Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: Kilby on February 07, 2006, 11:22:22 PM

Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: Kilby on February 07, 2006, 11:22:22 PM
OK

My 11 year old son has decided that he wants to play guitar. As he suffers from pretty severy dyslexia and has all the coordination problems associated with dyslexia I reckon learning to play a little can only help him

His first riff (on Saturday) was wait Smoke on the Water (surprise), OK so it was one finger and no double stops but it's his first riff none the less.

The next time I get home it will be time for another riff or two (plus using two fingers for playing the current one).

Any suggestions for a few easy riffs to build up his confidence as I don't want to impose my own musical perferences of blues and psych are not really the best choice for an 11 year old.

Thanks

Rob...
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: sambo on February 07, 2006, 11:29:35 PM
seven nation army by the white stripes- thats a really popular beginners riff.....
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: indysmith on February 07, 2006, 11:35:58 PM
enter sandman by metallica?
come as you are by nirvana?
Teach the kid a powerchord and he can instantly play all the green day and offspring and whatever else 11 year olds are into?
oo and there's always wild thing!
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: Muttley on February 07, 2006, 11:39:51 PM
Nirvana - Come as you are?
Metallica - Enter Sandman?

Those can both be simplified and played with one finger to a certain degree.

Oh, and my cousin is pretty severely dyslexic and when he started playing guitar as a youngster he took to it like a duck to water.  :)

Muttley
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: Muttley on February 07, 2006, 11:41:57 PM
Quote from: indysmith
enter sandman by metallica?
come as you are by nirvana?
Teach the kid a powerchord and he can instantly play all the green day and offspring and whatever else 11 year olds are into?
oo and there's always wild thing!


Doh!  How did you sneak in like that!  ;)  :P

Muttley
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: Kilby on February 08, 2006, 01:41:05 AM
7 Nation army I thought was in a open tuning I had forgotten that he likes the song (hmmm a workmate of mine played on that album coincidence I wonder ?)

Wild thing I had forgotten about :) (the first song I ever learnt)

Come as You Are, is another possibility

His taste seems to run to Hendrix, Floyd and T Rex as opposed to Green Day & Offspring still as long as it dosn't slump as low as April Lavine.

Once he gets his fingers around some chords I suppose TRex will be pretty viable for him.

Still as long as he avoids the DJ shite that my daughter seems to be getting into (I blame the saxophone my wife insisted upon putting her off music)

Thanks for the suggestions

Rob...
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: Searcher on February 08, 2006, 03:02:56 AM
Sunshine of Your Love, Cream

Peter Gunn Theme, by Henry Mancini

Satisfaction, Rolling Stones

Roadhouse Blues, The Doors

You Really Got Me, The Kinks

Black Night, Deep Purple
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: sambo on February 08, 2006, 08:19:17 AM
what about 20th century boy if he likes t rex?
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: Elliot on February 08, 2006, 09:49:56 AM
Ziggy Stardust - easy peasy and sounds flash
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: Ratrod on February 08, 2006, 10:37:10 AM
Tune it to drop D, dial in the distortion and learn him 'Fire, Water, Burn' and 'Song 2'. It doesn't get much easier than that and it's alot of fun.

Next, learn him some open chords and do some Creedence and AC/DC stuff.
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: The amazing Phil on February 08, 2006, 11:44:56 AM
Link Wray - "Rumble", it's ace. Three chords (one arpegiated) and a bit of tremolo picking and bang, you're there.

Also, "Teenage Kicks" by the Undertones is simple but good.
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: Kilby on February 08, 2006, 05:38:28 PM
the 20th century boy tab was grabbed this morning just after I mentioned T-Rex
S
Satistaction I had completely forgotten aboput (how the hell could I manage that !)

Drop D is a good option as I left my Wolfgang with him and it has a d-tuna plus he loves Song 2 I guess I had better finish building my own RAT style pedal to complete the Song 2 vibe ;) (Using the original RAT op amp)

Thanks,

Rob...
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: indysmith on February 08, 2006, 07:02:15 PM
i think that you shouldn't teach the kid to play with one finger - because then when you tell them they need to start using other fingers they'll be screwed. Whatever is hardest to do at the begginning is usually for the best in the long run, so i'd get them playing stuff with the proper fingering if i were you; no matter how hard it may seem... the problems with keeping motivation there
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: _tom_ on February 08, 2006, 07:24:20 PM
Maybe try to teach him the chords for a basic song that he can learn and play? 20th century boy would be ideal as its not too hard and very easy to remember!
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: Gochaz on February 08, 2006, 08:50:51 PM
You can't go wrong with All Day and All Of The Night
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: Kilby on February 08, 2006, 09:07:27 PM
Quote from: indysmith
i think that you shouldn't teach the kid to play with one finger - because then when you tell them they need to start using other fingers they'll be screwed. Whatever is hardest to do at the begginning is usually for the best in the long run, so i'd get them playing stuff with the proper fingering if i were you; no matter how hard it may seem... the problems with keeping motivation there


I totally agree, the next move is to introduce the ring finger into the mix.

Once he gets a couple more simple riffs (to build his confidence) then the joys of D, E, Am and A will be turning up to challenge him ;)

Unfortunitely due to work pressures I won't be home for 5 weeks (instead of the planned 2) :(

Rob...
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: lulusg on February 09, 2006, 12:29:24 AM
Hi there. You got covered Smoke on the water, excellent. Beethovens Ode to joy with one finger is pretty cool. :)
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: Muso on February 09, 2006, 11:14:24 AM
In my humble opinion the best and one of the simplest riffs to play is:

Whole Lotta Rosie by ACDC

Absolute Classic!
Title: Riff Suggestions for an 11 year old beginner
Post by: Ratrod on February 09, 2006, 11:31:20 AM
Quote from: Muso
In my humble opinion the best and one of the simplest riffs to play is:

Whole Lotta Rosie by ACDC

Absolute Classic!


That's certainly good for getting some speed in your playing.