4 tips for teaching your kids to play the guitar

Learning to play the guitar is a gift your child will carry with them for life. With a little patience and these practical tips, your child will be strumming away in no time.

• There are many types of guitars. It can be hard to choose the right one if you don't know what you're doing.
• Make sure that your child chooses a guitar that's a comfortable size to hold.
• It's okay to choose a less expensive one for their first guitar. They'll probably want a new one within a few years if they decide they like to play.
• Don't buy a guitar that's too cheap, though. They're hard to tune and difficult to play.

• Kids will eventually need to tune their guitar on their own, but they'll need help at the beginning.
• Teach them about the different strings and how to twist the knobs to make the pitch higher or lower.
• Giving them tuning help in the beginning can lessen their frustration, which will increase their chances of sticking with their lessons.

• It's better for kids to get bored because the lessons are too easy than for them to feel bad because they're trying to learn something that's too hard.
• Use simple notes at first.
• Stay patient when they make mistakes. They may need to try over and over again to learn the instrument properly.
• Try to teach them simple versions of some of their favourite songs or songs they recognize. That will keep them more interested in the lessons.

• Let your kids know the importance of regular practice on the guitar.
• They should play a little every day, even if it's only for 30 minutes.
• Set up a regular schedule so that they practice at the same time every day. Consistency is crucial.
• Try to set goals for each practice session, such as learning a new note or a new chord. This will help them stay while they're practicing.

If you want to share your guitar skills with your kids, it's never too early to start. The earlier kids learn to start playing an instrument, the more likely they will keep up with it over time. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to help.