I remember playing an acoustic guitar when I was somewhere between 3 and 5. I don't know who's it was, but it was in my brother's room. I sat on his bed making up some song about cowboys and strumming the E string. Before long my mom came running because I was screaming in fear. I developed a blister on my thumb. It was getting sore and when I looked at the blister, I was terrified. I had never had a blister before and I didn't know what it was. My mom explained it to me and I eventually calmed down. By the time my blister healed, the guitar was gone. When I was in grade school, my grandparents gave me a little acoustic steel string for Christmas. It wasn't playable, so I never really got anything out of it. I finally bought myself a Series 10 Strat copy when I was 17. That was my first playable guitar that I really learned something on.
About three years ago, I was visiting my mom and she pulled out the little steel string my grandparents had given me. It was still unplayable so I chucked it in the dumpster. She was horrified, but I have learned to let go of useless things. My memory of the guitar is still there. I don't need to carry it with me for the rest of my life. Though I didn't learn to play that guitar, it did teach me a valuable lesson. Don't buy a guitar if it isn't a good one! Anytime I have someone ask me what guitar to buy for their children, I try to encourage them to get one from a real music store. I have a $75 1/2 size nylon string guitar that plays better than more expensive guitars, so I am not saying you have to spend a lot of money. Just make sure someone can help you find one that actually works. I always offer to go with the parents and help them pick something nice.
