25Frankster wrote:OK, I have about 6 kids in my Youth Groups at church that want to learn how to play guitar. I thought I'd start a little begining guitar class, but this is the kicker; I'm self taught, so I know how I did it, but I don't know if that's the best way to teach my kids (mostly 13-15 year olds). I don't plan on this thing getting to advanced (if it does, I'm certainly not the guy to teach!), but I would like to teach them some of the basics.
If any of my fellow chordians have any ideas / tips / stories / web sites / anything that might help me out, I could sure use it.
Thanks!
Wow!, What a task you have at hand!!! Lets break it down in simple terms;
Begin with an introduction to the guitar and all of it's parts. They'll need to know what the parts are so they can be told which parts to use(body, neck,fretboard, stock, bridge, nut, tuning pegs, string names, etc.)
Next, show your students how to tune their guitars and make sure everyone is tuned together in 440 A. This is the 3rd A note on the piano (starting from the bass notes).
After parts education and tuning technique I would start with a few basic chords like G, C, and D. Show where to place fingers on the fretboard to assemble these chords. Take it slow and work on one chord at a time. Don't forget how hard is was for you when you first began to play.
Next, I'd work on some various strumming patterns like; all down, all up, down up down, etc.......
Another project I like to do when I have several students is to create our own song lyrically and using the simple basic chords of which we're working with. Go around the room and let each student add to the previous lyric until you have a dozen or so lines. Then break them down into thirds and build your own original tune.
Just some ideas..........Good luck
SouthPaw41L
