Teaching Guitar as a Non-Guitarist

Let me start by saying this: I am not a guitarist. At least, not in the traditional sense. I know a few chords, I can stumble through a strumming pattern, and I once tried to learn the intro to “Blackbird” for three weeks before deciding my fingers just don’t bend that way. But despite all that, I’ve found myself teaching guitar. 

And guess what? It’s totally possible—and actually kind of wonderful and empowering as a music educator. 

I picked up a guitar in college because, well, everyone did. And like a lot of people, I thought I’d be playing Jack Johnson tunes by the end of the month. Instead, I spent a year bouncing between YouTube tutorials, painfully slow chord changes, and the existential crisis of “Why does my G chord sound like a dying bird?” 

Eventually, I accepted that I wasn’t going to be a virtuoso. But somewhere along the way, I did learn enough to play simple songs, understand the basics, and connect guitar to the musical skills I already had. 

So when I started teaching general music and learned that all my 8th grade students wanted to do was learn to play guitar, I quickly stressed about how I was far from perfect myself. That’s when I realized that to be relevant to my students, I didn’t really have a choice. I needed to figure it out. 

Here’s what’s helped me—and might help you, too. 

You don’t need to be a shredding soloist. You just need: 

• A few open chords (G, C, D, E, A, Em, Am) 
• A couple strumming patterns 
• The ability to read a chord chart or tab 
• Some understanding of tuning 

Think of it as like learning a few key phrases in a foreign language—you’re not fluent, but you can order lunch. 

The internet is a goldmine. And honestly, your job isn’t to be the expert—it’s to be the guide. Here are some resources that I have tapped into more than once: 

• JustinGuitar (free and low-cost and friendly) 
• Marty Music on YouTube (super approachable) 
• Hal Leonard Guitar Method (good for structured learning) 
• Yousician or Fender Play (apps with built-in practice) 

I often have my students follow along with one of these and then check in with me afterward. It’s like being their guitar accountability buddy. It also lets me differentiate instruction based on where students are in their skill development!  

You might not be a guitarist, but you are a musician. That means you can teach: 

• Rhythm, beat, and feel 
• Chord relationships and progressions (I-IV-V) 
• How to count rests, strum in time, and listen 
• How to build a setlist or arrange a song 

When I first started, I tried to teach too much, too fast. Now? I slow it way down: 

• Focus on one chord per week 
• Easy 2- or 3-chord songs 
• Strumming open strings to a metronome 

I let students live in that beginner zone until they’re comfortable—and they actually improve faster because they’re not overwhelmed. 

Learning technique is important, but nothing beats the motivation of playing a real song. I’ll often ask students: “What song do you wish you could play?” 

Even if they can only play the chorus or riff, they get hooked—and suddenly they’re practicing way more at home. Why? Because you gave them agency through choice. You allowed them to learn music that matters to them. 

Some of my best teaching moments have come from admitting I’m still learning. When I mess up a chord or struggle with a strum in front of students, I laugh at myself and just brush it off. Students love this. It shows them that music isn’t about perfection—it’s about progress. 

If you’ve got access to a more experienced guitarist—maybe a colleague or older student—invite them in. I’ve brought in guest players for demo days or to lead jam sessions, and the energy shift is incredible. Sometimes the best teaching move is knowing when to pass the mic. 

Teaching guitar as a non-guitarist isn’t about faking expertise. It’s about guiding students through the beginner experience with them, being honest about your limits, and building confidence in the process. 

So if you’re staring at a classroom full of students and a guitar you barely know how to tune—take a breath. Grab a few chords, find a fun song, and start strumming. 

You’ve got this. 

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Blog Post Contributor: Erin Zaffini