My dyslexic 9-year-old is new to guitar and already wants out — help

Hey r/guitar,

I’m a dad, I play a little guitar, and I’m asking for a little community help.

My son is 9. He’s dyslexic. Reading and writing are hard work for him, he has to burn more mental energy just to get through the basics, which means when something feels difficult, his instinct is to quit — not because he’s lazy, but he lacks self confidence and it’s just plain hard at first.

Now he’s learning guitar...

Sore fingers. Awkward chord shapes. Hands not doing what the brain tells them. Notes on a page jumping about the place.

I play, and selfishly I’d love to play along with him one day. His mum and I have read about how music, rhythm and creativity help with brain development, confidence, and learning — especially for kids like him. But right now he’s stuck in that early phase where it mostly just feels like a bit of a grind to get the basics nailed down.

He doesn’t believe his old man… so I’m hoping to show him a bunch of experienced guitarists being honest about how rough the beginning actually was, and how great the results can be with a little perseverance.

If you’re willing, could you tell him (and me):

• How hard was guitar when you first started, really? How did you feel?

• What actually helped you get better in the beginning?

• How did guitar change your life for the better, even if you never became famous?

If learning didn’t come easily to you — dyslexia, ADHD, or otherwise — I’d really love to hear how you pushed through.

I want him to realize that every guitarist he looks up to started out just as clumsy and frustrated as he feels right now.

Thanks for reading.

— A dad who just wants to jam with his kid someday 🎸