Home > guitar lesson review > For guitar teachers and students. What should a good (successful) guitar lesson entail?

For guitar teachers and students. What should a good (successful) guitar lesson entail?

June 26th, 2009
guitar lesson
g_u_lp asked:


I have studied under multiple ‘masters’, and am looking to start teaching others how to play (rythym, improv, keeping time, etc.). For a successful beginner guitar lesson, what should I teach first? How about intermediate? Advanced?

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  1. seamac56
    June 29th, 2009 at 12:11 | #1
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    I’ve done some teaching on the side(as well as gigging, horsetrading guitars, etc.)- I’m an engineer until 5pm-

    I’ve always broken down my lessons into three parts- first, I’ll have the student play the assignment, and review any weak points(First 5-10 minutes), second- go over new material (approximately 15-20 minutes) and finish up with a little ‘free-for all”- like ‘guess the note’ or ‘guess the chord’(Start with a note or two, then progress from lesson to lesson with two, then three notes, good introduction to ear training).
    I also keep notes on each student- on time, tuned up, assignment performance, etc.- it works as a kind of report card for the parent/payer.

    Good Luck,
    Seamus

  2. Jacob T
    June 29th, 2009 at 14:25 | #2
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    I think it is very important to keep the lesson fun. I always show the student how to read tab and get him playing a few songs right away. If i jumped right into music theory the student would be bored out there mind. This approach works because it gets the hands working right away and once they can read tab they wont waste there time with you, having to show them how to play some led zeppelin song.

    More advanced players are in need of technique. I feel that advanced music theory is something that is 20 percent taught and 80 percent figured out through playing, reading, listening. I think it would be ridiculous to have a student go up and down scales with there limited time with me. Ill show them how to read and create a fretboard map and let them practise on their own. I like to spend a lot of time talking about how to achieve specific sounds, whether it be through effects, picking techniques, or theory applied to the guitar.

  3. JC
    June 30th, 2009 at 08:40 | #3
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    Time and feel. Then your ears will come. Makes playing any instrument so much easier.

  4. Edik
    July 1st, 2009 at 05:33 | #4
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    I agree with the earlier answers — keep it fun. For beginners, I’d start with some simple melodies (single string, then maybe on two strings, etc), and some simplified chords. If you can get them doing just a couple of 4-string chords (ukulele style!), then you can worry about getting the full chord voicings later.

    I WOULD stress note-reading, or at least note-naming. If you’re doing single string melodies, make sure they know the names of the notes they’re playing. You don’t have to introduce notation immediately to an absolute beginner, but they should definitely know the names of the notes they’re playing…rather than “1st string, 3rd fret.” This way, they can communicate with other musicians…

    While you’re teaching, strive for a balance between teaching the fingers and teaching the brain. And do as much with real music as possible. Transcription assignments, etc. They’ll learn a scale more effectively if they can use it in a solo than if it’s just some pointless pattern of notes.

    As the students get more advanced, they’ll need more technique, but only to a point. If you get a student who is REALLY advanced, then there’s little point in sitting around trading licks. Get them doing some more creative things, like reharmonizing existing songs, etc. Teach them some jazz theory, so they can deal with chord substitutions, modal improv, etc.

    Good luck!

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