Easy songs to teach beginners

[Ben_W]

OK, so i've finished school, and I teach a few kids guitar, and they're about 11 or 12, but they're really into it, and try hard, so I love it.

Although now, my mum has told her friend I would teach her 2 young boys, who are probably around 10, and I remember them as being quite irritating  :? lol.

Anyway, to my point. Anyone know any good songs to teach a couple of small children who are pretty much beginners?


I was thinking a few easy well known "poppy" songs, as they probably won't want me teaching them Slayer, or Killswitch... :)



Any thoughts guys? If not, i'l try and work some things out, but any help would be great!




Ben.

[Ratrod]

I started with Creedence Clearwater Revival stuff.

It's easy, fun and has all the fundamentals of modern music in it.

[dave_mc]

ask them what type of music they like. As you say, with any luck it won't be something along the lines of malmsteen, and most popular music is reasonably simple.

[indysmith]

anything by Satch or Vai is easy enough. Get them to play it double time though - it's easier to play it fast to start with.

[warpthrone]

Smoke on the water, some classic AC/DC stuff, stuff from the album American Idiot, ironman, though the fire and flames...

Joking on that last one.

[temps]

I usually get people started on Smells Like Teen Spirit and use it to introduce them to the concept of the power chord, muting, and only hitting the strings they need to play.

[badgermark]

I usually get people started on Smells Like Teen Spirit and use it to introduce them to the concept of the power chord, muting, and only hitting the strings they need to play.

Actually quite a hard song to play when your starting out. Barre chords are a bitch for newbies, and the right hand technique takes some work. Try time of your life by Green Day- 4 chords (G, C, D and Em) and nice each changes.

[temps]

I usually get people started on Smells Like Teen Spirit and use it to introduce them to the concept of the power chord, muting, and only hitting the strings they need to play.

Actually quite a hard song to play when your starting out. Barre chords are a bitch for newbies, and the right hand technique takes some work. Try time of your life by Green Day- 4 chords (G, C, D and Em) and nice each changes.

They got the hang of it pretty fast, and it had more to do with what they wanted to play (Iron Maiden) than an acoustic strumming song

[Ben_W]

Yeah, alright, thanks guys, I guess the first time, i'l see what they're into, and probably give them a little fret hand exercise, to get them used to the guitar, then i'l pick a few of these to teach them... :)


Cheers everyone.



Ben.

[Stevepage]

Teach them something they would would of heard like

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, Happy Birthday and Jingle Bells.

When I used to teach a little guy, I made him learn these. He enjoyed it and got his head round it pretty quickly.

[Elliot]

Substitute by the Who - D D A G G D D
Dead or Alive by Bon Jovi
Everybody Hurts by REM

[wintersun]

anything by Satch or Vai is easy enough. Get them to play it double time though - it's easier to play it fast to start with.

Yeah yeah, I did that when I was starting off :D

[Johnny Mac]

3 blind mice or baa baa black sheep.