r/guitarteachers • u/jangooni • Mar 28 '26
Teaching some friends guitar basics for a couple months — what should I cover
I’m planning to teach a few friends beginner guitar over 1–2 months (one session per week) and would appreciate any advice.
My current plan is to cover:
• Tuning
• Holding a pick
• Using a metronome
Plus helping them learn two beginner-friendly songs of their choice.
Any suggestions on what I should add or change?
Edit: I forgot to add that these are just for cowboy chord songs. Just simple chord playing.
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u/pvm2001 Mar 28 '26
Start with how they hold the instrument and the mechanics of both arms/wrists/hands. A good teacher will always take their time in this phase, so the student gets it right now and forever!
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u/Scared_Jeweler7766 Mar 28 '26
This Solid technique goes a long way! And changing old habits takes time, so it's better to start the right way
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u/zlingman Mar 28 '26
i couldn’t learn how to hold a guitar until i played it for a long time. i know that meant i had to unlearn bad habits but at the same time for me it was simply physically impossible to do it properly until i had a feel for the angles and contours
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u/Scared_Jeweler7766 Mar 28 '26
Of course it takes years for your body to properly learn how to do complex things like playing guitar. But a good teacher should point you that way as soon as possible, and in smart ways that make this "unlearning" of bad habits a natural and a bit easier thing. For most students, not addressing technique in the beginning is a bad idea
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u/zlingman Mar 28 '26
yeah, i agree. i think technique broadly stated is a good way to think about. i just know i had teachers who couldn’t focus on anything but correcting my elbow and wrist and so on and like… this was i fucked over for years because i became so hesitant that i might be doing it the wrong way until one day someone finally told me “if it sounds good just do it” and thus began my journey toward freedom. it’s easy to make a beginner feel like the instrument is impossible by overcritiquing their form.
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u/Scared_Jeweler7766 Mar 28 '26
Absolutely. A good teacher balances everything, making a priority that you learn and have a good time in class. Technique is just a means to an end. Beginners especially need specific instruction and indications, otherwise is counterproductive, as you say
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u/pvm2001 Mar 28 '26
That's most likely because they didn't create a good lesson sequence on the front end, so they were always fixing it on the back end when you were already playing wrong. Amateurish teaching basically.
The other thing is to select fun, easy songs that help solidify the techniques from the very first lesson. Lmk if you have questions on how to do any of this, it's how I make my living. I work with students as young as 4 and as old as 74.
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u/Micky_so_Fyne Mar 28 '26
Beginner friendly songs for cowboy chords? Gotta go Johnny Cash. He's timeless. Ring of Fire is a classic using only G, C, and D if I remember correctly. And you can teach them alternate strumming techniques with it, by anchoring the bass on the first strum, then following through with the consecutive strums
1
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u/Superfun2112 Mar 28 '26
I don't know if I'd say songs of their choice. I'd pick the easiest possible songs. At least the first one. Like Love Me Do.
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u/Rich-Butterscotch173 Apr 02 '26
Fretting hand technique: (thumb behind the neck, use fingertips, where to press to fret; one finger, one fret exercises). Strumming patterns. All open chords and 7th variations (get them a printout with fingerings) Introduction to tab.
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u/punkrok78 Mar 28 '26
Start with single note riffs and power chords to build up hand strength and co-ordination. Songs like a single note version of Sunshine of Your Love and Seven Nation Army.
Power Chords to build further strength and learn the fretboard on 6th and 5th string. Use When I Come Around, All the Small Things, You Really Got Me, TNT