Guitar Lessons - What Age?

Best to wait till she's at least 9, better yet, when she's 13 or older. The piano would be better to begin with but no earlier than 7. The best instrument for a beginner child is the pentatonic recorder and to begin that at age 6 or 7. This much more fitting to their fingers and their ear. Children hear things/music different than adults.

My 4 year old wants a guitar. I think she's too young.

I think two things is enough. I make my daughter pick. We too does dance and gymnastics.

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Your daughter would actually do well to start with piano, which is easier for little fingers and will help her learn the ins and outs of music. When she's a little bigger, you may be able to find her a guitar that her small hands can use. (I'm no kid, but my hands and fingers are small, and I'm having a tough time!)

I believe Christopher Parkening, the renowned classical guitarist, began studying guitar when he was ten or eleven. He already had an interest, and was encouraged by a relative.

Dance and gymnastics are enough for now.

Per piano, my son at 5 years old, started piano lessons. Why? Because HE wanted to. He likes it. And practices without even us telling him to.

Guitar: you'd have to get a kid sized guitar.
OR... try a Ukulele. Its smaller. It is a very great instrument. And many pop musicians even play it too. Very versatile.
*Adding this: many young kids in Hawaii, grow up learning the Ukulele. They even teach it in schools.

My kids have many interests... but we cannot possibly, sign them up for EVERYTHING. Because, they are in grade school (homework is important and having the time for that), and the costs, and the sheer amount of energy we have or not, to take them to all of those "lessons."
And we clearly, explain that to our kids.
So then, they wisely "choose" what they want to learn. For now.
As well as us discussing it with them. We don't just sign them up for everything they think of. A kid also has to learn, choices and why. But at a later time, they can take other lessons.

My kids take Karate, piano, and tennis.
They want to. We can manage that for now.
My kids are now 6 and 9.

My friend's son takes guitar. He started when he was 7.

My husband grew up in Mexico and someone usually had a guitar. They would teach the kids if they wanted to learn. But the kids usually got frustrated because they hands are too small for a standard guitar. They did not have the kids size they have now. But, there was one boy that kept at it and he is in a mariachi band now in the evenings so not all give it up. I also think 2 thjings is enough for a 4 yr old. But you could get her a kid sized guitar and just let her strum it. My 13 yr old has a guitar and my 4 year old likes to hold it on her lap and pluck the strings. If she is still interested in a few years, we'll probably get her lessons.

Even with a kid-sized guitar, it's hard for little fingers to push the strings down.

I would start with piano, it's great for learning notes, chords and how to read both the treble and the bass clef.

I wouldn't start before age 7.

My daughter got a guitar at age 7, a kid-sized electric (which is easier than an acoustic). She was interested until she started learning and then quickly hated it because it hurt her fingers and it was difficult.

At age 11 she's finally interested again. Her guitar gathered dust for 4 years, and now she's ready for a full-size.

At age 5 dance, gymnastics and kindergarten are enough!

Yes! We had the same hesitation you did... and only had one other activity going at the time. But, my son would be enthralled with guitars, so we bought him a kids one. He loved it, played with it all the time. So we finally found someone that would teach him. We used Guitar for the Small Fry lesson books, and stuck it out over 9 months. I was the one that stopped for three reasons 1) I had just given birth to our youngest; 2) my son was no longer practicing. He enjoyed the lessons, but he did not practice anymore; and 3) we had been doing it 9 months straight - time for a change in activities.

The teacher (I can get you his name/phone number if you want - he's in Plymouth, but teaches up near Novi as well) did say my son had really good focus, better than what he expected. The teacher also said piano would be better to learn first, but my son did not have as much interest there.

It's been about 9 months since we stopped, and my son plays guitar about once a month. I'm itching to get him back into lessons (kind of sad I stopped), but he's not ready to do it again yet. He basically learned the 1st, second and third string, how to read music (basics), and two chords. He could play some easy songs (Nursury rhyme stuff). Again, kind of sad that I stopped the lessons - he might be playing more (or less?) if I hadn't stopped them.

I think she's too young. I'd say maybe 7 or 8 would be a good starting age.

2 activities AND starting Kinder is more than enough for a tiny little 5 year old. That's a lot of stuff on her plate right now.