what would you teach first to a beginner?

[bj]

The other thing my student has to learn in their 1st lesson is the A natural minor scale - along with the meaning of sharp and flat. I just teach them the scale along the A string, so they've got enough theory to read from the chord sheets.

[Noobshire]

Don't think I saw it mentioned but what about good old House of the Rising Sun? That was a must back in the day.

Am C D F
Am C E E
Am C E F
Am E Am E

Can be played either in the picked style of The Animals but just strummed if easier, doesn't really matter. Easy change from Am to C, awkward change from C to D, near impossible F fretting (for a beginner, as I'm sure we all remember). It's got it all

However, +1 to Scarified. It's never too soon to start, get that metronome working on his ass.

[ESBlonde]

Tumblin' dice.

A E and D

[StageStruck]

From thinking back to how I picked up guitar, for sense of achievement, knowing a few open chords to play a few songs was a massive step for me. I used the 'Complete Guitar Player' book that I acquired from my school library (probably still booked out now after 25 years! ). The songs are maybe hugely out of date now, but it certainly introduced new ideas with every song you learned. It didn't get bogged down it too much theory right away either which probably would have baffled me as a beginner. Once I'd played through that book I moved on to pentatonics, then major scale/modes which I kind of hit a wall at. Although when I'm learning solos etc. I think I have enough to get by with.

[Lixarto]

Tumblin' dice.

A E and D

Tumblin' Dice is in B.

[musophilr]

Tumblin' Dice is in B.

So teach him how to use a capo in the first lesson

[Lixarto]

So teach him how to use a capo in the first lesson

Indeed. Open G, capo 4

[bertie]

Tumblin' Dice is in B.

this

for a complete beginner ? mechanics is key - finger/hand dexterity is the first rule for me, fuck scales and all that shit - get a couple or three chords of a song they know and like and get the old fretting hand movement/positioning sorted.......... unconsciously competent is what we're aiming for