Power Tour Guitar for Kids

What a great idea, and a smart move on Hasbro's part - put ideas together with the some of the best makers of classic models of guitars to create something special for kids. The result? An authentic electric guitar for children that allows for learning the skills involved with playing much more easily!

The Power Tour guitar has touch sensors rather than strings, with lights along the fret and strum bar to guide the playing.

Pre-installed on the instrument are 12 classic rock songs including "Wild Thing", "Smoke on the Water" and "Breaking the Law". As the child learns more, there are songs that increase gradually in difficulty which builds confidence in the playing.

"Learning" mode and "band" mode (allowing the child to play to backtracks) are part of the guitar's features as well, so children can begin to play on their own easily.

Some other really cool features include:

• Strum bar
• Palm mute bar
• Whammy control
• Input/output jacks
• Dual function knobs
• Play along with MP3 music
• Create MP3 tracks right from the guitar

It has the same classic look of a Gibson guitar, with the same shape and style. Current colors are black and white.

(Note: There is an amp for the guitar that is also being released, but is sold as a separate item.)

After the child selects a song that he or she wants to learn, the song plays back in small segments of notes. The child follows along where the multicolored lights flash and in that way learns to touch and strum in the right areas. If an error is made, the segment of music is re-played, but more slowly to help the child really get it right before moving on.

Then the next segment of notes is played, and so on. Once the whole song is mastered in this way, the child is able to play the whole song from start to finish.

At some point the child will be comfortable with playing to backtrack music, and can also attach an MP 3 player to jam to music of their own choosing.

Kids can gain confidence while gradually becoming more and more able to play guitar - without the normal frustrations that are usually involved.

No worries. Power Tour Electric Guitar doesn't have the usual "booming" sound that goes along with a regular electric guitar. Although the sounds are authentic, they won't shake the house when the instrument is played.

(There is however an amp which is being sold separately that kids can use to turn up the volume on the sound some. :) )

The Power Tour Electric Guitar is a unique idea and is a big step forward for helping children learn to play the electric guitar.

My Review: I give it a thumbs up all the way!

After a youngster masters what comes with the Power Tour (or even before this), you can further learn with sheet music! I found a great place online to download sheet music specifically for the guitar - MusicNotes.com.

You can give it a try for free:

Free Sheet Music Downloads!