So im thinking of getting my kid a guitar and guitar lessons for Christmas. I know it's something she has been very interested in. Here's the thing though....im literally clueless about this stuff. She is more interested in an electric guitar (no idea why). Is that ok to get started or should she really start with acoustic? Is there a difference in learning?

Philo B 93 said:

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Electric is fine to start with. I'd take $300- $350 to a guitar store and tell a salesman you need a good electric guitar and amp for a 14 year old girl to learn on.

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This. I started on electric because I was in to metal music. If I got told I had to start with acoustic I probably never would have cared about learning to play.

Fender has a "buy the lessons, get a "free" guitar" program going that's supposed to be pretty good for absolute beginners. Might not be a bad idea to get some structured lessons as well so kid knows they're going in the right direction. If you'll pay shipping, I've got an Ibanez that retails for $300ish that I'd let go for $100.

Cromagnum said:

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Electric is easier on fingers because of the thinner gauge strings. As said above $300-400 for a starter electric and probably a couple hundred more for a small amp to start.

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Boss Katana mini for $100
Positive Grid Spark mini for $200
Lots of other options

EFE said:

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Fender has a "buy the lessons, get a "free" guitar" program going that's supposed to be pretty good for absolute beginners. Might not be a bad idea to get some structured lessons as well so kid knows they're going in the right direction. If you'll pay shipping, I've got an Ibanez that retails for $300ish that I'd let go for $100.

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Just to second, that's a really good starter electric EFE is offering, but I also get wanting to give something new.

Have a budget in mind then let her pick out the guitar within that budget. If she doesn't like the way it looks or feels, then she will not be as encouraged to continue on with it. Simply liking a specific color of the guitar will do wonders for just picking it up to play.

Go to a store and make sure any guitar you get comes with a setup or pay for a setup. A poorly setup guitar can make it much harder to play.

I personally started with a Squire Strat pack for around $150. It was enough to get me interested, but literally less than a year of playing was enough for me to know I needed something much better. My dad bought me a $650 guitar that following Christmas. That one lasted me through college, until I bought my first guitar for over $1,000.

To be honest, if I had a kid, I would probably prefer to buy them something like a used Mexican Fender Strat as their first guitar. At least I know it would be a quality instrument. I also know it would last them years or could be resold at the same price I bought it for.

If she has a phone and is tech savvy kid get the Fender Play online lessons. I absolutely loved learning that way and it taught in a very logical and easy to follow way. Plus she learns riffs with each lesson. So you're working towards a goal.

Get a Squier Classic Vibe strat or tele (avoid the Bullet and Afinity series) and a good amp. The amp has the greatest impact on the sound, so spend your money there. As long as the guitar is competent, they'll keep wanting to play. Get 'em a cheap axe that won't stay in tune or has a poor fret finish, and they will lose interest rapidly.

Rick Beato on YouTube has a killer bundle for sale on YouTube. Beginner guitar along with training in musical theory..on sale for $109.

I've been using the $10ish dollar app from Ultimate Guitar to pull up tabs, plus watching YouTube videos. If you are near the League City area I know a good instructor too.

Something along the lines of

Guitar:
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/squier-classic-vibe-50s-stratocaster-maple-fingerboard-electric-guitar

Amp:
https://www.musiciansfriend.com/amplifiers-effects/orange-amplifiers-crush-20-20w-1x8-guitar-combo-amp

would do nicely, IMO.

you can progress pretty decently with nothing but youtube videos. Im not a good guitar player by any means, but I learned to play most of what I know on youtube.

Shes actually decent and has taught herself a few songs on acoustic via YouTube....but I think being 12 and not having a good guide in the house to help her that an in person coach can set specific goals. She does very well with that.

if it looks like EVH's guitar, it plays like EVH's guitar. This was true of my knock off zakk wylde bullseye at least.

This. If you are in that price range I would direct you to PRS's Korean line of instruments. You get a lot of value at this point.

Maybe not this exact one as I think a floating bridge with a tremolo is probably a bigger pain because of tuning, but up to you.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SEStd24TBG--prs-se-standard-24-translucent-blue

A fixed bridge might be more practical.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SE245STSG--prs-se-245-electric-guitar-tobacco-sunburst

atag, if you take the above advice and spend a little more, these Sire guitars are available at Sweetwater and get great reviews by a number of YouTube reviewers.

I really want to try one of these but have not found one local to put my hands on and try out.

I have to say I am impressed by the number of GBers that play guitar.
As a product of the 80s and still a metal fan today that dreamed of playing like EVH, I envy those of you that play as well.

The benefit of electric is that it is easier to play but also you have a huge variety of sounds to try. Pedals are expensive and starter amps have poor sound abilities. Set aside $125 for a Fender Mustang LT25 modeling amp. You can create any sound you want with it. Then a $225 guitar such as a basic Epiphone or Ibanez or squier jazzmaster.

Good call listening to your kid on this. I inherited a big acoustic Gretsch guitar from my grandfather, and my mom insisted I learn on that. It was so difficult to play that I never wanted to practice. I've started lessons a few times, and I never learned.

atag said:

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Shes actually decent and has taught herself a few songs on acoustic via YouTube....but I think being 12 and not having a good guide in the house to help her that an in person coach can set specific goals. She does very well with that.

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Where are located? My guy is in the Heights and is great with kids. He'll come to you too, but he really cranks about driving out towards Fulshear to see me. His website is misleading (he long ago moved from Katy).

http://www.katyguitar.net/

Is his MySpace page still active?

Surely some cooking lessons would be cheaper and a better skill to have in the long run.

DallasTeleAg said:

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Have a budget in mind then let her pick out the guitar within that budget. If she doesn't like the way it looks or feels, then she will not be as encouraged to continue on with it. Simply liking a specific color of the guitar will do wonders for just picking it up to play.

Go to a store and make sure any guitar you get comes with a setup or pay for a setup. A poorly setup guitar can make it much harder to play.

I personally started with a Squire Strat pack for around $150. It was enough to get me interested, but literally less than a year of playing was enough for me to know I needed something much better. My dad bought me a $650 guitar that following Christmas. That one lasted me through college, until I bought my first guitar for over $1,000.

To be honest, if I had a kid, I would probably prefer to buy them something like a used Mexican Fender Strat as their first guitar. At least I know it would be a quality instrument. I also know it would last them years or could be resold at the same price I bought it for.

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But on the other hand such a cheap tool may discourage the child. When I was a kid, I always wanted a good guitar, not just any guitar.

Cheap tool? A MIM Fender Strat is not a 'cheap' guitar. It is an inexpensive guitar, because it is not made in the US, but they are very good instruments.