The ergonomics of the instrument might be more suited to smaller frames, too. One of the many benefits of a short-scale guitar is that the string tension is looser, making the strings easier to bend. Young hands with some growing to do might benefit from a shorter-scale guitar – that means that the length from the guitar’s nut to the bridge is shorter, typically below 25”, and even as low as 21.25”, making the upper frets easier to reach. One of the biggest challenges when playing guitar as a kid is dealing with sore fingertips and wrestling with full-size, full-scale guitars. (Image credit: Getty/Rebecca Nelson) What size guitar is right for a child? ¾ size and shorter scale guitars are a good option here - like the Squier Bullet Mustang and Yamaha JR1 3/4-Size Dreadnought featured in this guide - if you’re keen to get them started and size is an issue, but your child could potentially outgrow the guitar in a shorter time. The guitar’s body may feel too large and unwieldy for smaller children, while a standard neck could be a stretch for smaller hands. The size of the instrument is also a consideration when it comes to age. Of course, every child develops at a different rate and if they show an interest there’s no harm in showing them the basics. Any younger than this and the concepts of chords, strumming, picking, rhythm etc may be too advanced and put them off before they’ve given it a good go. Your child is never too young to be introduced to the concept of the guitar and exposed to guitar music, however we’d suggest around 6 as a good age to introduce them to playing. How old is your child? How much growing have they still got to do? Have they played before or have they been playing for a while now? Do they seem serious about the instrument? What inspires them to play guitar? What’s a good age for my child to start playing guitar?
Well, the easy answer is: any guitar that keeps them enthused about the instrument! What that looks like in reality will vary depending on a number of factors worth considering. (Image credit: Getty/Jose Luis Pelaez Inc) What makes a good guitar for kids? We wish a guitar like this had existed when we were first learning to play. In terms of build quality and tone, there’s no better value kid’s guitar around right now - not only will it be a solid instrument on which to learn the ropes, but the versatile HSS pickup configuration will help them to explore different sounds, too. If your child wants to plug in straight away, the electric guitar go-to is the Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J. Not only is it an excellent starter instrument with a compact and comfortable Concert-sized body, but younger players won’t find themselves outgrowing it quickly as they may with other entry-level guitars. Our top acoustic recommendation is the Fender CC-60S. While any of the entries in this guide would serve as brilliant first guitars for your child, however, there are a couple of options we’d point you towards without question.
Need more options? These are the best acoustic guitars for beginners.We've also included some handy buying advice, so you know what to look for when shopping for the best guitars for kids. In this guide, we've picked five electric guitars and five acoustic guitars that would be ideal for a young player just starting out. Other benefits are more academic - there's a particular discipline involved in chasing that next level of ability so you can play your favorite songs. There are social benefits, like the joy of playing in a band with friends or performing for your family. With your first few chords under your belt, you're more or less a functioning guitarist! As a child adds to their knowledge base and builds on their abilities, it's not just musical possibilities that open up. Unlike some of the more demanding instruments out there, the guitar is relatively easy to pick up, meaning you can make progress quickly.
So, if you have a little one who is looking to master the six-string, then you've come to the right place, as you'll find our pick of the best guitars for kids right here. Receiving your first guitar as a child is a transformative experience - and while that might sound over the top, we speak from experience – your first guitar changes everything! The guitar is the perfect vessel for your child to channel their creativity and develop their coordination skills, all while boosting their self-confidence.