Acoustic Guitar ?

[tinkfan4ever]

My dd wants to learn to play an acoustic guitar. I'm not even sure what to look at. She's 13 - do I look at children's or adult's? Strings... steel vs. nylon? HELPPPPPPP I want a good guitar for her but nothing too expensive. Any advice or brand names would be greatly appreciated!!!!

 

[tmccullough]

I bought my DD15 a Fender electric guitar last year for Christmas. They sell a package in most music stores for $300 or less (online deals are sometimes better). She begged all year for it and we didn't decide until Christmas Eve to actually purchase it. We threatened that it would be sold if we see she's not serious. She was interested in teaching herself with dvd instructionals. Well... I have to say it's the best purchase we ever made for any of our kids. She never puts it down and is doing so well that she started up a youth praise band at our church! I honestly seriously never thought she would do that well or practice so much because she never showed any musical abilities in the past AT ALL! HTH

 

[drakester]

Find a guitar teacher first and ask them what they recommend. Last march we bought our dd a steal string guitar only to find our guitar teacher strongly recommend a nylon string one. Why partly because he teaches classical guitar but mostly because holding down those strings really hurts the fingers and nylon is alittle gentler on the finger tips.

 

[Fabinva]

I'm also looking for one as my DS8 wants to learn and it's on top of his Christmas list. I looked online and the Yamaha JR1 3/4 size has good reviews but you might need a full size.
I did read about getting the nylon string as it is easier on their fingers.
Hope you get more answers.

 

[SpaceGirl]

After you decide what you want, remember that you can find guitars at Pawn Shops for very little money.

 

[Califgirl]

For a 13 yr. old, I would get a full size guitar and nylon strings. But, I would include a series of lessons with that guitar. And, as someone else suggested, I would choose the instructor first and then get their recommendation on an appropriate instrument. In fact, they may suggest renting a guitar to see what the interest level is before purchasing one. Your gift may end up just being guitar lessons with the promise of her own guitar to come in a month or two.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

I've posted this on other threds, but I'll post it again just in case you haven't see the other guitar threds we've had.

We got my DD12(at Christmas) the Esteban childrens package from www.HSN.com

It's a 3/4 size guitar with a soft case, chord chart,picks and 2 instructuional DVDs for under $80.00. It had great reviews and we actually received it from HSN in 2 days.

Wow I just checked there is an event price for $69.95 right now !!

 

[Shmily1]

If you have a store called Guitar Center, I would try there. They have great deals and everyone there knows a lot about guitars!! DS18 had to have one last year and I got him a great Breedlove for about $800. The original price was over $1500 and it will last him forever!!

That's not the kind you would need of course, but there are many options and I know they either have guitar lessons there or could tell you a good person to teach her. They also have a website in case you are not close to a store.

 

[java]

I am a lifelong guitar player.

Definately go for steel strings. Nylon don't sound great and they are soft on the fingers so when they try to up to the steel ones it'll hurt. Get used to them from the get go- or you'll have trouble down the road. Most guitar teachers tell you that.(I'm surprised to see teachers suggesting the nylon ones)

Plus they just sound better.At 13 she is big enough to have a standard guitar. Good luck and my son is going to start soon- he's only 6 right now but is very interested so I'll start him.