The Best Guitars For Children – The Ultimate Buying Guide For Caring Parents

Last Updated: November 19, 2019
In this recent refresh we made a few changes to our buyer’s guide to make it even more helpful and up-to-date for 2019. In our chart we removed a few guitars that were no longer easy to find, but added one new model – a popular wildcard, the Loog Mini Acoustic Guitar!

Parents, there’s a lot of work to be done! Getting your child interested in taking up the guitar can often be a major task in itself, but then come some added headaches – finding the right instrument and equipment, seeking out the right teacher, and keeping them motivated are just a few things you need to consider.

But you can take our word when we say it's worth it! Watching children developing musical skills, expressing their emotions through musical instruments, and just growing and maturing both in musical and emotional terms is a miraculous experience.

And in case your kid has shown interest for the might guitar, you're in luck, 'cause those six-strings just happen to be out thing! We decided to sum up our opinions and tips on this matter in a neat little guide, as well as sift today's instrument market in pursuit for the best guitar for kids.

In case your kid has shown interest in the mighty guitar, you’re in luck, because those six-strings just happen to be our thing! In today’s article we are highlighting our favorite guitars for kids. We have divided our results into two categories – acoustic and electric – and summed them up into concise rundowns for your convenience, as well as offering a short buyer’s guide.

Top 8 Best Acoustic Guitars For Kids:

Image	Acoustic Guitar / Rating	Summary	Check Price
+ -	Martin LX1 Little Martin Total of 4.72/5	Big name, small guitar, big quality, small price!	Amazon Full Review
+ -	Yamaha JR1 Total of 4.50/5	A compact budget performer from Yamaha.	Amazon Full Review
+ -	Taylor Taylor Swift Signature Total of 4.58/5	Endorsed by Taylor Swift, this signature acoustic is compact, comfortable and cool!	Amazon Full Review
+ -	Yamaha APXT2 Total of 4.70/5	A super-cool compact version of Yamaha’s best-selling electro-acoustic.	Amazon Full Review
+ -	Rogue Starter Acoustic Guitar Total of 4.47/5	Perfectly acceptable by beginner standards	Amazon Full Review
+ -	Luna Aurora Borealis Total of 4.63/5	A great value model from Luna, with awesome lunar-themed design.	Amazon Full Review
+ -	Hohner HAG250P Total of 4.08/5	A cheap and cheerful 1/2 size classical guitar from Hohner.	Amazon Full Review
+ -	Loog Mini Acoustic Guitar Total of 4.45/5	A three-string guitar that makes learning easy and fun.	Amazon Full Review

Top 5 Best Electric Guitars For Kids:

Image	Electric Guitar / Rating	Summary	Check Price
+ -	Squier Strat Mini Total of 4.84/5	A miniature version of the iconic Fender Stratocaster.	Amazon Full Review
+ -	Epiphone Les Paul Player Pack Total of 4.63/5	Awesome Les Paul style, tone and playability.	Amazon Full Review
+ -	Ibanez GRGM21BKN Total of 4.74/5	Probably the best metal guitar for kids.	Amazon Full Review
+ -	Peavey Iron Man Rockmaster Total of 4.82/5	A MARVELous choice of electric guitar for kids.	Amazon Full Review
+ -	Mitchell MM100 Total of 4.53/5	Mitchell’s budget kids model shows off serious superstrat style.	Amazon Full Review

That wraps up the reviews folks, but there’s more to come! Join us below for a discussion on a variety of factors that you should take into consideration when buying an instrument for your child.

Learning to Play Acoustic or Electric – What’s Better?

Some people say that starting out with an acoustic guitar is the way to go because acoustics introduce the player to the intricacies of the instrument, instead of allowing them to stand behind a wall of distortion and effects. While we agree with this sentiment, we do not agree with forcing a child to play an acoustic guitar.

The reason is simple. New players – especially kids – can lose interest easily. By allowing them to play the instrument that THEY want and not what you feel is best, you will probably see improvement in their playing and attitude towards practicing. Learning guitar should be a fun, self-motivated activity, and imposing too many rules can have a negative effect.

So, let your child choose which instrument and which style to play. Once they’ve settled on a style, you can browse the fine guitars we’ve listed here and single out the one that suits your child’s needs the most.

Apart from that, allow us to assure you that there really is not THAT much difference between acoustic and electric when you start out. Those differences and intricacies will become apparent further along the line, but at the beginning there’s a lot of common ground.

The most important thing is to make sure that the interest for playing is alive. As long as they are keen in learning, it is only natural for the player to get the urge to start exploring other sonic realms.

So, if you have a little metalhead yearning for some Ibanez shredding, get him or her that Ibanez – even though you may prefer a fine Martin acoustic. Let them learn the way of the axe their own way, then appreciation for other genres will probably come naturally down the line.

Which Size Should I Go For?

This one very much depends on your kid’s age. For most of the cases, we believe that either a 3/4 or a parlor guitar can do the trick, but full-sized instruments are a valid option as well.

If your child is bigger than average you might want to take a look at our guide on the best beginner acoustic and starter electric guitars. However, the rule of thumb as far as guitar size and player’s age goes, is:

• ‘1/4-sized’ or 30-inch guitar length for ages 4-6
• ‘1/2-sized’ or 34-inch guitar length for ages 6-9
• ‘3/4-sized’ or 36-inch guitar length for ages 9-12
• Standard size for ages 12 and up

What To Look For When Buying a Guitar For Your Kid?

You should keep your eyes open for several things when buying a guitar for a child. First of all – and probably most obviously – kids are small, meaning that you’ll need to be on the lookout for guitars with smaller bodies – meaning parlor guitars or 3/4 models (see above).

Most notably, look for necks that are slim and easy to play, with light strings and lightweight bodies.

Additionally, be wary of poorly made guitars. The market is full of cheap and nasty guitars that produce a sound so bad that it’s probably better not to buy them at all!

Filtering out that stuff was one of the key goals and possibly the most arduous task in our search, and we are proud to say that each of the six-string models listed here pack a decent sound as well as a price tag that’s fair and reasonable.

How Much Money To Spend When Buying Your Kid a Guitar?

There’s no exact amount – if you are a millionaire, then go ahead and buy them a $5,000 Martin! However, in most cases, you can buy a good acoustic guitar with a decent sound for anywhere between $150 and $200. However, if you are on more of a budget, then you can equally find a decent model for under $100.

If you are buying an electric guitar, just be sure to factor in around $50 to $100 for a solid beginner’s amp, plus $50 for necessary additional gear such as cables and strap. Read on!

What To Take Into Consideration

This is very important to point out – and we just touched upon it: the price of the guitar is NOT the final amount you will spend. If you want a beginner to be able to play that guitar, you will usually need to set aside around the same amount of money as the instrument for additional gear.

In the case of electric guitars, these can’t produce a decent sound without a good amp. You can usually pick one of these up for around $100. To connect the two, you will need a cable, so add another $10 to the pile. While $10 may not seem like a lot, these little bits start adding up.

While amps and cables aren’t needed for acoustic guitars (but are still optional for electro-acoustic guitars), the following few pieces of equipment are necessary for BOTH acoustic and electric guitar players.

First of all, a good tuner! Even if they tune the guitar at the shop, it will probably be out of tune by the time you bring it home. Even if it doesn’t, it probably won’t be able to hold the tuning for more than an hour or two of playing (strings take some time to ‘break in’).

Then what? As a newbie player may struggle to tune a guitar, a tuner is crucial. These are simple devices which are easy to use and will keep the guitar in good shape. In case you don’t know to which notes to tune each string, from top string (thickest) to bottom string (thinnest) tune to: E, A, D, G, B, E.

A metronome is another essential tool for proper guitar practice and development of musicality. This is why we recommend getting a digital tuner with a built-in metronome (widely available). Around $30 should cover it.

Up next on the list is a gig bag or a case. While you can take the guitar home in the cardboard box, your child will probably need to take it for a spin pretty soon, whether it’s for lessons or rehearsals. Doing so while carrying it in a cardboard box – or unprotected – is unpractical and risky for the instrument. Again, around $30 to $50 should do the trick.

One thing you should avoid buying right from the start is any type of guitar effects pedal. Yes, pedals are great eventually, but you do not want to confuse the basics by adding weird effects or distortion. A beginner should be able to hear the guitar cleanly, so they can tell what they are playing.

You will also need a decent guitar strap. Playing while standing up (with a strap) and while sitting down (without a strap) are two completely different worlds, as the muscle positioning is entirely different.

Regardless, a strap offers good security even when sitting and should be factored in. Add around $10-$20. Finally, you’ll need some picks, which are around 50 cents each.

If you think this is all a bit complicated, you can always go for a good starter pack, which bundles everything together for you in a convenient and affordable package.

New Guitar vs. Used Guitar

Here we would have to say new. We believe that the best option is to buy a new instrument and start fresh. Starting with old, faulty gear can have a devastating impact on that musical journey, and we say steer clear from it!

That’s not to say you can’t get a good deal in the secondhand department. Bargains are definitely out there – but so are the risks. Therefore, if you are delving into the realms of used instruments, make sure that you either know guitars or bring along someone who does. Apart from that, happy shopping!

Guitar Lessons – Private Tutoring or Online? And Should You Pay For Lessons in the First Place?

Answering the latter question first – yes, we believe that kids need lessons. In the absolute majority of cases, kids aren’t fully capable of guiding themselves, making teachers are absolutely necessary.

As for the online lessons vs. in-person tutoring debate, the correct answer is – utilize all resources. These days, it doesn’t make that much of a difference whether you’re meeting with the teacher in person or you’re taking lessons through Skype, so we can say that both options are valid. What matters more is how good the teacher is. This is where you need to search for references, reviews from previous students and stuff like that.

We have already discussed how essential it is to nurture your child’s natural musical tendencies, so it may be useful to check if the teacher specializes in the styles of music your child enjoys. For example, if they are into blues, then find a good blues teacher.

If you’re interested, you can consult our list of the best online guitar lessons for a selection of the best choices out there, all of which have a strong reputation and some of the finest guitar tutors in the world.

There are also hundreds – no millions! – of YouTube videos out there. Some are great, some are awful. Some teach songs, some teach techniques, some teach the basics. You may want to sit down and create a playlist for your child if you have the time. There is definitely use on YouTube, providing you find the right channels.

For example, check out this video for complete beginners:

What About Guitar Tabs?

Tabs allow you to learn a specific song quickly and efficiently. While tabs are great, concise and easy to grasp, they are also the least efficient tool when it comes to developing musicality. That’s because they mostly teach us to memorize a string of numbers and learn the song by heart and not through the feel.

It’s not just that tab users often end up without any scale or music theory knowledge. What is a big issue is that using tabs can turn you into a bit of a robot who cannot improvise, play by feel or compose music, all of which are crucial parts of being a musician. This is not a jab against tabs, but more of a warning. Use tabs, of course – but use them wisely.

Important – Love Music Yourself

Music is all about passion, and that passion stems from being a fan of music. You can love music in general or you can love a certain genre – as long as the spark is there, things are good. So, if you want your kid to be passionate about music, being passionate about it yourself doesn’t hurt.

Play music, make sure your kid has access to music libraries on the web, discuss music with them, and don’t tell them what they should and should not listen to. Rest assured that being a fan of music yourself will be an important factor when they are learning how to play guitar.

The Final Word

We have reached the end of our journey here folks! Hopefully this guide has been of use to you and hopefully you’ve found the right guitar for your child.

It’s now time to determine your child’s exact needs, preferences and musical tastes, as well as your spending budget, then single out the guitar that seems the best fit. Don’t hesitate to show your kid some of the guitars listed here – if they know what they want that’s even better!

Good luck and don’t forget to thank us when your child becomes a virtuoso!