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Hi,
It takes a lot of time to actually get any good. I've picked up the guitar for many months over the years... it's a huge time investment and I always tend to reach a peak and don't really have the extra time to invest.
I'd recommend avoiding the books that simply teach chords.. as they are extremely boring. There are many complete songs that you can play with just 2-3 chords... that's where I'd recommend starting. If you can afford it... hire a guitar instructor for twice a week lessons. It's always more exciting when you play music with others.
Best Wishes,
-David Delaune
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Yes, absolutely. It's a huge time investment... again, you have to love it. I was playing for three years before I joined my first band - and I didn't think I was good enough at the time (I wasn't), but allowed myself to be pushed into it by friends.
When I was in my late teens I would try to practice for as many hours a day as I could force myself to. I was trying to be Eddie Van Halen, or Yngwie Malmsteen at the time, and being a musician had become my life. Packing in 6 hours of practicing in a day was not uncommon then.
I played guitar in bands for around 10 years before switching to bass, and then eventually vocals, and I never got anywhere near Yngwie. It's a tough instrument to master.
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I recommend you get someone (a friend or family member who plays, or a guitar teacher) to help teach your son to get started - i.e. undertstand what notes are (and their names), how to tune the guitar, how to play a few simple chords, and how to strum (rhythm). But I strongly suggest not forcing your son to read and write music. DON'T DO IT.
Instead, encourage the instructor to show your son how to play some of his favorite songs or artists. That will spur him and on and encourage him to keep playing. I learned on my own (many years ago), and the joy of not having been forced to take lessons and learn to read and write music opened my eyes to improvisation, which came naturally to me, because I wasn't forced to follow a strict musical regimen. My nieces took piano lessons for years and can sight read (impressive), but can't improvise. When I once told one of them "play a chord sequence and I'll just follow you", she looked and me blankly and said, "But what do you want me to play?"
And tell your son, not to be discouraged when his fingers hurt and the strings buzz instead of ringing clearly. That means he's on the road to improvement! Keep playing and you'll find with time your fingers will stop hurting and the notes you're playing will sound pure and clean.
Playing guitar is easy and is a great release[^]. When I was young, I also discovered it attracted women. Which was fine by me. Very fine. 
/ravi
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This is how I did it as a 8 year old.
I snuck my brothers vox electric from it's case and a byrds songbook with the chords. My sister had previously showed me how to decipher chord charts so if I didn't know a Dm7, there it was for the fingering. Since everyone and their groupie then knew turn turn turn, I was able in an hour to play it as I sang the words.
This set me on my way and I never looked back.
Kids today are more difficult as they few buckle down and work though a challenge. Not when there is an iPhone and their friends all right there that take no effort.
It will score you a more beautiful woman than you would otherwise. Mine is still here. I met her when I was 11, taught her where to put her fingers to play Stairway on her student nylon string axe. She was a huge zep fan and soon a fan of me. We're 55 now and still a real looker where I just got uglier. 
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Didn't read your post and you basically gave the same message I did 
(perhaps better )
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/ravi
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Not sure if it is the same there as it is here, but do not send him to music lessons (yet). The problem with those is that they have to go through a bunch of theory before they learn anything "cool" and often they lose interest.
The best way to keep him interested is you can make him play a recognizable song quick (2 weeks to a month). He can learn that by himself or via a tutor (who focuses on playing instead of theory).
Start with the open chords (A-G and perhaps the minor versions) and pick a song he likes that contains about 3 or 4 of the open chords. From there, move to songs that have similar chords, but with one or 2 different. (eg my first song was Polly from Nirvana with open chords) For songs you can go here: ultimate guitar. (not always 100% correct, but usually not too bad)
Don't worry about the up or down strokes, just yet, that mostly comes with time anyway.
Some tips:
- practice every day, especially the first month or so. Even if it is just for 15 minutes.
- Make sure the chords you learn are played clean, don't be to happy with yourself too soon.
- make sure the fingers are perpendicular on the fretboard not "parallel" (you press the strings, not sure I explain it right) For beginners this can to hurt after a while, but the pain will disappear.
- for changing chords you should aim at lifting all fingers from the old chord and pushing down again on the new chord, however for beginners I would recommend a "spider" approach where you keep one finger down as a "base" only moving that at the end (or as first), usually this "handicap" disappears automatically and it helps in progressing when learning new chords and songs.
- When he's still interested after a year you might want to check if he would like to learn the theory.
There are some good tutorials on youtube  . If you want I can even try to put lessons online for you (though I'm an autodidact) on request.
Hope this helps.
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I remember trying to learn guitar once and I used something called tabs I think. Just download them and run in a suitable program and just follow.
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Just my opinion perhaps, but I'd recommend chords before tabs
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The normal tuning is what you want, as for songs, what songs does he like?
If they arent what he likes to listen to he isnt going to want to play them, so get the chords and lyrics off the net, get the chord shapes off the net, and leave him alone in his bedroom for a few weeks.
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I'd hire him a guitar tutor if I were you - After all: Why should you be the only one to suffer? 
Anything that is unrelated to elephants is irrelephant
Anonymous
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The problem with quotes on the internet is that you can never tell if they're genuine
Winston Churchill, 1944
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I'd just like a chance to prove that money can't make me happy.
Me, all the time
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I'd suggest some lessons, at least to start out, as well. You should both talk to several potential teachers and see which one clicks with him and encourages him to play music he likes. Very few people really want to start out with Red River Valley. 
While there are quite a few different ways to play a guitar, a few can lead to carpal tunnel and other problems, or limiting habits that are really difficult to un-learn. Having someone around who can head that off can make a world of difference.
Most smaller guitars are tuned to the same notes as a full-sized guitar. They won't get the same sound in the bass as a full-sized dreadnought, but for learning they're fine. A more advanced player may keep a small instrument around and tune it to G instead of E, but you don't want to start out that way.
Little electronic tuners are inexpensive and do a good job.
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youtoob
#SupportHeForShe
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You must accept 1 of 2 basic premises: Either we are alone in the universe or we are not alone. Either way, the implications are staggering!-Wernher von Braun
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Get a good guitar tuner and use it regularly. There's nothing more disheartening than playing something and it doesn't sound right, just because the tuning is off slightly.
And lessons, definitely lessons. You want someone who is looking to see that his technique isn't causing problems. For instance, getting the hand position right for fretting chords takes some practice. The angle you hold your hand has a real effect on how clean your chords are.
This space for rent
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My dad plays and uses an app on his smart phone to tune it.
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Get a tuner (there's Apps that are pretty good if you have phones or tablets to hand)and keep it in tune.
Teach him to tune it 'manually' (standard tuning fret the low E on fret 5 and it should be the same as the next string (A) played open, etc.
I would encourage a good teacher - be fussy and insist he just learns to play with no theory - it can take a bit of time to be able to knock out anything even halfway reasonable, so concentrating on that first is paramount for kids.
Also a teacher enforces practice (although when I finally got my first guitar when I was about 14, I played until my fingers bled - couldn't keep me off it!)
Learn Tabs not Music (unless he wants to go the classical route)
There are loads of guitar tabs online Guitar Tab Pro is cheap and has millions of tabs - I'd recommend finding some simple ones of tunes he knows and might want to play and helping him learn them (or asking his teacher to help) Learning tunes he wants to play is much better than learning tunes the teacher might think he wants to play.
If he practices his fingers will hurt. Keep practicing, they'll harden up.
I really like rockSmith - plug in a real guitar and play like Guitar Hero. It actually does teach you to play - although I'm not sure what it would be like for a complete beginner.
Don't let him give up. My sister and I gave up piano lessons. My brother didn't. He now earns more than all of us put together, and works doing what he loves - playing music. I wish my parents had forced me to continue (although at the time I really REALLY didn't!)
Tuning - you should be fine with standard tuning on a small guitar - it means the strings will be looser and so less painful - great for a beginner.
Finally, get him an electric, amp and effects pedals as soon as possible 
PooperPig - Coming Soon
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Yesterday I was cruising leisurely through the woods of the Veluwe (Netherlands) when suddenly there was a big bang and some brown stuff on my windscreen.
I didn't see anything, and also afterwards could not find any trace of the deer, so maybe it survived.
The damage to my car however was substantial, damaged headlight, hood and a side panel.
Luckily no motor damage, so I could continue driving home.
As I do not have a full All-Risks insurance, I also wondered if my insurance would cover the damage, luckily they did according to the policy conditions.
I will also need a replacement car to go to work, so I think this will be expensive ...
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Wow, just cruising the woods and nearly getting shot.
What is this, America? 
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Never heard of
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Next time you insure, try to get one with a courtesy car? I needed one a couple of years ago when mine was hit by another driver (it was parked outside my house, so no doubt as to blame) - very handy for the four weeks it took to sort it all out.
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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Thanks for the advice, this accident made me think about the insurance policy again.
Point is, I feel a bit over-insured already, as I also have an expensive ANWB (motorists) insurance for break down service.
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In Switzerland it is compulsory to inform the police in an accident with wild animals, which then also offers a gamekeeper. If you do not do this you can be notified for hit and run.
Looks maybe strange on a first view, but on the other Hand you don't Need a Special insurance for such a case, the basic insurance ( part insurance cover) is enough.[Edit]And of course it is also very ok that a gamekeeper takes care about the hurt animal
modified 19-Jan-21 21:04pm.
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Thanks, I will look into that, I think in Holland it's only needed to inform the official authorities when you kill a deer, it is also forbidden to take it home for consumption.
[Edit] checked it and you're right, it is always needed to inform the police.
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