Helping Kids to Practice Guitar Effectively

Kids Guitar Practice Tips

This page contains some strategies designed to help children to practice the guitar effectively after the first rush of enthusiasm has worn off

After the first rush of enthusiasm has worn off!

Kids Guitar Lesson 3; Lesson Plan

Step 1: Make sure guitar is in tune

Tuning is important

Step 2: Check on progress from the last lesson

The first part of the lesson should be taken up with making sure a child is familiar with the material presented during the first two sessions and again you should expect to spend some time ensuring that the basic shapes and principles covered in your last session are bubbling along nicely. If you have not already done so it would be a good idea to take a look at the video (which strangely enough works with the sound muted) on out page which provides an overview of how to teach guitar to kids
The lesson presented on this page uses one of the chord shapes that a child has already encountered (G) along with a new shape (A). This lesson provides a great opportunity to introduce the "full" G shape during the latter part of the session depending on progress.

Step 3: Introduce the A chord shape

Of the eight chord shapes that kids should learn first the chord of A is one of five that do not really require a "reduced" (one finger) version. This is because when forming the shape all of the fingers are grouped closely together and there is no need for a child to stretch their fingers over the width of the neck.

Step 4: Playing the A chord with and without a "1-2-3-4" count in

Ask the child to form the chord shape and strum it once after a count of 1-2-3-4. It can then be fun to get them to scratch their head with the left hand and form the shape again and strum the chord in their own time (without the 1-2-3-4 count in). This obliges them to commit the shape to memory and you should be prepared to spend a little time on this section of the lesson until a reasonably convincing A chord is being sounded

Step 6: Introduce the "full" G shape if desired

At this point ask the child to move between the new chord (A) and the one finger version of the G chord used in lessons 1 and 2. An option here is to introduce the "full" G shape which uses all six strings. If you decide to use the full G shape at this point it may be an effective strategy to spend a little more time with the G to Em progression and backing track used in lesson 1. ask your student/s to move between the full versions of each chord in time to the backing track or a metronome

Step 7: Play G Chord in response to "1-2-3-4" count in

As before encourage your learner/s to strum the new chord shape (once) in response to a count in
The graphic above shows on of our giant letter sized guitar chord "mini posters" that come with the kids guitar materials that kids can colour themselves between lessons. Its a great way of keeping them involved with the guitar even when they are not physically playing it.

Step 8: Ask your student to move between the shapes in their own time

When they can manage to move between the new A shape and whichever version (full or one-finger) of the G chord you decide to use then it is time to move onto changing between the chords in their own time.

Step 9: Playing both chords in response to count in

Before moving on to work with a backing track (Id love to sell you some but the reality is that if you have the time and technology you could probably make your own) spend a little time ensuring that the learner/s can play each chord in response to a "1-2-3-4" count in

Step 10: Work with The A to G Rock Backing Track

The A to G Rock backing track features bass and drums going around a progression made up of two bars of A followed by two bars of G. A child should be asked to make a single downward strum of each chord as it changes. If the child is able to change between the chords confidently you can end the lesson by increasing the complexity of the right hand strumming patterns if you like? Remember to count "1-2-3-4" into the changes until the child starts to "feel' the progression

The next lesson is an interesting one as it will introduce the final three new chords (Am Dm and E) from the eight chords that any beginner should learn first.

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The Kids Guitar Teaching Package

More than forty sheets to download and use in your guitar teaching today. This material is designed to run alongside the "Backing Tracks and Handouts Package . All of the material that you need in order to teach kids to play guitar. Chord Charts, One finger (reduced) chord diagrams. An opportunity to start any young would be guitar player off the right way!

The Backing Tracks and Handouts Package

20 Backing Tracks and 46 Handouts. An invaluable aid designed to help you to teach both rhythm and lead guitar to younger and older students alike Great for helping to develop a good dense of timing

The Guitar Teacher's Toolkit

100 printable sheets dealing with Open Chords-Bar Chords-Scales- Modes- Blank Fretboard and Chord Grids Teaching Diary and Business Card Designs

Plus 100 Giant (letter sized) Chord Grids

laminate them in order to help you to teach group guitar lessons, distribute them to your students or just stick on your teaching studio wall? The "Coolest Wallpaper on the planet?"

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The Bass Guitar Teacher's Toolkit

Over 60 Handouts for anyone who already teaches (or who wishes to teach) bass guitar covering Scales, Chords, Fingering Exercises etc

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