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Beginners will be more excited about learning if they can quickly play songs they know and love. Many popular songs have a relatively simple structure. For more complex songs that your student wants to play, look for simplified adaptations that sound similar to the original. Have your student make a list of their favorite songs, and look them up online. Pull songs that use chords your student already knows and have them practice with those songs. Although most attention is paid to the fretting hand, learning how to strum is a big part of learning how to play guitar. A beginner can play many popular songs using a basic down-up, down-up pattern. There are other basic strumming patterns that can open up additional songs for a beginner. Many popular songs only use 3 or 4 relatively common chords. Search online for songs that use the chords your beginning student has already learned. If you know the types of music your student likes, you can find songs they'll be more interested in learning how to play. Many of these songs, such as "Free Falling," by Tom Petty, or "Lay Down Sally," by Eric Clapton, use only 3 chords within the CAGED system. Your student will better see progress and be motivated to go further if they can start playing popular songs they know relatively quickly.
Ask your student what songs they want to play. Use basic strumming patterns. Find popular 3- and 4-chord songs.