🎸 The Dojo Code: 7 Smart Tips for Kids and Parents to Master Guitar
Whether you’re a young guitarist or a supportive parent, this article is packed with easy-to-follow tips and tricks to make learning guitar fun, effective, and rewarding.
Welcome to Kids Guitar Dojo!
Each lesson in the Kids Guitar Dojo series helps kids build strong habits, avoid frustration, and enjoy every step of their musical journey. This article will help parents understand how to get the most out of the course materials.
⏰ Why Smart Practice Matters
Consistency beats intensity every time.
The first rule of the Dojo is simple: Fifteen minutes a day keeps frustration away!
Instead of long, infrequent sessions, short daily practice builds muscle memory and keeps motivation high.
Keep your guitar out where you can see it — not hidden in its case.
Start each session with a quick warm-up or open-string drill.
Parents can help by creating a regular time slot — after homework, before dinner, or right after school.
💡 Remember: small steps every day make big progress at Kids Guitar Dojo!
🤟 The 3-Finger, 3-Fret Rule
For beginners, mastering the basics is key.
THE LEFT HAND
The 3-Finger, 3-Fret Rule means using only your first three fingers, with each finger covering one fret. This area of the neck is where we spend most of our time and using these fingers is the most efficient way to play. These 3 finger also have the most strength with the first finger having the most pressing down power.
Using these 3 fingers across the first 3 frets helps build clean technique and stops fingers from chasing each other around the neck.
Keep your thumb behind the neck for balance.
👀 Parents, remind your child to keep their fingers curved and use all 3 fingers across the first 3 frets. Many kids will try and use their 1st finger to play every note.
🐾 The Cat’s Claw: Fingertip Power!
Imagine your hand is a cat’s claw! 🐱
Use the very tips of your fingers to press the strings, not the flats.
This creates a clear, strong sound and builds hand strength.
Curve your fingers like you’re holding a tiny ball, and keep your thumb resting in the middle of the back of the neck.
✨ Parents, if it looks like a little cat paw, they’re doing it right!
👁️ The Rule of the Eyes
Great players know: your eyes can only be in one place at a time.
Start by training the right hand or picking hand — pick open strings until it feels automatic.
THE RIGHT HAND
- Sit upright, guitar stable, pick held not to tight
- Target zone for your eyes: the nut area of the guitar (where the strings meet the headstock).
You’re going to aim at strings by looking toward the nut, not by staring at your picking hand. - We’ll use the top 3 strings (high E, B, G). See the TAB
Open-string autopilot (eyes at the nut)
- Look at the nut, line up your vision with the high E string
- Never glance at your picking hand. If you miss, reset and try again—still looking at the nut.
- Do 10 clean reps.
Goal: Your right hand finds strings by feel while your eyes stay calm near the nut
🚗 It’s just like learning to drive — one thing at a time until it’s smooth!
🐢 Slow First, Fast Later
Speed is fun, but control comes first.
Always play new tunes slowly before adding the backing track.
Check every note and rhythm. Once it sounds clean, then hit play and join the band!
🎶 Parents, if you hear mistakes, slow it down and celebrate the small wins.
🏆 Fast is earned, not rushed.
📖 The Reading Challenge
If your a premium user of Kids Guitar Dojo you will get all the hard copy materials.
After Completing Book 1 of the Dojo you have the option to go onto Book 2 and start the reading music journey.
Reading music is like learning a new language and can take some time to memorise note names on the staff. One trick is writing the notes in your book with pencil.
Inside the members area you will find printable resources like games packs, colouring in and our Write The Notes workbook. Just print this out and write your notes by hand, and then erase them to test yourself. This way your not writing in your hardcopy book!
Parents, quiz your young musician: “What’s this note?”
🧠 This turns reading into a fun memory game — writing and playing = real music power!
💖 Parents Help Make the Magic Happen
Kids Guitar Dojo is a fantastic learn from home program- but theres nothing quite like parents providing a guiding hand when it comes to practice.
Kids thrive when you listen, encourage, and celebrate effort.
🏅 Show off certificates where friends and family can see them.
🎁 Small rewards or Dojo Points make practice exciting.
Remember, a 30-minute lesson each week is only the spark.
🔥 Your support at home keeps the flame burning.
Be the coach, not the critic — and together, we’ll make music magic!
🎥 Using The Course Videos
✅ Watch each video tip with your child
✅ Practice the technique together
✅ Use the catchphrases as reminders during home practice
✅ Celebrate progress with small rewards
