If you aren’t a musician yourself, you’re probably aren’t well-versed in the world of guitars enough to know how to pick the right one. That’s okay because we’re here to help you! Your budding musician is likely ready to rock and roll, so let’s get right to it. 

Whether you need help choosing the right size, or you don’t have anything idea where to start, we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about choosing the right guitar for your child.

Step 1: Decide on the type of guitar. 

There are three types of guitars: acoustic, electric, and classical. Depending on what kind of music your kid likes, they will likely gravitate towards a specific guitar. Here’s a breakdown of the three different types of guitars: 

Electric Guitar

• Smaller than an acoustic and classical guitar 
• Great for musicians who like country, rock, or pop music 
• Can be heavy
• Has steel strings that can be hard on young fingers 
• Needs an amp

Acoustic Guitar

• Similar in shape to a classical guitar 
• Bright and loud sound 
• Has steel strings that can be hard on young fingers 
• Good for contemporary music 

Classical Guitar

• Has nylon strings that are softer for young fingers 
• Warm and full sound
• Tend to come in a default shape and size
• Suitable for classical and Latin styles of music 

Step 2: Find the right size.

The last thing you want to do is do all this research just to buy a guitar that’s either too big or too small for your child. The size of the guitar matters, and if your child is having a difficult time playing their instrument, that might be a sign that the guitar isn’t a good fit. 

Electric Guitar 

• Recommended size for ages 5-8 is 1/2 size 
• Recommended size for ages 8-12 is 3/4 size
• Recommended size for ages 12+ is a full size 

Acoustic Guitar 

• Recommended size for ages 5-12 is 3/4 size 
• Recommended size for ages 12-15 is a small body 
• Recommended size for ages 15+ is a full size 

Classical Guitar 

• Recommended size for ages 2-5 is 1/4 size
• Recommended size for ages 5-8 is 1/2 size
• Recommended size for ages 8-12 is 3/4 size
• Recommended size for ages 12+ is a full size 

Step 3: Purchase the guitar and enroll them in lessons.

Woohoo! Now that you’ve gotten a complete breakdown of the different types of guitar, you and your child can go out and choose the best fit. Afterward, don’t waste another minute and go ahead and enroll your child in music school. Or even better, enroll them in music school before the process to receive extra help choosing the right guitar.

Your child’s guitar teacher at Spark School of Music is the ideal person to consult when you’re buying your child’s first guitar or even when you think it might be time to size up. Your child’s musical success starts with choosing the best guitar suited just for them!