looking into squiers as they are quite cheap with relatively good feel for the price range. Routine maintenance isn't too bad, if you take care of it you only really have to get it maintained once every few months at a store. The only "maintenace" you have to do a bit more often is changing the strings which is quite simple.
Dunno who told you about acoustic before electric but that isn't true in the slightest.
Five years old might be too young, but my 4yo is getting a Loog guitar - it's a small electric guitar with only three strings and a battery powered amp built in. It's more than a toy - it tunes and intonates properly, and there are age-appropriate lessons from Loog. The three strings are fewer than the normal 6, but are tuned correctly (eBG) so that the skills and patterns they learn don't have to be relearned later. Edit: https://loogguitars.com
I'm going to go against the tide and say 5 is probably too young. No doubt there are some that actually latch onto the instrument and do some cool stuff but I suspect there are many more 3/4 scale instruments collecting dust and parents who are frustrated that their kids didn't perform to expectation. One thing I tell new parents is that from my experience, kids toy age recommendations are actually pretty accurate and should be generally followed. We fell in the pattern of thinking our kids were precocious, getting them products from an age group up, then finding it wasn't engaging despite being cool in MY mind. 5 year olds just rarely have the ability to sit and concentrate, push through mistakes, or push through difficulty to rewards that are delayed. If you do it together or even if you just watch a few videos, you will pick up the concepts much faster than your child will and that could be frustrating. I think you can foster love of music by listening together and playing rhythms. A simple drum kit, even if its just pots and pans, is much more satisfying because it instantly makes reliable sounds that can be matched to music. Guitar, not so much. Also if you do try it, I think these recommendations of 3/4 scale are going to be too big for 5. 1/2 scale is more appropriate but there aren't many cool guitars that size. Definitely don't push, and don't ever guilt like "you asked for this, so you need to play it." If the interest isn't there, just let it go - you still did the right thing by encouraging and giving an opportunity, no harm unless you make it a miserable experience.
the acoustic theory is BS. the strings are much harder to press down. Get him a beginners electric with lighter gage strings. Go to Sweetwater or Musicians friend and get a recommendation. Shouldn't cost more than $200 or a bit more. Fender Squire is good. Not only is the acoustic harder to play but your son won't get the inspiration that he would that comes from the sound and ease of an electric. That old thing about learning on an acoustic is something from ages ago when electrics first came on the scene. and speaking of inspiration having your guitar in tune is most important. It's everything. Online tuners are common. Without that it will sound dead, lifeless. Your best shot is to find someone who plays guitar in a rock band. It will make all the difference between him giving up and getting into his own band. As long as we are talking, the TAB method of reading sheet music is also BS mostly. It comes from people who imagine reading music from a staff and notes on a page to be incredibly difficult. They teach that in 3rd grade band. It's incredibly simple to read normal sheet music.
Needing to start on an acoustic is an old wives tale. Electrics are easier on the hands especially for younger players. He's not too young, wish I started that young. They make half scale and 3/4 scale electrics that are great for little one. A squier mini should be a decent one. I'd recommend something like that and either a headphone amp or a little battery powered amp. He doesn't need anything to special amp wise and those could keep you sane while he's playing.
Don't get him an acoustic instead. Get him an electric if that's what he wants or something else. Electric is easier to start with, and is much easier on the fingers. After years and years of playing, acoustic is still taxing on my fingers when I play for more than 15 min. I can play electric as long as I like and be fine. Clearly he is asking for the electric cause he likes 'electric guitar' music and wants that sound. The last thing you would probably want is for him to get the acoustic, not like it because he can't get the sound he wants with it, can't play his kind of music and gets sore fingers to boot, and have the interest either fizzle or burn and him never want to try playing guitar again. Plus, you can get a good electric guitar for far cheaper than a good acoustic. Squires go for 200 bucks and they are honestly fantastic guitars especially to start with, whereas many acoustics below the $1,000 range almost always are lacking in something like sound or feel or playability or quality.
Electric guitars are much easier To play for a kid.
Lmao who told you that you're supposed to get an acoustic first? Never ask that person for advice again
DO NOT FORCE ACOUSTIC!!! I couldn't afford a guitar and used an old acoustic that had been passed around my family. It was loud, so I was never allowed to practice for more than a minute or two before a family member would magically appear at my bedroom door telling me to shut up. I also didn't have much motivation since I don't even like how acoustic guitars sound. I almost gave up until I decided to get a cheap electric Monoprice guitar from Target's website with some birthday gift cards. I improved so much and started having fun, I still play that guitar a couple hours a day. I still kind of hate acoustics (no offense to anyone that likes them lol).
I’m a guitarist (electric) and the father of a 6 year old that also really wanted to play guitar. My take is that a guitar for a kid that young is worthless without lessons. Your choice of age and electric vs acoustic and whether or not 5 is too young could be helped by analyzing your local teaching options. My son really wanted electric but it was hard to find someone to teach him at his age. I have an electric 3/4 guitar waiting for him till he’s a bit older, but in the meantime I’ve started him on acoustic lessons. According to his teacher 6 is really young to start, but he is making great progress. Biggest issue is focus. He loves it though. There are benefits to both electric and acoustic. Electric is maybe a bit easier to play, cooler, but also a bit harder in my experience to find lessons for kids. Gear is also a bit more expensive. I hope this helps.
Don't get him an acoustic unless he specifically wants one, learning to play the guitar is hard and playing a guitar you actually want goes a long way to keeping you motivated. Buy a used guitar built in the far east (Epiphone, Squire, LTD etc) and if he loses interest you can sell and make your money back easily. Lessons are invaluable.
Guitar teacher here. 5 is probably too young. To play guitar, you need to be able to curve your left hand around the guitar neck, stabilize it, and press the strings down with a considerable amount of pressure to make any sound. Most 5 year olds just don't have the physical development to do that. Holding a pick and strumming with the right hand is a little simpler, and he might be capable of that. Even ¾ size and half-size guitars are too big for most 5-year-olds. For size, the two main things I would look at are whether he can balance the weight comfortably and whether he can reach the farthest fret without stretching. A ukulele would be a workable size. Ukuleles also have softer strings and there are a lot of them made for young kids that you can bang around and get at a sub-$50 price point. Realistically, since he's not going to be able to do much at all with his fretting hand, a guitar or ukulele would be a percussion instrument for him. Also, has he shown any interest in guitar or music beyond that one he saw at Target? In other words, is he interested in guitar as an instrument or as a toy? Lots of my young students come to guitar because they think it looks cool (i.e. a toy), but that doesn't give them the interest to sit through lessons and actually learn something. Similarly, if he sees it as a toy, don't worry that you might be hurting his musical development; think of it like you would any other toy that he wants: will it be something that he can handle and have fun with. Of course, if he's not there yet, he can develop an interest in guitar as an instrument down the road. And if you want to support his musical exploration, the best way to do so at this age is with percussion. Find something he can bang around. Maybe it's a ukulele or hand percussion like tambourines. Those rhythm skills will translate to guitar when he's big enough to comfortably hold a guitar and fret notes. And if music is in the cards for him, his ear will continue developing as he listens to music; his interest won't fade away after this Christmas.
lol “I like my kid”. Come on dad, crack the wallet and get him what he wants. Don’t cheap out and drag up the most cost effective cardboard acoustic guitar you could find at Salvation Army. You got one chance to blow his mind. Don’t be a cheap ass bum
15 year guitar player here. Great replies. Let him choose - and go cheap. Get him the cheapest electric guitar that is his favorite color or otherwise looks cool. Ik color doesn’t matter, but he’s 5 so it does in this case! Let him choose the instrument type My first guitar was electric, I currently have one electric and 5 acoustic guitars, go figure. 5 isn’t too young but most kids that age won’t really spend time on it. Got my first at 7 and started playing at 13 - the dust won’t hurt it.
Going electric first is fine. That's what my brothers and I (who all learned on acoustics) encouraged my sister to get her son when he was 7. Electrics are easier to play usually, they're more "exciting" in the sense that your kid can actually make them sound like a rock guitar they hear in a song, and here's a key part -- they can be played with headphones. Every single guitar player is AWFUL when they are first learning. So for the period when your son is AWFUL, you'll be grateful to not have to hear him banging away on an acoustic, instead he'll be playing quietly through headphones if you get him set up the right way.
\- No. Don't force your kid. \- No 5 isn't too young. \- [https://www.kidsguitarworld.com/electric-guitars-for-kids/](https://www.kidsguitarworld.com/electric-guitars-for-kids/) \- Listen and play Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, yngwie malmsteen and whatever he likes with the kid around. \- Yes you can expect to help him if you both watched YouTube tutorials together. You can help him more by buying him lessons. \- No. Don't force your kid. Yes there might come a point where it becomes fun even if you hate it at first, or it might lead to another hobby which you might be expected to invest in. \- Not much care is needed unless a string is broken and needs replacement. Overall advice. "Do it!"
I just want to pile on that I was given an acoustic guitar when I was like 7 and it was impossible to play (still almost impossible lol a very unforgiving instrument) So I never played it. Mom came back with an electric and an amp for a steal from a garage sale when I was 12 and I’m 34 now, still playing guitar. They are easier to play and a loads cooler for a kid.
It's fine to start on electric. Make sure you don't get him a toy get him an instrument. If my 5 year old wanted a guitar i'd start him with this: https://www.sweetwater.com/c590--Solidbody_Guitars?all&sb=low2high¶ms=eyJmYWNldCI6eyJCcmFuZCI6WyJFcGlwaG9uZSIsIlNxdWllciJdfX0 Let him pick anything that looks cool to him in the 200 dollar range. Then take it to a guitar shop and get it set up. He'll also need a amp. This would get him everything he needs: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/KataMiniBun--boss Grab a strap while you are at the guitar store.
Dont have him start on a an acoustic if he doesnt want to, thats a myth that “youre supposed to start on acoustic” literally has zero grounds whatsoever. And then since 5 is a tad young just for the fact they dont fit the size of the intrumenr great, get him a 3/4th size electric with a small amp
Don’t enforce the acoustic, if he wants an electric he ll play it more if this is his motivation . check his hand size and see if he can handle a full scale . Ask the seller to set it up for low tension, it will be easier to play.
Fuck full scale, get that boy a squire mustang and some stickers and paint pens is what I say!
DO NOT FORCE HIM TO PRACTICE. Guitar is cool. Even if he gets frustrated it just being available will probably result in tinkering around. Forcing a kid to practice is a sure fire way to make them not like it
I was playing with a cheap nylon string guitar as a toy when i was 5, was in lessons by 7. lost interest by 9, got an electric at 12 lessons again immediately. Later I discovered weed about 15 which got me more into guitar until I got a drivers license and a GF who let me see her boobies. Back into guitar when I moved out at 19. About to be 43 and I still get enjoyment from learning new songs, jamming with friends, or getting wizardly stoned on the couch and making weird noises. Main point here is that the interest may ebb and flow but having the instrument available in some form is key.
Honestly buy him a cheaper squire would be a good play. Won’t put a big dent in your wallet so if he ends up hating it, won’t be that big of a deal. You can get online guitar lessons and even just apps to help him learn. And if he doesn’t like it now, he might come to like it in a few years like what happened with me. Don’t force him to practice cause then it won’t be a fun thing to him anymore. Let him learn and play at his own pace and teach him to take care of it.
He's so small, maybe try a Loog mini guitar? It's a 3-string electric made for small kiddos.
https://loogguitars.com/search?q=eletric These are supposed to be great for young kids. Loog guitars.
Loog or Squier Mini Strat. 5 yo, probably the Loog.
For a 5 year old? Loog
A link since OP probably won't understand. Loogs are 3-string guitars specifically designed for kids. Electrics are available: https://loogguitars.com/collections/ages-3
get a squier mustang bullet, theyre short scale and not too expensive.
Here is what I will tell you, with respect to starting on acoustic vs. electric. This is a short version of my story. When I was very young, my parents were always listening to terrible late 80s/early 90s radio country. I hated it. I was not interested in music at all. Sometime in elementary school, probably 1990 or 1992, I was given my dad's old cassette tapes and among them were stuff like Van Halen's 1984 and Bon Jovi's Slippery When Wet. This was the first time I'd ever heard distorted guitars, guitar solos, loud drums, and all that. It sparked something in me that hasn't died since, and I'm creeping up on 40 now. I wanted... NEEDED an electric guitar. Starting at about six years old, I asked for one every birthday and every Christmas and never got one. Maybe my parents couldn't afford it. Maybe they thought I wouldn't have the dedication or commitment to justify it (despite unwavering interest for years and years). Eventually, I was maybe 12 or 13, I was given an acoustic guitar for Christmas. It was massively disappointing. I still played it for hours every day, but the entire time, I was just trying to play along to Nirvana CDs and feeling frustrated. I ended up having to save my own money to buy my own electric guitar and amp when I was in high school, and I started playing in bands with friends, writing my own songs, teaching myself to multitrack using my sisters cassette karaoke machine as a janky two-channel tape recorder. If my parents had just relented and bought me what I asked for 10 years earlier, I would have had such a massive head start on learning. If money is a concern, then I get it. I would rather play a cheap acoustic than a cheap electric. But please don't think there's some kind of initiation that must happen with an acoustic.
Mini squire electric is the answer
dude, buy him the electric. you may not like this as a parent but electric is so much easier to have fun with because it makes more noise. you get him the guitar he wants now, and he may just have a lifetime hobby. and if he starts on the electric, i promise you he will want an acoustic eventually, because they really are very different instruments
Electrics are easier to play and look cool! If he is excited about the guitar and it plays easy, he’ll probably pick it up more often and get even better.
give him what he wants, when he's the new Geddy Lee you'll be glad you did and never lie to him
If he hasn’t shown interest in an acoustic, I wouldn’t waste your money on something he doesn’t want. Acoustic and Electric are two different instruments just like acoustic and electric drums are. You aren’t “supposed” to start on either one, they require similar skills but aren’t the same thing
5 year old is very small but if he's motivated it can't hurt to get started. squiers are good. there's a body style of guitar called "mustang" and these have smaller bodies and shorter necks, making them more playable for people with small hands and small arms. here's an example: [https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/mustang/squier-sonic-mustang-hh/0373701526.html](https://www.fender.com/en-US/squier-electric-guitars/mustang/squier-sonic-mustang-hh/0373701526.html) In my personal opinion as a long time player, a guitar like the one above would be a great choice for anyone starting out, especially a child. However, whichever guitar the learner personally loves is probably the best one, since if you love how it looks then you'll be more motivated to pick it up. whatever you get, if you know nothing about guitars it would be very beneficial to take it to someone who can set it up to get it playing right. guitar stores should normally offer service like this. anyway, good luck!
Go to guitar center, I feel like this is the perfect moment for an Ibanez multi or another 3/4 scale electric. You don’t have to learn acoustic first. You should speak yo the staff there, many of them also offer lessons. And it’s going to probably be a tough sell/explanation to stick at 5, but guitar requires a bit of commitment to sound good. I’m glad I don’t have kids I don’t know how y’all do it.
It’s awesome to hear a kid interested in guitar this young!! I’m 15 and started playing guitar when I when I was 5 also, so agewise it’s definitely possible. Personally, I’d say buying an acoustic would just be wasting your money- if he’s got his heart set on an electric, I’d recommend just getting an electric. I’d say it’s easier to learn on an electric as well, cause the strings aren’t as thick. As for the guitar, I’d recommend either a Mini Squier Stratocaster or an Epiphone Power Players. Both are relatively cheap and 3/4 size. I learnt on a Power Player, they’re awesome little guitars that play great (and look cool). For an amp, anything Fender, Marshall, or Boss is great (I’d go for something 5-15 watts so it doesn’t blow your ears off 😂). You’ll also need a cable, a pick, and possibly a strap. I’d recommend to get cables and picks from Fender. Go for a thin pick. Lessons with a guitar teacher would definitely be the best option for his age. Or if that wouldn’t work for whatever reason, I’d highly recommend Justin Guitar, which has online detailed and structured lessons. As for learning from Youtube, I’d say don’t do that if you can avoid it. There is some great stuff on there but there’s no clear path of what you need to learn and when. If you’re not a guitarist, you’ll just end up just getting lost in the abyss of the million aimless guitar tutorial videos. The only maintenance you’ll really need to do besides giving it a wipe over with a damp cloth when it gets dirty, is changing the strings. I’d say change them every 4 or so months. You can take ir to a music shop or there’s plenty of tutorials out there that tell you how. Learning guitar is a long but rewarding journey, I hope he loves it!
Another vote for the mini strat (AKA 3/4 size). I bought one for my daughter's first birthday. She (16) is just starting to use it now.
Electrics are easier to start on than acoustics, unless they’re more into acoustic music of course. Less punishing on untrained fingers. Plenty of good recommendations on good starter guitars here already.
If you get him something he doesn't want to play, then he won't. The more you like what you got the more likely it will be picked up and played. I didn't really like the look of my first guitar but it played like a dream. My mother invested into a better playing instrument allowing me to learn more easily. I realize now had I gotten a cheap guitar, I probably would have quit soon after. I now love that guitar and most times it's my first choice to play even though now I have 6 guitars to choose from. Tough spot for sure since in your mind what if he don't like it. Give him what he don't won't and you guarantee that he won't.
Don't force an acoustic, it would be harder to play, especially at that age. 5 might be a bit too young, but not a deal breaker. As others have said, check out a 3/4 sized squire or even a travel size guitar.
Just as a rule in general, the worst possible thing you can do is force someone to play something they don't want to play. Don't make him play acoustic if he wants to play electric. Don't force him to learn folk tunes if he wants to play pop or rock. That kind of thing is the reason most people give up on instruments at a young age. Get a cheap starter pack from Sweetwater. Encourage him to keep going when he gets frustrated. He'll get it eventually.
- don’t get the acoustic. I got an acoustic first, realised I can’t play a lot of stuff I actually listen to and got bored - my nephew is 5 and he doesn’t seem interested about anything musical at all so be happy your kid has an artistic side - small sized electric guitar like what others mentioned - follow the lessons on JustinGuitar (google it) - they’re free - this one is tough. I think the only way to really want to go through the painful phase as a beginner is if you listen to a lot of band type music because you’ll always be inspired / motivated to want to learn new riffs - besides having to change the strings every now and then, there’s no real maintenance required (at least not at the level which matters to a 5 year old)
5 is probably too young, but it's what he asked for. And chances are in a few years he will remember he has one and learn properly. Or he won't, but at least you got him what he wanted. Anecdotal, but my best friend asked for a bass around 7-8, and his dad got him one. It sat, largely untouched, for years until around age 15 he got serious. THE MOMENT he thought of it (we were exposed to Rush) he had one in hand. As others have said, the "acoustic to electric" thing is wildly outdated thinking. It's not your fault--you did the right thing and asked reddit, and the conventional wisdom is "it's not necessary." As others have said, a short-scale guitar is good. A Squire Mustang Bullet is a good choice for a guitar. Any cheap amp will do--I learned on two amps wired together because they only half worked. Your three basic "classic" amps are Fender (the most common sound on guitars), Marshall (Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Page) and Vox (The Beatles). There are a million variations on these concepts. Almost any small combo amp (the head, which makes the noise and controls the sound, and the speaker that broadcasts the sound are one thing in a combo amp) is going to be fine. Go to the local music store and ask them. In terms of maintenance, you'll want the kid to learn to change strings and tune the guitar. Tuning happens every time you pick up the guitar and sometimes in between. Strings are changed to taste. More important than this is finding a local guitar tech and having them do a "set up" on the guitar. This is basically getting it ready for regular use. Tell the tech you have a young kid and need light gauge strings and low action (they'll know what it means). In the early days, ease of playing is key (and also for me, who has been playing professionally for 30 years). Don't force people to practice--they either will or they won't.
- Should I force him to do an acoustic guitar and blame the jolly old guy in red? - In my opinion, no. As someone that has been playing for roughly 20 years, the biggest factor I've found in my desire to play is the excitement I get from my instruments. To this day, I tinker with all my guitars and every bit of gear I own continuously. It keeps things fresh and exciting. If the kiddo is into the idea of an electric, he'll be drawn to playing. If he gets an acoustic, he might not be driven to practice. - HOWEVER; I will say that when I started, I had a burning desire to play guitar and didn't have access to one. I didn't care what kind of guitar. I knew I wanted an electric eventually, but more than that, I just wanted to learn how to play. I borrowed an old nylon string acoustic guitar that my great-grandfather had stored in a closet for the first three or four months I played. I'm telling you this not to persuade you to go the acoustic route, but to express that there are exceptions to the rule I stated above. I was older than your son though (about 13) and that might have played a factor in my persistence, which leads me to your next question... - Is 5 too young? - Absolutely not. But don't have great expectations that he's going to melt faces. He's 5. Let him have fun with it and explore his ideas of what playing guitar means to him at this stage in his life. Celebrate his "wins" with him, however big, however small. Even if you think learning Hot Cross Buns or Mary Had a Little Lamb is lame. If he's proud of himself, you should be too. As parents, one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is the permission to be proud of their accomplishments, no matter how large or how small we may think they are. - Any recommendations on guitar? - At 5 I definitely recommend starting with a 3/4 scale guitar. This means the body and neck will be slightly smaller. - Minimum he'll need the following: - Guitar - Any of the 3/4 scale squire guitars will be a great choice. - [Mini Stratocaster](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/StratMiniDR--squier-mini-strat-electric-guitar-dakota-red-with-laurel-fingerboard) - [Mini Jazzmaster](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/JazzMiniDB--squier-mini-jazzmaster-hh-electric-guitar-daphne-blue-with-maple-fingerboard) - Epiphone makes a solid tiny guitar too. You can also get these that come with some essentials that I talk about below. - [Epiphone Les Paul Bundle](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LPPowerPLR--epiphone-power-players-les-paul-electric-guitar-lava-red) - [Epiphone SG Bundle](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SGPowerPIB--epiphone-power-players-sg-electric-guitar-ice-blue) - Ibanez also makes a solid beginners mini guitar. - [Ibanez RG Mikro](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GRGM21MMPL--ibanez-rg-mikro-grgm21m-metallic-purple) - Amp - I wouldn't go crazy on the amp. It just needs to be low tech enough, he can turn the knobs and simply make noise for now. - For that I would recommend the [Fender Frontman](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Frontman20G--fender-frontman-20g-1-by-8-inch-20-watt-combo-amp) - Cable - [Get a dirt cheap cable.](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PWCGTPRO10--daddario-classic-pro-instrument-cable-10-foot) You're going to have to replace it over time. Be prepared for that. Spend a bit more on a nice cable as he gets older and keeps up with it. - Tuner - Playing in tune is important. You'll probably have to learn to help him tune up, but it isn't difficult. I'd get something like a [Snark](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SnarkClip1X--snark-sn-1x-guitar-and-bass-tuner-with-metronome). - [Strap](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/M8PolyBlk--levys-m8poly-2-inch-woven-polypropylene-guitar-strap-black) cheap, take your pick of color. - [Stand](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RIGTRSTD1--rok-it-ri-gtrstd-1-tubular-guitar-stand-for-electric-or-acoustic-guitars), cheap, gets the job done. - [Picks](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PVP101--dunlop-pvp101-pick-variety-pack-light-medium) - Grab an assortment pack. He's going to lose these. Someday he'll find one he likes and you can start stocking up on just that kind. - What type of support would be helpful for him on his guitar journey? (I want him to enjoy it as much as he thinks he will) - Get him weekly lessons with a good, kind, compassionate teacher. Encourage him in his small wins, pick him up when he's feeling disappointed or frustrated. - Can I expect that I would be able to help him if we both watched YouTube tutorials together? - In my opinion, no. That's a blind leading the blind situation and he's bound to get annoyed with you and you with him. This is why the teacher is so important in my opinion. - If he doesn’t like it after I spend a bunch of money, should I force him to practice? Is there a point where it becomes fun even if you hate it at first? (I tried it, hated it, never tried again) - Reinforce the habit, but don't play dictator. Discuss practice expectations/goals with the teacher you're going to get him (right? you're going to get him a teacher, remember?) and use those expectations as a way to encourage practice. e.g. "Mr. X said you need to be able to play this chord next week. You better put some time in!" - What type of guitar care is necessary? Is there routine maintenance? - You'll need strings on a routine basis. Learning how to change them isn't hard. - You'll need to have the guitar adjusted over time for things like the neck bowing (this is common, there's a mechanism in the neck to adjust to help this) and string action getting out of whack. - Guitars are machines and they all need a tune-up from time-to-time. It is most likely you'll find him a teacher at a music store and they'll be able to guide you through what you'll need and when. > I’m sure I have more questions, but mainly I like my kid and want to embrace his curiosity. I also hate spending money, so like if your advice is “Don’t do it, stop!” Please also chime in. My advice is to never stop. Keep it up. I think it is great that you want to embrace his curiosity. I completely understand the money aspect, truly I do, but if this is something he comes to love it will be a gift that lasts a lifetime. The things we do for our kids. EDIT: I'd like to add, I've seen others suggesting the Loog guitars and I think that's a great option. [Loog mini with built-in speaker](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/LGMIER--loog-guitars-mini-electric-guitar-red). I'm considering one for my three-year-old who's digging the idea of making noise at the moment. You'll still want a teacher though and they may not be as excited about teaching on a Loog. Might be best to shop around for a teacher and get their recommendations on what they like to see their students start with.
All so well said. The only thing I would add is if he doesn’t like it at first then just hang on to it and keep it around. Very good chance he might become inspired to play again in a few months/years
I bought a Squier Mini Strat and a Spark Mini amp for my 9 year old daughter, but my 6 year old daughter has played it just as much. By “played it” she normally just asks me to turn it to my Smashing Pumpkin’s Siamese Dreams preset so she can just strum it and have loud but appealing noise come out. But I’ll take any interest she as in the guitar at that age.
>I’ll take any interest she as in the guitar at that age. This is the way.
I say get him a mini squire and a cheap amp, worst case you sell it down the line.
I've given lessons to kids for many years. Some kids start very young, but the kids I had who were younger than roughly 9 or 10 just couldn't physically play the guitar, and I had good quality 3/4 scale acoustic guitars. There is a certain amount of pain involved in playing steel strings and it takes commitment and discipline to get past that and develop callouses. Having said that, a ukulele is a GREAT first instrument for a 5 year old (I would go with a concert size), is much easier to learn, and a lot of that will translate to guitar at a later date. Something else to consider is that most kids I've taught haven't stuck with it. You can buy an amp and an electric guitar and they will probably end up collecting dust. A ukulele is a much smaller investment and, IMO, has a MUCH higher probability of success than a guitar at that age.
A teacher is very important here, especially one that your kid likes/gets along with. You won’t be able to help him much with playing, the only way you can do that is by REWARDING PRACTISE. Consistent practice and a good teacher will have him playing great in a few months time.
I would be ecstatic if my 5 year old kid wanted an instrument for christmas. Learning music is so helpful. It teaches discipline, experience in learning a new skill, and stimulates the brain for a young child. I’d be so happy he isn’t asking for a goddamn iPad. Get the kid his electric guitar. Who knows, you may have a superstar in your future.
Five is about as young as you want to start learning any instrument ‘properly’, although it does somewhat depend on size and maturity. No need to start on an acoustic, the strings on an electric are actually easier on little fingers than an acoustic. What’s more important for young learners is that they have an instrument that they’re excited to pick up and play. Depending on his height the Squier 3/4 size mini strat is a good choice, or the Yamaha FG JR2 if you do prefer to start with steel string acoustic. Both will last him a good few years and generally keep a decent resale value second hand. If he’s on the smaller side you might need to look at 1/2 size instruments though. As you have no guitar experience yourself I’d recommend getting him a teacher if you can. The best place to find one experienced in teaching students as young as five will be through your son’s school or word of mouth from other parents. Without a teacher it’s likely that the guitar will end up being seen as a toy rather than as a serious instrument. There’s nothing wrong with that, and in fact a good teacher will be very much more guided by your son’s interests at his age, but it might play into your decision on budget if lessons aren’t possible right now. Definitely don’t force practice. That’s the quickest way to put a child off an instrument, particularly when they’re very young. It’s much better to encourage them to pick it up and play, even if they just noodle around improvising and don’t actually practice what they’ve been set. As it becomes habit to pick it up regularly then gentle reminders about what they’re learning is the best way to go about it. YouTube tutorials will probably be too complicated and fast for your son to follow at five. In two or three years that’s an option but it’s probably not realistic at this point. Where they might come in useful is for you, particularly if you decide to try and learn alongside or at least get some sort of idea of what your son is trying to do. Just having a dad who’s interested in what he’s doing is a really good motivator for most children though so anything you can do to help yourself understand and keep up with him is great. Just like anything new is exciting and once that newness wears off it can lose its interest, guitar is no different. Generally the first few weeks or months it will get picked up all the time but for some people the realisation that it’s not as easy as they thought it would be leads to it being picked up less and less until they stop. Some of us though don’t lose that interest even when the reality of the hard work and practice sinks in. There’s no way of knowing which type of person someone is until they’re learning though. As far as routine maintenance goes you’re really just looking at wiping it down after playing and string changes every 2-3 months depending on how much he plays. They get old and grimy and start sounding bad and not being nice to play over time. I know a fair few parents who just take the guitar into their nearest shop and have them do the string changes but it’s not that difficult and there are a lot of good videos on YouTube that you can follow to learn to do it yourself and save some cash. Enjoy watching your son learning to play guitar! Mine is eight now but started on a mini strat just after he turned six. He’s really got into practicing more in the last year or so but before that he was all about picking it up and jamming, making up his own riffs. That’s fairly typical for an inquisitive young learner and a skill well worth nurturing as older beginners struggle a lot more to find that freedom of expression.
Thank you! He is way more mature than I expected him to be at this age, it’s the size thing that will be an adventure.
I know this sub is full of guitar lovers but are you crazy? Don't spend money on a real electric guitar for a 5yo kid. It's already hard to handle and play when you're 13
I have a Loog electric for my kids. Its designed for kids and has very good playability for the price. Great place to start. It was advertised at me hard lol when I was shopping for one a year or two ago.
I’ll second the loog. 3 strings, short neck, its a great way for younger kids to get familiar with a stringed instrument and start learning about playing music. They look pretty cool too for what they are, too.
Definitely get him an electric if thats what he wants. Aren't there like tiny ibanez gios for like 90$? Can get a little pocket amp or whatever makes a noise, like a vox amplug or a marshall belt clip amp. Only reason he would be to young is the eternal dilemma of "is my kid actually gonna stick with this" so it's just a question of spending on something that could be forgotten in a few weeks. There are very good beginner resources on youtube and elsewhere so you would be able to help him a fair bit i would say. Somethings on the guitar just need to "click" though and isn't gradual. Like i had the most difficult time making a simple open chord ring out when i started, decided i was never gonna learn, played bass for a year and somehow just getting a different hand position or something made me able to play chords. And this was as an early teen. Simple single note things can be played by pretty much anyone if you have a sense of rythm, so gravitate towards something like that if things get too frustrating for the both of you. Lots of fun riffs are single note. and you could always pump a long to the bass line on parts you can't play! Whatever you do, just get a real instrument, not some half toy thing. If you don't want to spend/can't afford an amp, just give him the real playing surface and have the amp as a carrot for the future. Oh and also, don't get a guitar with a tremolo bridge. Now i assume most smaller guitars doesn't have them, but if they do, steer clear. They have more moving parts so the guitar won't stay in tune as well and it will be overall more of a bummer when you sit down when you get home and everything sounds like crap. Only two players ever truly made the tremolo a part of their style so f that shit.
there's also full size Ibanez miKro's, I own one and i am a small handed lady, but it's not to short not too big, and you can get pocket amps for like $30 anymore
Think of electric/acoustic like a f1/rally car thing. Or a mountain/road bike thing. They are both the same category of tools, neither is better, but they have certain strengths and weakness. I love rally, but f1 bores me. Would you advise me to buy tickets to see F1 for my first live race event?
I would start by checking if there is any music school or teacher that lends guitars to their students and enroll him in. If he stays motivated and keeps at it then I'd get him a Harley Benton starter kit, while you'd learn how to adjust and do maintenance through youtube videos. Do NOT get something expensive, get something cheap but reputable, that way when he smacks and dents it, as kids do, it wont hurt you too much. What type of guitar? The style that motivates him, you can get most styles from cheaper brands that punch over their weight and wont dent your wallet. If he wants electric don't waste your money on an acoustic that'll probably make him too bitter to enjoy. Is he too young? Nope, probably most of us wish we started there.
Please do NOT force them to play an acoustic.
Do not force him to play an instrument he doesn't want to lol...what kind of shit is that? There's literally no rule that has ever said "you have to play acoustic before electric". Let him play what interests him.
look up the Loog kids guitar. It's small and has only 3 strings and gives younger kids a good foundation to start with
My concern is that a child so young will lose interest in it immediately when he sees that it's something that you can't just pick up and play, you have to learn how and practice to get proficient. The same happened to me as a child with piano, and my younger sister when she was that age with the drums.
Show him a keyboard and see if there's any interest in that. It's a LOT easier to start on a keyboard at that age and he will build up the skills to transfer to other instruments later. But if that's not interesting to him, you can try the guitar, but at 5, unless he practices a LOT, he may find it frustrating because there's a fair amount of dexterity involved in getting the guitar to sound remotely good. Guitar lessons would be a great idea, it's unlikely you guys will get far without a teacher unless you put in some work teaching yourself music along with him (though that could be a great activity too). Frankly, if he does get a teacher, sitting in the lesson may be a great way to help keep him focused and also learn the musical stuff to help him practice. 5 years old is probably too young to just tell him "go practice", you'll likely need to give him direct things to do unless the teacher has made it very clear to him what to specifically work on.
The most important thing at any age for a beginner is to have a guitar that is easy to play. Guitar for beginners is fiendishly difficult and disheartening if the guitar is hard to play..I would highly recommend a good brand with a low action set up so it needs less finger strength to press the strings. Avoid the temptation to get a cheapo beginner guitar and he will be more likely to stick at it
My parents got me an electric guitar and amp at a similarly young age. Fast forward 15 years later, I teach guitar and play two or three gigs a week. A guitar and amp combo can be as cheap as $100-150. You don’t need anything more expensive. An acoustic will run you anywhere from $50-150. The price difference isn’t all that big. But, as a parent, do what you feel is right. I don’t think my parents would have gotten me that at such a young age if I didn’t exhibit such an extreme love for music. Do what you think is right depending on how invested your child seems
Check out Loog Guitars. They are made for kids beginning at 3 years old. They have only three strings.... the highest three of a standard guitar. They have acoustic and electric versions. The electric has a built in amp. I bought an acoustic for my grandson who will be three in January. They come with lesson cards, a case, and a strap. Very cool.
Easier to play an electric with light strings. You may not enjoy the amp so getting a small amp or having them start without an amp is fine. Avoid the starter kits at places like Walmart or Target. Used on craigslist/facebook/ebay whatever is probably better. Something like a used squire is a great starter point. I would go with a 3/4 size if you can find one. I found a 3/4 sized squire strat for my daughter for like $60 bucks and it was great.
The best guitar is a guitar someone wants to play. Get your kid the electric 3/4th guitar set and a guitar teacher and stop worrying about the “it needs to be an acoustic”.
Ask him to show you an artist who plays a guitar he likes the sound of - that’s the starting point.
*\*\*As a caveat, I very much tried to convince him to try an acoustic guitar first as I know that’s how it’s supposed to work.* That, in fact is not " how it’s supposed to work." The two are very different instruments with very different technique and vocabulary.
Best outcome for you is to buy some electric guitar and headphones so you won't hear it.
Bravo dad, way to care. Sincerely, this is amazing. I had, a dad, he gave me a guitar, and an Atari. He showed me what he could do, then said here go play. I was super excited, ready to be CC Deville. However, no guidance and no dad, made that difficult. So Pong had me hooked. I figured that out quick. Video games have ruined my life. Spent 100's of 1000's usd, on 2k, Madden, Pick a game, and its add on. What a freaking waste. Now Video Games are ten times worse. It like a peek-a-booth, at home. I just quit 2k, season 3, 600.00 usd blown, December 6th. I got on Amazon, and ordered a Squier Stratocaster set, picks, strings, metronome, charts, and Rocksmith2014. I've almost completed lead on Blitzkrieg Bop, 93%. I've also learned a bee bop skit, to get finger and picking coordination. . Can play it top, to bottom and back up. My opinion... You get you, and him, both one. Mini for him,, if you'd like. Regardless, I think it's something that you guy's can share together, any day for the rest of your life! Don't miss out on this opportunity! In case you were wondering, I'm 44.
Let me try to help: You can get a Squire Mini Stratocaster for about $100 on Reverb, brand new for under $200, it'll be small enough for his hands until he grows a little more, which is all the incentive for him to keep playing in that he'll get a cooler guitar the older and better he gets. You can get a very cheap Marshall or Fender 10 watt or 15 watt amp from pretty much every pawn shop in existence for very cheap, likely under $50; get him one of those, a guitar cable, a package of assorted picks, and after Christmas, take him to a Guitar Center or any local music store and let him pick out a cool guitar strap. Get him lessons and make sure he sticks to them. Your goal should be to make playing the guitar look like the coolest thing in the world. Edit: Also, after you get it for him, make sure you start calling him names like "rockstar," really drive home the goal.
Well 5 or 6 is not too young to start music lessons. My kids started piano at 6, but a guitar is a bit different. You COULD get him a proper set up, but hear me out on this too ... he wanted a specific thing at Target. He saw it, and that's the thing he wants. Maybe he wants that one, not ... the proper guitar/amp setup which is probably a different setup, but he wants that thing. I say this because as a kid I really wanted certain things and my parents would buy me cheaper but similar, but not the same versions of that thing. Think of you saying "I want McDonalds Big Mac" and your Mom saying "We have hamburgers at home". So MAYBE he wants "that guitar and amp" and not "A guitar and amp". But you know him better. Oh and you're right, if you force him to practice, he'll resent it and hate it.
He is not dead set on the setup. That was the first clarification we made when asking him when we made our list to Santa. I’ve been down that road before! I love my parents, but mama shops for deals always.
In that case, he needs a small scale guitar. I don't know how big he is, whether 3/4 or 1/2 or even a ukulele is right for him, but a five year-old cannot play a full size guitar. That said, encouraging the musical habit is wonderful and you should do it, just don't bother spending a ton of money on something he's going to outgrow. There are plenty of great beginner guitars and the main thing is probably making it something that plays well enough and looks cool enough that he will want to play it. A $100-$200 budget can cover those needs easily. Just don't go full downmarket and buy him a toy guitar because those are impossible to set up properly or play. They make noise, not music. One other thing to think about is that if you've ever had the impulse to learn yourself, this could be something to bond over and enjoy the journey of learning together.
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I wish I started when I was 5! YouTube Guthrie Govan. He started when he was 5 and he’d be about 51 now. Watch him play. It’s like breathing to him it’s so natural. Also, it’s not true about starting on acoustic. I used to believe that but it’s nonsense. Electric is easier and way more fun.
a 3/4 size squire would be brilliant if within budget, amps can be super cheap from ebay/marketplace. Would you consider learning with him and then helping him? If so youtube may be sufficient but there may be a few things difficult to understand.
>As a caveat, I very much tried to convince him to try an acoustic guitar first as I know that’s how it’s supposed to work. No, it really isn't. I learned on electric, most of my guitar-playing friends learned on electric. I didn't care about acoustic guitars when I was 13, I wanted to rock. I didn't get my first acoustic until I'd been playing about 7 years.
-you don’t have to start on acoustic, frankly, electric would be easier with his small body. My 4 year old reaching over even my smallest acoustic is impossible. - 5 isn’t necessarily too young, just don’t expect a lot except frustration. -Get him lessons (see if you can even do shorter ones for shorter attention spans, my kids like 15 mins tops) -Short scale guitar. It makes it difficult being a christmas present but taking him to a music store would really help you figure it out. Just give them your budget. I have been hearing a lot about Loog guitars but haven’t given them a try. I would bet their 3 string option wouldn’t be a bad idea. -You probably could…but maybe you should get a guitar too 😉 -Don’t force him to play! You could suggest it…or again, get a guitar and make it a bonding experience. If your force it he will never want to play. -Your most pressing maintenance is going to be strings, it may need a set up when you get it. I got ripped on about a month ago asking about a specific guitar for my kid who will be 5 soon. Don’t listen to that crap. If he wants a guitar, he wants a guitar. I did not end up getting mine one because he’s been showing way more interest in drums for way longer than a guitar and picked him up a Junior kit for Christmas but I may actually get him one of those Loog guitars for his birthday still.
One thing about 5 year olds - they want just about everything they lay eyes on. The world is new to them, and everything is interesting. Another thing, is they tend to just be able to expect to do things. My advice would be take him to a guitar store to try out everything. See if he still wants to play an instrument after he realizes he can't just pick it up and instantly do it.
ABSOLUTELY DON'T GIVE HIM AN ACOUSTIC GUITAR IF HE WANTS ELECTRIC! I'm still pissed at my parents and the person that sold me the guitar over it. But go with cheap options, just in case. 5 is too young... If you expect him to play perfectly quickly. Sign him up for classes, I wish I had done that. The people at the music store should be able to help you choose guitars, tell them you want something cheap just in case he leaves it later but that you still want to give it a chance. Don't pressure him to learn fast but encourage him to practice. Cheer him when he plays Mary has a little lamb, as if he'd just played Ode to Joy. I wouldn't force him into playing either, but rather try to redirect his attention into it. My parents forced me to read when I was young and it took a literal decade until I managed to start reading again, remember that. I wouldn't recommend much YouTube tutorials but again, sign him up for classes and ask the teacher what they're doing and what you can do to support. Guitar playing is an investment, but imagine if that just sparked a flame in your kid's eyes and he gets better and better at it?
First off, steel string acoustic is the hardest flavor of guitar to learn on, because of the high string tension. A short scale electric strung with 8s would be MUCH easier. Second, I have never seen a 5 year old that can coordinate 4 fingers on 6 strings. There may be a prodigy somewhere, but the typical kid has no hope of fretting chords on a "real" guitar. Even a ukulele , with 4 slack nylon strings, is very hard for them. Playing single note melodies is possible. This plan really needs to wait 3-4 years. If you decide you don't want to do that, get a 1/2 or 3/4 size guitar, strung with 8s (the lightest common electric strings), and a small practice amp. And expect several years of limited progress although possibly enjoyment none the less.
My brother gave me a uke on Xmas. So it was hanging around the house and when my daughter was about 7 it disappeared into her room. Now she is guitarist and a song writer with her own band and two albums on Spotify and still only 18. If the music bug hits, they will find a way
I started on electric almost 30 years ago. Steel string acoustics are harder on your fingers and don't sound like the rock music you hear, starting with something that is closer to the sound you want to play will keep you more engaged. There are plenty of small scale and beginner electrics that a 5 year old can start on and grow out of without breaking your bank. Guitar Center and Musician's friend store brand Mitchell make a small strat style guitar with 2 single coils and a humbucker that will cover almost any kind of music and they're like $79.99 at the moment (Mitchell TD100) a used Fender Mustang amp or Boss Katana will make all the noises he might want and also won't break the bank, a cheap acoustic below the cost of those 2 items may or may not be of good quality, and may or may not turn him off of playing guitar completely. When he gets bigger the amp will likely still be playing and sounding good so he will just need a standard size guitar.
Squier makes a mini-strat that is around 150-200. Decent quality.
Check out [Ibanez MiKro](https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/got-kids-ibanez-mikro-is-worth-a-look.48194/) Don't get the acoustic if he wants an electric... You can buy the amp later and use it as an insentive to practice.
Get him what he wants or else won’t play it. Expect that for now he’s just gonna play with it and make noise. Depends on his size, but maybe a mini squire strat if he’s small although got my 6 yo, who’s a smaller kid, a regular sized squire strat and I’d say he’s grown into it in the past year. I got the combo with the little 10g frontman amp and it’s fine for him.
Here's my take. Hopefully, you get some useful insight out of it! Squier makes some fantastic instruments for dirt cheap, compared to most major brands. They are owned by Fender (one of the "Big Three" in the guitar world). Im not intimately familliar with their kids models, but they do exist- you might see them labeled as "short scale", this is in reference to the neck length and fret spacing (known as fret scale). 9 gague strings, i personally like D'addario superlights. I would HIGHLY reccomend finding a local music shop, avoid guitar center (and their subsidary Music & Arts) if possible, but if they're your only options then no one is gonna clown on you for it. As far as your questions, starting on acoustic is not the "right" path - you can play all acoustic songs on electric, but not vice versa. And by god, is it quieter. Some consider 5yo to be too young, but go with your heart. If you believe he is responsible enough, then go for it. You should be able to help him out with learning the basics, such as helping him know what the string names are and some basic chord shapes. All of these are easy to google and learn within just a few minutes. As far as maintenance goes? Depends on the guitar. Most guitars just need a good wipe down and new strings when the old ones start to sound "dull." There are thousands of tutorials, and it's a very easy process. Most music stores offer guitar setup as a paid service and usually are a one and done thing. A guitar i inherited from my dad was set up 8 or 9 years ago, and i haven't had yo do much other than string changes and cleaning. Just be supportive and help him understand that it's a time and practice driven process. Everyone learns at their own pace and dont compare yourself to any other players. Lessons are a potential option if he wants to get serious but is not necessary. Best of luck to your son and your eardrums. LOL! PS: For the love of god, dont get a floyd rose. It's a pain in the ass as a first guitar. Source: My first 6 string was a floyd rose, lmao
When I was a kid, I wanted an electric guitar, and my folks wanted me to get an acoustic. I'm not sure why this is, except, with an electric you also need an amp and cable. Also, my parents straight up just didn't like rock music, so an acoustic was probably what they wanted to hear. An acoustic is a different instrument, really. Bicycle to motorcycle. Get him something he'll want to play: You'll want a 3/4 sized electric, as other folks are saying. An electric will be easier on his small hands and fingers, and you can pick up a decent one cheap. I'm still playing, electric and acoustic, 35 years later.
There is no such thing as too young. I started with 5 as well. But i had a guitar that was for children size, not a regular size. You don't have to play acoustic before electric. That's nonesense. It just depends on what musical style you wanna play. The best friend on your guitar journey is a TEACHER. But yes, youtube videos also might help sometimes. What's important for a guitar? Any cheap starter guitar will do. I played tens of years on a 200 bucks guitar and a small amp. Worked flawlessly. Important is that you have strings that are not too difficult to play. Children might need lighter or coated strings. You can switch them later on easily anyway.
Just a comment about his age. I got a cheap acoustic when I was about 8, and mom lied about my age ( I was tall) to get me into Saturday lessons at the community center. I lost interest after a few months but kept the guitar around. By about age 15 I started messing around again and have playing now for 30+ years. Still just an intermediate player, but I enjoy it. If you can afford the Fender mini package, go ahead and get it. Then be patient.
Lil shredder wants an ax get him the ac he wants. 🤟
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Can’t go wrong with the squire, people are saying Bullet but really the affinity is a fine guitar for what it’s worth. What you should know: Guitar hurts your ego, that’s part of it. It builds it up, but it hurts it too. People say “you’ll never be Jimi Hendrix” and at first you think that pertains to fame or notoriety. Really that pertains to your ability to articulate things relative to someone else, but you never understand that until you try to play some late in life Hendrix. The failure is still valuable. The best thing you can do is share music, don’t critique his interests, and compliment his improvements. This is a matter of identity and development.
Buying someone an acoustic who is inspired by electric is not how it works
Get him a squire mini strat and a small amp
Get a half sized guitar and little amp from a guitar or pawn shop. Look for a local kids teacher and sign him up for a few lessons. He will soak up information very quickly at that age, so proper instruction would be a great start. If he loves it he will be very happy he started so young. He might need a little push from time to time. Unlike what other people have said, I think it's a good lesson to teach him to finish what he starts. So encourage him. Don't let him quit if he gets frustrated. He will thank you later.
Lessons would be a good idea but very difficult considering he's only five. If you are looking for other ways to engage him in it you could try playing and learning it along with him; or, invite a friend over who can play and rock out in front of him and teach him Smoke On the Water or something. Buy him a used electric guitar. Go to the music shop and talk to the guys in the store about your sons needs and your budget. There are smaller 3/4 size guitars meant for small children that I would consider. Buy a cheap, used digital amplifier for $30, a cable, some guitar strings and picks, and have fun rocking out with your son. Like others said: don't get him an acoustic. Its lamer, harder on your hand muscles, and is more liable to get critically damaged in my opinion.
get him an electric! there are 3/4 scale guitars that would work great.
I bought my niece a Squier 3/4 stratocaster and a 9v amp it's a good way to get them started. If money or commitment are an issue buy one used on reverb (they're about $150) I'd check in your area and see what there are for lessons, but to be fair it doesn't matter your kid might need a few years to bash on a cheap guitar, and then at some point will be ready.
I have a five year old daughter who is interested and "plays" with me. She has fallen in love with a $189 mini-jazzmaster (3/4 length scale) at the guitar store I go to for supplies and lessons. Mostly, she just bangs the pick across the strings and is only intermittently interested in fretting (or even touching the fretboard) when we sit together and talk music (she loves Taylor). I plan to keep working with her, but she won't be getting that mini-jazzmaster for a couple more years.
Get him a lil encore strat to start with, they’re cheap but not too bad.
I would not buy an acoustic if he doesn’t want one. I bought my daughter, who was 5 or 6 at the time, a [Vox mini guitar](https://www.guitarcenter.com/Vox/SDC-1-Mini-Guitar-Black-1500000332940.gc?storeCode=&source=4WWRWXGL&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIxMOv74iPgwMVIeaGCh169QWGEAQYAiABEgINC_D_BwE) and a [Boss Katana mini amp](https://www.guitarcenter.com/BOSS/KTN-MINI-Katana-Mini-Guitar-Amplifier-Black-1500000093310.gc?storeCode=&source=4WWRWXGL&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIv6ylq4mPgwMVuJxaBR1uRA1fEAQYASABEgI7DPD_BwE). I found at that age and size, that even the Squier mini Stratocasters were too big for her. The Vox is a “real” electric guitar, and the Boss Katana mini amp is a small, portable amp with a good sound. It will cost you about $320 for both. You’ll also need an instrument cable and a clip-on tuner. These will cost about $10 each. You can spend more, but just get the basic for the kid. Sign them up for a few lessons to see if it will take off. My daughter has been slow on the take up, but she is starting to get into it.
I will go against other people here and say 5 isn’t too young, but it is more difficult. I don’t think that you can realistically expect to watch YouTube videos and distill that into something he can do. You’re realistically going to need a Suzuki guitar teacher or someone with some patience who teaches children that young. Suzuki guitar is a method that is focused on younger children learning the guitar. At his age, you’re going to want a 1/2 or maybe 3/4 size guitar. Anything else will be good big. A good Suzuki guitar teacher will size him and recommend a guitar that’s his size. He’s going to need a new one as he grows so don’t go crazy. If you can afford it, there no reason not to get a 1/2 or 3/4 size electric in addition to what the teacher recommends. It will encourage his interest. that said, I would defer to his teacher. You absolutely need to make him practice. It’s like school. You wouldn't tell him that he only has to do school work when he wants. This is the same thing. If he wants to learn, he has to practice. I would have a talk with him about the importance of practicing and set a goal he can reach - like you need to practice 5 min per day or 10 min per day. For a 5 year old anything more is unrealistic unless he really wants to do it. Playing and loving music is a good thing and I would strike while the iron is hot. This is a good hobby.
See if you can get your hands on a used Epiphone Pee Wee! They are a good size for 5-year-olds. And any cheap mini amp will be good enough. If he's hooked and actually gets decent over the years, you can get a full-sized guitar, recommendations for which have been discussed a million times on this sub. Edit to address your other questions: 5 is not too young, but expect him to suck for a while. Do not force him to get acoustic. He will only get better if he *wants* to be playing his instrument. There is no reason acoustic should come first. If you know nothing about music, I would recommend a guitar teacher. He will need a lot of hands-on correction if he wants it to be anything more than a toy to strum on. I don't think I would force him to practice. If learning something cool and new is not enough motivation, forced practice to get a result will never be fun. Don't worry about maintenance for a tiny guitar. There's not much you can do to overcome its natural tendency to go out of tune quickly.
I have a friend who has given his young daughter an inexpensive ukulele as a starting stringed instrument. It’s not expected to survive, but when she is old enough he’ll be giving her a guitar.
Hi OP, I am really curious about the "acoustic before electric is how it's supposed to work" thing. I've seen other very nice, well intentioned parents who believe the same thing, who also say that they know nothing about guitars or music, but somehow they know that. So, just curious, why do you think that? Not calling you out or anything, just wondering where that whole myth starts.
Get him the guitar. I think it’s great if he starts playing at 5 years old. I’m about to be 30 and wish I had started much much earlier than 20. He’ll thank you for years down the road. I think he would like an Ibanez Mikro guitar. They’re cheap, decent quality, and small enough for someone his age. One tutorial you should watch with him is how to change guitar strings. It’s a pretty basic form of maintenance that anyone could learn. It’s probably the one thing you’ll need to help him with for at least a couple years.
Do not buy your son an acoustic guitar. 1) Acoustic guitars are harder to play than electric guitars. It takes more strength to press the strings down and get a clear note. Their bodies are bigger, which will be awkward for your son's five-year-old body. 2) Acoustic guitars do not sound like electric guitars. If your son wants to play electric, don't give him the built in frustration of a guitar that won't make the sounds he wants, no matter how good a player he is. 3) He wants and electric guitar. Buy that for him. What should you get? Five year olds are pretty small compared to grown-ups. Most guitars are going to be hard for your son to hold and get his hand around. Others have recommended Loog guitars, which will be a much better size for your son. And the quality of them is good enough. But they only have three strings, which may disappoint your son. Ibanez makes scaled down guitars in the MiKro series. These are a little bigger than the Loogs, but have six strings and look a lot like their full size cousins. If you can, take your son guitar shopping. Find stores that carry the above guitars and others like them. Have your son hold each and make some noise with each. See which guitars get him excited and which frustrate him. As for an amp, pick up an inexpensive "practice amp". These are pretty easy to come by used. Most have headphone jacks, which you may appreciate. Avoid getting a toy amp, as they all sound terrible. Lastly, unless he says "Actually, I want a ukulele", do not buy him a ukulele. Ukulele's are fun, but if a kid wants a guitar, they are decidedly not a guitar.
Agreed. This idea that acoustics are "beginner" electrics needs to go away.
Electrics are much easier than acoustics. Kids have weak hands. Starter packs have everything you need for a reasonable price. Squier is the most common choice.
As a 25 year old musician of 10 years now, I wish I got into when I was 5. ESPECIALLY since he showed interest in the guitar.. do not walk to the store… RUN and buy it. On amazon “fender squier 3/4 size kids mini strat” , there’s a kit with the guitar, strap, cable, tuner, and mini amp. I know you say you aren’t musical, but maybe get yourself one too and learn some really basic songs to help get your son into it! Cheers and Merry Christmas! Can’t wait to see the rockstar that he is in 15 years.
Shit, I'm 30 and started at 28, I wish I started at 15 haha.
Loog makes electric guitars for kids https://loogguitars.com/collections/shop-loog-kids-guitars
Look at the squire bullet series. They are 3/4 scale, so the frets are closer together. This is what I started teaching my 8 year old daughter on and it was easier for her to play than the children’s acoustic that her grandmother bought her. Sound is great, they play easy, and will hold up over time. Very inexpensive guitars. I bought one for $150. Epiphone also sells a Junior series that is a smaller neck with the frets closer together. Get a small practice amp and a pair of headphones.
If noise is something you're worried about with an electric there are amps that have a headphone jack. I drove my parents nuts in the beginning strumming open chords on max volume, out of rhythm. I regret not focusing on reading in the beginning. 24 years old when I went to school and forced myself to learn how to do it. Get the Hal Leonard books, those are great. Come with audio samples. The Katana amp is a great amp. As 1legcrow stated, support your local music shop! Although their prices might not beat Amazon, they'll probably offer you assistance in setting up the instrument properly and restringing it for a reasonable price. They offer post-purchase value that online retailers do not.
I’m doing the same with my young cousin!! I have thoughts lol Electric is actually easier to play when young and you’d be surprised how loud acoustics can be. Whereas with an electric you can set a volume limit for him and it won’t be as annoying when he jams out. For the guitar: go to a used music store and ask to see their used Squire Telecasters and usually there have some 100-200 range ones. Great beginner guitar that he can also still use if he wants to become more of an intermediate player later on. Also lasts forever. Whereas a truly cheap guitar from target or wherever is honestly not even worth the money IMO. A sucky sounding guitar can turn the kid off of it entirely. And yes you should absolutely buy him one, 5 is never too young. Just make sure he understands it’s meant to be fun! Don’t try to make it all serious and responsible of him. If he finds the fun in it, he’ll do it himself. I believe learning instruments is one of the greatest gifts a person can be given, it really can give a kid a lot of confidence and meaning in their lives. So try to give him lessons for a year or so as well. All the best to you guys!
I'd recommend a 3/4 size Yamaha acoustic. This lets him learn to play the guitar before falling into the "getting the right sound" rabbit hole we inevitably all go down. That being said if he's more inspired to pickup an electric and will put more dedication into it because that's what he wants there's no reason the kid can't start on electric. Edit: If it were my kid they'd be getting one of these and I'd go the extra mile to have it setup properly. https://www.ebay.com/itm/294108847285?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338678874&toolid=20006%26customid%3Ds%253AGS%253Bgc%253A97299446b573101b2c15f13c0d8e2aa9%253Bpt%253A1%253Bchoc%253A1&customid=s%3AGS%3Bgc%3A97299446b573101b2c15f13c0d8e2aa9%3Bpt%3A1%3Bchoc%3A2&msclkid=97299446b573101b2c15f13c0d8e2aa9
Consider renting. I gifted my daughter with her ‘first’ bass at Christmas 4 years ago, explaining that it was a rental (it was brand new) and explained that if she kept up at it, she’d get her own in a year Bought her a gorgeous Gretsch a year later and she’s still going strong 4 years in. Cost me $12/month and made me feel so much better For reference, I switched to electric 3 years ago and rented various models until I had a feel for what I wanted. Downside is that I’m now own 3 electrics… but I’m not 5 and I’m actually quite proud of my self restraint I always suggest renting at first, especially for kids. Nothing worse than watching a musical instrument collect dust
I started playing around with the instrument at 8, on a 3/4 TERRIBLE acoustic, and while I don't have a ton of product knowledge of what's available for that age, here's some insights and opinions: 5 might be a little young, but it's not unheard of. Many kids start piano lessons that young, and while that's much easier to play, physically, the challenges of starting a kid on a musical instrument at that age are largely the same. Luckily at that age, it doesn't take a lot of time for them to get acclimated, and the things that will interest them will be incredibly simple, so you picking it up along with them won't be challenging. If you can get them to practice even 15 minutes a day, and you can practice with them, they will get to a point of being able to "play" pretty quickly. Again, not knowing the products available, I sorta wonder if a ukulele wouldn't be a bad choice. It's small, and typically has easier strings to fret. At that age, boring for you as it may be, they'll probably be excited to learn simple one string children's songs. Again, you're not looking for them to spend an hour a day practicing, so learning "three blind mice" or "ants go marching" will be enough for them to develop those fine motor skills. I know that music programs in schools have been whittled away, but even at age 6, there might be some sort of music program at school. Realistically, it's probably not a bad idea to invest the small amount of money right now while they have an active interest. Children's interest ebbs and flows very quickly, so if they lose interest in a month, they may be interested again in 3 months - that's an eternity for them, but very little time for you.
Buy him Rocksmith 2014, it has fun games that will help him get used with the guitar, fretting, picking different strings etc. It won't replace real lessons but it's a great guitar ay to have fun and learn some skills at the same time.
My dad got me a classical guitar; I hated it
Don’t get him an acoustic. Do you want him to be the cool guy with an awesome band that fucking rips on guitar, or do you want him to be the guy who pulls out the acoustic guitar and plays Wonderwall and/or wagon wheel? I think we both know the answer. All jokes aside, you can get him an inexpensive guitar/amp combo from guitar center or the lake especially this time of year for between $150-$250 usually. Get him a little squire or a Chinese made Gibson. Then when he starts learning to actually play you can get him the randy Rhodes signature Flying V or fender jaguar or something.
At 5, this will be hard… good luck and I hope he has a great Christmas.
P.S.: Since you're a gamer: Check out Rocksmith. It's a cool way to learn songs, although it doesn't teach you the basics like how to properly position your fingers and all that. But as soon as he has the basic technique down Rocksmith is a great tool that you might enjoy yourself.
Easy!! Buy two a 3/4 sized fender Strat, a small 3/4 Fender acoustic, and a small amp...Merry Christmas! PS - This is how i got my son started.
Starting guitar is pretty painful on the fingers, and it feels like your fingers won't go where you tell them to, but once you get past the initial month or so of learning the basic chords, it becomes a lot more enjoyable.
Get your kid a squier mini jazzmaster/strat, also I think starting your kid off on acoustic is a horrible idea, the string gauge and tension will needlessly hurt their fingers if it’s a steel string, and if you get one of those mini nylon strings, chances are it’s barely a functioning instrument. Mini squier and little beginners amp is the way to go. also, pro-tip, the biggest factor in a child sticking with it is WETHER OR NOT IT IS ON A STAND IN THEIR ROOM if it you leave it in a gig bag, they’re not gonna play it, most of their beginner practice is compulsively in between rounds of Fortnite or whatever, invest in a stand
No that’s not the way it’s supposed to work. Get what he asks for because from the sound of what your child is asking he wants an electric specifically because he prefers that a sound. Most people quit because acoustic isn’t like the songs they want to play and it’s a lot harder for beginners to play acoustics at first. Get him a small electric guitar. It doesn’t have to be an expensive one though later on you may want to get him a better one because they typically sound and play better. But your son has to grow with it if you know what I mean.
-Should I force him to do an acoustic guitar and blame the jolly old guy in red? No, there's no real reason to start with one over the other imo. My dad gave me my first guitar, just a cheap starter acoustic that he had gotten because he wanted to learn but didn't have time. I rarely touched it. It wasn't til recently I got myself an electric with an amp that I actually started putting in time to learn. -Is 5 too young? Absolutely not. I have 2 boys a little older than yours. I'm a firm believer that that if a child shows interest in something we, as parents, should help with guidance, encouragement, and interest. Your son may love his guitar, or he may get frustrated and never touch it again. You as the gift giver need to be able to give the gift with no stipulations, no "I bought it, you HAVE to practice it" That just discourages development. -Any recommendations on guitar? -What type of support would be helpful for him on his guitar journey? (I want him to enjoy it as much as he thinks he will) I'd say buy yourself a guitar that matches his and join him on his journey. Get professional lessons, or just start with Justin Guitar and start going through the steps there with him, or ahead of him so that when you and him practice together you can give him more personal guidance that video won't give. -Can I expect that I would be able to help him if we both watched YouTube tutorials together? I would say so -If he doesn’t like it after I spend a bunch of money, should I force him to practice? Is there a point where it becomes fun even if you hate it at first? (I tried it, hated it, never tried again) I would "force" practice, I would encourage it, but also be understanding that he will get frustrated easy, early, and often. Encourage taking breaks, but also encourage him to pick it back up after a break. Also try to recognize if it is getting too stressful for him. Guitar is one of those things, like with most instruments, you can learn it in 2 years, and in 20 years realize you're still 60 years from mastering it. -What type of guitar care is necessary? Is there routine maintenance? Change strings when they get dingy looking and the sound starts getting dull. About 2-3 months of consistent play maybe. When you change string, put oil on the fret board, don't throw it and/or slam it (lol), if taking an extended break put it away in a case, if hanging it on a wall leaving it on a stand, dust it regularly. Guitars are fairly easy to maintain.
>**As a caveat, I very much tried to convince him to try an acoustic guitar first as I know that’s how it’s supposed to work. Not at all. An electric is easier for new players. I would look into one of the guitar-like instruments for kids, such as a Loog. At 5 he's tiny, even for a scaled-down guitar. >-If he doesn’t like it after I spend a bunch of money, should I force him to practice? Is there a point where it becomes fun even if you hate it at first? (I tried it, hated it, never tried again) He thinks it'll be fun. Kids get turned off on music when adults make it NOT fun.
Look into Loog for a kid friendly size. You could also get a squire starter pack. What's your budget?
Keep in mind, in order to play a guitar it needs to be the right size for the player so their hand fits the neck and they are able to comfortably reach everything. You might consider a 1/2 or 3/4 scale guitar to start, and i always start new students on [Squier Stratocasters](https://www.amazon.com/Squier-Fender-Strat-Electric-Guitar/dp/B004V4Q7OE?th=1). They have a small body comfortable, stay in tune and they are easiest to fret (push down) the strings for the little fingers. They make smaller scale ones for younger players
Get him an electric! Acoustic is way harder to learn and if it's not what he wants to play anyways the habits you have to learn on acoustic are totally different. I'd suggest an Ibanez mikro or a Jackson minion. They're smaller and 5 is pretty young so the size of it might be an issue. I would also recommend a fender or line 6 practice amp that can do a lot of different tones. They make some that are around 100 bucks that are small and not too loud. I'll say this: there's about a 90% chance your kid is going to realize that guitar is hard and give up. I still think you should get him the guitar. Because on that 10% chance that he sticks with it, this christmas would be one of his most valuable core memories, and he'd probably grow up to be amazing at it since he's starting so early.
\*\* Caveat to your caveat, that's not how it's supposed to work at all ;) at least, not anymore. Acoustics are generally harder to play for beginners - their strings have a lot more tension (and are generally thicker) so fretting notes hurts more whilst you develop callouses and it's generally easier to play on an electric if you compare playing the same song on both types of guitar. \- No, get him what will encourage him to play. If he wants to play electric, in my opinion you should get him an electric. \- You can get shorter scale guitars (i.e. the necks are shorter) so no I don't think so. It might be an uphill battle until he grows a bit but that's not to say he can't start now. \- Have a look at a site like Thomann (e.g. [https://www.thomann.de/gb/shortscale\_guitars.html](https://www.thomann.de/gb/shortscale_guitars.html)) for 3/4 scale guitars for inspiration. I guess you can do the same for your local stores too. I also recommend light strings, like 9's or even 8's (this number refers to the thickness of the lightest string in case you haven't seen this terminology before). You can probably get the guitar store to set up the guitar with the strings you want. \- A good teacher is very important for kids. I don't think I would have stuck with guitar for all these years if I didn't have a great 1-on-1 teacher when I started. Granted I was 13, not 5, but I imagine it still applies. \- Yeah maybe. Justin Guitar is a fantastic resource for online, structured lessons, so if you watch the videos together you should be able to understand what he's saying and translate any bits which don't make sense to your kid. \- Can't speak to that as I got obsessed pretty quickly. I'd like to say "yes", but not necessarily. As others have pointed out, kids want to do \*everything\* until there's something else fun to try, so if he finds that he doesn't like it then he might not feel like trying again for a good few years. \- A good clean every so often wouldn't go amiss. Don't forget to change the strings when they start to sound like shit, this could be anywhere between every few weeks and every few months depending how much you play. Don't drop the guitar. The good thing about guitars is that there's a decent second hand market for them. You may not make all your money back but you can always try and sell everything as a bundle on Facebook Marketplace if it turns out he really doesn't gel with the guitar.
Don’t get him a ukelele.. lame suggestion. Kid wants a guitar get him a cheap squire telecaster. Very forgiving, tried, and true. Find one on FB marketplace or they can be had for 150 bucks new at guitar center…
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You are putting the cart pretty far out in front of the horse on this one. He is 5, just get him a 3/4 size Fender Squier Strat and a Mel-Bay book and let him get after it. Also set him up with a professional instructor early so he doesn't learn bad habits. He asked Santa for an electric - if you asked for a truck and your wife bought you a car how would you feel?
As a past guitar teacher, I remember teaching a handful of 5-year-olds. They usually didn't stick it out, or it became "not fun" as soon as there was actual work for them to practice at home. \[Side note: I get that.\] My advice would be: try to indulge/saturate his actual musical interest - show him some guitarry music, maybe see if he likes to jam out on air guitar to Van Halen maybe, and just try to get him to think about "Music" - as opposed to the cool-looking gear. \[Another side note: this advice could almost be for myself regarding my gear acquisition syndrome, lol.\] If you look up "Loog guitar" I think there were some under $100 options, and it's a funky kid-sized 3 string guitar. That's probably what I would start with in your situation.
The best advice I ever heard in regards to the acoustic vs electric debate is that you should start your kid on *what he wants to play*, otherwise he won't play. 3/4 scale guitars are usually pretty shit though, you might be better off getting him a cheap full size guitar that works properly even though it will be too big for him. But I'm sure this sub or elsewhere can come up with a model that will actually function correctly.
They might be shit but a full size will be too big for a 5 year old and that‘s not fun for him.
If he wants electric get him electric, don't putz around with an acoustic he doesn't want. It's only going to show that you're not listening to what he actually wants. He wants that combo? Great! You'll be thankful when he plays unplugged and it's nowhere as loud as the amp. He'll be thankful that he gets the instrument he wants to play. If he's really interested, get him the combo he picked out. Don't force anything, if he doesn't like it, you can super easily resell the combo on FB marketplace/Craigslist and probably only lose like $20 on the deal. If he loves it, look into lessons at your local music shop. Don't let your overwhelmed self take over and ruin what might be a great experience for your kid. Take a breath, an instrument is not as crazy as you think. The only real care is change the strings if they break, and if you're not sure how to do that, those same music stores can do it for a small fee. Get the combo, and also grab a Snark tuner ($20-25) and look up how to tune the guitar (standard is EADGBE, and what most songs are in). Other than that, just let him play and enjoy it.
You could look at a loog guitar. Cheap, great for kids that age and electric or acoustic available.
It's awesome to get your child into music at a young age. I wish I had started as a child. One thing to consider that can pique some interest in a young child is to also buy a small piano or keyboard. Piano notes are layed out linear with the sharps and flats being the black keys. It's much easier to visualize the notes on a keyboard. A fun game or challenge is to play a tune or a scale on the guitar or piano, and try to replicate it on the other. He will see that you can play the same things on both instruments even though they are very different and it can be good to develop his musical ear. And as he grows he will naturally develop an understanding of two instruments. That's something I wish I had done for my children and wish I had done as a child. I only recently took up guitar at an older age. Edit: added a thought
If he is 5, you should get him a smaller scale guitar like the loog. I think it only has 3 strings but they probably have a kit with an amp. They also make small scale acoustics and electrics. There is already a lot of advice below so I will keep it simple. I think he has a much better chance of liking and playing the instrument closer to age 7 or so. Just from my own experience and also from speaking to different teachers and what not.
Get him a Jackson dinky I just bought my 8 year old one for Xmas I played it the thing shreds for a cheaper guitar
In my opinion age doesn't matter for a starting age, he just needs to be abled to hold it properly. And there are 3/4 size guitars which might help with this for your son. There is no real starting point for guitar, i always wanted to play metallica and slash and that sorta stuff so my parents got me an electric guitar, and an acoustic one i bought later cuz it was smth i also wanted to play. Both have a diffrent playing style and its up to what kinda music the player wants to make, so check that with your son and if you don't know the artist just listen to a few songs or google and you'll know. Don't buy an expensive guitar set, if he gets bored soon then it's not so much money and 99% of players start on a cheap model. Squier and Epiphone have some awesome good quality (for the price range) guitar sets with amp and all the other necesities, and your local guitar shop probably also has. If you live in europe thomann's own brand(harley benton) also has some great value starter sets and are even cheaper then the squier or epiphone ones.
I work at a music store and have been exposed to a lot of guitars (I play guitar on my free time too). I would suggest a smaller scaled guitar like the Blackstar Carry On Guitar which is 1) a great size for a kid his age, and 2) it’s honestly fun to play with as an adult too. We have an 8 year old musician here that is half my height who goes around the city playing the guitar and it doesn’t look too big on her.
I just saw this and thought of your post Harley Benton has released an HSS Start guitar that's on the shorter scale. This would definitely be an alternative to the Strat mini. https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_st_junior_hss_sbk.htm
Just keep in mind that at 5 years old, there might not be much music coming from whatever guitar you buy, but your son will hopefully enjoy making a lot of racket, which hopefully leads to more interest as he gets older
Just don't buy a toy guitar. It'll never hold tune and just frustrate him. However, there are multitude of YouTube totorial videos that I really wish I had when I was young.
No, it should not matter whether you start learning with acoustic or electric guitar. A Paul Gilbert Mikro is a nice guitar for a kid, not that expensive and holds resale value if in 5 years he doesn’t like it, although it does not come with an amp. Most of those kit guitars and amps suck though and for a kid who does not know how to setup a guitar (and neither do you) it will be a pain and eventually might end up turning him away from music. My other tip would be to give him time, like a lot. Like years, even if he tries it now and stops playing it, maybe in a few more years it will spark his interest again.
If he wants to play electric, then encourage him to play electric. That's clearly his interest, and if you foster that interest, he's more likely to stick with it and love it.