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Learning an Instrument Which Instrument Guitar: Strings Family Learning on the acoustic guitar is a good idea to begin with because you can learn the basics of how to hold your hands to get the results that you want. Frances Goldhill, Jason's grandmother
a guitar The guitar is played by plucking the strings or strumming them. The styles of guitar may depend on the style of music to be played: acoustic with hollow body for classical, Spanish or folk; and electric with an amplifier and a solid body for rock and pop. Folk, Spanish and classical acoustic guitars come in different sizes. You can find guitars that are left or right-handed. An acoustic starter instrument can cost from about £60, and are suitable for children around eight years or older. An interview with father, son and grandmother Russell Benjamin, Jason and Frances Goldhill
Rusell Benjamin, Jason and Frances Goldhill I really wanted to play like all the big stars. Jason Benjamin, 16 Video interview Interview transcript Need video help? Top Tips
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Other String Instruments
Violin - wooden body, four strings, thin neck, played with a bow. You can also get electric violins Viola - looks same as violin, strings play lower notes Double Bass - large instrument, on the same principle as a violin Cello - shaped body with four strings played with a bow Bass Guitar - solid body with 4 strings, a lower pitch to guitar
Jason: I took up the guitar because I had heard plenty of really good guitarists playing and I wanted to play like all the big stars.
Russell: The good points of having a son who plays guitar and is learning guitar, is that I like guitar music and it is a pleasure to listen to him practise. Sometimes I stop what I am doing when he is upstairs in his bedroom and it sounds good and I am very proud.
Frances: Most children are musical and I just wondered if Jason might be interested in one particular instrument. So I asked him and he expressed an interest in guitar. So I thought if he is interested and he has any talent at all, it will show if he gets some private lessons. So I searched around for a teacher for him and it took off from there.
Frances: He was taught about the instrument to begin with: how to hold it and use it, and how to hold his hands on the instrument. I was pleased. I thought I had made a good choice, it was an acoustic guitar. He has since gone onto an electric guitar.
Frances: Learning on an acoustic guitar is a good idea to begin with because you do learn the basics of how to hold your hand to get the results you want and it stretches out the hand, especially for a young child, to the right chords. I was quite pleased with the choice.
Jason: At first you have to find a teacher. I have 20 minute lessons once a week at school to learn certain licks and nothing special but as a beginner you have to have a teacher, otherwise you are not going to get anywhere - you can't teach yourself.
Russell: As far as I am concerned there are no bad points. I like rock music and I like all types of music and I like to hear instruments played well and he does play it well. Volume-wise he does not play that loudly at home, no louder than my stereo. If he does get a bit loud I ask him to turn it down.
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WHICH INSTRUMENT Introduction Trumpet (Brass) Piano Singing Conga Drums & Percussion Cello (Strings) Clarinet (Woodwind) Saxophone (Woodwind) Guitar (Strings) Parents' Music Room Links Parent-to-Parent Learning an Instrument Your Child: 7-11 Your Child: 11-14 bbc.co.uk Links Play It Again: Guitar Find tips on learning to play guitar BBC Music For artist biographies and discographies Elsewhere on the web (External) Guardian buyers guide (External) Playmusic's virtual orchestra (External) Incorporated Society of Musicians (External) Music Teachers online directory (External) Music Lessons online teacher directory The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites
Further Reading The Right Instrument for Your Child , Atarah Ben-Tovim, Douglas Boyd (Weidenfeld & Nicholson, 1995; ISBN: 0575058943)
The Rough Guide to Acoustic Guitar (the essential tipbook) (Rough Guides, 2000 ISBN: 1858286476)
The Electric and Bass Guitar: the Rough Guide (Rough Guides, 2000; ISBN: 1858286506)
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