I'm teaching a neighbor kid to play guitar

[kenny]

It seems like I started playing guitar when I was an embryo.
I'm self taught thanks to Bob Dylan and Joan Baez vinyl records back in the 60s.
Then James Taylor, John Denver, Neil Young, Beatles, Eagles records in the 70s.

I'd listen a few seconds, lift the needle, find the chord, put the needle down, listen, lift the needle, find the next chord.
Lather Rinse Repeat.
I pretty much wore out those old records.
I got pretty good and played in clubs while stationed overseas in the military.

We live in a very friendly neighborhood.
One Saturday every summer we block the street to traffic, wheel out BBQs, rent an inflatable jump room for the kids, light up fire pits and chug beer/wine/margaritas till dark.

That's where Sam (not his real name) heard me play guitar.
Sam's been bugging his parents for years to ask me if I would teach him.
Now that he's 12 they said okay.
He likes electric guitars but will learn on a steel-string acoustic.

First lesson was today.
Wow, Sam's bright.
He'll learn way faster than I did.

Lessons are at their home while mom's in the house (my request), which I thought to be prudent since we live in a paranoid age about adults and kids.
I don't know, that was me being overly paranoid.

Anyway, this is gonna be fun.

 

[kenny]

Oh, I asked them to email me a list of songs Sam likes.

OMG, mostly head-banging stuff with screaming/screeching vocals electric guitars so distorted you cannot tell what chord they are playing.
I'm getting old.

I found a few that had discernible chords.
We'll start with this one, the most palatable IMO.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnQ8N1KacJc

 

[artdecogirl]

You can't go wrong with a little Green day, open your mind Kenny! Maybe the teacher will learn a thing or two?

 

[kenny]

You can't go wrong with a little Green day, open your mind Kenny! Maybe the teacher will learn a thing or two?

God, I hope so.

One reason I agreed to this was to light a fire under this shriveled up old @ss.

 

[monarch64]

That's a really cool thing to do. Your neighborhood sounds nice!

 

[tyty333]

How very nice of you to give back. He'll learn faster because he has a teacher that learned the hard way and figured it all out.
I hope he sticks with it and you both find it very rewarding!

 

[Puppmom]

Kenny, that's lovely! DH is a guitarist too. It's so hard when you're an artist or have a strong opinion about styles to bite your tongue when your student likes something "lame". It'll be great though! You'll both learn a thing or two.

PS - your neighborhood sounds amazing! I don't even know half my neighbors by name!

 

[cflutist]

That is wonderful Kenny ... the gift of music enhances ones life imo.

 

[Lorelei]

That is wonderful Kenny ... the gift of music enhances ones life imo.

Definitely, you are such a good chap Ken, I couldn't teach piano, that's for sure!

 

[Sky56]

Great to hear!

 

[MMtwo]

Well, sounds like the all time beginner's rift "Smoke on the Water" will be under appreciated.

Still, this is an fabulous thing to do for the kid - kidos

 

[monarch64]

Does Sam know how awesome Prince is yet? (Skip to 3:25)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SFNW5F8K9Y

I mess around on my husband's guitars sometimes. I'm not good at all, but it's fun. My air guitar is amazing, though.

 

[Calliecake]

Well, sounds like the all time beginner's rift "Smoke on the Water" will be under appreciated.

Still, this is an fabulous thing to do for the kid - kidos

I agree with everything Moneymeister said above. It really is a great thing your doing Kenny!!

 

[kroshka]

Just 2 words, "Very Cool".

Kroshka