Rabs Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 So next week I got my sister and her kids coming down to stay at my family home.. and my nephew Rafi whos 9 has decided he wants to start learning guitar (I helped my brother in law learn about 4 years ago and hes still playing).. Also it was Rafis birthday this week do I decided to give him that black squire strat I had laying about this one Its actually a really nice playing guitar.. Oddly enough I usually hate Fender Strat necks but I really like this one... for a first guitar I think its perfect (its better than my first few guitars playability wise).. So anyway.. my actual point of this thread.. I just spoke to him on the phone and actually his parents already got him a guitar but just a cheap classical (which he as asked me to stain blue :))... and he asked me if I could give him a lesson or two when they are here... So what do you teach first to a total new player, and a young one at that.. I seem to remember when I learned to play the first time I was actually taught how to read music and I learned twinkle twinkle little star :) but what do you teach before that? (and I cant teach him to read music cos ive forgotten it all now) How to hold it and pluck a string? Show him a few chords to practice (he surely wont have enough finger strength for that yet?).. I was thinking if I can get him to understand tablature then I can give him a sheet of chords and that should keep him busy for a while (will he be able to get that?) Anyway.. any teachers out there (and I know there a few) any advice would be appreciated :) I really want him to enjoy it but know that he has to want to do it and work at it to progress which is hard for a 9 year old with almost no attention span :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPguitarman Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 I'm not a teacher, but you have to start with the basics. How to hold the guitar (sitting and standing), how to hold the pick, how to attack the strings, how to caress the strings when you need to play tenderly, how to tune the guitar. Show him a few basic notes and chords. Get him started on simple stuff, but encourage him to listen to and try to play along with simple things. Playing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star can get boring real fast. Make sure you encourage him that the finger pain will go away with time. The callouses will harden and help him later on (better than tender finger tips). Most of all stick with it. Get him a chord chart and a starter guitar book. Most of all, Have Fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 I'm not a teacher, but you have to start with the basics. How to hold the guitar (sitting and standing), how to hold the pick, how to attack the strings, how to caress the strings when you need to play tenderly, how to tune the guitar. Show him a few basic notes and chords. Get him started on simple stuff, but encourage him to listen to and try to play along with simple things. Playing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star can get boring real fast. Make sure you encourage him that the finger pain will go away with time. The callouses will harden and help him later on (better than tender finger tips). Most of all stick with it. Get him a chord chart and a starter guitar book. Most of all, Have Fun. Yeah.. cheers man.. and that's the thing.. I want him to enjoy it enough to want to keep going... and yes.. twinkle twinkle is very 80s :) (but then it was 80s when I was at school).. I gotta find a modern tune he likes... Haha, I know he likes Spiderman.. How about I teach him the theme tune :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karloff Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 what notes the strings are, and how to tune it himself, and not rely on a tuner. then 'Smoke on the Water" on the low E string. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 In the 80s, the glorious heyday of my teaching years and multi colored perm days, we had a little card each new student filled out and the most important question on it: What are your three favorite songs today? Find out, learn them front to back, singing and playing. For me, I taught a lot of 10 year olds Crazy Train. Nothing but nothing impresses upon them and instills in them "I WANT TO DO THAT" more than some guy that is going to teach them knowing whatever it is they just love. They already know you know Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, but they don't think you know something by One Direction. Get their respect and adoration and sing and play Story Of My Life for them, they'll be hooked forever. Always let them try your guitars. Never let them touch your hair. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 Never let them touch your hair. rct Haha... too true :) Well I know him and his dad love The Beatles.. whats the easiest Beatles tune to play? One Direction.. PAHHH.. I will teach him better than that, that if he even mentions that name he will get a clip around the ear ;) lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4Hayden Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 I agree with brotha rct Never let them touch your hair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Well I know him and his dad love The Beatles.. whats the easiest Beatles tune to play? Any one that doesn't include the evil F Chord! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 Any one that doesn't include the evil F Chord! :) Ha... Aint that the truth... I remember how hard that was compared to the others to get right.. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Theres an F chord? rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LPguitarman Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 what notes the strings are, and how to tune it himself, and not rely on a tuner. then 'Smoke on the Water" on the low E string. HaHa, that was the very first song I learned on the very same string. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sg50 Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 8 days a week is D - E - G, and is a good starter, but then you get a Bm in there... Best advice I can give is to find a song that he loves and teach him that. I got my nephew to jam on that "up all night to get lucky" song because it's Bm D A E on repeat for 8 or so minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 Not by making him learn the C major scale! Definitely get him playing a song - he'll be hooked after that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrorod Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 I don't even want any part of teaching. TOO painfull! I remember the 1st song that I 'kind' of learned was Secret Agent Man by Johnny Rivers.....after I got through 9 volumes of Mel Bay (barely).... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdC9P58hJT8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Scales Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 when to hold 'em, when to fold 'em. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blueblooded Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 If it's a Beatles song, I'd start with Day Tripper. Pretty easy and a very good hook. It will teach good picking skills and how to move up and down the strings. And most importantly, it'll help him pick up chicks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted May 22, 2015 Author Share Posted May 22, 2015 And most importantly, it'll help him pick up chicks Lol.. at his age that would be a reason not to learn ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vangoghsear Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 What I enjoyed most when I was starting out was playing the pentatonic scale. One of the first things I wanted to learn after learning the scale was where to position the scale to the play in key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tman Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 then 'Smoke on the Water" Exactly. It was my first song and gave me confidence. If you can inspire confidence, game on. People can thrive. In my book, a great teacher indeed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. C.O. Jones Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Hi Rabs. I don't know what you can teach him. But if you give him the Squier and he he likes videogames this could be fun for him. http://rocksmith.ubi.com/rocksmith/en-au/home/index.aspx A good teacher is always better but he will learn a lot with that. And its less frustrating than looking at a piece of paper. It adapts to the skill level of the player. I play with it sometimes and its lots of fun, and you actually really learn some stuff. Greets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pesh Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Another one is Yousician; I don't know much about it, but it seems to be one of those similar help sources. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Hello! I agree with those, who say teach Him a catchy, very easy riff. That would give Him an immediate sense of achievement! Then, teach Him how to tune the guitar. Cheers... Bence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Theres an F chord? rct Yes, but you have to put the capo way up in the middle of the fretboard somewhere. I forgot exactly where. It's on the internet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silvercrow Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 LOVE reading through this...lots of chuckles (and good memories). RCT: Crazy Train is to the the 80s/90s what Smoke on the Water was to the 70s! LOL! Our producer taught lessons and used to lament "If I have to show one more kid that "G*D*m" Crazy Train...!" But I agree. A basic version of one of his favorite songs...BUT ALSO...BASICS. Bad habits are hard to break! Proper position and finger placement, names of strings and tuning. Will give him a good foundation that he can build on. Let us know how your protégé is doing... Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidblast Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 Yes, but you have to put the capo way up in the middle of the fretboard somewhere. I forgot exactly where. It's on the internet. ya but, you can't believe anything you see on the innernet.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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