Key Takeaways and things to work on after first lesson: 1. Parts of the guitar & how they work together. 2. Assigning numbers to strings and fingers. 3. Learning the names of the open strings (EADGBE) and that music contains the notes A-G (to start) 4. How to shorten a string & increase pitch by fretting a note, and common buzzing issues. 5. Practice 1234 fingers and frets on each string. 6. How to use a tuner (feel free to help your child) 7. Leave with a win - a song they can hear and repeat that's super easy. I use "Nothing Else Matters" - Metallica because it's all open strings for the intro. Wyatt thanks you for watching! P.S. This is all laid out in my Beginner Guitar Course 100% FREE! www.guitargate.com/courses/level-1-welcome-guitargate-free
Thank you so much for this, my youngest daughter just expressed interest in learning guitar and as a guitar player that has never taught anyone else, this is perfect. Looking forward to the weekly videos as I will be teaching her along with you.
There are content creators that want to share generally. There are content creators what want attention or dollars. Michael is a born TEACHER…using technology to truly help others. While it might seem like a nice guy just explaining stuff, this was done with great thought regarding what to say, when to say it, how to say it. We are so lucky to have this guy…no matter what our ability or age!
Correct. I teach History in the UK to 11-16 year olds and much of the 'theory' in how we effectively impart information is evident here. It gets said so often, but many expert players simply cannot teach. This is a brilliant example and something to be proud of.
Got my daughter who is about to turn 7 a mini pink strat.my first lesson with her two days ago was very Dimitar. Just here have fun but remember this is the neck, there are 6 strings and this is how a guitar makes sound. Then we just messed around...I'm gona run through this exact lesson with her. Thank you
This looks so pleasant and relaxing. You can tell he’s super into it because he’s actively listening. My 9 year old would have asked 20 unrelated questions, told three unrelated stories and broke the 4th wall at least twice to plug his own RU-vid channel in the first 10 minutes.
I had a few guitar teachers when I first began playing (before the days of RU-vid) who didn't even bother to explain the parts of the guitar and how they work. This is the difference between being a good guitarist and being a good teacher. Michael is obviously both.
This kid has such an awesome dad! I smiled just watching him smile at you! 😊 I can only hope my daughter asks me to do this one day in the future. Keep the videos coming 🤘
I remember my first lesson with Tony Calabro in NYC. Wyatt is incredible merely in being able to outlast the lesson. I am a more difficult student, always complaining (but never quitting). Michael's right. Using an electric guitar makes a lot of difference. I got my pink 3/4 Stagg for my 7th birthday together with a Roland microcube, to replace my acoustic. I was shocked how heavy it was (I could only wear it when I was 9 with a harness, not a strap, and for short periods of time). But it was much easier to play. Michael, I just love the lesson. Actually, my dad took classes alongside me, and he re-explained all this to me over a period of time. Wyatt, be ready to re-learn the same thing 20 times if needed. And learn the musical intervals in your first year, as a first step in music theory. Don't give up easily and good luck! Welcome to GuitarGate!
This is a great video to bookmark for me! My sister has young twins and I plan on teaching them guitar as soon as they show any interest.. thanks for that Mike!! 👍
Michael this is awesome. I started my own business teaching a couple of years ago and absolutely love it. You are one of my biggest inspirations when it comes to doing it. Watching this was awesome, seeing the similarities we have when teaching a someone brand new to guitar and music in general, and some things I never thought of. Thank you. Would love to see more of these videos as he progresses (if he decided to stick with it)!
Thanks Michael! Inspired me to start playing with my kid. Super helpful. Our first lesson was a success. Grateful for your channel and for guitargate. Happy new year!
Have loved your videos for a long time but this one had me stoked to teach my own kids about the guitar! Appreciate the hell out of you Michael for giving me a head start on how to go about doing the actual teaching part to a younger person! Cheers, and a happy new year to you and your family!
Great video Michael! As a guitar teacher myself this was great to see. A spot on beginner's lesson where you quizzed and gave you're student agency to find out the different parts of the guitar and celebrated as he figured out the different parts and functions of the guitar. Loved the left hand bit where he lifts the second finger (lol). I do the same in my lessons, got to have a laugh.
This is absolutely beautiful to watch. Not just the teaching, but the bond is unreal. I have two children, each have an interest in guitar and piano. One of my boys is autistic and find it hard to concentrate, but I will not give up trying to help him. After watching this video it has motivated me to help more than ever, thank you, Michael. Top class dude!
This kid's gonna go far! So cool to see someone his age pay attention and listen for as long as he did, especially since this lesson isn't necessarily "fun" for him. You can tell that he really does have a true interest in learning to play guitar, so being able to see this lil guy picking up what could very well end up being his favorite thing in the world is really cool. Like him, I had also known that I really wanted to play guitar too, so I see a lot of myself in this kid. I know when I was his age I would also be stoked to even learn anything about the guitar just like he seems to be here. It wasn't until around 2012 when youtube guitar lessons became more widely available that I actually did start learning (big ol shoutout to Marty lol, he has basically taught at least 50% of every guitarist in the world a thing or two by this point), and once I actually learned a chord or two (I think the first song I learned was just the chords of Back in Black), I was totally hooked. I think this lil guy will be the same way, so I wish him great luck as he starts down the lifelong, always fulfilling path of playing an instrument. And also, awesome job to you as well, Michael. It seems you have a great way of connecting with kids and keeping them at ease and excited for their next lesson. Despite your clearly advanced abilities that might make a kid become shy or just place you on some sort of unattainable "guitar god" pedestal in their minds, you skip right past all of that and just make them feel comfortable. I'll bet this guy sees you as an approachable friend who he really enjoys being around and learning from. I am definitely going to have to steal your teaching techniques to better get young players excited and hooked on the instrument just as I was lol. Cool video!
Love this! I have been teaching my 8 year old daughter guitar as much as possible over the last year and took a similar approach as you showed in this lesson. I highly recommend the Squier Mini with a heavier gauge set of strings like 11s. It has kept the guitar in tune better with the shorter neck scale. Thanks again for another great video!
I’m planning on starting your program in the new year. I’ve been playing around on a guitar my aunt got me (she played on the road) for about 2 1/2 years without any instruction. And it has helped me get through a lot. I think I am ok at this point but I know there is definitely holes in my knowledge and skill. Because I found your channel it gave me the inspiration to fill those holes and really embrace my love for guitar.
This takes me back to my first lesson although it was from Mel Bays Modern Guitar Method book 1. It is great to see he is truly interested, paying attention, and actually learning. My daughter was more excited about having a guitar that looked cool that she could dance around with and she really wasn't interested in actually learning how to play it. I was smiling and enjoying watching him learn how to play. This was great. Also, his hoodie jacket took me back, as I lived in Wildwood, NJ back in the eighties and I spent a lot of time in Cape May. My musician buddies and I would go to a small Jazz club on the Walk in Cape May anytime the AM Sleep Band was playing. They were very good and fun to watch. Everybody's favorite song they would do is their version of the Flintstones theme which incorporated a very jazzy part on the xylophone. Truly a fun video to watch and one that also brought back a lot of fond memories for me. Thank you Michael & Son!
So excited for my daughter to get a little older so I can teach her. Little dude in the video is so bright I can tell. He’s so attentive and picks up quick
Nice playing little guy, your going to be better then dad someday, keep on practicing,that's one sharp looking guitar you have, thanks to your dad for the video.
Dude… This is the video that I didn’t even know I was waiting for. My 7 & 10 year old grandsons have watched their Pop and their dad play guitars their entire lives. I am not a patient teacher like you but I’m confident this video will be a perfect Segway to introduce them to the necessary basics before the pain & rigor of training your fingers and hand. Your suggestion of electric over acoustic is such an obvious mistake I made 2 Christmas ago when there was some interest but the pain was an instant turnoff. Thanks Brother and thank you for your great live reactions! Love your page!
Im an intermediate guitar player i can solo over anything already but i still manage to find this helpful. Sort of like a mind knowledge refresh. Im 17 years old male from Philippines 🇵🇭 by the way and you also inspire me to get better
Jesus - If I had had a teacher as dedicated, approachable and attentive as this when I was 10 I am certain that I would not be coming back to learn the guitar as a 52 year old. I'd have loved a chunk of a lifetime of guitar playing already! Awesome teaching skills there Michael. My 10 year old son is just starting out now and you can be sure he will be watching this video! Thanks for sharing.
I've got a grandson I need to give lessons to. This will help me a lot. I gave him my old Epiphone Les Paul Jr when i bought myself a PRS SE. I wish I had started on a PRS!
Michael, this is a great lesson. I teach also. Im inspired by your lesson. My 7 year olds can get very distracted quite easily so I was amazed at how engaged this little guy is. Just 2 things to mention. I always find the numbers of the strings confuse the little ones. Its more natural to count down from thickness ie 1=E, 2=A, 3=D etc... I dont dwell on the numbers as I find in my teaching I dont use them so much. The EADGBE is important of course. And also I use this method to learn the strings Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears. Works every time. Thank you for sharing this video, I'll be 'stealing' some of your lessons👍🏽🎶🎸
Eddie Ate Dynamite. Good Bye Eddie. That's what I teach my students to remember the string names hahaha Also beautiful to see Wyatt changing fingers on his own while you are working up the frets! Nicely done!
I’m planning on teaching an 8 year old how to play guitar, and for a while I was nervous because I’ve always been self taught! I can teach chords, but it’s the very beginning of just holding the guitar properly and knowing what a guitar even is that I wasn’t sure how to teach. Learning guitar can be so daunting for kids, and this video really helped me plan out their first lesson. Props to Wyatt for being patient on the first lesson! Most people just wanna jump right into learning chords, but it’s important to learn the structure of your instrument and how to handle it. Thanks for this lesson on giving lessons!!
This is the cutest thing Iv ever seen. So inspirational. This is why I check into michaels channel every night. Always some new and uplifting and truly inspiring and just pure. I love ya man!
@@Guitargate thanks for replying! Iv watched your channel for a year or so..My family hates you because they will be jamming to a song and you’ll pause it and teach us something lol! Iv been a singer/songwriter for about 15 years but am too shy to play in front of people. I write a new song about once a week. It’s just heartfelt music that comes to me. My parents are lifelong musicians check out the Jim and Cheri Miller band on RU-vid. That’s my parents. I want to play music for a living and I just am struggling with my shyness. I know you have a lot of comments and people contacting you but any advice? - James
I wanted to enter the song contest a while back so bad but shit happened and I didn’t make it In time. I just wana sing my songs and get something going cause Iv been working on songs since I was about 16 and I’m 33 now. A new song every night. I dont know how to get started.
Yeah Buddy! I was his age when my uncle, also a GIT alumm took me on as a student. You're a champion, Michael. I can't believe its been over 40 years. Wyatt is a smart kid, he's gonna learn quick.
How did I miss this! I am in the process of looking for lessons for my eight yr old. Michael, I figured Guitargate would be above his level. If you ever do a kids version, I would very interested.
I would actually present the argument that it COULD be better for a learner to practice guitar on an acoustic BECAUSE it's harder to press the strings down. The benefit would be wrist/finger strength from practice. AFTER beginner stages is when I would encourage electric guitar practice/play in order to encourage the finesse (touch, feel, & peel) of playing. Just a thought. Although my theory is lacking and I'm definitely still learning, this is how I initially learned and my wrist/finger strength has indefinitely helped my growth over the years. Just some thoughts.
@@sensei6strings782 Then I would say this would weed out folks who are serious about learning vs others who are not. That’s not to discourage anyone because not everyone needs to be an expert. But it is to suggest that nothing worth achieving will come easy. I’m not an ‘everyone gets a trophy’ kind of guy. Everyone needs to own their own accountability regardless of how they want on the totem pole.
Dear Micheal I have luckily discovered you on RU-vid meeting you on video takes me back to when my father started teaching me guitar at13 I’m now 44 music and blues was the only thing me and my father had together I now lost my father In July 2020 my hart is completely broken growing up w always played in garage to records and loud the neighbors and family had to put up with it I can’t tell you how lucky I was to have that environment ehh he at I really wanted to say is meeting you I have someone to talk music with again and you have put wind in my sails to keep playing I hope to meet you one day until then thank you from Alaska Lee Robertson
I initially tried to teach myself the first couple of years, then eventually studied for a year and a half with a good guitar teacher. Videos like these remind me what it was like as a wide-eyed newbie(at 45 years old). Seeing a young kid expressing interest in music and learning to play a guitar(or any musical instrument) is so heartwarming!
That is awesome that your son is showing an interest! My boys have never had any interest in playing music at all. I've tried multiple times over the years. Even though their dad has been a guitar shredder their whole lives. 🤷♂️ They're almost out of high school now. Don't have my hope up...😅 They do have other talents to be nurtured though.
This kid is actually super smart. My little bro is 8 years old and he did not understand where the fuck 6th string is after me explaining it to him for like 2 hours.
I still believe that for the first lesson you show something easy but it's fun and sounds like something musical to inspire the beginner especially a young kid. Preferably with a bit of overdrive Even if it's just picking the low E in some rhythm. All the parts of guitar names and tuning can come in little later
I Love it.. I have an Idea how to teach my 7yrs old student how to teach him properly step by step.. and to improve my communication to make the kid not get bored and improve my patient😊😁 Thanks to see this video
Very good video. I remmember when I took guitar lessons at my school when I was 9 years old becuse I played guitar hero 3. All I go to to was to learn a few chords every lesson and then get a stack of papers of all chords in existence to practice on at home. I quit shortly thereafter because I found it boring. But two years ago I started again and all I do is watch videos on how to play certain songs, much better than to learn chord by chord when I only want to play Megadeth! :)
Hey Michael, I thought this was really cool Wyatt is showing interest early I've only been playing for 6 months personally and I've learned many solos and the first 30 seconds of eruption, I'm having trouble with the tremolo part though lol. It's always the best to start early and Wyatts gonna have an easy time learning with a great guitarist as a dad let alone a teacher, just thought I'd say that - My names Michael too
I was lookin’ at that very same PRS (in charcoal), only yesterday. The mother of pearl bird-shaped inlays are stunning - and look absolutely beautiful, with that teal color. Definitely better than on the charcoal one, I was lookin’ at. Goodness, what a beautiful guitar to have, for his very first. I know it’s a hollow-body, though, I was surprised at how light-weight, it was - couldn’t be more perfect, for the little guy. P.S. I love his name is Wyatt. I watched one of my favorite childhood movies - Tombstone - three times, in the last two days.
Now. It's going to sound stupid, but I never learnt the names of my fingers. Never thought of it, never needed to. I've been teaching friends guitar for fun for so long, and it's always been some kind of barrier not to know those words. Every time I teach someone, I try to count fingers, I know some of the names, so I use those, but not all. It's a mess. And I kinda never put a finger on what it was. Now, seeing Michael teach Wyatt those words blew my mind. It's so stupid how a small detail can literally change everything. So thanks for that.
I am only half way through the video, how hilarious would it be if after all of the introduction to the parts of the guitar, Wyatt starts ripping Vai runs and Allen Holdsworth voicings
