Things You'll Need:
- electric guitar
- amplifier
- beginner chord book
- beginner music book
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Step 1
Determine which guitar you need to purchase. Half size guitars are better to start with if you're teaching kids five or under. Over five, a standard size guitar is recommended. Don't start with anything too expensive. Make sure there will be an ongoing interest in the child to continue learning to play. Most music stores offer beginner electric guitar packages that include a low-end guitar, small amplifier, and the necessary chords and accessories, including a guitar strap and a handful of guitar picks.
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Step 2
Purchase a book of beginner's guitar chords and a book of easy starting songs. You can find these books in any print music shop or even online (see resources). These will be the core learning materials for your young student.
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Step 3
Start by teaching basic chords in the first position of the guitar. These include C major, G major, A major and minor, E major and minor, and D chords. There are others, but these are good, basic chords to start with kids. They're easy to play and appear in a lot of beginning songs.
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Step 4
Teach strum patterns (also known as rhythm) while teaching how to pick the strings. This is important. Trying to teach the two elements of playing by teaching one first and then the other can be confusing to the child. They get used to doing one thing and get set in their ways, then when you add another technique, it tends to undo what they have already learned. Teaching these two playing elements together gets your young students adapted to using the two techniques together, which is how they should be used.
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Step 5
Skip trying to teach scales in the beginning. Scales typically hold no interest for the child and can often result in losing their attention. Get to songs right away. Use a book of simple standard kid songs that make use of the beginning chords (see resources). Allowing a child to work on playing these songs will hold their interest and strengthen their chord playing skills.
