Kids Guitars: Buying Your Child's First Guitar

The guitar remains the world's most popular instrument, and for some, it's a great way to reset, calm down, improve the mood and be the most famous person among friends. With so many benefits from learning a guitar, it's no wonder that many children dream of getting one as a gift. Receiving a guitar is a special moment and can truly be a life-changing experience.

Choosing the right guitar for your child is very important because the first three months are the most crucial – if they make it through, then they are much likely to become life-long players. But as a parent, especially if you don't play the guitar yourself, how would you know what is a good guitar for a beginner child?

For a lot of young children and beginners, it's recommended to start with a classical acoustic guitar. Classical Children'S Acoustic Guitar has larger and flatter neck and the strings are made from nylon. Nylon strings are very comfortable for children's fingers and will not hurt as steel strings. Many beginners choose Children'S Acoustic Guitar with nylon strings because they're much softer and more comfortable to play. Some acoustic guitars are really made with children in mind. Sturdily built, radius neck and low string design provide enhanced playability. As children like to learn through play, some brands have developed lesson applications and flashcards to make the learning process at home more exciting and fun.

Don't get confused by its name – the classical acoustic guitar doesn't mean that you'll child will need to play classical songs. He will actually be able to play any kind of music with this guitar. And it's a great option because acoustics produce their sound by themselves (no need to investing in amplifier and extra accessories).

In addition, acoustic steel-string guitars have bigger distance between the strings and the neck, so that kids have to press the strings down harder, which often leads to hand cramps. When your child reaches an advanced level, he'll most probably change to an acoustic steel-string option. Steel-string guitars are usually used to play rock, country and pop music. A steel-string guitar is an ideal option for kids from 8 years. And, in case your child wishes to perform his music in public, an electro-acoustic guitar would be a great choice. These versions have an electronic device (known as a pickup) which capture the strings vibration and amplifies the sound.

Electric guitars are different from the above two types for two reasons. First of all, they are solid body guitars, meaning they are made from solid wood. This is an important feature to consider when buying a guitar for the kid because these guitars will be much heavier. Second of all, to hear the sound you must amplify the guitar electronically. An amplifier is normally connected to the guitar with a wire called guitar lead. To adjust the sound and volume of your electric guitar you should use the amplifier. Although children like electric guitars, however, parents should know that kids acoustic guitar is usually the best choice for a beginner. If a child is too young, then buttons can be a very difficult task for him to handle. Electric guitars have quite thinner strings when compared to acoustic versions, and they are ideal to play best rock songs, blues, jazz or pop music. It's generally recommended children to be 13 years of age at least before they try an electric guitar.

The ideal size will prevent your child from getting frustrated while learning. The size of the body and the neck on your child's guitar should be appropriate, as kids can't handle guitars that are too big for them. Guitars come in three main sizes, and to select the right one you should consider your child age and height. Here is the rough guide:

• Age 5 – 8: ½ Size
• Age 9 – 13: ¾ Size
• Age 13+: Full Size

Purchasing the right acoustic guitar for kids doesn't have to be a stressful experience, instead, it should be fun. Happy shopping, and may the new instrument provide your child with many happy hours of playing!