How do I convince my parents to buy me a trampoline?

How Do I Convince My Parents to Buy Me a Second Guitar?

• I have been playing the guitar for a year and am still not very good. I am on my third guitar. My parents got me a $99 acoustic from Best Buy to start out with. One night I leaned it against the living room chair (in it's cover) and it fell into the fire place (No fire) and it's neck snapped. We bought the same guitar at Best Buy, but their was something wrong with it and we returned it. My guitar teacher directed us to this great store, Kitsap Music, and the owner helped us find me an electric guitar. This is the guitar I have: http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=248-9728 I love it and have taken great care of it. It only has one mark from when the strap gave out and it fell on the deck while I was playing it. I've had fun learning to play, but I'm a country music fan and really want to learn songs like "Fastest Girl in Town", "Hell on Heels", "Our Song", and "Harper Valley PTA", and they just don't sound right on an electric. My grandpa has pointed that out numerous times. I like my electric, though, because I can play songs like "Smoke on the Water" and there are a bunch of other rock songs I want to learn (including "Johnny B. Goode"). I found this beautiful guitar online and I really want it: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/epiphone-hummingbird-acoustic-guitar/518028000035115?src=3XBACR I know it's expensive but it's really pretty and I've been thinking of getting a new guitar for a while. My mom's arguement is that I don't play mine. IT's true, I haven't played my guitar for a while, but that's because I have been very busy the past few months. My teacher took a break during the summer and when she started teaching again in the fall, I decided to wait until I got used to school ( the beginning is always hectic. My school doesn't give much slack even in September!). I never signed back up for lessons (I want to, though) because we started remodling our kitchen and bathrooms and I've started volunteering at a wildlife center once a week. I'm usually doing school until 7pm and then don't feel like playing. On the weekends it seems we are always busy with the remodel and school and work and family leaving me very little free time. Plus, my parents don't like listening to me play in the evenings (they say they're relaxing). I'm willing to pay for half of it, like I did for my electric. I don't think I'd be able to buy it myself, though. I work at my parents' work for $8 per hr, but I only get to keep $4 while the other half goes in the bank. I've tried to find this guitar for cheaper, but I can't. I don't want to wait until my birthday, that's in January. How can I convince my parents to buy me this guitar? What should I do?

• Answer:

  Seems you not only have had bad luck with your choice in guitars (accidents too), but one who gives the 'excuses' I have read for not even getting back to even playing, tells me that you aren't that serious or have found the real appreciation in the basic instrument. After a year, most every player know they are going to stick with the guitar, and enjoy it nearly every day for the rest of their lives. It becomes a good reflex, and second nature rather than not to. Show more responsibility in your actions toward how you get things accomplished to your parents, and prove to yourself if you really think another guitar will make you into a player, and not just someone who tinkers around and leave the thing in some corner to gather dust. For now, it doesn't appear you have a greater interest in it, as you want other things in your life right now that takes up your time. Perhaps as well, the guitar you have now is not helping, being a cheap one in the first place or giving you problems physically, and that can be discouraging. You didn't provide much evidence toward the desire or real willingness to become a player and whether or not in getting a better guitar as such an expense is deserving, by way of your parents contribution or your own personal financing. The guitar will not make the player. But the player who comes to love the instrument (enough) will become one with it.