Since I lead music for children with voice and guitar at our church, I am sometimes asked to teach children how to play the guitar. The topics that we cover during each lesson are below. We use a variation of the Progressive Beginner Guitar book.
Lesson 1
- Parts of the guitar
- Types of guitar
- Styles of guitar
- How to hold the guitar
- How to strum (up and down)
- Strings – E-A-D-G-B-E
- Right hand techniques (playing one string, two strings together, three strings together and in sequence)
- How to tune the guitar
Lesson 2
- Review
- What is a chord? (Major, minor, seventh)
- The G major chord
- The D major chord
- Open strings and fretted notes
- The quarter note
Lesson 3
- Review
- The second string
- The half note
- The C major chord
- Song – Silent Night
- The quarter and half rests
Lesson 4
- Review
- The first string
- E, F and G notes
- The whole note and whole rest
- The eighth note
Lesson 5
- Review
- Eighth note rhythm pattern
Lesson 6
- Review
- The fourth string
- D, E and F notes
- Minor chords (Dm, Em, Am)