Is there a best age to learn to play the guitar? I don’t think so! If the desire is there, a way can be found.
Let’s start with young children – there is a lot of chatter out there in the ether as to what the best age is. Some sites say there is no point trying to teach a child before he/she is ten years old because the child will not have the motor skills to handle chord changes. I disagree with that theory. It is true that the dexterity is developed as the child matures, but there are many ways to engage a child’s interest before they obtain the strength and muscle control.
One way is to make sure they have an instrument that is the right size for them. For a preschooler, trying to play Grandad’s hand-me-down jumbo guitar is not going to work! The guitar must fit the child! I suggest a baritone ukulele for a small child. It is tuned the same as the first four strings on the guitar: E, B, G, and D, but it is the perfect size for little fingers. The child can learn how to play “mini” chords on the ukulele which will transition very easily when the child grows into a guitar.
Little children usually can learn to strum the mini chords and learn to play songs they can sing to. This is fun for them, and I am all for having fun with the guitar! If the child enjoys playing, they will advance – age will not prevent them from being able to have some type of interaction with the guitar.
So to return to the question: How young is too young? It depends on the child, but if they are old enough to have a desire to play, and big enough to hold a baritone uke, they can begin to learn and enjoy the guitar.
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