Tips on teaching

[TSJMajesty]

The first metal song I learned that I can really attribute to serious growth was learning Iron Maiden’s “Hallowed Be Thy Name”, that song got me going with alternate picking and my skill level jumped up enough to branch out into a lot.

I really wish I'd not gone off like Luke not finishing his training with Yoda. I got just good enough to form a band (had a strong foundation of music theory though, via my clarinet lessons), and didn't look back towards learning, until I reached 50 or so. Had a bunch of bad habits that needed correcting, in order to do what I wanted to do.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Another thing I'd add, is don't make any assumptions, even if he thinks he knows what he wants to play.

I didn't know anything about fingerstyle until much later, and as it turns out, it is something I wish I'd spent more time developing when I was young. I was just unaware of it, or that I would like it.

Once I finally ditched the pick, I was actually able to play Babe I'm Gonna Leave You. I was like, DUH!

I've even learned some Paganini, and gone back to my etudes from my clarinet days, and messed around with them on guitar. (Totally out of my league!)

SO many choices out there!

 

[Mikael Dez]

Another thing I'd add, is don't make any assumptions, even if he thinks he knows what he wants to play.

I didn't know anything about fingerstyle until much later, and as it turns out, it is something I wish I'd spent more time developing when I was young. I was just unaware of it, or that I would like it.

Once I finally ditched the pick, I was actually able to play Babe I'm Gonna Leave You. I was like, DUH!

I've even learned some Paganini, and gone back to my etudes from my clarinet days, and messed around with them on guitar. (Totally out of my league!)

SO many choices out there!

Yeah IF he keeps at it I’m going to start introducing songs that expand his toolbox for sure.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Yeah IF he keeps at it I’m going to start introducing songs that expand his toolbox for sure.

Where did he get Billy Squire, at 12 years old? That's pretty cool in my book.

 

[HomespunEffects]

The obvious first song to learn is Breaking the Law. Introduces moving bar chords and there's no solo.

 

[Mikael Dez]

Where did he get Billy Squire, at 12 years old? That's pretty cool in my book.

It is cool, probably from his mom who was born in 1980? Idk, by the time I was 12 I was into all kinds of shit cuz my mom (born 1970 and I’m 88 ) loved rock, hair metal, whatever. I do plan on diving deeper with that and giving him “music homework”

 

[Stone]

Keep it interesting, consistance is key, work out a diverse regime and stick to it, and OFC one has to be willing and dedicated

 

[FuzzyAce]

I’m gonna be real with him and tell him that A: his fingers will hurt and B: it may be boring and he’ll feel frustrated and C: it will be fucking worth it. If he can’t handle it he can go back to Minecraft lmao

One thing I can say about learning guitar -- I never found it boring. Ever. Frustrating, fingers hurting? Definitely. If he doesn't take initiative on his own after some simple lessons, a few riffs and encouragement, it is highly doubtful he'll continue in a major way. I never had a teacher or anyone directly there to keep me engaged, I just did it on my own because I found it awesome. But every kid is different. I do think encouraging them to learn melodies by listening to their favorite songs is good ear training. Finding it on the fretboard without assistance from tabs or books is a fun experience and a confidence builder, and also a bit more creative approach.

 

[Mikael Dez]

One thing I can say about learning guitar -- I never found it boring. Ever. Frustrating, fingers hurting? Definitely. If he doesn't take initiative on his own after some simple lessons, a few riffs and encouragement, it is highly doubtful he'll continue in a major way. I never had a teacher or anyone directly there to keep me engaged, I just did it on my own because I found it awesome. But every kid is different. I do think encouraging them to learn melodies by listening to their favorite songs is good ear training. Finding it on the fretboard without assistance from tabs or books is a fun experience and a confidence builder, and also a bit more creative approach.

I agree with you, it’s never been boring for me either. I think frustrated and impatient are better terms there.

 

[Stone]

Never Boring, always challenging and entertaining
Frustrating? Yes at times due to my lack of natural talent and time constraints (Work, chores, life)

 

[gearJunkie]

I jumped right in with the tabs to Stairway to Heaven. Man, getting my 1st finger to lay flat for that opening barre was SO HARD at first!

 

[Mikael Dez]

Update: the little dude has been practicing as much as I think a 12 year old would, and I taught him some of “For Whom the Bell Tolls”. He wants to learn Enter Sandman but tomorrow morning I’m teaching him Black Sabbath’s Paranoid since it’s so easy and I think it would help him with the foundations of power chords and palm muting.

Overall I’m proud of him. I wish I had an uncle that played guitar when I was younger lol

 

[Mikael Dez]

Oh, and I didn’t mention that this kid is a lefty, and the guitar I suggested his older sister bought for him is a righty. I felt real bad but I was like “listen dude both your hands are important here, so I suggest you just start with right handed and you’ll thank me later when you’re buying guitars for yourself” so far it’s working out just fine.

 

[Progressive_disclosure]

Oh, and I didn’t mention that this kid is a lefty, and the guitar I suggested his older sister bought for him is a righty. I felt real bad but I was like “listen dude both your hands are important here, so I suggest you just start with right handed and you’ll thank me later when you’re buying guitars for yourself” so far it’s working out just fine.

As a lefty I’m agreeing with Mattias ”IA” Eklundh that it actually makes more sense for lefties to fret with the left hand.

He talked about it on a clinic I attended years ago and it made me never even try lefty guitars.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Uhm, I said so elsewhere already, I'm a pretty firm believer in your strong hand having to do the picking. But hey, each to their own.

 

[TSJMajesty]

thank me later when...

...he gets that Majesty.

 

[Mikael Dez]

As a lefty I’m agreeing with Mattias ”IA” Eklundh that it actually makes more sense for lefties to fret with the left hand.

He talked about it on a clinic I attended years ago and it made me never even try lefty guitars.

I even said that to him - I find my more “important hand” to be my fretting hand anyway, and his dominant hand will be doing the harder work so it makes sense.

 

[Mikael Dez]

...he gets that Majesty.

If he gets to the point where he’s playing and buying a Majesty I will consider my job WELL DONE lol

 

[Sascha Franck]

I even said that to him - I find my more “important hand” to be my fretting hand anyway, and his dominant hand will be doing the harder work so it makes sense.

This is not exactly how it is. IMO at least.
The picking hand is kinda "left on its own", required to do an autopilot-alike job whereas your brain concentrates on the fingering hand. And there's no better tool for an autopilot job than your strong hand.
Also, the fingering hand always has a pretty strong guidance, namely your neck, whereas at least parts of the picking hand need to float free - and yet you need to be able to hit a string with the tip of a pick precisely.
And fwiw, I'm not exactly alone with these views, far from it.

No doubt that there's exceptions, but this is pretty much the general consensus.

 

[TSJMajesty]

If he gets to the point where he’s playing and buying a Majesty I will consider my job WELL DONE lol

I meant when you leave it in your will for him.

I mean, I figure if you have a younger relative, who ends up a guitar player, it just seems to make sense. Especially if you had a hand in inspiring him to play in the first place.

But if you hadn't broken his left-handed playing early on like you did, he'd have to just sell it.