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1


Teaching Guitar to Elementary and Middle School Children
Through Classroom Instruction or Guitar Club

To the teacher:
You can teach your students to play guitar! You can even use this simple method to teach
yourself, then teach your students. I have a 5th grade after-school Guitar Club, but it can also
be done in the Music classroom. The reason I do a Guitar Club instead of classroom instruction
is because I dont have a set of guitars for everyone to use. I tell the 4th graders to start looking
for a guitar they can buy or borrow from a relative or a garage sale, or ask for one for
Christmas. Then these kids bring their guitars to Club in 5th grade.

Explain to them how the frets work and how to read a fret diagram. (The
heavy black bar is the end of the guitar neck, etc.)
Fingers are numbered 1 (index), 2 (middle), 3 (ring), 4 (little).
An o above a string means that string is open/not fingered.
An x above a string means dont play that string.
The large letter on a fret chart means a chord.
Chords are a groups of 3-4 notes played together.
A small m beside a chord means that it is a minor chord.

The first few songs show how many strums to play (play the chord and all following /s). We
start by using the easy G chord (3rd finger on 3rd fret of 1st string) and slowly add chords
throughout the songs. This course does not teach reading notes, only simple chords.

I include guitars in my Spring concert and have them play and sing 3-4 songs.

Concert:
Polly Wolly Doodle - G
She'll Be Comin' Around the Mountain G
The Lion Sleeps Tonight D
Jambalaya - D

You can print out the next pages for a handout for the kids to take home to practice. You can
also project this file on a screen for all the kids to read from in the classroom.




2

Learn to Play Guitar

Reading a Fret diagram
The heavy black bar is the end of the guitar neck.
Fingers are numbered 1 (index), 2 (middle), 3 (ring), 4 (little).
An x under a string means not to play that string.
An o under a string means that string is open/not fingered.
The large letter on a fret diagram means a chord.
Chords are a groups of 3-4 notes played together.
A small m beside a chord means that it is a minor chord.

Tuning a Guitar
Remember this acrostic: Every Body Gets Drowsy After Eating
Start with the thinnest string, which is on the bottom. We always tune from bottom to top
climb the ladder. So the 1st string is on the bottom while the 6th string is on the top EBGDAE.


G chord (easy version: only the 3rd finger on 3rd fret of 1st string)

1. Frere Jacques G
G / / / G / / / G / / / G / / /
Are you sleeping, are you sleeping, brother John, brother John.
G / / / G / / /
Morning bells are ringing, morning bells are ringing,
G / / / G / / /
Ding ding dong. Ding ding dong.

D7 chord

2. Hokey Pokey - G-D7

G / / / G / / /
You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out
G / / /
D7 / / /
You put your right foot in and you shake it all about
D7 / / / D7 / / /
D7 / / /
G / / /
You do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself about. That's what it's all about.
3



3. *Polly Wolly Doodle G -D7

G / / /



G /

D7 /
1)Oh, I went down south for to see my Sal. Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.
D7 / / /


D7 /


G /
My Sal she is a spunky gal. Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.

G / / /


G /
D7 /
Fair thee well. Fair thee well. Fair thee well my fairy fay.
D7 / / /




D7 /

G /
For I'm goin to Louisiana for to see my Susiana. Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.


G / / /


G /


D7 /
2) Oh my Sal she is a maiden fair. Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.
D7 / / /

D7 /

G /
With laughing eyes and curly hair. Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.

G / / /


G /
D7 /
Fair thee well. Fair thee well. Fair thee well my fairy fay.
D7 / / /




D7 /

G /
For I'm goin to Louisiana for to see my Susiana. Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.


G / / /

G /

D7 /
3) Behind the barn down on my knees. Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.
D7 / / /


D7 /

G /
I thought I heard a chicken sneeze. Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.

G / / /


G /
D7 /
Fair thee well. Fair thee well. Fair thee well my fairy fay.
D7 / / /




D7 /

G /
For I'm goin to Louisiana for to see my Susiana. Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.

4He s) neezed so hard with whooping cough. Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.
He sneezed his head and tail right off. Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.

5) Oh a grasshopper sittin' on a railroad track. Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.
A pickin' his teeth with a carpet tack. Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.

6) Oh I went to bed but it wasn't no use. Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.
My feet stuck out for a chicken roost. Sing Polly Wolly Doodle all the day.

4

C chord (easy version: 1st finger on 1st fret of 2nd string, 2nd finger on 2nd fret of 4th
string)

4. *She'll Be Comin' Round the Mountain G-D7-C
G / / /



G / / /
1) She'll be comin' round the mountain when she comes. (yee-haw)
G / / /



D7 / / /
She'll be comin' round the mountain when she comes. (yee-haw)
G / / /

C / / /

She'll be comin' round the mountain. She'll be comin' round the
mountain.
D7 / / /


G / / /
She'll be comin' round the mountain when she comes. (yee-haw)

2) She'll be drivin' six white horses when she comes. (giddy-up) . . . . .
3) Oh we'll all go out to meet her when she comes. (howdy)
4) We'll be dancing to the fiddler when she comes. (do-si-do)
5) We will catch the old red rooster when she comes. (pwauk, pwauk)
6) We'll have taters and fried chicken when she comes. (yum, yum)

Tag:
G C
She'll be comin' round the mountain, She'll be comin' round the mountain
D7 G
She'll be comin' round the mountain when she comes.




5. Down by the Bay G D7-C
G D7
Down by the bay where the watermelons grow
D7 G C G
Back to my home I dare not go. For if I do, my mother will say.

G



D7 G
Did you ever see a bear combing his hair, down by the bay.

(Many other verses)

5


6. Old Dan Tucker G-C-D7
(Intro: G C D7 G)
G




1. Old Dan Tucker came to town, riding a billy goat, leading a hound

G
The hound he barked and the billy goat jumped, throwed old Dan right over a stump
G C D7 G



So get out-the way, Old Dan Tucker. Get out-the way, Old Dan Tucker
G C D7 G
Get out-the way, Old Dan Tucker. You're to late to come to supper.

(Interlude: G C D7 G)

2. Old Dan Tucker climbed a tree, long lost hound dog for to see.
The limb, it broke and Dan did fall. Never saw that dog at all.
So get out-the way, Old Dan Tucker. Get out-the way, Old Dan Tucker
Get out-the way, Old Dan Tucker. You're to late to come to supper.

3. Old Dan Tucker was a curious man. He washed his face in a frying pan
Combed his hair with a wagon wheel, and died with a toothache in his heel.
So get out-the way, Old Dan Tucker. Get out-the way, Old Dan Tucker
Get out-the way, Old Dan Tucker. You're to late to come to supper.



7. Row, Row, Row Your Boat C G7

C

Row, row, row your boat gently down the stream.

C




G7 C

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.



8. Hes got the Whole World C G7
C



G7
Hes got the whole world in His hands. Hes got the whole wide world in His hands
C

G7
C
Hes got the whole world in His hands. Hes got the whole world in His hands.

6

D A7 chords

9. Oh Susanna D-A7
D





A7
Oh I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee
D



A7 D
Im goin to Lous-iana my true love for to see.
D




A7
It rained all night the day I left, the weather it was dry
D



A7 D
The suns so hot, I froze to death. Susanna dont you cry.

CHORUS:
G

D A7
Oh, Susanna, of dont you cry for me.
D


A7 D
I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee.


10. Shortenin Bread D-A7
D










A7 D
Mamas little baby loves shortnin shortnin. Mamas little baby loves shortnin bread.
D










A7 D
Mamas little baby loves shortnin shortnin. Mamas little baby loves shortnin bread.
D






A7 D
1. Fetch that dough from the kitchen shed. Rake the coals out hot an red.
D









A7 D
Put on the oven and put on the lid. Mamas gonna cook some shortnin bread


11. Mary Had a Little Lamb D-A7
D

A7 D
Mary had a little lamb, little lamb, little lamb.
D A7 D
Mary had a little lamb its fleece was white as snow.
D A7 D
And everywhere that Mary went, Mary went, Mary went
D A7 D
Everywhere that Mary went the lamb was sure to go.
7


D

A7 D
2) It followed her to school one day, school one day, school one day.
D A7 D
It followed her to school one day which was against the rule.
D A7 D
It made the children laugh and play, laugh and play, laugh and play
D A7 D
It made the children laugh and play to see a lamb at school

3) And so the teacher turned it out, turned it out, turned it out
And so the teacher turned it out, but still it lingered near.
It waited patiently about , -ly about, -ly about
And waited patiently about till Mary did appear

4) Why does the lamb love Mary so, Mary so, Mary so
Why does the lamb love Mary so the eager children cried.
Why, Mary loves the lamb, you know, lamb, you know, lamb, you know.
Mary loves the lamb, you know the teacher did reply.



12. The Farmer in the Dell D / A7
D / / /
D / / /
The farmer in the dell. The farmer in the dell
D / / / A7 / D /
Hi-ho, the derry-o. The farmer in the dell

The farmer takes a wife.
The wife takes the child.
The child takes the nurse.
The nurse takes the dog.
And the dog takes the cat.
The cat takes the mouse.
And the mouse takes the cheese.
And the cheese stands alone.




8


13. Skip to My Lou D / A7
D / / / A7 / / /
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip, skip, skip to my Lou
D / / / A7 / D /
Skip, skip, skip to my Lou, Skip to my Lou, my darlin.

1) Lost my partner, what'll I do? Lost my partner, what'll I do?
Lost my partner, what'll I do? Skip to my Lou, my darlin'.

2) I'll get another one better than you .
3) Little red wagon painted blue .
4) Flies in the sugar bowl, shoo fly, shoo .
5) Cows in the corn crib, what'll I do .



14. It Aint Gonna Rain D/A7
D







A7
It aint gonna rain. It aint gonna rain. It aint gonna rain no more.
A7






D
How in the heck can I wash my neck if it aint gonna rain no more.

1. A peanut sat on a railroad track, his heart was all a-flutter.
Freight train comin round the bend. Choo, choo, peanut butter.

2. My uncle built a chimney. He built it up so high.
He had to tear it down again to let the moon go by.

3. Oh the foxs tail is bushy, the elephants tail is bare.
The rabbit has no tail at all, just a little bitty bunch of hair.

4. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
If he had a saw in his little paw, a ton of wood he could.

5. People say that fleas are black, but I know it aint so.
Cause Mary had a little lamb and its fleece was white as snow.



9


15. Hush Little Baby D / A7
D / / / A7 / / / A7 / / / D / / /
Hush little baby don't say a word. Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird.
And if that mockingbird won't sing, Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring
And if that diamond ring turns brass, Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass
And if that looking glass gets broke, Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat
And if that billy goat won't pull, Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull
And if that cart and bull fall down, You'll be the sweetest baby in town



16. Frog Went a Courtin' D/A7/G
D
Frog went a-courtin' and he did ride, um-hum, um-hum
D





A7
Frog went a-courtin' and he did ride, um-hum, um-hum
D



G
Frog went a-courtin' and he did ride, a sword and pistol by his side,
D A7 D
um-hum, um-hum, um-hum

2. He rode up to Miss Mousie's den, um-hum, um-hum
He rode up to Miss Mousie's den, um-hum, um-hum
He rode up to Miss Mousie's den, said "Miss Mousie, won't you let me in."
um-hum, um-hum, um-hum

3. Frog said, "My dear, I've come to see," um-hum, um-hum
Frog said, "My dear, I've come to see," um-hum, um-hum
Frog said, "My dear, I've come to see, if you, Miss Mousie will marry me."
um-hum, um-hum

4. "I don't know what to say to that," um-hum, um-hum
"I don't know what to say to that," um-hum, um-hum
"I don't know what to say to that, till I speak with my Uncle Rat." um-hum, um-hum

5. So Uncle Rat he rode to town, um-hum, um-hum
So Uncle Rat he rode to town, um-hum, um-hum
So Uncle Rat he rode to town and bought his niece a wedding gown.
um-hum, um-hum
10



17. Camptown Races - D/A7/G

D




A7
Camptown ladies sing this song, doo-dah, doo-dah
D




A7 D
Camptown racetrack five miles long, oh doo-dah day.
D




A7
Come down here with my hat caved in, doo-dah, doo-dah
D




A7 D
Goin back home with a pocket full of tin, oh doo-dah day.
D G D
Gonna run all night. Gonna run all day.
D




A7 D
Bet my money on a bobtailed nag, somebody bet on the bay.



18. Michael Row the Boat Ashore - D/G/A7
D G D
Michael row the boat ashore, alleluia
D A7 D
Michael row the boat ashore, alleluia

1. Sister help to trim the sails, alleluia.
Sister help to trim the sails, alleluia
2. River Jordan is deep and wide, alleluia

Milk and honey on the other side, alleluia
3. River Jordan is chilly and cold, alleluia

Chills the body, but not the soul, alleluia


19. Happy Birthday to You - D/G/A7
D A7 D
Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you.
D G D A7 D
Happy birthday, dear ________. Happy birthday to you.


11


20. *The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh) - D/A7/G
This is a great (and easy) song for a concert, but it is copyrighted so I cant reproduce it here.

21. *Jambalaya D/A7
This is another great and easy, but copyrighted song for a concert with only 2 chords. There is
a good version on youtube the kids can sing along with. Just make sure it is in the key of D.

Em chord

22. BINGO - G/C/D7/Em
G G
There was a farmer had a dog and Bingo was his name-o
G C D7 G Em C
B I N G O, B I N G O, B I N G O,
D7 G
And Bingo was his name-o

12