A queston for those who play guitar

Steve S · #1 06-08-2009, 02:11 PM

I've been playing bass for almost 50 years and have played with many different groups. I also strum the guitar and ukulele too but I'm not as good on them as I am on the bass.

When my son was in elementary school, we got him piano lessons and he did very well on it. Then when he was in middle school, some of his friends came over while he was practicing, laughed at him and he promptly quit.

Flash forward to the present. While we were in Hawaii last spring, I bought a G String ukuklele and gave him my old one. He surprised me by taking to it and now, he's a much better player than I and I've been strumming it for 20 years. His birthday is coming up and I've thought about getting him an electric ukulele. I'm now wondering if I should get him an electric guitar instead because he'll be able to do more things on it. I have a six sting acoustic at home but he never plays it but then, neither do I.

Does anyone have any thoughts about this?

Stumbo · #2 06-08-2009, 11:32 PM

I'd ask him what he wants. Then get him want he wants. That way you'll both be happy.

tplyons · #3 06-08-2009, 11:37 PM

Yep, ask him if he has any interest in a guitar... I don't know many kids who wouldn't. And besides, electric guitar is considered cool... nobody would laugh at him.

Steve S · #4 06-09-2009, 12:28 AM

Thanks. I'll ask him...

Stumbo · #5 06-09-2009, 12:40 AM

Just a thought...maybe he'll eventually get back into piano. If you pick up an electronic keyboard "just for fun", it might pique his interest also. There are plenty of used ones for sale that I've come across.

Btw, wish him happy birthday from all your bros. at TB.

Also, congrats on your 50 year bass playing career.

Yngwie 4String · #6 06-09-2009, 12:27 PM

Id take him to a music shop and let him actually hold and play the diferent instruments.

Steve S · #7 06-09-2009, 03:10 PM

Great advice guys. I'm happy that he's gotten into music again. He has a great ear and has been jamming with me lately. Thanks also for the birthday wishes for my son and the 50 year playing career for me. I still have a passion for bass that doesn't seem to go away.

uethanian · #8 06-09-2009, 04:05 PM

i have an electric ukulele (the RISA stick model, i don't think its made any more). fun to play, but i can't see it being very useful outside of hawaiian/folk music. if someone's really serious about ukulele, i think the money would be better spent on a nice acoustic rather than an average electric. but that's just me

yea, take him to a music store and let him play a couple guitars. sure your son doesn't want to play bass?

Bard2dbone · #9 06-10-2009, 03:45 PM

It's kind of funny how the ukelele seems to have gotten popular recently. I go to a Folk Music Festival every year and stay for a week and a half. Most years I see four or five ukeleles over the whole time I'm there. This festival I saw probably three dozen. One of those was on the mainstage. Zoe Lewis brought out an ukelele and said "My guitar had a baby. I'm so proud." and then she proceeded to just play the snot out of that little thing.

Two guys were playing some fairly advanced stuff in one of the camps.It wasn't quite Jake Shimabakura (or however you spell that), but it was darned impressive.

How old is your boy? That actually might make a difference.

Hoover · #10 06-11-2009, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bard2dbone

It's kind of funny how the ukelele seems to have gotten popular recently. I go to a Folk Music Festival every year and stay for a week and a half. Most years I see four or five ukeleles over the whole time I'm there. This festival I saw probably three dozen. One of those was on the mainstage. Zoe Lewis brought out an ukelele and said "My guitar had a baby. I'm so proud." and then she proceeded to just play the snot out of that little thing.

When I saw John Paul Jones perform in 2001 (or 2002? whichever year he toured as opening act for King Crimson) he did one number on ukelele. It farkin' rocked!

I would think an electric uke would be a fascinating addition to any stringed instrument player's arsenal. Once it's electric there's nothing about it timbrally that consignes it to the folk/ethnic music genres, it's just an idiosyncratic twang-generator. Learn some chords, then learn all the chords that Don Ho never needed to learn, then retune it and learn some new chords, crank the fuzz & shred, heck, be bold with it.

Crap, I think I just talked myself into wanting an electric uke!

MonetBass · #11 06-11-2009, 07:48 AM

I started on the uke and then moved to guitar. Pretty easy transition.

And check out Queen's "Good Company" from their Night At The Opera album. Brian May is one mean ukulele player.

Din Of Win · #12 06-11-2009, 08:00 AM

Turn everything upside-down and get him a Mandolin

Seriously though, i have ALWAYS preffered acoustic Ukes over Electric. I'll give a +1 to simply asking him which he wants and maybe trying different things out. That way you two can have a rad bonding experience as well as an awesome birthday gift!

ggunn · #13 06-11-2009, 08:55 AM

Didn't Kang play a baritone uke in String Cheese Incident?

Steve S · #14 06-11-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bard2dbone

Two guys were playing some fairly advanced stuff in one of the camps.It wasn't quite Jake Shimabakura (or however you spell that), but it was darned impressive.

How old is your boy? That actually might make a difference.

He will be turning 24 tomorrow. He never showed any interest in playing bass or guitar but he did take to the ukelele. I can't believe how quickly he's become proficient on it, he's much better than I am.

I went to Guitar Center yesterday and bought an electric Cordoba ukelele. It cost $400 which is more than I wanted to spend but it feels and sounds real good. They have a 30 day return policy which is good. I'll probably go to the Traveling Musician today to see what they have because I know that they have cheaper ukeleles.

xzzy · #15 06-11-2009, 12:31 PM

This was the video that got me taking the uke seriously:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3gp7B8WC4Q

Those people do some fantastic work with it.. even though the guy on bass cheats with a full size instrument. The faq on their site has a great quote:

"Some people go so far as to say that playing a tune on a ukulele is a way of identifying good music; if the composition is good, it sounds good on a ukulele; the very limitations of the instrument encourage thinking creatively about music."

MadMan118 · #16 06-11-2009, 02:37 PM

Hmm, too bad your son quit paino, you should have his his "freinds" with a bat, and burried them in the yard

JohnnyPustular · #17 06-11-2009, 03:17 PM

One of the biggest errors in the history of parent/child music relations is the acoustic guitar. If one of my daughters ever shows interest in guitar, I certainly won't get her an acoustic. Talk about an instrument that's designed to remove any spark of music from a young child's soul! They come in 1/4 size, 1/2 size, and 7/8 size- all in crap quality. Want a playable instrument? Get an adult size. Can't get your body around an adult size guitar? Well, I hear they are starting a lacrosse team...

Acoustic guitars are difficult to play due to the size of the instrument, the action on most entry level guitars, the razor blade e string, and the boring reportoire ("okay, everyone. Let's shred on a chorus of Row Row Row Your Boat). AND-- its nerd city. Worse that piano. Seriously, what cool person plays acoustic guitar (cool in a 21st century kid way).

Its entirely possible that your son never picked up the acoustic guitar because it sucks or because he had no ambition to be Paul Simon or Lyle Lovett. But that time has passed for him. He's an adult now. He has formed some type of musical taste. He'll probably want to play the instrument that is featured in his favorite type of music (ever notice there's a lot more funk talk on a bass site than on a guitar site?).

Or, maybe he just doesn't dig it. I have three daughters who have grown up around guitars, basses, pianos, drums, clarinet, etc (my bands practice at our house). Not a lick of interest among the three of them. Makes no sense to me. When I was their age, I played my Magnum plywood bass through the 'phono' input in my fourth-hand stereo receiver. I would have killed to live in a house like the one my daughters are growing up in!

I hope he finds something he likes. If not, I feel your pain, brother.

MonetBass · #18 06-11-2009, 03:40 PM

Here's a real mind-blower as far as uke playing goes (you may have seen this one already):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puSkP3uym5k

Jim Campbell · #19 06-11-2009, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyPustular

One of the biggest errors in the history of parent/child music relations is the acoustic guitar. If one of my daughters ever shows interest in guitar, I certainly won't get her an acoustic. Talk about an instrument that's designed to remove any spark of music from a young child's soul! They come in 1/4 size, 1/2 size, and 7/8 size- all in crap quality. Want a playable instrument? Get an adult size. Can't get your body around an adult size guitar? Well, I hear they are starting a lacrosse team...

Acoustic guitars are difficult to play due to the size of the instrument, the action on most entry level guitars, the razor blade e string, and the boring reportoire ("okay, everyone. Let's shred on a chorus of Row Row Row Your Boat). AND-- its nerd city. Worse that piano. Seriously, what cool person plays acoustic guitar (cool in a 21st century kid way).

.......im not sure if having the instruments available for curious kids to plunk on is by itself a bad thing.....the thing i believe that is bad is the insistence of parents that their kids take lessons before they show any interest.....the exes kids had access to more resources than the average school band,but couldn't be bothered to walk five minutes to the lesson and getting them to practice was like pulling teeth...

..a little adversity may be a good thing,and maybe that killer e string will be seen as a challenge,and not an obstacle.....i'm remembering the blues guy that drove nails into the side of the house,and strung them to make music.....are we doing kids a favor by making it too easy and accessible thereby setting them up for failure when they realize that there is a lot of hard work involved......the kid that has to save up to buy his gear is usually the guy with the drive to master it...........................

[/quote]Its entirely possible that your son never picked up the acoustic guitar because it sucks or because he had no ambition to be Paul Simon or Lyle Lovett. But that time has passed for him. He's an adult now. He has formed some type of musical taste. He'll probably want to play the instrument that is featured in his favorite type of music (ever notice there's a lot more funk talk on a bass site than on a guitar site?).

Or, maybe he just doesn't dig it. I have three daughters who have grown up around guitars, basses, pianos, drums, clarinet, etc (my bands practice at our house). Not a lick of interest among the three of them. Makes no sense to me. When I was their age, I played my Magnum plywood bass through the 'phono' input in my fourth-hand stereo receiver. I would have killed to live in a house like the one my daughters are growing up in!

I hope he finds something he likes. If not, I feel your pain, brother.[/quote]

hellfleet · #20 06-12-2009, 07:23 AM

Coming from the other side of the fence, I'm 22 and my father was a gigging/session/club bassist/organist/pianist and so there have always been instruments around the house.

He always had the idea not to push me into playing any music, never suggested getting lessons or anything, never encouraged it but never discouraged it either. I'm hopelessly addicted to playing music.

I can't help thinking that if I had been pushed a little bit more when I was a kid I could be a damn good player now. Sure, perhaps it might have put me off but I really really doubt it. I did have some classical guitar lessons when I was around 10 years old but it was the repetoire that really put me off. Classical/folk/spanish music really didn't have much interest to me at that age. When I said I wanted to quit it was met with very much 'ok if thats what you want to do'.

I don't think there is anything wrong with pushing a kid a bit if they have shown some interest in something so long as it doesn't become over the top. I think my folks were very much against putting any pressure on at all. Also my dad has never encouraged music as a career.

I think since the UK club scene fell apart he assumes no-one can make a living through music.