When most kids are busy watching videos and learning nothing from it, parents are busy trying to find a productive hobby for their child. If you are parents and your child wants to learn to play the guitar then you are lucky. And at this point, you should start to search for the best guitars for kids.
As you already know, learning the guitar is not an easy task. Do you know what makes the learning curve most difficult?- The wrong instrument. Even as an adult you will not be able to play well or long on a guitar that does not suit you. This is why you need to discover kids guitars after much speculation. So, let us get started.
List of Top 8 Kids Guitar
- Yamaha JR1 3/4-Scale Acoustic Guitar Bundle
- Martin LX1 Little Martin Acoustic Guitar
- Loog Pro VI Acoustic
- Squier by Fender Mini Strat Electric Guitar
- Ibanez GRGM21BKN 3/4-Size Mikro Electric Guitar
- Mitchell MM100 Mini Double Cutaway Electric Guitar
- Yamaha CGS103A 3/4 Size Classical Guitar
- Best Choice Products 30in Kids Classical Acoustic Guitar
Our Recommended Top 3 Guitar For Your Kid
Best Guitar for Kids: The Reviews
1. Yamaha JR1 FG Junior: Best Acoustic Guitars for Children
Looking for a bundle that comes with essential accessories that a beginner kid might need? Then, this Yamaha JR1 FG Junior acoustic guitar might be the one you are looking for. Luckily, you can expect excellent quality from it as well.
The guitar at hand is one with a 21 1/4-inch length so it is quite small. This size is perfect for young beginners and a top alternative for travelers as a lightweight travel guitar or campfire guitar.
Thus, a kid will have no trouble playing on it but know that he will grow and stop being able to play on it with time. However, with low action and a small body, this acoustic instrument is quite easy to learn.
The sound is not very bright and loud but for its size, it is as great as you can expect. Apparently, the build is of quality with a rosewood fretboard, spruce top, nato back, and sides with a glossy finish. Apart from that, the bundle comes with everything you need starting from a guitar strap to a gig bag.
Pros:
- Outstanding brand reputation.
- Excellent build quality.
- Good size for young ones.
- Good accessories.
- Great value for the price.
Cons:
- Too small for playing when the kid grows up.
- The sound is not the loudest or brightest.
- Laminated instead of solid Sitka spruce top.
2. Martin LX1 Little Martin: Small Acoustic Guitars for Kids
Sometimes size really does not matter much when the materials making it are used in the best proportions. The Martin LX1 Little Martin is an acoustic guitar that is not very big and even adults detect it convenient to play on as they can carry it anywhere as a travel guitar. The smaller size also exposes kids to an easy world of guitar learning at the finest possible quality.
Martin is quite a famous brand and when it comes to quality, you can expect nothing but the best from it. Firstly, this LX1 acoustic guitar is made of the finest materials, and definitely choose the hard shell one. It has a high-pressure laminated finish which keeps it quite safe from the environment as well.
It also has a rosewood fingerboard and mahogany neck, the finest there is out there. Furthermore, the most amazing thing about this acoustic guitar is that the tone is quite loud and bright. However, as the tone is a subjective choice, many might not like the tone.
Apart from that, the size is considerable for young persons and the low action also makes it easier for them to learn. It also comes in a padded gig bag so you can easily carry it around. On top of it all, it is quite affordable.
Pros:
- Very well-built.
- Small in size which is great for kids.
- Deliver pleasant guitar experience.
- Excellent quality.
- Loud tone.
- Good value for money.
Cons:
- Everybody may not like the tone.
- Strings may need changing for a better tone.
3. Loog Pro VI Acoustic: Best Guitar for 12 Year Old
The Loog Pro VI Acoustic one of the first six-string acoustic guitars that can be handled by kids 12 years of age easily. Due to its size and shape, it’s so ergonomic that the learning process for your little guitar player will be as smooth as possible.
It comes in multiple colors and is attractively designed. Made of basswood top and back material as well as the wood body. The neck and fretboards are made of the popular maple material. It’s for ambidextrous players and comes with steel strings.
This mini-guitar has a perfect tone like that of standard guitars which alone will make it worth the investment. The low string action will then pave the way for smooth playability, won’t hurt those fingers that much, and will definitely make playing this instrument more enjoyable.
This is the perfect way to make sure that your kid or teen learns guitar the right way not only by technique and at the same time, train their ears early on and get them ready for standard sized guitars later on.
The construction and parts of this guitar are superb meant to last a long time. This guitar actually stars in tune which is uncommon for smaller guitars which helps for continuous play. It’s got 18 frets too!
It comes with flashcards as well as chord diagrams and you’ll have access to the Loog guitar app. Comes in light blue, yellow, red, black, white, and pink colors. Also, read our full review of Loog Guitar.
Pros
- Known for its ergonomic design
- Great aesthetics that are attractive to the young ones
- Top of the line construction
- Near perfect intonation perfect for beginners while learning
- The kids will learn the right way with a complete package of learning materials
Cons
- A little bit of fret buzz might be experienced
4. Squier by Fender Mini Strat: Best Electric Guitars for Kids
Looking for an electric guitar for youngsters that too at an affordable price? Then, this Squier Mini Strat is what you may be looking for. Apparently, this is the best you get out there for young guitar players.
The build is perfect with strong and clever materials used. Likewise, the guitar does produce a really nice loud tone. However, it may need to be tuned too often. Furthermore, this Mini Strat is not a full-size guitar but a 3/4-size version. So, it should fit your kid’s small hands perfectly.
You can also get this solid body guitar with Deluxe Starter Pack Bundle or Austin Bazaar Bundle Pack by spending 20-50 bucks more which includes almost everything like guitar strap and other accessories you need to start playing right out of the box.
Pros:
- A very loud and warm tone.
- Excellent build quality.
- Great electric components.
- C-Shaped maple neck
- Good price.
Cons:
- Need tuning too often.
5. Ibanez Mikro Electric: Best Guitar for Youth Beginner
Everyone who’s ever picked up a guitar knows about Ibanez and their cool designs for guitars. Here we present the Ibanez Mikro Electric Guitar meant for your aspiring shredder.
This is the brand’s first compact guitar and of course, it comes with its signature look. This short-scale ax has a 22 inches maple neck with low tension and small in size so your child can work his or her around the fretboard rather easily.
This is perfect for practicing especially if you have an aspiring lead guitarist in the household. But while it’s perfect for beginners this unit is set up like the full-sized solid body GRG guitars coming out of Ibanez. So your kid gets to experience how it’s like to play an actual 6-string meant for performances early on and get them ready for the actual thing.
The Ibanez Mikro Electric Guitar has a configuration ready for left-handed guitar players so go grab yours now!
Pros
- Suited for actual lead guitar and performance practices
- Even grown-ups can utilize this unit for rehearsals
- Signature Ibanez aesthetics
- Great feel and easy to handle and play for the youngster
- Long-lasting build
Cons
- It’s quite known to go off tune easily
- Does not use a tremolo bar
6. Mitchell MM100 Mini Double Cutaway Electric Guitar
Want a guitar that does not only sound good but looks good as well? Then, read this Mitchell MM100 review and feel free to consider this solid body guitar because it is a good option for a kid with small hands and less strength.
As an electric guitar, it does not have a high action anyway so your child will notice it easy to practice. Also, the 22.5″ short scale shallow C-shape maple neck and rosewood fingerboard will make playing much comfortable.
The build is of an excellent kind and the sound quality is great also. What you may have to do is adjust the guitar a bit. At first, the strings that it comes with may not suit your taste. So, change the strings if necessary. Other than that you may have to slightly adjust other parts for a good result.
Pros:
- Excellent quality build.
- Great sound quality
- Easy to learn.
- Good size for a youngster.
Cons:
- Needs some adjustment.
- May need changing strings.
7. Yamaha CGS103A 3/4-Size Classical Guitar: Best 3/4 Guitar for Child
If you want your kids to learn classical guitar playing then there’s nothing better than to get them the Yamaha CGS103A Classical Guitar. Yamaha is a great brand not just for automotive but for musical instruments as well.
Having said that, this guitar is for sure quite durable and beautiful sounding for practice and performance sessions alike. Its body includes a solid spruce top, meranti back and sides, and sonokeling fingerboard as well as the bridge.
The action and handle on the nylon strings should train your child for fingerpicking and chord progressions fast as it will a different feel compared to a ¾ electric guitar or standard acoustic guitar.
Pros
- Perfect tone and sound
- Durable wood construction (meant to last)
- A perfect way to train your beginner guitar player
- Great value for money
- Nice finish and great overall aesthetics
Cons
- Not as low tension as the others on our list
8. Best Choice Products 30in Classical Acoustic Guitar
Scared that your kid may try out the guitar a few times then feel his sore fingers and give up altogether? Then, this Best Choice Products classical acoustic guitar has your back. Whether your child continues to play or decides to give up (chances are low), you do not lose much as this guitar is quite affordable.
This is something you can buy as just a guitar to learn on. It has nylon strings with low action set up so your kid will definitely find it easy to play. The sound is not going to be excellent. Furthermore, it may look quite beaten up as the paint chips easily.
It includes everything a beginner may need starting from a strap, a digital tuner to a bag. However, the strap and tuner do not do a great job at all and many customers are very dissatisfied with them. But, the price really makes things worth it. Lastly, the guitar is 30 inches in length so children should not find it difficult to hold.
Pros:
- A budget-friendly option.
- Beginner sized classical guitar for children.
- Easy to learn on.
- Comes completely ready.
- Includes necessary accessories.
Cons:
- Not the most durable and good looking.
- Not for professionals.
- The accessories are of cheap quality.
What size guitar should I buy for my child?
Kids 4 to 6 years of age should have a ¼ size guitar with an overall length of 30 inches. Kids 5 to 8 years old can now then handle a ½ size guitar with a length of 34 inches. Kids that are a bit older about 8 to 11 years old are suitable for guitars of ¾ size with a length of 36 inches.
Children ten years older can then handle a 7/8 size guitar with an overall length of 39 inches. While kids 12 years older should be suitable for 4/4 size guitar or the types with a length of 40 inches.
It is best if you make your kid hold the guitar and see if he can reach every part easily. So, you got your answer to “What size guitar should I buy for my child?”.
For better understanding, check out this video about different types and sizes of Guitar:
How to measure guitar size?
Guitars no matter the type are measured in two different ways. It may be measured by its full length or its scale length. Naturally, to measure a guitar by its full length then you start your measurement from the bottom of the body to the top of your headstock.
And speaking of which, a guitar has three main parts, the body, neck, and headstock. Standard guitars will have a full-length size of 36 to 40 inches but most certainly not limited to that due to the vast designs of guitars both acoustic and electric.
But the full-length size of a guitar is not quite a good way to measure it. Just like what we mentioned, different manufacturers design their guitars differently. And so, that results in different neck size, body size, and headstock size going back to our 2 main parts.
This design difference would ultimately lead to a different feel and playability of a guitar. This is where measuring a guitar through its scale length comes into the picture.
When you measure a guitar using its scale, then you are just talking about measuring from the bridge to the nut. These are the parts where both your hands handle to play the guitar and so knowing its scale length gives you an idea as to how it would feel like to play.
Knowing both the full and scale length of a guitar would then allow you to judge whether it’s a kid’s guitar or for adults.
A full-sized guitar by the way should be about 38 inches in length and with a scale length of about 25.5 inches. Guitars will also vary in their number of frets which is a factor of their playability and what style of music you can play with them.
Standard classical guitars or even acoustic guitars will have 19 frets while electric guitars usually have 21 to 24 frets with some even reaching 27. This is important to know especially for lead guitarists if they want to achieve certain riffs, licks, or solos with the guitar they are about to purchase.
What is the best age to learn guitar?
There’s never a best age to learn a guitar or a musical instrument in general. But there are factors that you need to watch out for though. Is your kid musically inclined? Are you a family of musicians? Or do they need it in school? These aspects are just a few to consider.
Your children can learn how to strum a guitar without any proper chords as early as 4 years old and can have proper training by 6. Eight years old should be ideal but most of the time passion should manifest around 12.
What is a Good Guitar for a Beginner Child?
If you just randomly buy your kid a guitar and he comes to you crying because it broke for no reason at all then it is totally on you. So, in order to not be blamed for careless shopping, check out the following factors before buying a guitar.
1. The Type of Guitar you should buy
This is always the first thing you have to check when buying anything- the types available. Apparently, you are quite familiar with the guitar types as there aren’t many and if you are into music then you have experienced all three of the types. These are:
Acoustic:
This is basically the 6-string guitar that you see people playing at picnics or road trips. Acoustic guitars are usually bigger in size with a thin neck. Apparently, what you should know is that they are the hardest to master.
It is completely manual and your child will not get any aid when playing on it. Other than that, the strings are usually made of steel or bronze or something else and are quite hard on the fingers. People usually get bruises and sore fingers when practicing on acoustic guitars due to string.
However, the skill earned over time is unbeatable and a kid will find playing any other type of guitar super easy if he starts his guitar lesson on an acoustic guitar. These are more affordable as well. We advise starting with a 1/2 or 3/4 sized acoustic guitar instead of a full-size acoustic guitar which would be bigger than your kid.
Classical:
Classical guitars are usually made of nylon strings and are smaller in size than acoustic guitars with broader neck. These are easier to play than acoustic guitars. This is because the string is smoother and lighter on the fingers.
Also Read: Difference Between Acoustic And Classical Guitar
Electric:
The rocking sound that most children love is the contribution of electric guitars. Chances are your child will want to learn on electric guitars for kids right away. Because it is just that cool.
While learning electric guitar is quite easy as you do not have to put much pressure on the strings, it is very comfortable. You do not only have to buy the guitar which costs more than the other types but you also have to buy an amplifier and possibly more electric accessories. Those things sure will cost a lot.
Now, what is the best first guitar to start with is a question most people ask. The answer is- it depends on your child. You cannot force your child to like something so it is best to leave it up to him to decide which he wants to learn.
2. The build of the guitar
You will track down endless kids guitars available but let me tell you one thing, rarely any of them will be suitable for your kid unless you look hard enough. Apparently, due to increased demand, most guitars available are of lesser quality with lesser material in them. Therefore, do not trust the most popular ones.
Make sure the guitar has a solid wooden build. Do not buy the toy-like colorful ones that your kid will probably be throwing a tantrum to buy. This is on you as the kid does not know that these will make them cry more in the future as they will just break.
The varnished wooden guitars are a better choice in this case as you can completely see what it is made of- no chance to trick.
3. The finish or surface of the guitar
Your kid will probably be jumping up and down seeing the colorful guitars with graphics on them. But, as we mentioned earlier it is easy to trick with these designs. As a result, keep the option of buying a guitar and letting your child put stickers on it later.
Apart from that, you can select a laminated guitar as it will protect the guitar against rough usage by a kid and also the environmental conditions.
4. The action of the guitar
The distance between the fretboard and the strings is what affects this matter. Apparently, the more the distance, the more pressure you have to put on the strings. This will encourage blisters and sores on your finger.
On the other hand, low action means that there is less distance between the fretboard and the strings. So, you will have to put less pressure and it will be easier to improve your guitar skill. This is why choose a guitar with low action for your kid.
5. The accessories
You will need a number of accessories with the guitar for your kid. At times, a brand offers these accessories themselves. For example, your guitar is likely to come with a basic set of strings.
The good news is that many brands offer all the necessary things together in a budget-friendly package. However, you have to check the quality of the guitar itself in such packages.
Best Guitars for Kids: Frequently Asked Questions
Is A Smaller Guitar Easier To Play?
Yes, smaller guitars for kids are relatively easier to play and so they are ideal to practice on. Although we are talking about children probably 12 years old below as teenagers are better off practicing using a full-sized guitar if they want to be accustomed to it fast. Small body guitars can be like training wheels for aspiring guitarists and they are also easier to handle, carry, and are relatively lightweight.
Does Hand Size Matter For Guitar?
It won’t matter much at all. Even full-sized guitars can be handled and played by people with relatively smaller hand sizes and most especially kids. You may choose a smaller guitar for children below 12 or 10 years old but they will soon adjust and flex their hands and fingers to accommodate the fretboard of a guitar.
How Much Should I Spend On My Kid’s First Guitar?
It depends on what you think is the interest of your children towards playing the instrument or music in general. Is this just a fad or something you’d like to experiment on whether they’d like music or not? Then maybe it’s prudent to buy cheaper ones that would cost about $50 to $100. Do you think that they have a passion for it? Then it may be prudent to invest in something more expensive not for the price but its sound quality and durability.
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Conclusion
Buying a guitar for your child is not an easy task. You have to consider their age, size, and abilities and also your own limitations when buying one. Chances are a child will lose interest in learning it quite soon.
However, the best beginner guitar for kids will encourage the child to keep practicing guitar by making the road easier and providing a better guitar experience for him. So, look hard using all your knowledge.