My 7 year old son is interested in learning to play the guitar and I've always had a bit of an interest as well. Before we dive into lessons would it be worthwhile to start him out on some software/DVD lessons? Any recommendations?
He's got a nice bit of money saved from Christmas and such and is pretty adament about getting an electric over an acoustic. Any real plusses or minuses either way on that?
Other advise or input is appreciated. TIA.
Guitar Hero? 
I'd start him with real lessons. Especially for a beginner, a big part of it is little things you won't really get from a DVD, and feedback from a person can really help.
Generally speaking, electrics tend to be a little easier to play, and they're tougher. That's good. On the other hand, they're louder.
Get him a simple guitar to start out with. Extra knobs and features are just more to learn. For the same reason, I'd get a hardtail (no whammy).
If possible, take someone who knows how to play a little when you pick it out. Having a guitar that's easy to play makes a big difference in learning. These days, there's plenty of inexpensive but surprisingly good guitars out there. Skip the ones at wal-mart. For about the same money, you can get a foreign-made Fender or something.
I don't know what the hot setup in small cheap amps is these days. About 10 years ago, the Vox Valvetronix (I think that's what it was), was a killer. Only about $100 and it sounded really nice. There's probably something similar now. Don't skimp on the amp. It's a bigger factor in the guitar sound than almost anything else. Decent amps are almost always worth about what you paid for them. Crap amps are worth nothing.
used is so the way to go..
http://www.daddys.com/ <-- live near one of those? Great store.. Ordered a bunch of junk from them.
Yeah, Daddy's is pretty awesome. They got a lot of my money when I was younger!
Free lesson right here -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ukcso9TQeA
It's actually funny how good of a lesson it is - especially the picking part (3:30).
Unfortunately I'm in Ohio so no Daddys around. There is a Guitar Center (http://www.guitarcenter.com/) at one of the local malls though, may check out what they have.
[Racing], thanks for the email I'll check it out some more tonite.
...regardless, don't get bummed if he drops it in a month. That's a lot of discipline/technique for a 7 year old to take on without being pushed by a parent.
I agree w/ Tim, though--a teacher (maybe one who has experience working w/ kids) is a good idea. If he were older, I'd say let him learn on his own for a year or so, then get lessons--but a 7 y/o might need a bit more guidance/focus.
Good luck. If he sticks w/ it, he'll be a stud by high school. 
Here's another idea. I picked up a very nice-playing Dean 3/4 size acoustic for less than $50 from some Musician's Friend closeout sale or something. Those kinds of deals are out there, and it's a lot less dough than picking up an electric + amp + cables and junk.
Get him the inexpensive acoustic (that plays well), and promise that if he sticks with it, you'll buy the electric.
My only issue w/ that idea is that a crappy acoustic will be a lot rougher on 7 year old fingers than an electric w/ lighter guage strings.
Then again, getting a music store to set it up w/ lighter strings would be an option.
Yes. Don't get a crappy acoustic. But there's nice, easy playing ones out there for very little money. And the 3/4 size helps for small hands, too.
He brought this up on his own and has been sticking with it for over a month now but yeah, I know how kids are - mainly 'cause I still are one! Just as my wife! 
I also know he is borderline too young - the best lesson place around here, IMHO, McCutcheon's in Centerville, has a minimum age of 7 for lessons - but if he is genuinely interested I don't want to hold him back. We'll see, still more research and discussion with my wife before anything happens.
And we are looking at smaller ones (not sure if they are 1/2 or 3/4) but the one he tried a week or so ago seem to fit him pretty well.
They're 3/4. 1/2 would pretty much be a Uke. Not that there's anything wrong with Ukes.
He's not too young to start learning, I just would spend cautiously, since he may move on to other things.
Something like this is a good starter. If you shop around, you can probably find something similar cheaper than $70.
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Hohner-HW03-3-4-Size-Acoustic-Guitar-512511-i1147804.gc
Come on gamby, now recommend me a 3/4 electric and amp (or a kit) from the same site! 
Seriously, thanks guys for the advice - it is appreciated.
craigslist or a pawn shop. Pawn shop gives him a good store for when he is older.
Tim Baxter wrote:Get him the inexpensive acoustic (that plays well), and promise that if he sticks with it, you'll buy the electric.
I did that with my now 16 year old. He stuck with it and now has about 10 guitars and a bunch of Amps and pedals and..... and.....
He is a stud in his school because of it too...
I don't think starting with a nice but cheap acoustic is a bad way to see if he will stick with it. One thing I did learn with the electrics is buy quality the first time around, if he likes the sound of a Marshall buy the Marshall, if not you will be buying it in 4 months anyway...
Datsun1500 wrote: I did that with my now 16 year old. He stuck with it and now has about 10 guitars and a bunch of Amps and pedals and..... and.....He is a stud in his school because of it too...
I don't think starting with a nice but cheap acoustic is a bad way to see if he will stick with it. One thing I did learn with the electrics is buy quality the first time around, if he likes the sound of a Marshall buy the Marshall, if not you will be buying it in 4 months anyway...
+1. I wish I (and/or my parents) had seen this advice when I first started playing.
Acoustic teaches better fingering and picking technique than an electric - you learn to be more consistent, which an electric tends to mask - even when un-amplified. My picking technique was/is terrible - when I play my acoustic you can tell I basically learned on an electric, although my classical technique is a little better.
A 3/4 scale guitar will be easier for a 7 year old's smaller hands... especially for open chords (which should be the first things he learns).
fastEddie wrote:Come on gamby, now recommend me a 3/4 electric and amp (or a kit) from the same site!
Seriously, thanks guys for the advice - it is appreciated.
I know Target sells Epiphone (I think) starter kits. I dunno if they make 3/4 scale ones, though.
I've toyed w/ buying a bass starter set just for something different.
