Gave my 11 year old a new acoustic guitar. He is not able to begin lessons from his teacher at school don’t begin until summer because it is mid year. Can you recommend a method, book, or website/YouTube to follow until then? He has already started learning and practicing some basic chords we found on the web.

Thanks

IMO there are lots of good youtube videos for all levels of guitar learning. Just let him surf to find what he feels is both motivational and about at his level.
The real secret ingredient is to practice...invest the time....the "method" is just an incidental tool.

I don't know how appropriate this book would be for your 11 year old, but it would certainly exercise his fingers and give him a head start getting used to the fretboard. If he truly stuck to the one exercise per day and practiced the hell out of it, by summer time, he'd be way ahead.

https://www.amazon.com/Guitar-...=guitar+lesson+books

An in person teacher is great for getting the fundamentals at least. If you intend to do this all on your own, then JustinGuitar.com is the best free option

I wish YouTube was around when I first started guitar back in 1992. Have him search YouTube for his favorite song along with "lesson" so he can actually learn how to play them.

I believe that goes a long way in keeping him motivated to play. The lessons on there break the song down with fingering, picking/strumming pattern while slowing it down. Some will even have a backing track.

The books I learned from were the Hal Leonard series of books. Not sure if they still exist or not.

With the acoustic, make sure it's set up right for him. A competent luthier will be able to do that. That way he will get the most he can out of the guitar. I've found that a lot of acoustics can have high action from the factory and that can cause straining on the hands, especially for beginners. Luthier can restring with your choice of strings. Beginner might want to start with lights or light-medium strings. While the mediums will get more volume and let you "drive" the guitar harder, I don't think that's a good point for a new player to start.

What acoustic did you give him?

songsterr.com

if there is a nearby music store, they probably now some local musicians that might do lessons

get him a few to get started, and correct any bad habits before they become an impairment to his progress

quote:

Originally posted by Oz_Shadow:
An in person teacher is great for getting the fundamentals at least. If you intend to do this all on your own, then JustinGuitar.com is the best free option

Another vote for JustinGuitar. It isn't perfect but it is a great place to get started.

Thanks guys.

Justinguitar is actually the fellow we stumbled across on the web and he has watched a couple of his pieces to learn a couple of chords. My son is lucky that he has a phenomenal music teacher (John Onder - you can check him out on you tube and/or with Spirit Fuel, the school’s choir) at school who offers lessons for the grand sum of $100 dollars per semester. But it’s mid term and a beginners group won’t begin until summer break and he’s just anxious to start now! Bought the guitar from a local shop the music teacher recommended and the owner set it up for him.

Thanks for tips everybody.

I also agree with nhtagmember above, about getting a few real lessons in the meantime. Immediate feedback about technique is very important and better not to create bad habits early on.

This is how I learned after trying many methods.

Learn the following chords G, D, A, C, F from the chart below:


He should practice slowly fretting each chord and getting it to ring out cleanly with no buzz or dead spots.

The next step is to work on moving Chord to Chord. He should be able to go any chord to any chord. Again, slowly. He may find songs just moving around within those chords, many are simple.

Then go here: https://www.youtube.com/user/martyzsongs

He has a lot of basic lessons as well as teaching very basic versions of songs. He goes over chords, strumming, fretting etc in each song. He can just build from there

quote:

Originally posted by Rightwire:
This is how I learned after trying many methods.

Learn the following chords G, D, A, C, F from the chart below:


He should practice slowly fretting each chord and getting it to ring out cleanly with no buzz or dead spots.

The next step is to work on moving Chord to Chord. He should be able to go any chord to any chord. Again, slowly. He may find songs just moving around within those chords, many are simple.

Then go here: https://www.youtube.com/user/martyzsongs

He has a lot of basic lessons as well as teaching very basic versions of songs. He goes over chords, strumming, fretting etc in each song. He can just build from there

Great. Thanks.

Do you have the link for the chart ?

you tube can give you some good info but nothing like one on one lessons in person. I also have used “Guitar Tricks” website...they are around 100 bucks for a years subscription and it is pretty damn good for the beginner to the advanced. there is a ton of good clear lessons on that site and I recommend it. The biggest thing is to practice and have fun!

It's been said that the most likely way to succeed or fail with the guitar is to have an instrument properly set up.

Even a beginner level instrument can benefit from a quick set up / action check and/or adjustment.

The "Action" or setup of a Guitar is a combination of the proper strings for the style and the upper and lower nut/bridge being set up correctly.

Chords are tough enough for the beginner without having the challenge of strings that are set way to high - Result is sore fingers and notes that don't sound.

If your serious and can swing it, get a set up done based on your preferred style - then stick to that gauge of string and enjoy.

You tube videos are great, I wish they had been around when I started playing but they’re really best for people who already have the basics down. There is just no better way to learn than one on one with a good, patient teacher.

I had a teacher that insisted if you diligently worked through the three Mel Bay Method guitar instruction books, you'd be a pretty damn good player.

I agree. It isn't the only method, but a solid choice. I also think a teacher is very important, for at least a while. This ensures you aren't developing any weird and bad habits or techniques.

This is the first one.

https://www.amazon.com/Modern-...+bay+guitar+method+1

quote:

Originally posted by x0225095:

quote:

Originally posted by Rightwire:
This is how I learned after trying many methods.

Learn the following chords G, D, A, C, F from the chart below:


He should practice slowly fretting each chord and getting it to ring out cleanly with no buzz or dead spots.

The next step is to work on moving Chord to Chord. He should be able to go any chord to any chord. Again, slowly. He may find songs just moving around within those chords, many are simple.

Then go here: https://www.youtube.com/user/martyzsongs

He has a lot of basic lessons as well as teaching very basic versions of songs. He goes over chords, strumming, fretting etc in each song. He can just build from there

Great. Thanks.

Do you have the link for the chart ?

I just did a quick google search for Guitar Chord Chart and found one that was the most basic and clear as an example

Dad250 made an excellent point on the guitar. As a kid I stared with this old POS my dad had. The neck was thick, strings were stiff and close together. It (and still does) sucked to play. Later in life I got a cheap Gibson acoustic, it wasn't much better. A few years ago I got a nice Ibanez with a great neck, good spacing, low action and playing is a LOT more fun. You'll spend $100-150 for a decent guitar. Find one that he is comfortable playing and make sure it is set up right. It makes a HUGE difference in playing enjoyment and sticking with it.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
I had a teacher that insisted if you diligently worked through the three Mel Bay Method guitar instruction books, you'd be a pretty damn good player.

I agree. It isn't the only method, but a solid choice. I also think a teacher is very important, for at least a while. This ensures you aren't developing any weird and bad habits or techniques.

This is the first one.

https://www.amazon.com/Modern-...+bay+guitar+method+1

I'm on my 4th semester at night run by the vocational school. $135 for 12 two hour classes. Great instructor, Pete Wagula, he has a few you-tube videos and 2 CD's out.
He uses the Mel Bey method and told us not to be surprised that a book can take two years to get through. I think there are a total of 9 Mel Bey books.

Motivate!

You may drive around in your town
Ina brand new shiny car
Your face in the wind your haircut's in
And your friends think you're bizarre
You may find a cushy job and I hope that you go far
But if you really want to taste some cool success
You better learn to play guitar

The guitar teacher at our studio offers online classes.
He is an amazing guitar player.
He has been teaching for 10 years, played professionally.

If you have any interest you can email me for more info.