Unless your child is very small for their age, they're ready for a full-size guitar once they reach the age of 12. Let your child hold an adult guitar to make sure they feel comfortable.
I usually recommend a 3/4 for a six year old, but by eight or nine, you can go full sized. An eight year old will grow out of a 3/4 in no time. Saves you buying a new instrument in twelve months.
We've also including some buying advice below so you know what to look for when shopping for a great guitar for kids.
- Fender CC-60S Concert Pack.
- Ibanez PN12E Mahogany electro-acoustic.
- Yamaha JR1 3/4-Size Dreadnought.
- Martin LX1 Little Martin.
- Yamaha Pacifica PAC112J.
We typically recommend starting guitar around age six, the most important factor being the physical strength of the student's hands. There are exceptions to this rule: a physically smaller seven year old may not be ready, while a five year old who is tall for their age may be equipped for guitar.
The younger a child is, the smaller the guitar needs to be to be able to comfortably play. 1/2 and 3/4 sized guitars are commonly used for children as they're far easier to play. The scaled down size means a young child can reach over the body and comfortably reach the fretboard.
Standard classical guitar scale length is 26.0 inches. If the luthier is of the Torres school, the scale is 25.6 inches. Based on 26. inches or 660.04 mm , 7/8 scale would be 577.85mm when calculated mathematicly or 22.75 in. 75 should be a 495mm guitar, but in the industry it is actually 577,85 in or the 7/8 size.
You are never too old to learn guitar. You can start learning guitar at any age. While younger people tend to learn faster, you are still capable of learning guitar as a beginner whether you are 30, 40, 60, or even 70.
Perhaps guitar lessons don't fit in your budget. A good instructor usually does not come cheap. Due to these reasons and many others, there are a whole lot of people out there, like yourself, who want to teach themselves to play guitar at their pace. The good news is, you can absolutely teach yourself guitar!
The dreadnought is a type of acoustic guitar body developed by American guitar manufacturer C.F. A body much larger than most other guitars provided the dreadnought with a bolder, perhaps richer, and often louder tone. It is distinguished by its size and square shoulders and bottom.
The average cost of guitar lessons ranges from $40 to $60 per hour. Local private lessons start at $30 for a half-hour lesson, while online guitar lessons via Skype cost about 20% less. Some guitar instructors will offer a free introductory lesson to beginners.
3/4 size guitars are for young students between 8 and 11 years. They are also called 36 inch guitars. This guitar size and 1/2 size guitars are the most sold student guitars for kids and youth. The scale is the distance between the bridge and the guitar head that measures about 3/4 of a full size guitar.
What Size Guitar Does My Kid Need?
- 1/4 Size Guitars – Best for 4-6 year olds, or a height of between 3'3″ and 3'9″
- 1/2 Size Guitars – Best for 5-8 year olds, or a height of between 3'10” and 4'5″
- 3/4 Size Guitars – Best for 8-11 year olds, or a height of between 4'6″ and 4'11”
Electric guitars are much smaller than steel-string acoustic guitars and nylon string classical guitars, they can basically be used by most people, but you do need to consider the extra weight.
| Age | Height (cm) | Recommended Size |
|---|
| 8 - 12 | 100 - 125 | 3/4 Size - See ST34 |
| 12+ | 125 + | Full Size - See STH |
What to look for when buying a guitar
- Does the guitar stay in tune? Have someone at the store get the guitar to standard tuning and play a few chords.
- Is the guitar neck straight?
- How far are the strings from the fretboard?
- Can you comfortably reach the entire fretboard?
- Are the guitar electronics in good condition?
1- Easier to play / Great for beginnersOne of the major complaints we hear at Guitartricks from beginner guitarists is that their fingers are too fat, or they can't hold the chords properly because the neck is too wide. Small guitars solve this problem and that makes them a great beginner guitar.
- Yamaha Pacifica 112V. The best beginner electric guitar for small budgets – a great all-rounder.
- Squier Classic Vibe '50s Stratocaster.
- Epiphone Les Paul Traditional Pro III.
- Gretsch G2420 Streamliner.
- Epiphone G-400 Pro SG.
- Squier Bullet Mustang.
- Ibanez Gio GRGR120EX.
- Epiphone Dot ES-335 Semi-Hollowbody.
Guitar is hard to learn in the beginning, but gets easier the longer you stick with it. The more you practice, the easier guitar will feel to play. This is why most people who quit guitar do so in the very beginning. If you can get through the first six months' worth of practice, you'll notice it becomes easier.
