Need advise on teaching guitar to a 12 year old.

[Digital Jams]

So my best buddy calls me and explains that his son has been pounding him to ask me to teach him how to play guitar, this guy would do anything for me so yeah I said sure. Tomorrow is the first lesson and I need advice on how to start this.

I know one thing and that is I am going to explain that you nead to learn right the first time.

How do I start this out??? Yngwies Arpegios from Hell maybe???

I am thinking,

string names
tuning
one alt picking exercise just to get him started...I aint raising no chugga chugga
a movable chord type form with the basic theory behind it.
quick 5 minute talk about what makes a guitar do what it does.

I figure get him moving to get used to simple motions and then slowly him him with a tad of theory.

 

[Stratboy151]

you ever did this before?

 

[Code001]

Teach him the chords G, D, and C. Then you can tell him he learned his first song (Knockin' on Heaven's Door). Basically, string names, tuning and start out with some very basic chords. I wouldn't start any alt. picking licks yet. Wait until he has his chords down and then you can start that.

 

[Digital Jams]

you ever did this before?

No I have not and I do not want to screw the kid up nor do I want to make it seem to hard to play by loading him full of theory right away. I will explain that he should learn it at some time for sure but I just want to start his journey to jazz metal in the right direction.

 

[Code001]

you ever did this before?

No I have not and I do not want to screw the kid up nor do I want to make it seem to hard to play by loading him full of theory right away. I will explain that he should learn it at some time for sure but I just want to start his journey to jazz metal in the right direction.

How do you know he wants to play Jazz Metal?

 

[mysticaxe]

Smoke on the Water...

 

[Digital Jams]

you ever did this before?

No I have not and I do not want to screw the kid up nor do I want to make it seem to hard to play by loading him full of theory right away. I will explain that he should learn it at some time for sure but I just want to start his journey to jazz metal in the right direction.

How do you know he wants to play Jazz Metal?

HOM talk n00b.

He is interested in classic rock and he digs Rush

 

[Bob Savage]

So my best buddy calls me ...I need advice on how to start this.

string names
tuning
one alt picking exercise just to get him started...I aint raising no chugga chugga
a movable chord type form with the basic theory behind it.
quick 5 minute talk about what makes a guitar do what it does.

I figure get him moving to get used to simple motions and then slowly him him with a tad of theory.

That's all garbage, forget about it. The first thing you need to do is introduce the kid to the Mai Tai and cursing, and lots of 'em. You can't learn how to play guitar unless you're metal, and you're not metal unless you're cursing drunk. Only then, can you learn how to play guitar.

Well, that may not be how to do it in this case, but that's how I did it back when I was 17 and thought I could play so I was giving lessons.

 

[Art_n_Music]

Well, I don't teach either, but both of my boys take lessons, the youngest is 11 and he is the youngest his teacher has ever started on playing lead guitar. The following is IMHO of course:

No real theory yet. But teach him the string names so he understands when you tell him something.
Start with the easier chords: A, Em, D, G then maybe add E, Dm, Fm7, Am. C's and F's are the toughest on young hands, so save those for last. And no more than two at a time, practicing going back and forth between them.
Teach him some form right off the bat. Where to put his thumb on the neck, how to hold a pick, etc. Teach him a couple of very basic rythms to stroke.
That's a few weeks worth of info already. Once he has the basic minor and major chords, teach him some two finger power chords and teach him smoke on the water. Then start teaching him the Pentatonic scales, one every couple of weeks till he has all five.
that'll get him going if he is really interested in rock.

 

[Digital Jams]

So my best buddy calls me ...I need advice on how to start this.

string names
tuning
one alt picking exercise just to get him started...I aint raising no chugga chugga
a movable chord type form with the basic theory behind it.
quick 5 minute talk about what makes a guitar do what it does.

I figure get him moving to get used to simple motions and then slowly him him with a tad of theory.

That's all garbage, forget about it. The first thing you need to do is introduce the kid to the Mai Tai and cursing, and lots of 'em. You can't learn how to play guitar unless you're metal, and you're not metal unless you're cursing drunk. Only then, can you learn how to play guitar.

Well, that may not be how to do it in this case, but that's how I did it back when I was 17 and thought I could play so I was giving lessons.

Drunk = skill!

Genius Bob, so how do I get him past his folks after the lesson?

 

[stratotone]

I supported myself for about 4 years teaching guitar (and eating very little) - here are a few things that might help:

1) find out what type of music he likes, and find some songs in that genre that are fairly simple. You'll be able to get him to practice a song part or something that is recognizable much more than just playing part of Tom Dooley or Grand old Flag.

2) Don't overwhelm him with too much stuff. Names of strings, how to tune and two chords to practice switching between would probably be plenty... but find a song he likes that has those chords in it. "After you get these two chords down, I can show you two more and then you can play this song" goes over well.

3) I'd hold off a bit on the power chords/movable forms just yet. Two finger power chords are almost too simple, unless you want to show him something like 'Iron Man' - and full barres aren't going to be attainable for him just yet until he builds up some more hand strength. Remember that slides are going to be hard for him.

4) I wouldn't worry about alternate picking just yet either. Focus on chords first.

Pete

 

[Anonymous]

So my best buddy calls me ...I need advice on how to start this.

string names
tuning
one alt picking exercise just to get him started...I aint raising no chugga chugga
a movable chord type form with the basic theory behind it.
quick 5 minute talk about what makes a guitar do what it does.

I figure get him moving to get used to simple motions and then slowly him him with a tad of theory.

That's all garbage, forget about it. The first thing you need to do is introduce the kid to the Mai Tai and cursing, and lots of 'em. You can't learn how to play guitar unless you're metal, and you're not metal unless you're cursing drunk. Only then, can you learn how to play guitar.

Well, that may not be how to do it in this case, but that's how I did it back when I was 17 and thought I could play so I was giving lessons.

+1,000,000

Steve

 

[Digital Jams]

I supported myself for about 4 years teaching guitar (and eating very little) - here are a few things that might help:

1) find out what type of music he likes, and find some songs in that genre that are fairly simple. You'll be able to get him to practice a song part or something that is recognizable much more than just playing part of Tom Dooley or Grand old Flag.

2) Don't overwhelm him with too much stuff. Names of strings, how to tune and two chords to practice switching between would probably be plenty... but find a song he likes that has those chords in it. "After you get these two chords down, I can show you two more and then you can play this song" goes over well.

3) I'd hold off a bit on the power chords/movable forms just yet. Two finger power chords are almost too simple, unless you want to show him something like 'Iron Man' - and full barres aren't going to be attainable for him just yet until he builds up some more hand strength. Remember that slides are going to be hard for him.

4) I wouldn't worry about alternate picking just yet either. Focus on chords first.

Pete

Classic rock and he said the beetles so I am set with plenty of easy songs!

Yeah, I am holding off of the power chords for now.....he needs to learn better forms first.

 

[Digital Jams]

Well, I don't teach either, but both of my boys take lessons, the youngest is 11 and he is the youngest his teacher has ever started on playing lead guitar. The following is IMHO of course:

No real theory yet. But teach him the string names so he understands when you tell him something.
Start with the easier chords: A, Em, D, G then maybe add E, Dm, Fm7, Am. C's and F's are the toughest on young hands, so save those for last. And no more than two at a time, practicing going back and forth between them.
Teach him some form right off the bat. Where to put his thumb on the neck, how to hold a pick, etc. Teach him a couple of very basic rythms to stroke.
That's a few weeks worth of info already. Once he has the basic minor and major chords, teach him some two finger power chords and teach him smoke on the water. Then start teaching him the Pentatonic scales, one every couple of weeks till he has all five.
that'll get him going if he is really interested in rock.

Thanks, cool idea to start with the basics and then progress to more complex things once he has a grasp of the basic 1-3-5 things.

 

[Bob Savage]

Genius Bob, so how do I get him past his folks after the lesson?

I was fortunate enough to not encounter that situation. I only taught about 4 people before I realized I wasn't making any money teaching (this is outside of not being qualified) because of all the drinks, so I retired.

 

[Digital Jams]

Genius Bob, so how do I get him past his folks after the lesson?

I was fortunate enough to not encounter that situation. I only taught about 4 people before I realized I wasn't making any money teaching (this is outside of not being qualified) because of all the drinks, so I retired.

Damn wet bar overhead always spoils things

I am working pro-bono anyways so I am already in the hole.

 

[amiller]

The one thing that I've noticed over my years of taking lessons is that the instructor usually doesn't have a plan or direction. They sort of just throw stuff at you to see what sticks...learn these cords, scale, fingerings etc.

I think the first thing you need to do is assess his skills and desires. Get a REAL good handle on where he is and where he wants to go. Once you have that info, sit down and figure out what's needed to get there and map out a plan. Design short term and long term goals all geared to the "end goal."

Of course, all of this is subject to change as his priorities and taste change.

 

[StevieRaveOn]

So my best buddy calls me and explains that his son has been pounding him to ask me to teach him how to play guitar, this guy would do anything for me so yeah I said sure. Tomorrow is the first lesson and I need advice on how to start this.

I know one thing and that is I am going to explain that you nead to learn right the first time.

How do I start this out??? Yngwies Arpegios from Hell maybe???

I am thinking,

string names
tuning
one alt picking exercise just to get him started...I aint raising no chugga chugga
a movable chord type form with the basic theory behind it.
quick 5 minute talk about what makes a guitar do what it does.

I figure get him moving to get used to simple motions and then slowly him him with a tad of theory.

On the picking point:

Get him set into alternate picking, but then a little later, give him some downstroke-only exercises. The ability for both I think will be a great asset. I've got some friends that can pick circles around me for two reasons... A) I'm a lefty-play-righty, or what's known around here as "gimp-handed" , and B) they learned downstroke-only for a long time. Now, alternating would be great for them, but they had to gain speed with down-only and are pretty quick.

 

[Art_n_Music]

The one thing that I've noticed over my years of taking lessons is that the instructor usually doesn't have a plan or direction. They sort of just throw stuff at you to see what sticks...learn these cords, scale, fingerings etc.

I think the first thing you need to do is assess his skills and desires. Get a REAL good handle on where he is and where he wants to go. Once you have that info, sit down and figure out what's needed to get there and map out a plan. Design short term and long term goals all geared to the "end goal."

You also have to learn the alphabet before learning to read...the basics are important to get down first and get them right.

 

[Digital Jams]

So my best buddy calls me and explains that his son has been pounding him to ask me to teach him how to play guitar, this guy would do anything for me so yeah I said sure. Tomorrow is the first lesson and I need advice on how to start this.

I know one thing and that is I am going to explain that you nead to learn right the first time.

How do I start this out??? Yngwies Arpegios from Hell maybe???

I am thinking,

string names
tuning
one alt picking exercise just to get him started...I aint raising no chugga chugga
a movable chord type form with the basic theory behind it.
quick 5 minute talk about what makes a guitar do what it does.

I figure get him moving to get used to simple motions and then slowly him him with a tad of theory.

On the picking point:

Get him set into alternate picking, but then a little later, give him some downstroke-only exercises. The ability for both I think will be a great asset. I've got some friends that can pick circles around me for two reasons... A) I'm a lefty-play-righty, or what's known around here as "gimp-handed" , and B) they learned downstroke-only for a long time. Now, alternating would be great for them, but they had to gain speed with down-only and are pretty quick.

I hear ya.......I know that I did not start a good foundation the first time around so I am going to go over alt picking just a tad and use it as a warm up exercise. I want him to get used to keeping that right hand in the same location everytimeand to be accurate.

btw I owe you a package....I am a late dufus