Last month I introduced the topic of teaching beginning students ‘simplified’ rock riffs as way to have them play music they may be familiar with, poses particular challenges, yet can be mastered on a basic level. The first simplified riff that I spoke of was “Smoke on the Water” because the riff is easily recognizable, one finger is all that is required to play it, it can be played on a single string, the melody is easily memorized and students can begin to navigate the length of the guitar neck as well as begin to read guitar tab. Keep in mind that this riff can take a student several weeks to master (depending on their natural ability, time devoted to practice, etc.) and do not feel the need to introduce a new riff until the first is under their fingers.
The next simplified riff I like to introduce is “Sunshine of Your Love” as it will challenge the student by employing multiple fingers and strings, introduce chromatic movement and teach reading tab on multiple lines. I have indicated the appropriate fingering below the tab to facilitate ease of playing.
The next simplified riff I like to introduce is “Sunshine of Your Love” as it will challenge the student by employing multiple fingers and strings, introduce chromatic movement and teach reading tab on multiple lines. I have indicated the appropriate fingering below the tab to facilitate ease of playing.
As a teacher you should be making a list of simple riffs or melodies that can be simplified to serve a particular purpose. Students do not need to learn full songs when they first start playing guitar; they need to be developing skills that will make learning full songs easier. Each riff/melody will have a particular skill that is required to play it and you as the teacher should be putting those skills in the proper order so students can develop.
