Guitar Or Piano First?

[marnold***]

I would also ask if your son has any particular musical interests. I started on piano in early grade school and hated it. The main reason being is that the only "songs" I learned were awful fake songs in the instruction books. My kids' teachers got them into simplified hymns as early as they could. If I had had that, I know I would have stuck with it. As it was, I rather would have been outside with my friends than inside playing inane songs on the piano.

[gitapik]

I started with the clarinet at a very early age and then the piano at ten. I learned classical theory on the piano which ended up being a mixed blessing when I studied jazz theory on the guitar.

It would drive my teacher crazy that I’d think keyboard first at the expense of the guitar fingerboard. Sort of a filter that made it more difficult to automatically play what I was thinking/feeling at the moment and when composing.

Can’t say my folks did it “wrong” but in terms of the OP’s question; I’d say to go with whichever instrument the person most naturally gravitates towards. Piano is a more versatile and complete composing tool but the guitar ain’t no slouch and it’s far more portable.