Giving Casual Lessons

[justinandimcool]

Ok, so a few of my friends (who are pure beginners) are willing to have me teach them, or at least introduce them to playing guitar. Now I pondered upon how I'm gonna do this, and I'm still wondering on what I should teach them. Basic chords, power chords, and rhythm came to mind. But is there anything else I should bring up before hand? Fretboard memorization? Guitar theory? Chord formation? Just wondering what you guys had in mind, what you would do (have done) and what you think I should do.

[som3d3vil34]

Im not sure here, as I'm still sorta a beginner at guitar, but I think the most important thing is rhythm. Rhythm should be practiced until you throw up.

[PilotC150]

Teach them how to read tabs, first off.

Then write out a sheet that has all the basic chords tabbed out and have them learn those. Give them a couple songs that use just a few chords per song for them to practice that. That's a good start.

[saygdbye4134]

you should also teach them the scales. major and minor. then you should also teach them all the different notes of the whole fretboard. you know starting on with E, then work your way down on each string. oh also, try and get them to be able to tune by ear. that always helps.


erik

[mboskovs]

In addition to the things mentioned above, I would have them play the chromatic scale (first four frets on every string) first with down picking only and then after a while with alternate up and down picking.

[saygdbye4134]

In addition to the things mentioned above, I would have them play the chromatic scale (first four frets on every string) first with down picking only and then after a while with alternate up and down picking.

I second that. make them realize what a humbling instrument it can be. then show them what you can do with it.

[unccrombie]

maybe an intro to sheet music to go along with tabs...i wish i would have done that, but i learned it in 6th grade :lol

[fatb81]

Just a word from someone who has tried it. Make sure they really want to learn. I have many friends who have asked me this and even went out and bought a guitar. After a few hours or even a few weeks of trying to teach them the frustration really seems to take over. Maybe it's just my friends but the guitar takes a LOT of time and practice to learn. They need the dedication and almost a willingness to change their lifestyle around it. It becomes a part of who you are after a while and many people aren't disciplined enough to keep it up. Just a heads up. This has become an issue between me and a few friends as they seem to get pretty mad when it doesn't come to them as easy as it does for you or they just dont want to totally focus on what you are saying and just wail away. Just make sure they realize that they are asking you for help because they acknowledge your skills and want to become that impressive. Let them know your frustrations in the beginning and maybe even make them a solid practice schedule. I agree with all of the comments above too. I am by no means an expert at guitar but I have had some pretty bad experiences trying to teach some friends.

[HolyCow]

teach em a G, a C, a D, a Cadd9, an E, an Am, and an F (just for the fun of it).

I started out with G, C and D from a friend and now I can play anything. Those 3 I think are very foundational chords and of you can get the hang of those, everything else will start to slowly come into place.

[justinandimcool]

Thanks for the responses you guys, they help grande...

[Obsessor Of 41]

I'm not sure how advanced you are in the art of music theory, but I'm guessing, just guessing, that you're not advanced enough to really teach them. Simply by your age, and basing this off past teachers and instructors I've had who've effectively taught. So with this said, you can only go so far. I would say teach them the natural notes up and down the fretboard, but then like I said you yourself could only teach them so far, because eventually this turns in to scales (vertical/horizontal), then into triads/modes/etc...I just think eventually you'd be running off a cliff. It's my personal opinion that no one can really teach anyone else until they've had some formal schooling and/or have taken formal lessons for years (LIKE 6 OR 7!). But, these guys are looking for a little help, sooooo I'd say as mentioned before, just teach them tabs, and then they'll progress as they were meant to.

[justinandimcool]

^ Thank you sir

[gregory311]

No offense, man, but if you don't have a clear idea of what must be done already mapped out in your head you probably should not be teaching anyone.

Just an opinion, but good luck to you all the same.

J.

[justinandimcool]

None taken, thanks