Top 5 most Requested Guitar Christmas Songs

Here is a list of our top 5 most requested Christmas songs by G4 GUITAR students. Ask your teacher to help you with the strumming and timing and you will be ready in time for Christmas day.

1. Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer
2. Jingle Bells
3. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
4. Amazing Grace
5. Auld Lang Syne

Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer

C
Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
              G7
Had a very shiny nose,

And if you ever saw it,
                   C
You would even say it glows.
C
All of the other reindeer,
       G7
Used to laugh and call him names,

They never let poor Rudolph,
                  C      C7
Join in any reindeer games.
F              C              Dm    G7      C  
Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say,
G                                  D7                 G7
"Rudolph with your nose so bright, won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"
C
Then how the reindeer loved him,
                      G7
As they shouted out with glee,

"Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer,
                    C
You'll go down in history."


Jingle Bells

C                                             F

Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh,

                 G7                   C

O'er the fields we go, laughing all the way,

C                                      F

Bells on bobtails ring, making spirits bright,

                G7                               C

What fun it is to ride and sing a sleighing song tonight, oh



Chorus:

C                                          C7

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,

F              C               D7             G7    

Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh, hey,


C                                          C7

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way,

F              C               G7             C

Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

   G                       C
You'd better watch out, you'd better not cry
   G                    C
You'd better not pout, I'm telling you why
G              D7        G       D7
Santa Claus is coming to town

  G                   C
He's making a list, he's checkin' it twice
  G                    C
He's gonna find out who's naughty and nice
G              D7        G    
Santa Claus is coming to town

G7                   C
He sees you when you're sleeping
G7               C
He knows if you're awake
A7                   D
He knows if you've been bad or good
   A7                D    
So be good for goodness sake

   G                       C
You'd better watch out, you'd better not cry
   G                    C
You'd better not pout, I'm telling you why
G              D7        G
Santa Claus is coming to town


Amazing Grace

	Am	C	D	F	Am
	Amazing	grace, how sw	eet the	sound	that saved a

	C	E7	Am	C	D
	wretch like	me. Oh I	once was	lost,but	now am

	F	Am	Em	Am
	found,	was blind, but	now I	see.

 Auld Lang Syne

    D                A7

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

  D                G

And never brought to mind

     D                A7

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

F#7 Bm      Em    A7  D

And days of auld lang syne


  D         A7

For auld lang syne, my dear,

  D         G

For auld lang syne,

    D            A7

We'll take a cup o'kindness yet

F#7 Bm      Em   A7   D

And days of auld lang syne

The 80/20 Guitar Learning Method

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How to get your child to practice guitar

Many parents worry that they may be too strict with their children when it comes to learning guitar. Their main fear is they will turn them off music forever. We have all heard stories of adults who say as a child they were forced to learn a musical instrument but many of these examples do not give the full story.

Cause and effect

Many adults have negative memories of a childhood revolving around daily arguments with their parents sometimes resulting in complete rebellion usually by their early teens. In search of the source of such arguments they often site being forced to learn a musical instrument. The problem with this theory is it concludes that when children are forced to learn something against their will they automatically resent their parents but we know this is simply not true. In fact much of our childhood is made up of forced learning yet we show very little if any resentment toward our parents for forcing us to read, write, solve math problems let alone forcing us to go to school and learn for 6 hours a day for 12 years.

Are you strict about teeth cleaning?

My guess is you have no hesitation in insisting your child to go to bed on time, brush their teeth, do their homework etc but do you treat guitar practice the same? There is nothing wrong with being strict about their practice just don't be cruel. By cruel I mean there is no need to physically or mentally inflict punishment onto your child.  When your child does not practice simply send them to their room and withdraw all privileges like TV, Internet etc until they have done their practice. It really is that simple. Once they realise there is no negotiation they will practice without resistance and the result will be progress which in itself becomes the motivator. This strategy works but you may very well get a few tears and tantrums early on but its quite normal.

A musical voice is a gift

The ability to play a musical instrument like guitar should not be underestimated. The guitar has given me thousands of hours of pleasure. Its also a great way to make friends and be sociable. Many of my best memories are of jams in a room filled with musicians. Learning music also develops the brain in a way that in recent years has been found to reduce the effects of brain ageing (E.g. dementia) not to mention the many findings around general cognitive improvement. If physically exercise is good for your body I believe learning a musical instrument is equally good for your brain and general well being. In this age of instant gratification learning to play a musical instrument also offers children important life lessons around learning skills that take time to develop. The ability to play a musical instrument is a gift that any parent can give to their child.

Tips on helping your child to succeed.

Now I also have some tips for parents that will increase the chances of your child becoming a success on guitar and they are as follows; 

1. Realistic expectations. Many children think learning guitar is all fun and no work. Dispelling this myth from the outset will set realistic expectations. 
2. Get involved. Parents who leave it totally up to their child will usually be disappointed. Getting involved builds confidence and encourages practice because all children seek parental attention. At first sit with them everyday. Even better try learning with them. Overtime you can gradually back away.
3. Be consistent and persistent. Set a time each day for practice and stick to it. E.g. 5 pm each weekday. If their routine is broken try to get back on track asap. 
4. Make it a game. When they are doing a particular exercise make a game out of it. Clap along. Sing along. Point to notes and ask them the names of notes.
5. Monitor their progress. If they know you are cheering them on they are more likely to want to practice. Children love to impress their parents but to impress you they need to see that their achievements matter to you. Applaud even the smallest of achievements.
6. Praise behaviour over results. The behaviour we seek is simply daily practice. Try not to focus on results too much. Praising them for practicing will encourage more practice. If its all about results children are more likely to give up before they get a result.
7. Communicate with their teacher. I (David Hart) have personally been teaching guitar for over 25 years and I have noticed that when parents ask questions they are better able to help their children in the learning process.
8. Focus on the positive. Its best to look at what they are doing well and highlight the fact. E.g. "WOW! 3 hours of practice this week. Isn't that a new record?"
9. Focus on practice. - Remember its the habit of practice we want to cultivate. Studies show that results come ultimately to those who practice the most.
10. Ask your child to teach you. Children love to show off what they know. If you get them to give you a lesson every week it will reinforce their knowledge while also boosting their confidence.

You may also like the following blog:

"I cannot get her to practice at all. HELP"

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How do you teach a young child to play guitar?

Check out this 5 year old boy




One person asked how do you teach a young child to play like this and here is my answer.


This boy is outstanding but its obviously the result of daily practice and parental support. I have taught many young children guitar using the g4guitarmethod  including my own daughter who is now 4yo has been learning since 3yo. The secret is to sit with them everyday learning just a few notes each time. Young children are very fast learners. In fact they learn much faster than adults. Its only their ability to concentrate, coordination and muscle development that hold them back. Start early and plant the seeds.

You might also like the following blog:

*How can I get my child to practice guitar without force?

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Your mental state affects your ability to learn guitar

Learning guitar is as much about mental training as it is physical. Scientists have known for some time that our physical and mental health are linked. In the 1960's a Dr Charles Garfield (computer analyst) joined the infamous Apollo moon project and found himself surrounded by people who were leaders in their respective fields. He notice that many of his colleagues shared similar characteristics. Garfield then decided to investigate this further by studying high achievers in sports, business, science and the arts.

Peak PerformanceIn 1984 he wrote a book called 'Peak Performance' he noted six capacities or aptitudes of high achievers:

• Missions that motivate (Why are you learning guitar? What is your mission? Do you have a clear goal?)
• Results in real time (Set small achievable milestones. A checklist is ideal)
• Self-management through self-mastery (Practice each day at the same time and record your practice times)
• Team building and team playing (Try and find a partner to learn with. Its never too early to jam)
• Course correction (If you are not getting results try something different but don't quit too early and seek advice from a teacher)
• Change management. (Its okay to have different teachers or at least try a different teachers from time to time just to compare. Each teacher offers a fresh perspective).

The Real Reason People Quit Guitar

The fact is our mental state can make or break us. I have for many years stated that the single biggest reason people give up guitar is not for the many reasons they claim. Students will often say "I don't have time" or "I can't afford lessons" or my favourite "I just don't have the talent". The real reason is almost always CONFIDENCE which is all about one's mental state. I say this because in my more than 30 years of playing guitar and 20 years of teaching I have seen almost every scenario possible. I have seen students with enormous potential give up because they say they just don't have the talent. I have also seen students who are often slow in the early stages (where even I have questioned their ongoing commitment) stick it out and become amazing guitar players. The difference is confidence. Its confidence that keeps them going and its persistence and a determination to succeed that ultimately brings about success.

Confidence can make all the difference

Confidence is a mental state and is often the difference between success and failure yet very few people build it in to their guitar learning program. If you are not working on your mental preparation you are either one of the lucky few who are naturally confident or you are destined to give up or at the very least make little to no improvement. In my early years of teaching I noticed some teachers had high student retention rates where others had high dropout rates. The difference as I came to learn was confidence. Not confidence in the student but confidence in the teacher. A confident teacher knows that every student has the capacity to succeed and this in turns makes a student feel confident in achieving their goal. Tip: Find a confident teacher. Even an over confident teacher is better than a self-doubting teacher.

Hope that helps.

You might also like the following blog post; 

"How long does it take to learn guitar?" 

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G4 GUITAR METHOD 

Please follow the link to subscribe to our free online course. 

                                 http://www.g4guitarmethod.com

Memorise the guitar fretboard

Memorizing the notes on the guitar fretboard will give you a big advantage. Once you have the notes memorised you will spend less time looking for notes and more time playing. The trick to memorising the guitar neck is to do it one note at a time. So here are the steps.

Step 1. Learn the chromatic scale. The chromatic scale consists of 12 notes. *A, A#, B, C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#. To better understand the chromatic scale I recommend you check out the G4 Guitar Theory book. To receive a free copy subscribe via our website www.g4guitarmethod.com .

Step 2. Find all the A notes on each string and memorise their positions. Practice this for a week. 

Step 3. In the next week find all the B notes and practice everyday for a week. 3rd week find all the C notes and so on.

The idea is to rotate around the notes spending a week on each until you can find any note instantly then use the chromatic scale to locate the sharps and flats.

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Please follow the link to subscribe to our free online course. 

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How to avoid quitting guitar by focusing on the process

Put the process before the goal.

The above concept is one that many of us find difficult but is a critical factor in learning guitar. The percentage of students of guitar  who actually reach their goals compared to the number who actually  take up guitar would have to be one of lowest compared with other instruments and perhaps most pursuits. My educated guess in around 5% of guitar students ever achieve their goals. Compare that to mountain climbers,  joggers and probably even dieters you can see it's not a great result.

Understanding the process.

While there is no one simple answer as to why so many people give up guitar there are definitely some worthwhile answers to consider. One such answer that is worth discussing comes via Ellen J Langer (Harvard psychology professor and author of the book 'Mindfulness'). Langer points out that when we focus children on goals (E.g. past a test, recite your alphabet etc) we are missing a very important element. The process. Often when we look at someone who is good at anything we are blind to the process that got them to where they are today. When children see another person pick up a guitar and skillfully execute a difficult song and don't understand the process that got that person to that level of skill they can feel inferior which can lead them to stop trying and give up.

Mindlessness

The sad reality is this childhood conditioning can be pervasive affecting many other areas of a child's learning. But worst of all such conditioning usually carries over into adulthood. As adults the condition  is so automatic that we do not even notice it. This is where we are in a state of mindlessness. I have seen it many times. Adults enroll for guitar lessons. Pay for their first 5 lessons and by the 4th lesson their automatic conditioning has kicked in and is giving them 101 reasons why they can't achieve success on guitar. "I am simply not good enough", "I don't have the time", "I can't afford the lessons", "there were no talented musicians in my family so I must have no talent" or my favorite "I am too old". Funnily enough at 14yo I thought I was too old.

Focusing on the process.

So the trick is to avoid obsessing about the goal and focus on the process. Goals are important of course but are greatly misunderstood. When pilots are flying planes they know the destination but they are focused on flying the plane in that moment. If they didn't they may easily neglect something important and next thing you know the plane is in a downward spiral. I use this analogy because it describes what happens to most people who take up guitar. They are so busy focusing on the goal that they neglect what is in front of them. Instead of trying to play your favorite yet inappropriate (too difficult) song focus on learning a basic chord, scale or even just how to count in time. When you focus on the process or better still get lost in the process you suddenly wake up one day and find yourself at the destination (goal).

Hope that helps.


David Hart - Program Director

You might also like the following blog post; 

"How long does it take to learn guitar?" 

Free 5 week  Beginner Guitar Course

G4 GUITAR METHOD 

Please follow the link to subscribe to our free online course. 

                                 http://www.g4guitarmethod.com

"How long does it take to learn guitar?"

While there is no exact answer to this this question the best answer I can offer you is 2 years if you practice 30 minutes a day based on average expectations but there are ways to do it in less time. The term 'deliberate practice' refers to practicing guitar in such a way that your practice is meaningful and more focused. Its very easy to randomly practice different songs or exercises without really having a clear purpose or direction. A good example would be a scale. Your guitar teacher might give a scale to practice but do you really understand why you are practicing the scale? It may even be possible that the scale is a waste of time based on your interests. For example if you want to be a pure blues guitarists practicing a melodic minor scale is probably not the best use of your time.

Keeping you focused on the 20% that matters

The idea behind G4 Guitar is to halve the time it takes to learn guitar (1 year or less) through efficient practice methods. The Pareto principle (often called the 80/20 rule) suggests that 80% of results come from 20% of your efforts. G4 is all about focusing on the 20% that matters the most. The G4 Guitar Method works especially well for young children even as young as 4 years old. So if you or your child have even the slightest interest in guitar I recommend checking out the G4 Guitar Method especially if you are a beginner.

Free 5 week  Beginner Guitar Course

G4 GUITAR METHOD 

Please follow the link to subscribe to our free online course. 

http://www.g4guitarmethod.com