Classical guitar
About the instrument
Classical music is played on a nylon strung guitar with a slotted headstock, through which the strings are wound onto the shafts of the tuners. The thicker three strings are made of nylon, and the thinner three are made of metal wire wound around a nylon core. This is the easiest kind of guitar for beginners to learn on: because the strings are made of nylon and not steel, they are easier to hold down and relatively gentle on the fingers.
Technique and lessons
A grounding in classical technique is useful for all styles of guitar playing, so even if you aim eventually to play folk, rock or jazz, classical guitar lessons can be a good place to start learning. Guitarists who are already experienced in other guitar styles may also benefit from some classical guitar training.
Much of the advanced classical repertoire is available only in standard notation (not guitar tablature), so most classical guitarists learn to read music as part of their tuition. However, if you just want to play some classical pieces for fun, it's not essential.
I provide classical guitar lessons for beginners from 8yrs upwards, and for more experienced players. I am happy to help you work towards exams if that's what you choose, but I don't believe that your repertoire should be restricted solely to the exam syllabus. I continue to study guitar myself and to strive constantly to improve my own practice, and can pass on the benefits of my study to my students.
Still not sure whether classical guitar is for you? I would be happy to give you or your child a free half-hour lesson using one of my own classical guitars.