Getting the right size guitar for your child is important. You want one that they will not grow out of, but rather grow into. You also want one that will stand against anything you child might do to it. There are many choices out there for your child and there are some factors to look at when deciding to purchase a guitar.
This guide will review our top picks for best kids guitars and provide you with all the information you need to know to find the perfect guitar for the special kid in your life.
Best Kids Guitars
For beginners, a good sturdy guitar is important. You also want one that will appeal to them in color, shape, and size. As we review seven of the best guitar for kids, we will talk about all of the different types of guitar and how to find the best one for your child.
1. AKLOT Acoustic Guitar Full Size 38 inch Spruce Cutaway Guitar Bundle
The first guitar on our list of best kids guitars is a bundle. This guitar is a great present to give a kid or even a teen, because it comes with everything a beginner could need.
It comes with a 38 inch (96.5 cm) mahogany guitar, a gig bag, a strap, a tuner, four picks, string, a capo, a pickguard, extra strings, cleaning cloth, and a winder. When purchased, you can choose between 38 inches (96.5 cm) or 41 inches (104.1 cm), depending on which one will fit your child best.
The guitar has an adjustable truss rod that can be adjusted via the sound hole with an Allen wrench which is included in the bundle.
With a weight of 7.54 pounds, this guitar is perfect for a young guitar player. The dimensions are 43 x 16 x 6.46 inches (109.2 x 40.6 x 16.4 cm).
There were a few people that expressed concern about the strings breaking too easily, but as long as you are careful while tuning it, the same problem should not occur.
Some reviews also mentioned the fact that it only comes in one color and, as your child may want a different color as well, we suggest you take this into consideration when you are purchasing this guitar.
Pros
Pros:
- Comes with everything a beginner needs
- Two way adjustable truss rod
- Comes with extra strings
Cons
Cons:
- Only comes in one color
- Strings are sensitive to tension
2. Rogue Starter Acoustic Guitar
This guitar is perfect for children to show their unique personality as it comes in five different colors which include blue burst, walnut, red burst, pink, and matte natural. While there are many colors to choose from, the price does vary as well. It is on a ⅞ scale, so it is going to be bigger than most guitars for kids and might be better to give to a teen.
It has a maple neck, rosewood fretboard and Martin strings which help to give you a nice tone. Although it does not come with extra strings, you can easily buy those separately.
There were lots of people that said that the strings took 2 years to break so we wouldn’t suggest that you worry about having to get new strings. Since it comes in a few different designs and colors the guitar will appeal to all genders and personalities. At 4.74 pounds this guitar is super lightweight.
The dimensions are 39.25 x 19 x 4.75 inches (99.7 x 48.2 x 12 cm).
Pros
Pros:
- Color options
- Light weight
Cons
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with extra strings
3. Yamaha JR1 3/4-Scale Acoustic Guitar Bundle
The Yamaha JR1 is a great addition to our list for best kids guitars. This guitar comes with a choice of a tan color or sunburst and both options are beautiful. Unfortunately, the price differs for each one.
The guitar comes with a gig bag, tuner, extra strings, 3 picks, a cleaning cloth, a winder, and an Austin Bazaar instructional DVD which is good to use for some basic playing tips.
Some people did say that they would have preferred nylon strings on a beginner guitar instead of steel strings, but a lot of the guitars we will be reviewing have steel strings. We don’t feel that this should be a big area of concern, especially because steel strings make the best sound. With a weight of 5.5 pounds this guitar is not too heavy but also not too light.
The dimensions are 36 x 16 x 6 inches ( 91.4 x 40.6 x 15.2 cm). Reviewers have mentioned that it is great for ages 5 through 15! This is a really good quality guitar that is perfect for all ages.
Pros
Pros:
- Perfect weight
- Great for ages 5 – 15
- Comes with an instructional DVD
Cons
Cons:
- May be too small depending on your child’s comfortability
- Steel strings may be tough on the fingers for a young kid
4. Ibanez PN12E Mahogany Parlor Acoustic-Electric Guitar Vintage Mahogany Sunburst
This guitar is a little pricey considering it only comes with a tuner, extra strings, and a preamp. On the other hand, the guitar is a really good quality guitar. It comes in a gorgeous, almost red, sunburst color and has steel strings. With a weight of 6.74 pounds, this guitar is the perfect lightweight option for your child.
With a length of 46.5 inches (118.1 cm), this guitar is shorter than most of the guitars that we have reviewed, but is great for a smaller child just the same. Some people did express concern about the finish being rough around the sound hole, but that should not be a major area of concern.
Due to it being an acoustic-electric guitar, you get the best of both worlds where you are able to play unplugged and then you can plug it in to get a loud more rocking sound if your child is eventually interested in that style of play.
Pros
Pros:
- Good weight
- Offer both an acoustic and electric sound
- Nice full sound
- Tuning machines hold tune
- Good for a smaller child
Cons
Cons:
- Priced higher due to the acoustic-electric capability
- Fret ends are a little sharp
- Truss rod may need to be adjusted
5. Beginner Guitar Acoustic Classical Guitar 3/4 Junior Size 36 inch
This guitar is another great guitar for beginners. It comes with a waterproof gig bag, a clip on guitar tuner, a nylon strap with leather ends, 2 guitar picks, and a guitar wipe. This all inclusive approach makes it perfect for a young guitar player who is just entering the guitar playing world.
The nylon strings are perfect for your child’s fingers as they are not as hard as steel strings. This guitar is made with excellent craftsmanship and is perfect for players of all skill levels, but it is best for a beginner.
Some people didn’t like how the gig bag was not padded, and if this bothers you as well, you can always buy another bag fairly inexpensively.
Another thing that makes this guitar so great is that the D, A , E strings are nylon inside and white brass wires cover the outside so it gives the strings a cool look. With a weight of 3 pounds, this guitar is lightweight, which is a great feature for smaller children. The dimensions are 36 x 15.5 x 4.4 inches (91.4 x 39.3 x 11.1 cm). This guitar is 36 inches, and it also comes in 39 inches, but for a different price.
Pros
Pros:
- Lightweight
- Comes with bag, tuner, picks, and strap
- Has nylon string which are softer on your fingers
- Perfect size for a child
- Has a nice full sound that resonates
Cons
Cons:
- Gig bag is not padded
- May eventually need updated tuning machines
6. Orangewood 6 String Acoustic Guitar
Orangewood is a newcomer to the acoustic guitar scene and they have been making some great guitars at a very reasonable price. This guitar is a wonderful gift to give to your child. Not only does it come with a gig bag, but you can order it so it comes with an accessory pack at an extra cost.
The accessories are a guitar tuner, a guitar strap, a guitar capo, guitar picks, a string winder, a polishing cloth, and a chord chart. You can even order it with an optional pickguard. It comes in mahogany or spruce.
It also has three different shape options: cutaway, dreadnought, and grand concert.
With a weight of 10 pounds it is on the heavy side, but is still a good quality guitar just the same. The company has said that professionals set up each guitar beforehand so you should have no problem with missing pieces.
Unfortunately, this guitar is larger than most mini guitars so it might be a better gift to give to an older child. The dimensions are 41 x 4 x 15 inches (104.1 x 10.1 x 38.1 cm).
Pros
Pros:
- Nice accessories
- Different shape options
- Reasonably priced
- Sturdy
Cons
Cons:
- Truss rod may need to be adjusted.
- May be too large for younger children
7. Fender CC-60S V2 Mahogany Acoustic Guitar Pack
While we are the first to admit that this guitar is a little pricey, in our opinion it is worth every penny. This set comes with a gig bag, extra strings, a strap, and two picks all with the Fender logo. This guitar has a mahogany back and sides to complement its solid spruce top for a warm sound.
This guitar has a beautiful dark brown wooden finish.
The concert sized body is perfect for kids or players with a smaller frame. With a height of 52 inches (132 cm), this guitar is longer than most, but it is perfect option if you want the guitar to last your child for a while.
The dimensions are 52 x 18 x 8 inches (132 x 45.7 x 20.3 cm).
Pros
Pros:
- Warm Sounding
- Long lasting
Cons
Cons:
- A little bit pricey
Buyers Guide for Best Kids Guitars:
Now that we have reviewed some of the best kid’s guitars, there are still some questions to be answered. What is the right size for my kid? What shape should I get? Which strings are better, nylon or steel? What length should it be? We’ll answer all of these questions and more below.
What should I look for in a guitar?
For one thing, you want the guitar to be made out of a wood that will last. Most guitars are made out of mahogany or spruce as they make the best sound and are long lasting. You also want to look for a guitar that won’t be too big for your kid. The best sizes to get are ¾ scaled guitars or ½ scaled guitars.
Size and durability are the two most important factors as children can be very rough when handling instruments and if the guitar is too large or too small it will be more challenging to play.
What is the best size guitar?
There are a few sizes of guitar that are great for kids. As we mentioned before, the best sizes to get are ¾ scaled guitars or ½ scaled guitars. ½ scaled guitars are usually better to get for smaller kids as they are pretty much half the size of a regular guitar. ¾ scaled guitars are larger than ½ scaled guitars, but are smaller than regular guitars and can be good options for older kids or teens.
You also want to get a guitar that is the perfect length. You don’t want the guitar to be so long to the point where the guitar looks lopsided in your child’s arms. A good length to look for is around 39 to 42 inches (99 to 106.6 cm).
What shape should I get?
This is tough to answer as it really depends on what shape is best for you child based on their personal preference. The two main shapes include:
Cutaway – a cutaway style acoustic guitar has a small section cut away and rounded. Some players rest this section on their knee.
Dreadnought – Dreadnought is basically a cutaway without the section that is cut away.
What strings are better, nylon or steel?
This is another tough question to answer as it really depends on the player. Some people prefer nylon strings because they are softer, and some people prefer steel strings because they are more traditional and are many experts claim that they make a better sound.
In our opinion, nylon strings are softer and a better choice for younger kids, but might make a weaker sound. Steel strings are more traditional and make a better sound, yet can be rough on fingers. In the end it is all up to you and what you feel your child will be most comfortable with.
Best Kids Guitars Conclusion
We have reviewed 7 guitars, talked about their pros and cons and answered some common questions that people have when buying guitars for children.
The quality of these guitars is wonderful and we have provided you with different shapes, sizes, colors, and tips to help you find the perfect guitar for your child and their preference’s and personalities.
In the end it’s going to be what your child likes from an appearance standpoint and, once they have the guitar, how it feels when it’s played. That will then allow your child to feel comfortable and gain confidence when they are playing.
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