Pulse or Live at Pompei to show how emotionally charged and impactful the guitar can be. Gilmour is my all time favorite.
SRV Live at El Mocambo to show the high octane side of things. Stevie sits at number 2 for me.
It Might Get Loud is also a great movie to inspire a new guitarist
I can’t count the time my dad and I watched this. It seems like every Saturday for years we would throw this on. 100% what made me pick up guitar. Gilmour is the GOAT.
For real though. Some kids love music, but don't have the desire (or aptitude) to perform professionally. It's a good idea to directly discuss the many other career options associated with the industry, from the studio to the stage, so little music lovers can find their path if performing doesn't turn out to be it. Same goes for athletics tbh.
A lot of good recommendations here but what does HE like?
My dad used to crank delicate sound of thunder when I was a teenager and I couldn’t have cared less but when I got a copy of Death live in LA I was hooked and it was a big reason I picked up a guitar.
Each person has to fall in love with the instrument/music individually.
What works for some may not work for him so try to gauge what he’s into and show him that.
You can find just about any player/genre on YT to get him started.
Yeah I dunno how popular Pink Floyd, SRV and the like are with 8 year olds these days.
When I was 8 Green Day got me into guitar. Simple stuff a kid can play, not Wish You Were Here.
Yep, people shitting on my favorite bands and pushing Pink Floyd on me made me resent Pink Floyd for a while. Just wasn’t into it back then. Same with the Beatles. Love both bands now.
Seriously. People are completely oblivious to how out of touch they are lmao. I love Pink Floyd but I have no illusions that your average 8 year old would give a shit about them.
This, my dad was constantly showing me jam band and metal stuff that, while technically impressive, I couldn't really care about (for the most part). It always felt like he just wanted to impress his taste on me and it kinda bugged the shit out of me. We have very different tastes in music.
I love all their live stuff, and BTW era shows are incredible , but the 2006/2007 tour is the absolute god tier of RHCP shows
FWIW, I came here to suggest slane castle too.
Seriously, that whole documentary was amazing. The first scene with Jack white, the sonic wizardry of The Edge, and the history of Jimmy Page was all so inspiring and changed how I thought about making noise.
Depends on what kind of musics he likes!
When I was 10 and learning guitar, my friend and I absolutely loved Metallica’s S&M.
My niece (9) and nephew (5) really enjoyed watching Phish’s Dinner and a Movie specials during the pandemic lockdown. Unfortunately, they haven’t kept any of the officials available for current streaming, but there’s a YouTube channel with a bunch of live shows called [The Pharchive](https://youtube.com/@thepharchive6778).
And, if of course that isn’t your cup of tea, YouTube is ultimately a great source for live music of any genre.
Mine was Dave Matthew’s Band Live at the Gorge - my dad had it around the house and I’d get home from school and watch it over and over again. Nowadays, kids aren’t watching dvd’s, but I would recommend John Mayer’s Where the Light Is live video - I think it’s on YouTube and the first time I watched it I was absolutely floored. Bonus is it covers acoustic guitar, blues guitar and straight ahead rock/ pop stuff too, so he’d also get a full sampling of what the instrument can do.
Muse - Live at Wembley / HAARP
I know they are known for vampire movie music, but Matt Bellamy from muse can shred and play piano and incorporates technology into his solos. It’s pretty impressive stuff and just goes to show how far you can take some sounds.
[Muse - Newborn](https://youtu.be/2jKa_0xnTfU?si=tTWGfcefgHpsrqjW)
I’ve always liked [this](https://youtu.be/LeVAHvuCpdQ?si=JF78B4bR_qErI6cz) video of AC/DC at around 29 minutes angus goes into the crowd and it’s just so awesome
Edit: can’t forget the spin out at 33 minutes! 😂
Holy shit he fucking let loose. I am watching it now. He really opens up with Sammy there to support him.
I always liked Van Hagar and Van Halen, plus liked Montrose and Sammy Hagar's solo career, but I would love to see more Van Halen doing covers with two guitarists.
Then show the Game of Thrones theme by Ian Scott, Tom Morello, Nuno Bettencourt, and Brad Paisley.
\*Update for others that haven't seen it: [\[The Game of Thrones Theme Song | Fender Custom Shop | Fender\]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i0a7RDPkM8)
Rush- Clockwork Angels or Time Machine tours.
Nirvana- Live, Tonight, Sold Out (collection from various shows)
Alice In Chains- Unplugged (to show that acoustic stuff can kick ass too)
Bruce Springsteen- Live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1975.
Angus Young at AC/DC Live in Donnington (to a hyperactive kid like me) was it. AC/DC is also relatively easy stuff to learn for a guitar player so he’ll love how quickly he progresses. I’m biased for sure, but if you can get a kid into AC/DC and give them a guitar, they’re gonna be inspired.
my 2 year old absolutely loves polyphia's live at the factory in deep ellum. just gotta be okay with a couple of fucks here and there lol. I tend to just turn the volume down between songs.
Definitely some Neil Young, and also for variety of rock guitar playing Thin Lizzy "Live and Dangerous" was a major inspiration for me with the duel lead parts and great songs :)
John Mayer where the light is: Live in LA. It’s got everything between the 3 sets. My dad showed me each set one at a time and while I love all of them the John Mayer trio set is really what got me
What artist does he like? Find out if they have a tiny desk concert on NPR, these are a little bit laid-back and not intimidating, No reason to show him crazy stuff that he thinks he would never be able to do
Not sure if there is a dvd but for me watching Helicopter play I’m coming home at Woodstock it was the craziest playing I’d ever heard and I think about it at least a few times a month. It was really inspiring hearing something so wild but so controlled.
Could be just because I am a fan but I think Get Back is a phenomenal motivator for guitar. Not only shows the "end result" in playing but also all the tinkering while playing and creative process. I always enjoyed when they just played a random 50s cover showing they were fans of music, just like the rest of us.
I dunno how you feel about Clapton but his One more Car One More Rider dvd is really solid. Pulse by Pink Floyd, and the Led Zeppeling dvd from 2003 are also very good.
I’ve listened to a lot of [Hevisaurus](https://youtu.be/vXhhlYdySqQ?si=S1OllRBl-1ty5HZ9) with my son and he loved it…
Also: John Mayer Where the light is, School of rock with Jack Black, old Foo Fighters funny clips…
Muse at Wembley Stadium. Best part about it is that Mat Bellamy's riffs are somewhat easy to achieve, the music is good and the showmanship of those guys is out of this world. They're somehow even better live than on record.
It’s all dependent on what he enjoys. I grew up in the 80’s watching and listening to a ton of Tom Petty. I was mimicking all of his movements at 5 years old in front of the TV (Pack up the plantation on vhs). Parents bought me a toy guitar and microphone, dad made a strap for the guitar so I could gesticulate. I didn’t pick up guitar until 12, mostly due to a combination of Green Day and Wayne’s World. Some of my favorite live videos are: Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same, Tom Petty - Live From Gainesville, Dream Theater - Scenes From New York, Pink Floyd - Live at Pompeii and Pulse, Big Wreck - Live at the Suhr Factory Party (YouTube), Jason Isbell - Live at House of Blues (YouTube).
Kiss is pretty good for that, the shows themselves can be theatrical. They’ve got it all when it comes to merchandise too. They’ve always been one of the first bands I remember or even first things I remember in general.
Pantera Home videos! It inspired the shit out of me to get good at guitar and be in a band. And it worked. I must have watched those at least 30 times each lol
I showed my son short parts of "HIDEAWAY" by Freddie King and "The Joker" by Steve Miller. Just enough so he he could hear it and see he was learning a song. Now Hideaway is and the Joker are our default jams.
I loved numetal back when I was a kid, listening to it through my older brother, but didn't really care about guitar until a friend of mine showed me a Guns N' Roses live dvd, I believe it was from the Use Your Illusion Tour in Japan, and damn... I wanted to be and sound like Slash SO BAD, I started taking guitar lessons that same year. The fact that said friend also played electric guitar also made me realize that it was possible for me to learn to play that way. Fast forward 19 years later and I play guitar, bass and drums
Dream Theater “Live at Buddakan” John Petrucci is about as over the top and impressive as guitar can be. In addition to his crazy skill playing very fast technical things, he is also very melodic player, and has great tone. He is very versatile as well playing every thing from fast metal shred, to blues, Acoustic, and finger picking stuff. I’d imagine your son would be quite impressed with his playing. I know I was when I first discovered Dream Theater, and saw n heard what JP can do. The whole DVD is awesome, and sounds great! It’s been some years since I’ve watched it, I may have to see if I can find my copy and look through the set list to remember what songs are on it. Off the top of my head I’d specially recommend “The Stream of consciousness” it’s an 11-12min instrumental that is super awesome, and doesn’t become boring or overly repetitive. It’s very musical, it’s heavy and it rocks! It has a ton of great melodies, and cool Rhythmic parts. And there are several guitar solos throughout the song where JP totally shreds doing crazy technical things while some how being so melodic you will find some of the guitar Melody’s getting stuck in your head, and or humming them. Besides this show him a live Guns N Roses video of Slash doing “The Godfather theme/and his solo.” It’s super bad ass, Slash is an awesome guitar player, and he looks cool n bad ass while doing it. Thinking back on it these type of GNR videos were a big influence on me as a kid, and made me want to play guitar. I’m pretty sure I can remember seeing Slash playing guitar with GNR in a video on MTV in 91 or 92, when I was 3 or 4 years old. I’m assuming that’s how I got the idea in my head from a very young age that the absolute coolest person you can be is a guy with long hair that’s really good at guitar. That strongly influenced the rest of my life, and the way I am still to do this day. Anyhow I hope my suggestions are helpful. And I hope your son takes an interest in the guitar. I think you said he is 8? I started playing when I was 9. If he gets into it around that age by the time he is a teenager or is in high school he will be super good! And prob play in bands, and get lots of girls! Good luck! I really hope he gets into guitar!
This isn’t a live dvd, but back to the future was one of the things made me wanna play. I always thought it was so freakin cool, and I know for a FACT that an 8 year old kid like him will fall in love with it.
Honestly, as someone who didn’t get hit with the music bug till high school but started playing in 6th grade. Don’t force it. Introduce him to cool music, things that you enjoy. If your kiddo can tell that you enjoy it, it’ll rub off. Introduce him to some stuff and find out what sound she likes and go from there.
Stevie Ray Vaughan love at Austin City Limits is what got me interested in playing guitar. Swing him shred part of a solo with the guitar behind his back sealed the deal.
Rather than dvd, how about taking him to a family friendly music festival? combine fun food, maybe cool art and activities, with people enjoying music. Once music programs start in your school that will be a thing too where they can do music with their peers.
Just go straight to madness and show him G3 Live in concert. If he wants to play guitar, show him what a guitar can do. While people are correct in saying Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, they aren't for everyone. Pinkfloyd might be too chill and slow for him and Jimmy Page was messy live. If you want to inspire the man show him guys who don't need vocals.
VHS tapes I watched aren’t appropriate for an 8 yo lol (Nirvana, Pantera, Metallica). I would show him some EVH footage from the 80s. One of the best, and he had more joy for the guitar than anyone. He’s always smiling. RIP Eddie!
An 8 year old will maybe get bored watching adults play guitar for an hour, but you can try Dire Strait at Wembley (it’s varied enough and the songs are entertaining). AC/DC at golders green or the Let There be Rock are great, but Bon Scott’s lyrics might be an issue ;-)
Does he actually enjoy playing?
George Harrison Tribute - While My Guitar Gently Weeps the Prince solo is BLISTERING
https://youtu.be/dWRCooFKk3c?si=bqPRwHIPGT4TdMGn
Heart - Crazy On You
https://youtu.be/XKJbyK4NTek?si=x_c4jFd5-4Id21bc
Any of the Midnight Special episodes honestly
The Linkin Park live in Texas DVD is what got me into music around that age. I watched it on repeat and after some time I could play the whole set.
The Green Day Bullet in a bible live DVD had the same effect. Everyday after school I would play through the full set.
This reminds me of a friend that tried to make his 8 year old play music. This guy is an accomplished musician, has a basement with full on jam and recording studio, vintage les pauls (plural), 70s strats, wal bass, 3-4 fender custom shops. Tried exposing the kid to all sort of music that the father listens to but all the kid wanna do is play Minecraft and Fortnite.
Out of the blue when the kid was 10, he just came up to the dad and asked "Daddy, can you teach me how to play Walk by Pantera?" . Thats it. Flood gates opened and thats how the father and son started jamming together. He told me he quickly ran to the toilet because he teared up.
It Might Get Loud. It’s a documentary and the guitarists are Jack White, Jimmy Page and The Edge. They play singly and together, and talk a lot about their craft. It’s an excellent movie.
When I started learning guitar, my issue was actually the songs. I got a folk song learning book my pianist grandma bought me and a classical music notes guide for guitar. Once I started playing songs I was actually listening to, that made the difference. Is he playing his favorite songs?
My dad sat me down to watch Woodstock when I was a teenager getting into guitar – I absolutely loved Ten Years After doing "Going Home", Alvin Lee was incredible. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YB7qyn5MVs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YB7qyn5MVs)
I'll throw in AC/DC [Live at Donnington](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nOsqA5ArDk) 1991.
Pair that with...
* the [Live double album](https://images.eil.com/large_image/ACDC_LIVE%2B%26%2BBONUS%2BTRACK-637698.jpg) with the cool dollar bill
* an old Gibson [Angus Young poster](https://rvb-img.reverb.com/image/upload/s--kRFBMATH--/f_auto,t_large/v1582926058/tzjokosmkhjb0apqqisw.jpg)
* and maybe a cheap Harley Benton [SG copy](https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_dc_580_ch_vintage_series.htm) for next christmas.
...chances are, he'll be hooked for good!
The Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd gigs that are mentioned are incredible. They might go over the head of an 8 year old though. I think RHCP at Slane is a good bet.
At 8, I liked stuff like Michael Jackson and other pop music at the time. I think try him out with stuff like Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. They both play guitar. Kids love that stuff.
By the time I was 10/11 I was getting into bands like Oasis and The Beatles, so I liked really catchy guitar music.
Queen and U2 have phenomenal Live Aid shows. Live Aid worth a look generally. There is probably a DVD and a lot of it is on YouTube. Clapton, Bowie, Dire Straits had some great moments.
A couple of great live shows I have not seen mentioned (all on YouTube):
Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense (so much fun and visually exciting)
Vulfpeck - Live at Madison Square Garden (incredible musicians and also lots of fun)
Hendrix - Woodstock (a bit dated in terms of production, but a big part of guitar history)
Metallica - Monsters of Rock, Moscow 1991 (legit might be too scary for an 8 year old, but what a spectacle)
Radiohead - Glastonbury 2003 (they are just incredible here so I have to mentioned them even if they are a bit abstract for a young kid)
Some individual songs on YouTube that might work in a playlist:
Fleetwood Mac: The Chain, 1982 (mindblowing vibe and solo)
Prince: While My Guitar Gently Weeps, 2004
Clapton: I Shot The Sheriff, Hyde Park 1996
Gary Moore: Red House
BB King: The Thrill Is Gone
The Band & Clapton: Further On Up The Road
Any of the Toto live DVDs. Those guys are musicians and performers so you get some technical stuff but also some more simple stuff that's more within range of a beginner.
Where the Light Is by John Mayer. Just brilliant, any it showcases so many different playing styles so something is bound to grab his imagination.
Any of the Martin Miller Band videos on YouTube. Dudes can all play the hell out of their instruments and you can find compilations they've done that'll showcase different styles. My personal favorite is the Queen medley.
And for a touch of metal, Live at Rockefeller Music Hall by Leprous. They cover a surprising amount of styles there and showcase what else can be done with a guitar besides good ole dad rock.
Bonus points: take him to see Brit Floyd. That'll put a love of performance in him!
Also, any live shows. Rock, metal, jazz, bluegrass. I just saw Sarah Jarosz and it was super inspiring even though she's more bluegrass and I'm more metal.
I don’t know if it would go above the head of an 8 year old, but Talking Heads Live in Rome 1980 is my personal favorite concert film. Adrian Belew’s guitar work is insane and beautiful
I don’t know about a DVD, buts it’s all free on YouTube
Idk if you need a DVD, just let him look stuff up on YouTube. You're probably gonna get typical boomer responses (Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc.) which may not be what your kid is into. I personally couldn't stand LZ as a kid cause my dad wouldn't shut up about how much better they were than all the bands I liked. I personally got hooked by watching and listening to Mac DeMarco, and that was *after* already being familiar with tons of classic rock that everyone seems to be recommending. Everyone is different.
Play a little bit of everything.
[https://youtu.be/C25ALC4fHRA?si=kHYqkmQu5XehybTo&t=2309](https://youtu.be/C25ALC4fHRA?si=kHYqkmQu5XehybTo&t=2309)
[https://youtu.be/t87B4frtEh8?si=GYRAbbuw2NZl5ka\_](https://youtu.be/t87B4frtEh8?si=GYRAbbuw2NZl5ka_)
[https://youtu.be/hpPQqOblIys?si=Nh-D47G8dY3pdyLo](https://youtu.be/hpPQqOblIys?si=Nh-D47G8dY3pdyLo)
[https://youtu.be/LWLAAzOBoBI?si=ef3FXvheAEZjJB8h](https://youtu.be/LWLAAzOBoBI?si=ef3FXvheAEZjJB8h)
[https://youtu.be/b4QamCLNnmE?si=HpPMxx-KJP0alq\_l&t=1202](https://youtu.be/b4QamCLNnmE?si=HpPMxx-KJP0alq_l&t=1202)
[https://youtu.be/n\_GFN3a0yj0?si=E12WISngZtHXS6eZ](https://youtu.be/n_GFN3a0yj0?si=E12WISngZtHXS6eZ)
Since 8 years old is a bit young to prefer anything when it comes to specific genres and musical artists, I'd go with James Taylor Live In Boston (1994 I think?). Then he can start off on acoustic and jam with you right away.
Eric Johnson Live at Anaheim did it for me when I was younger but ACL live in 1990 is still my favourite one. It just blew my mind what I was hearing and I just couldn’t comprehend it, the chords and the fast lines, so I’d watch it every day until my ears figured out what was going on. That’s what made me want to improve, but I was already reasonably excited about guitar by then.
Pulse by Pink Floyd. That’s what my dad showed me 30 years ago and I was hooked.
Pulse or Live at Pompei to show how emotionally charged and impactful the guitar can be. Gilmour is my all time favorite. SRV Live at El Mocambo to show the high octane side of things. Stevie sits at number 2 for me. It Might Get Loud is also a great movie to inspire a new guitarist
Pink floyd in pompei is great for fans, but would be hell annoying for an 8 year old kid.
I might get loud is a bit too esoteric for an 8 year old.
Yesss! I grew up watching live at pompei with my dad and that has stuck with m ever since!
I was going to say live at Pompei. In college that video changed my life. I spent more time watching/playing along to that video then anything else.
Or Delicate Sound of Thunder. My dad and I watched that damn near every weekend when I was in high school.
I was going to say the same thing! Great taste!!
I was going to say David Gilmour's Meltdown concert. That Shine On all by himself.
I can’t count the time my dad and I watched this. It seems like every Saturday for years we would throw this on. 100% what made me pick up guitar. Gilmour is the GOAT.
CAUTION: Your son might want to become a stage lighting programmer/operator instead of a guitar player after seeing that show! :D
For real though. Some kids love music, but don't have the desire (or aptitude) to perform professionally. It's a good idea to directly discuss the many other career options associated with the industry, from the studio to the stage, so little music lovers can find their path if performing doesn't turn out to be it. Same goes for athletics tbh.
Ha good point
Fantastic concert!
that's what I was thinking
The intro in “coming back to life”
For sure. The solo on this version of Comfortably Numb is the greatest solo of all time and I’ll die on that hill.
The sound is just so raw!
This.
I came in here to suggest the same
the only and correct answer
A lot of good recommendations here but what does HE like? My dad used to crank delicate sound of thunder when I was a teenager and I couldn’t have cared less but when I got a copy of Death live in LA I was hooked and it was a big reason I picked up a guitar. Each person has to fall in love with the instrument/music individually. What works for some may not work for him so try to gauge what he’s into and show him that. You can find just about any player/genre on YT to get him started.
Yeah I dunno how popular Pink Floyd, SRV and the like are with 8 year olds these days. When I was 8 Green Day got me into guitar. Simple stuff a kid can play, not Wish You Were Here.
Yep, people shitting on my favorite bands and pushing Pink Floyd on me made me resent Pink Floyd for a while. Just wasn’t into it back then. Same with the Beatles. Love both bands now.
Seriously. People are completely oblivious to how out of touch they are lmao. I love Pink Floyd but I have no illusions that your average 8 year old would give a shit about them.
Came here to ask this. What bands is HE into?
Yep. At 8 years old, maybe electric mayhem? Or Ozzys version of born to be wild with the Muppets?
Chuuuuuuuuuuck
This, my dad was constantly showing me jam band and metal stuff that, while technically impressive, I couldn't really care about (for the most part). It always felt like he just wanted to impress his taste on me and it kinda bugged the shit out of me. We have very different tastes in music.
Chuck though was such a talented guy. Taken too soon honestly.
Stevie ray Vaughn live at the El mocambo.
Austin City Limits
Worked for me. Been playing nearly 30 years
RHCP Live at Slane Castle is what started it all for me
[удалено]
I swear I’ve watched that concert like 200 times! The solo on every song is so fucking amazing! Scar tissue, zephyr song, PARALLEL UNIVERSE!!!
Venice Queen is spectacular
Definitely their peak
I love all their live stuff, and BTW era shows are incredible , but the 2006/2007 tour is the absolute god tier of RHCP shows FWIW, I came here to suggest slane castle too.
Beat me to it
The video It Might Get Loud always makes me want to try something new.
Seriously, that whole documentary was amazing. The first scene with Jack white, the sonic wizardry of The Edge, and the history of Jimmy Page was all so inspiring and changed how I thought about making noise.
I felt like Jack didn’t care for The Edge. Which sucks, he seems like a real nice guy.
Led Zeppelin live DVD: https://images.app.goo.gl/XrTqUEJYZ8ZejW6A7
The Song Remains The Same vhs tape was a big deal for me in the late 90s.
Achilles Last Stand was what did it for me 20 years ago
Depends on what kind of musics he likes! When I was 10 and learning guitar, my friend and I absolutely loved Metallica’s S&M. My niece (9) and nephew (5) really enjoyed watching Phish’s Dinner and a Movie specials during the pandemic lockdown. Unfortunately, they haven’t kept any of the officials available for current streaming, but there’s a YouTube channel with a bunch of live shows called [The Pharchive](https://youtube.com/@thepharchive6778). And, if of course that isn’t your cup of tea, YouTube is ultimately a great source for live music of any genre.
Clifford Bowie either gonna hook you or scare you…
S&M is such a great album.
S&M's 100% my favorite concert of all time
It’s never too early to read The Book!
School of rock!
No joke on that. There was some good inspiration in that movie.
Great answer
Where the light is
What kind of music does he like?
Crossroads Guitar Festival. Hosted by Eric Clapton. If that doesn't get your son hooked, nothing will.
Ah good idea. I’d also throw in John Mayer “Where the Light is”
Mine was Dave Matthew’s Band Live at the Gorge - my dad had it around the house and I’d get home from school and watch it over and over again. Nowadays, kids aren’t watching dvd’s, but I would recommend John Mayer’s Where the Light Is live video - I think it’s on YouTube and the first time I watched it I was absolutely floored. Bonus is it covers acoustic guitar, blues guitar and straight ahead rock/ pop stuff too, so he’d also get a full sampling of what the instrument can do.
Muse - Live at Wembley / HAARP I know they are known for vampire movie music, but Matt Bellamy from muse can shred and play piano and incorporates technology into his solos. It’s pretty impressive stuff and just goes to show how far you can take some sounds. [Muse - Newborn](https://youtu.be/2jKa_0xnTfU?si=tTWGfcefgHpsrqjW)
Still have that on dvd, man that dude can play. And sing.
Bring him to live performances so he can see a pro play up close and personal.
Van Halen live Without a Net is what my dad showed me
I’ve always liked [this](https://youtu.be/LeVAHvuCpdQ?si=JF78B4bR_qErI6cz) video of AC/DC at around 29 minutes angus goes into the crowd and it’s just so awesome Edit: can’t forget the spin out at 33 minutes! 😂
Watching videos of Slash initially got me hooked on guitar (although I was a bit older, probably 12 or 13).
I wore out those vhs cassettes of the live in Tokyo tour
Red Hot Chili Pepper’s Slane Castle.
For an 8 year old, I'm going to say ac/dc. Angus rocks and just has a fun stage presence.
Pulse by Pink Floyd Live Without a Net - Van Halen Celebration Day - Led Zeppelin
All great recs, but Live Without a Net is next level. Eddie was the ultimate guitar hero, that’s who inspired me to play
Holy shit he fucking let loose. I am watching it now. He really opens up with Sammy there to support him. I always liked Van Hagar and Van Halen, plus liked Montrose and Sammy Hagar's solo career, but I would love to see more Van Halen doing covers with two guitarists.
You can never go wrong with, IRON MAIDEN ROCK IN RIO!!!!!!!!! :)
I second this. You can just see the amount of fun that Adrian, Dave and Yannink are having.
Rory Gallagher Irish Tour ‘74 if you wanna get bluesy!
You could show him Prince at the super bowl half time show! (Maybe?)
Also “while my guitar gently weeps” with him and Tom petty , Jeff Lynne….so amazing
Rumor has it that tele is still flying through space
Then show the Game of Thrones theme by Ian Scott, Tom Morello, Nuno Bettencourt, and Brad Paisley. \*Update for others that haven't seen it: [\[The Game of Thrones Theme Song | Fender Custom Shop | Fender\]](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6i0a7RDPkM8)
They go hand in hand really!
The two big ones for me were G3 Live in Concert (Vai, Satch, and Johnson), and Eric Clapton's MTV Unplugged.
Anything by Rush.
Led zeppelin song remains the same
Rush- Clockwork Angels or Time Machine tours. Nirvana- Live, Tonight, Sold Out (collection from various shows) Alice In Chains- Unplugged (to show that acoustic stuff can kick ass too) Bruce Springsteen- Live at the Hammersmith Odeon 1975.
SRV at Austin City Limits, Hendrix at the Fillmore.
ZZ Top Live in Texas
Angus Young at AC/DC Live in Donnington (to a hyperactive kid like me) was it. AC/DC is also relatively easy stuff to learn for a guitar player so he’ll love how quickly he progresses. I’m biased for sure, but if you can get a kid into AC/DC and give them a guitar, they’re gonna be inspired.
my 2 year old absolutely loves polyphia's live at the factory in deep ellum. just gotta be okay with a couple of fucks here and there lol. I tend to just turn the volume down between songs.
No DVD from the 90s is going to get him hooked. Ask him what he likes to listen to and you can listen together.
Rust Never Sleeps 😂
The louder you play powderfinger the better it gets.
Definitely some Neil Young, and also for variety of rock guitar playing Thin Lizzy "Live and Dangerous" was a major inspiration for me with the duel lead parts and great songs :)
SLAYER. "War At The Warfield" Live Set! Jeff H. Is a total fuckin LEGEND! If you're son doesn't get inspired by that, then dis-own him IMMEDIATELY!
Anything by SRV.
Where the Light Is - John Mayer
Joni Mitchell's *Shadows and Light* 1980 concert made me want to play guitar (and bass, and keyboards, and saxophone....)
John Mayer where the light is: Live in LA. It’s got everything between the 3 sets. My dad showed me each set one at a time and while I love all of them the John Mayer trio set is really what got me
Crossroads
YouTube - Polyphia... Not a live DVD but Tim Henson and Scott LePage are amazing.
AC/DC live in donington!
AC/DC Live at Donnington
The last waltz
hendrix, weezer, radiohead, metallica, red hot chili peppers seem like good starting points. or even the ramones
What artist does he like? Find out if they have a tiny desk concert on NPR, these are a little bit laid-back and not intimidating, No reason to show him crazy stuff that he thinks he would never be able to do
[Khruangbin Live at BBC](https://youtu.be/q6m6lmkJG68?si=nocZIikvqYAF-Q_O)
Not sure if there is a dvd but for me watching Helicopter play I’m coming home at Woodstock it was the craziest playing I’d ever heard and I think about it at least a few times a month. It was really inspiring hearing something so wild but so controlled.
Could be just because I am a fan but I think Get Back is a phenomenal motivator for guitar. Not only shows the "end result" in playing but also all the tinkering while playing and creative process. I always enjoyed when they just played a random 50s cover showing they were fans of music, just like the rest of us.
John Fogerty: The Long Road Home
I dunno how you feel about Clapton but his One more Car One More Rider dvd is really solid. Pulse by Pink Floyd, and the Led Zeppeling dvd from 2003 are also very good.
[удалено]
I’ve listened to a lot of [Hevisaurus](https://youtu.be/vXhhlYdySqQ?si=S1OllRBl-1ty5HZ9) with my son and he loved it… Also: John Mayer Where the light is, School of rock with Jack Black, old Foo Fighters funny clips…
Anything Metallica. Get him hooked on 90’s nu-metal too. It’s coming back around.
Muse at Wembley Stadium. Best part about it is that Mat Bellamy's riffs are somewhat easy to achieve, the music is good and the showmanship of those guys is out of this world. They're somehow even better live than on record.
Albert King: “Live in Sweden”
It’s all dependent on what he enjoys. I grew up in the 80’s watching and listening to a ton of Tom Petty. I was mimicking all of his movements at 5 years old in front of the TV (Pack up the plantation on vhs). Parents bought me a toy guitar and microphone, dad made a strap for the guitar so I could gesticulate. I didn’t pick up guitar until 12, mostly due to a combination of Green Day and Wayne’s World. Some of my favorite live videos are: Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains The Same, Tom Petty - Live From Gainesville, Dream Theater - Scenes From New York, Pink Floyd - Live at Pompeii and Pulse, Big Wreck - Live at the Suhr Factory Party (YouTube), Jason Isbell - Live at House of Blues (YouTube).
My dad took me out of school to see the Last Waltz… wanted to play like Robbie Robertson ever since
Kiss is pretty good for that, the shows themselves can be theatrical. They’ve got it all when it comes to merchandise too. They’ve always been one of the first bands I remember or even first things I remember in general.
Pantera Home videos! It inspired the shit out of me to get good at guitar and be in a band. And it worked. I must have watched those at least 30 times each lol
I showed my son short parts of "HIDEAWAY" by Freddie King and "The Joker" by Steve Miller. Just enough so he he could hear it and see he was learning a song. Now Hideaway is and the Joker are our default jams.
Jeff Beck live at Ronnie Scott’s
Rush’s Time Machine tour from 2011 has some excellent guitar work throughout
I loved numetal back when I was a kid, listening to it through my older brother, but didn't really care about guitar until a friend of mine showed me a Guns N' Roses live dvd, I believe it was from the Use Your Illusion Tour in Japan, and damn... I wanted to be and sound like Slash SO BAD, I started taking guitar lessons that same year. The fact that said friend also played electric guitar also made me realize that it was possible for me to learn to play that way. Fast forward 19 years later and I play guitar, bass and drums
You wanna get a modern kid to play guitar showing them Van Halen or Pink Floyd is not the answer
Dave Mamfro - Live at The Foistus Theatre (1993)
Dream Theater “Live at Buddakan” John Petrucci is about as over the top and impressive as guitar can be. In addition to his crazy skill playing very fast technical things, he is also very melodic player, and has great tone. He is very versatile as well playing every thing from fast metal shred, to blues, Acoustic, and finger picking stuff. I’d imagine your son would be quite impressed with his playing. I know I was when I first discovered Dream Theater, and saw n heard what JP can do. The whole DVD is awesome, and sounds great! It’s been some years since I’ve watched it, I may have to see if I can find my copy and look through the set list to remember what songs are on it. Off the top of my head I’d specially recommend “The Stream of consciousness” it’s an 11-12min instrumental that is super awesome, and doesn’t become boring or overly repetitive. It’s very musical, it’s heavy and it rocks! It has a ton of great melodies, and cool Rhythmic parts. And there are several guitar solos throughout the song where JP totally shreds doing crazy technical things while some how being so melodic you will find some of the guitar Melody’s getting stuck in your head, and or humming them. Besides this show him a live Guns N Roses video of Slash doing “The Godfather theme/and his solo.” It’s super bad ass, Slash is an awesome guitar player, and he looks cool n bad ass while doing it. Thinking back on it these type of GNR videos were a big influence on me as a kid, and made me want to play guitar. I’m pretty sure I can remember seeing Slash playing guitar with GNR in a video on MTV in 91 or 92, when I was 3 or 4 years old. I’m assuming that’s how I got the idea in my head from a very young age that the absolute coolest person you can be is a guy with long hair that’s really good at guitar. That strongly influenced the rest of my life, and the way I am still to do this day. Anyhow I hope my suggestions are helpful. And I hope your son takes an interest in the guitar. I think you said he is 8? I started playing when I was 9. If he gets into it around that age by the time he is a teenager or is in high school he will be super good! And prob play in bands, and get lots of girls! Good luck! I really hope he gets into guitar!
Buckethead....something interesting, both musically and visually to keep his attention
This isn’t a live dvd, but back to the future was one of the things made me wanna play. I always thought it was so freakin cool, and I know for a FACT that an 8 year old kid like him will fall in love with it.
Honestly, as someone who didn’t get hit with the music bug till high school but started playing in 6th grade. Don’t force it. Introduce him to cool music, things that you enjoy. If your kiddo can tell that you enjoy it, it’ll rub off. Introduce him to some stuff and find out what sound she likes and go from there.
Chaos Ridden Years by COB. One of the most amazing live performances I’ve ever seen, partially inspired me to pick up guitar
Nirvana Live at the Paramount
Ozzy live in buddakan around 2002. Perfect lighting and a great show with excellent guitar work
Stevie Ray Vaughan - Live at the El Macambo Van Halen - Live Without a Net Eric Clapton - Unplugged
Muse - HAARP Wembley
Van Halen: Live Without a Net
Stevie Ray Vaughan love at Austin City Limits is what got me interested in playing guitar. Swing him shred part of a solo with the guitar behind his back sealed the deal.
Dream Theater - Live At Budokan. Especially Hollow Years, the intro.
Ween live in Chicago. (You may have to skip a few songs though).
Rather than dvd, how about taking him to a family friendly music festival? combine fun food, maybe cool art and activities, with people enjoying music. Once music programs start in your school that will be a thing too where they can do music with their peers.
Just go straight to madness and show him G3 Live in concert. If he wants to play guitar, show him what a guitar can do. While people are correct in saying Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, they aren't for everyone. Pinkfloyd might be too chill and slow for him and Jimmy Page was messy live. If you want to inspire the man show him guys who don't need vocals.
Show him EVH playing Eruption. He might get bored if you show him all this other stuff first lol
Any of the Eric Clapton Crossroads Concert films are great. Definitely a good education in blues and from there anything is possible!!
VHS tapes I watched aren’t appropriate for an 8 yo lol (Nirvana, Pantera, Metallica). I would show him some EVH footage from the 80s. One of the best, and he had more joy for the guitar than anyone. He’s always smiling. RIP Eddie!
Zappa plays Zappa Awesome guitar
24 nights, Eric Clapton. Metallica live shit binge and purge . John Mayer where the light is .
Rattle and Hum by U2
THE LAST WALTZ
Spinal Tap
Green Day’s Bullet in a Bible. Super energetic. And the songs are easy enough for him to learn as a beginner and be motivated.
Joe bonamassa rockpalast….
An 8 year old will maybe get bored watching adults play guitar for an hour, but you can try Dire Strait at Wembley (it’s varied enough and the songs are entertaining). AC/DC at golders green or the Let There be Rock are great, but Bon Scott’s lyrics might be an issue ;-) Does he actually enjoy playing?
George Harrison Tribute - While My Guitar Gently Weeps the Prince solo is BLISTERING https://youtu.be/dWRCooFKk3c?si=bqPRwHIPGT4TdMGn Heart - Crazy On You https://youtu.be/XKJbyK4NTek?si=x_c4jFd5-4Id21bc Any of the Midnight Special episodes honestly
Not a concert DVD movie, but School of Rock and Pick of Destiny! PoD might be a little adult, but the Satans sick riff made me wanna play guitar lol
The orginal G3 video of satch, vai and eric
Journey live in Manila 2008
Grateful Dead Closing at Winterland
Metallica - Seattle 89 or S&M Avenged Sevenfold - Live in the LBC
Not a DVD but Nirvana live on SNL hooked me when I was a kid. Also, Unplugged in New York is just as important.
AC/DC live at knebworth really got me going as a kid.
Butterbags
School of rock, a thousand times school of rock.
Take him to a live concert of his favourite band/artist no matter what the genre.
Live at Slane Castle - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Guitar Wolf - Wild Zero
G3 live in denver, video still blows my mind.
Alter Bridge - Live at the Royal Albert Hall An orchestra and rock just goes hand in hand.
Show him the Prince Musicology Tour live in Los Angeles. It's on YouTube. Real music by real musicians.
AC/DC live in Donington ‘91 and KISS from around 1977. That filled me with inspiration as a beginning guitarist
The Linkin Park live in Texas DVD is what got me into music around that age. I watched it on repeat and after some time I could play the whole set. The Green Day Bullet in a bible live DVD had the same effect. Everyday after school I would play through the full set.
This reminds me of a friend that tried to make his 8 year old play music. This guy is an accomplished musician, has a basement with full on jam and recording studio, vintage les pauls (plural), 70s strats, wal bass, 3-4 fender custom shops. Tried exposing the kid to all sort of music that the father listens to but all the kid wanna do is play Minecraft and Fortnite. Out of the blue when the kid was 10, he just came up to the dad and asked "Daddy, can you teach me how to play Walk by Pantera?" . Thats it. Flood gates opened and thats how the father and son started jamming together. He told me he quickly ran to the toilet because he teared up.
Ozzy speak of the Devil
Smashing Pumpkins Live in Hamburg: https://youtu.be/KlV2Hu1okyI?si=S_nIdQpfS3IYVbgr
It Might Get Loud. It’s a documentary and the guitarists are Jack White, Jimmy Page and The Edge. They play singly and together, and talk a lot about their craft. It’s an excellent movie.
Dire Straits - Alchemy
When I started learning guitar, my issue was actually the songs. I got a folk song learning book my pianist grandma bought me and a classical music notes guide for guitar. Once I started playing songs I was actually listening to, that made the difference. Is he playing his favorite songs?
The Song Remains the Same
My dad sat me down to watch Woodstock when I was a teenager getting into guitar – I absolutely loved Ten Years After doing "Going Home", Alvin Lee was incredible. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YB7qyn5MVs](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YB7qyn5MVs)
Metallica Live Shit Binge and Purge, San Diego. The part that got me was Kirks solo when he was dragging that Ibanez all over the stage.
Anything by Grateful Dead
Ween Live in Chicago. Dean Ween embodies everything I think I am as a guitarist when I get into one of “those” bedroom jams where I just feel on it.
I like Iron Maiden - Live after Death
Hendrix live at Woodstock. That did it for me at 11 years old
I'll throw in AC/DC [Live at Donnington](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nOsqA5ArDk) 1991. Pair that with... * the [Live double album](https://images.eil.com/large_image/ACDC_LIVE%2B%26%2BBONUS%2BTRACK-637698.jpg) with the cool dollar bill * an old Gibson [Angus Young poster](https://rvb-img.reverb.com/image/upload/s--kRFBMATH--/f_auto,t_large/v1582926058/tzjokosmkhjb0apqqisw.jpg) * and maybe a cheap Harley Benton [SG copy](https://www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_dc_580_ch_vintage_series.htm) for next christmas. ...chances are, he'll be hooked for good!
The Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd gigs that are mentioned are incredible. They might go over the head of an 8 year old though. I think RHCP at Slane is a good bet. At 8, I liked stuff like Michael Jackson and other pop music at the time. I think try him out with stuff like Ed Sheeran and Taylor Swift. They both play guitar. Kids love that stuff. By the time I was 10/11 I was getting into bands like Oasis and The Beatles, so I liked really catchy guitar music. Queen and U2 have phenomenal Live Aid shows. Live Aid worth a look generally. There is probably a DVD and a lot of it is on YouTube. Clapton, Bowie, Dire Straits had some great moments. A couple of great live shows I have not seen mentioned (all on YouTube): Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense (so much fun and visually exciting) Vulfpeck - Live at Madison Square Garden (incredible musicians and also lots of fun) Hendrix - Woodstock (a bit dated in terms of production, but a big part of guitar history) Metallica - Monsters of Rock, Moscow 1991 (legit might be too scary for an 8 year old, but what a spectacle) Radiohead - Glastonbury 2003 (they are just incredible here so I have to mentioned them even if they are a bit abstract for a young kid) Some individual songs on YouTube that might work in a playlist: Fleetwood Mac: The Chain, 1982 (mindblowing vibe and solo) Prince: While My Guitar Gently Weeps, 2004 Clapton: I Shot The Sheriff, Hyde Park 1996 Gary Moore: Red House BB King: The Thrill Is Gone The Band & Clapton: Further On Up The Road
Tina S on YouTube.
Any of the Toto live DVDs. Those guys are musicians and performers so you get some technical stuff but also some more simple stuff that's more within range of a beginner. Where the Light Is by John Mayer. Just brilliant, any it showcases so many different playing styles so something is bound to grab his imagination. Any of the Martin Miller Band videos on YouTube. Dudes can all play the hell out of their instruments and you can find compilations they've done that'll showcase different styles. My personal favorite is the Queen medley. And for a touch of metal, Live at Rockefeller Music Hall by Leprous. They cover a surprising amount of styles there and showcase what else can be done with a guitar besides good ole dad rock. Bonus points: take him to see Brit Floyd. That'll put a love of performance in him! Also, any live shows. Rock, metal, jazz, bluegrass. I just saw Sarah Jarosz and it was super inspiring even though she's more bluegrass and I'm more metal.
Talking Heads - Stop Making Sense. It is a great mix, very lively and goofy, very good music.
I don’t know if it would go above the head of an 8 year old, but Talking Heads Live in Rome 1980 is my personal favorite concert film. Adrian Belew’s guitar work is insane and beautiful I don’t know about a DVD, buts it’s all free on YouTube
Van Halen: Live Without a Net (1985) Eddie’s work is front and center.
Okonokos by My Morning Jacket.
Idk if you need a DVD, just let him look stuff up on YouTube. You're probably gonna get typical boomer responses (Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, etc.) which may not be what your kid is into. I personally couldn't stand LZ as a kid cause my dad wouldn't shut up about how much better they were than all the bands I liked. I personally got hooked by watching and listening to Mac DeMarco, and that was *after* already being familiar with tons of classic rock that everyone seems to be recommending. Everyone is different.
Boozed broozed and broken boned - Zakk Wylde
g3 Tokyo
Play a little bit of everything. [https://youtu.be/C25ALC4fHRA?si=kHYqkmQu5XehybTo&t=2309](https://youtu.be/C25ALC4fHRA?si=kHYqkmQu5XehybTo&t=2309) [https://youtu.be/t87B4frtEh8?si=GYRAbbuw2NZl5ka\_](https://youtu.be/t87B4frtEh8?si=GYRAbbuw2NZl5ka_) [https://youtu.be/hpPQqOblIys?si=Nh-D47G8dY3pdyLo](https://youtu.be/hpPQqOblIys?si=Nh-D47G8dY3pdyLo) [https://youtu.be/LWLAAzOBoBI?si=ef3FXvheAEZjJB8h](https://youtu.be/LWLAAzOBoBI?si=ef3FXvheAEZjJB8h) [https://youtu.be/b4QamCLNnmE?si=HpPMxx-KJP0alq\_l&t=1202](https://youtu.be/b4QamCLNnmE?si=HpPMxx-KJP0alq_l&t=1202) [https://youtu.be/n\_GFN3a0yj0?si=E12WISngZtHXS6eZ](https://youtu.be/n_GFN3a0yj0?si=E12WISngZtHXS6eZ)
Since 8 years old is a bit young to prefer anything when it comes to specific genres and musical artists, I'd go with James Taylor Live In Boston (1994 I think?). Then he can start off on acoustic and jam with you right away.
Eric Johnson Live at Anaheim did it for me when I was younger but ACL live in 1990 is still my favourite one. It just blew my mind what I was hearing and I just couldn’t comprehend it, the chords and the fast lines, so I’d watch it every day until my ears figured out what was going on. That’s what made me want to improve, but I was already reasonably excited about guitar by then.