Teaching Guitar

[Brainchild]

I have three kids wanting to learn to play guitar.I haven't had a lesson in 30 years, and mostly self taught, so needless to say, I'm not going to be that good a teacher. But they insist on me teaching them.
So does anyone know any good teaching sites. Places with printable chord charts, scales,that type of thing?
I bought them child size guitars, so now all I need to do is get my act together

Thanx
BC

[OuTpaTienT]

I would suggest teaching them using TAB. It really is simple enough that a young child could understand how it works, and it'd make it easy for you. You could easily write out the tablature of some songs you know they are familiar with then just let them practice. Of course you'll have to teach them how to read tab first, but that'll only take ya about 10 - 30 minutes.

As for what to practice, like scales and stuff...don't you have a huge collection of old guitar magazines? I thought we all did. Guitar Player, Guitar World, etc. If you do, go through those and check out the monthly columns. Quite often they are reminding musicians to practice the basics and will have a good lesson on some basic stuff (scales, chords, techniques).

[Imanage]

How about trying one of those instructional videos or DVDs?

www.homespuntapes.com has a bunch of them. You could all sit around the TV or computer and "listen" to the teacher. Music is a great way to spend time with the kids. I have a few tapes on piano and keyboard techniques from them and they are actually done quite well.

[Thud]

Another good starting point would be to show them how to play the basic open chords. I didn't know them until I'd been playing for a few months, and after I learned them, I realized that was where I should have started in the first place. They can learn many songs with them, and build their flexibility and handstrength.

Best of luck with it....I hope my son has the desire to play an instrument.

[Brainchild]

I had thought about teaching them to read tabs OuT.And i did give them D,A,G open chords as a intro into guitar.I agree that open chords are the way to go.
I will think about the instructional videos.

Thanx

[maface]

http://www.fenderplayersclub.com/

[Brainchild]

Now that's what I'm talkin' about SRV on the front page.
I don't know if they know who he is though

Good link maface
Thanks

A good excersize for a beginner is doing a D, C, G pattern. Or you can mix it up and add an open A in there between the C and G. D, C, G was the first thing I learned on a six string and it took me a while to do it, but after that, all other open chords are easy (except maybe open F and B).

[Brainchild]

I bought a book, closed the bedroom door,and didn't come out till I could play a song. I wanted to learn to play.I was 7, I don't think my kids have that same deterimation,
I did show them D,G,A, and how to change between them,and to mix it up.

[gjwilson]

I,too, am a self taught player times 40 years.I lean towards the belief that if they want to learn bad enough they will on their own. My oldest 2 wanted to play so I invested in the appropriate equipment and leasons just to have it all pawned (without my knowledge) within 2 years.
I bought my first guitar....on my own..at 10 and was playing in bars by the time i was 14. My parents didn`t force me to learn any specific way nor did they hinder my no doubt attrocious practicing which included a basement band for 7 years.
I would say give them the basics in chords, let them choose their favorite music and play till their fingers fall off.
Gary