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A friend of mine asked me to teach her to play the guitar. I'm not sure what I should start her with though, because she lost about an inch of the first finger of her fretting hand in a work accident which makes a lot of things difficult. Any ideas?

Power chords?

Rubber thimble.



I'd ask for five of their favorite songs, Pick the one that is easiest to play, and then teach a simpler version of it. If it's just power chords, start with single note versions of it. once they get that down, work on fleshing it out. I find the biggest impedance to learning guitar is the initial lack of success, or boredom of learning chords without actually making music. this way you keep the interest level up, they get to feel like they are playing one of their favorite songs and it makes prgressing easier as there is something to build off.

coming from someone who took lessons early
stopped and started back late in life
i feel if i was taught power chords early on
i woulda had more fun and stuck with it
i was always horrified with how bad i sucked
also i dont have the nimbleist fingers
due to work injurys
and power chords give me the confidence to keep playing
but those basic chords come in handy alot
like the D and G
lastly, pentatonic scale practice
its like yoga for the stiff fingered
forces me to go 1-3 to 1-4
which hurts like a bitch"
not sure if she can manage that
but somethin repetitive, and just a bit uncomfortable

Some people play with three fingers. I'd suggest she just use her middle, ring, pinkie; or play left handed. Aand, drop D might help make power chords easier. Or possibly an open tuning.

as a side note, learning with the middle, ring and pinkie could be ULTRA powerful, especially since most guitarists ignore ring and pinkie strength.

I agree with starting on songs. fun songs. simplified but where one could play along to the album.

BLINK182.

If songs get frustrating, put that bad boy in DADGAD and let her have some fun making whatever she wants.

One of the greatest guitarists ever:



Only used two fingers.

Django Unchained !!

Thanks guys. Doing the first lesson later this week. Will let you know how it goes.

i agree with the power chords comment.
show someone - with NO idea about Guitar .. how to play power chords up and down the neck .. i think that's a pretty good start?!
i forget sometimes, how the feel and placement of fingers on the fretboard > can feel Foreign to so many.