You may have children that want to play guitar, but don’t know what to buy. Playing an instrument such as the guitar is exciting and it can be a lot of fun for children. There are several things you need to consider when looking for a guitar. This best acoustic guitar for kid’s guide will help you find an amazing instrument so your child can enjoy playing and rock out like a pro.
In a Hurry? Here Are the Best Acoustic Guitars for Kids
Why Choose an Acoustic Guitar?
Are several advantages to choosing a kid’s acoustic guitar. The main advantage over the acoustic guitar is you don’t have to buy an amplifier as you do for an electric guitar. The acoustic guitar also isn’t as loud as an electric guitar is. If you live in an apartment or other areas where you have to be quiet, and electric guitar for your child won’t be practical. The acoustic guitar tends to cost less since you don’t have the added expenses of buying an amplifier, guitar pedals, and so on. A lot of young children won’t be ready for an electric guitar in any case.
If a child learns on an acoustic guitar, their fingers will be a lot stronger when they transition it to an electric guitar. It takes a little bit more finger strength to become proficient on the acoustic guitar. Your child may actually progress more on the instrument if they first start out on an acoustic guitar.
Nylon String Acoustic
One of the better options for children is the nylon string acoustic. This is also called a classical guitar. The reason why you might want to get one of these is that the strings are easier to press down. The strings won’t be as hard on a child’s fingers like they are with regular steel strings. The downside to the nylon string guitar is that they are a little bit more difficult to play when it comes to chords. Most children will only be learning single notes at first, so a nylon string is a good option when looking for guitars for kids. They are ideal for children aged 4 to 8.
Steel String Acoustic
The second option when looking for a kid’s acoustic guitar is to buy a regular steel-string acoustic. These instruments are a little harder to play than a nylon string acoustic, but they have better sound. This type of instrument can get an older child excited about playing guitar. The ideal age for a steel-string acoustic is around age 8-12. A child’s fingers will be more developed at this time and it will make playing a steel-string acoustic easier on their fingers.
Acoustic-Electric
If you have a child that is aged 12 and up, you may want to consider an acoustic-electric guitar. This is a regular acoustic guitar, but it has a pickup. This means you can plug the instrument into an amplifier and play it both as an acoustic and an electric guitar. If your child is playing gigs doing live performances, the acoustic-electric is the perfect option. Older children will also appreciate the fact did they can play a lot of their favorite songs on this type of acoustic guitar.
Student Sized Guitar
Most acoustic guitars are full-sized instruments. These are going to be difficult for young children to hold. To make it easier for students and young players, you can get a half size guitar. these are easier for young students to hold. If your child is under the age of eight, it is recommended that you buy a student size guitar. This is important when choosing an acoustic guitar because they are larger when compared to electric guitars.
Guitar Kits
One of the nice things about student size guitars and those designed for children if you can get them in kits. These kits with an acoustic guitar, gig bag, strings, picks, instructional DVDs, and other accessories you need as a beginner student. As a parent, this can save you a lot of money.
When looking for guitars for kids, I recommend guitar kits. these kits I’ve come a long way in recent years. many of them now have decent guitars for students. A lot of the major manufacturers now offer use kits. You can get an instrument and all the accessories that a child needs to start learning how to play the guitar.
What Size Guitar Should I Buy My Child?
Use this size chart to make it easy for you to buy the right sized guitar for your child. The size of the instrument is critical. Children are growing, and when they are young big cannot hold a full-size guitar because it’s too big. As the child gets older they will grow into a full-size instrument.. here is how you can pick the right size for your child.
- Age 4-8 – ½ size guitar
- Age 8-12 – ¾ size guitar
- Age 12+ – full size guitar
What is the Best Age for a Child to Learn Guitar?
The guitar is an instrument that can be learned at almost any age. four children, they can learn as young as four years old. Simple notes and melodies are taught to young children. As they get older, they can start to learn more complex songs. Younger children may not have the attention span necessary to become proficient on the guitar. It should be seen as a hobby when they are younger. A child may develop more interest in the instrument as they get a bit older. You should never pressure your child to play guitar if they don’t want to.
Child’s Acoustic Guitar Price
There are several things you need to consider before you buy a child acoustic guitar. You need to consider if your child is going to continue with the guitar or not. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to buy an instrument that is a high cost when you don’t know whether your child will keep playing guitar. Most children’s guitars are going to be in the price range of around $80 to $200. You probably don’t want to spend any more than this as it will be wasted money if your child quits.
Guitar Accessories
Unless you buy a guitar kit, you’re going to have to buy several accessories for the acoustic guitar. These accessories will include the following:
- Guitar tuner
- Extra picks
- Music books
- Guitar Stand
- Guitar stool or comfortable chair
- Strap
- Peg Winder
- Extra strings
What Strings to Buy for Your Child’s Guitar
Recommendation for Strings is it to go with a light gauge set of string. Whether they are nylon or steel string acoustic, light strings are easier to play than medium strings. Many acoustic guitars will ship with medium or heavier strings. These are going to be too difficult for a child younger hands to deal with. They won’t want to play when their fingers are hurting all the time from playing in their guitar.
You can have a guitar shop set up your guitar with lighter gauge strings, or you can install them yourself if you know what you are doing. Nylon strings need to be strong a specific way so you might want to have a guitar store do this for you. String choice will be essential and lighter strings will allow your child to enjoy the instrument more.
Kids Acoustic Guitar Tips
- Nylon strings are easier to play for younger players
- Guitar kits will save you money on accessories
- Make sure you get a case or gig bag to protect the guitar
- Change strings about once per month
- Get the right guitar size for the child’s age
Best Acoustic Guitar for Kids Reviews
1. Oscar Schmidt OGHS-A-U 1/2 Size Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar (High Gloss) – Best Dreadnaught Style for K
The best acoustic guitar for kids that is a dreadnought style have a look at the Oscar Schmidt OGHS-A-U 1/2 Size Dreadnought. This is an exceptional instrument that has that classic dreadnought style look to it, yet it’s only a half size instrument, so it’s perfect for young children.
The guitar has a select Spruce top. The back and sides are made with Catalpa. the neck of the instrument is made with mahogany. The bridge in the fingerboard of the instrument is made out of tech wood. It comes with a truss rod that is fully adjustable. It’s made to a high-quality and handcrafted. The small one-half size makes it easy for children to hold and play. It does not ship with a gig bag or a case so you’ll have to buy one.
Pros:
- 1/2 size for small children
- Made with good wood
- Sounds excellent for its price
Cons:
- Lacks the tone of larger instruments
- Some users reported quality control issues
2. Yamaha JR2 Junior-Size 33-Inch Acoustic Guitar – Best Guitar Kit for Kids
Yamaha makes excellent musical instruments and other products. The Yamaha JR2 Junior Size is the perfect choice for a guitar kit for children. It has everything any younger player needs to get started on the guitar.
This guitar has a spruce top. The back and sides are made with mahogany. It has a rosewood bridge and fingerboard. The neck is made with nato wood. You get everything you need in one package. It comes with a clip-on tuner so you can tune the instrument right away. It comes with a string winder which makes restringing the instrument easier. You get other accessories as such as an instructional DVD and picks. The guitar features an excellent tone because it is made with good wood. You also get a gig bag to keep the instrument protected.
Pros:
- Full guitar kit with accessories
- Easy to play
- Has good tone
Cons:
- Some users had quality control issues
- Not the best sound
3. Cordoba Mini II MH – Best Nylon String Acoustic for Kids
The Cordoba Mini II MH, Is the perfect high-quality guitar for younger students. It’s a nice half-size guitar. It’s comfortable for even the smallest child. It’s easy to tune, and the strings are nylon so they won’t dig into the sensitive fingers of children.
This guitar is made with layered mahogany on the top. The back and sides are also made with mahogany. The neck is comfortable with a modern C profile, which makes it easier to play than other guitars. It’s finished nicely with a satin polyurethane body and neck. Has everything that young beginners need to start playing right away. I was impressed with the quality and the workmanship of this Cordoba guitar.
Pros:
- Solid construction
- Nylon strings are easy to play
- Sound good for the price
Cons:
- May be too small for some players
- Can be hard to tune
4. Donner DAG-1C Beginner Acoustic Guitar Full Size, 41 – Best Full-size Acoustic Guitar for Kids
For children that want a full-size guitar, the Donner DAG-1C, is it a good option. It’s a full-size 41-inch cutaway. It’s the standard Dreadnought size guitar. It has an excellent tone, and you can use it to play various forms of music. The top is made out of spruce and it has mahogany back and decides which improve the sound.
This instrument also has a cutaway, so it’s easier to reach the higher frets on the instrument. It comes with several accessories such as a guitar strap, gig bag, strings, guitar capo, clip-on digital tuner, guitar picks, and polishing cloth. You’ll save a lot of money when you purchase this product. You get a 30-day unconditional money-back guarantee so you can feel confident when you order. Or any older child that wants to learn acoustic guitar, this product is a solid bargain.
Pros:
- Plenty of accessories
- Easy to Play
- Cutaway design
Cons:
- May be too large for some children
- Some buyers had quality control issues
5. Epiphone PR-4E Acoustic-Electric Guitar Player Pack – Best Pro-Style Guitar for Kids
For older children looking for their first guitar, they may not be too impressed with a nylon string or a simple acoustic guitar. Epiphone is the lower-cost brand of Gibson Guitars. They make excellent instruments, including acoustic-electric guitars. These instruments give his students and younger players a lot more options. It’s exciting to play an acoustic-electric guitar. Here’s what you will get with this Gibson.
This instrument also has a cutaway, so it’s easy to reach the higher frets for soling and other acoustic guitar work. The guitar is made with mahogany. It has a Rosewood fretboard. It has passive piezo pickups which sound great when plugged into an amplifier. It comes with plenty of accessories such as acoustic amplifier, cord, strap, gig bag, picks, tuner, and a DVD guitar lesson manual. You have everything you need in one complete package to start playing right away. you want the for an older student. This is the one to buy.
Pros:
- Complete package in one
- Comes with plenty of accessories
- The amp is included
Cons:
- Not ideal for the youngest players
- Amp is a little poor
Conclusion
The best acoustic guitar for kids is the Oscar Schmidt OGHS-A-U 1/2 Size Dreadnought. It’s everything that a proper acoustic guitar should be, yet it’s only 1/2 the size. Make sure you put light guitar strings on it so the student will find it comfortable. The downside to this guitar is that you’re going to have to buy a case for it or a gig bag because it doesn’t ship with one.
In terms of nylon string guitars, try the Cordoba Mini II MH. The nylon strings are softer on the hands, and this nylon-string guitar is an excellent option. For older students, the clear winner is the Epiphone PR-4E Acoustic-Electric Guitar Player Pack. The guitar comes with its own amplifier, accessories, and it’s from Epiphone which is a quality guitar company and the lower-cost brand of Gibson.
You don’t have to spend a lot to buy your first acoustic guitar. Younger students will benefit from learning on an acoustic guitar before they moved to electric guitars or other guitars. They are going to have a lot of fun learning on these instruments.