Trusted Shops: 4.84/5,00 (10085)
Guitars for Children – How do I find the right instrument?
Congratulations: your child has decided they want to learn to play the guitar. This can be the start of a wonderful new hobby or perhaps even lead them into the spotlight on stages around the world! But one step at a time. First you’ll probably ask: “What type of children’s guitar should I buy?” and “What size should a children’s guitar be?”. So you should first consider together whether it should be a steel‑string acoustic (western) guitar, a classical guitar or an electric guitar.
Wide selection
From pick to amp, from stick to kit: we're your one-stop shop for everything you need!
Steel‑string acoustic guitars for children
Steel‑string acoustic (western) guitars are acoustic guitars with steel strings and a narrower neck. They are particularly well suited to chord accompaniment and are a key element of blues, country and pop music. For decades they have been a fixture in contemporary music, and lately stars like Ed Sheeran or Taylor Swift have helped make this type of guitar extremely popular. Besides different body shapes, there are also smaller models that are suitable for younger players. These are often offered as travel or smaller‑bodied guitars.
Electric guitars for children
The electric guitar probably needs no further introduction. It is arguably the most influential musical instrument of the post‑war era and remains hugely popular. For a long time there were hardly any size variations in electric guitars, but today some companies offer reduced‑size models to make it easier for the smallest players to get started. Bear in mind, however, that you'll also need to purchase an amplifier and a cable.
Classical guitars for children
The classical guitar (or “concert guitar”) is, as you might expect, the classic beginner’s guitar. Part of the reason is that these are strung with nylon strings, which makes pressing the strings down much easier, especially at the beginning. The strings are also spaced further apart, which is very helpful for beginners when learning. Because of their popularity among younger beginners, classical guitars are also available in smaller sizes, such as 3/4, 1/2, 1/4 or 7/8. This refers to the length of the so‑called "scale length" (the distance between bridge and nut, i.e. the length of the strings) compared to a full‑size guitar, which logically corresponds to 4/4. It’s like buying shoes – trying them on is essential! Besides body height, hand size and general comfort when handling the instrument are decisive factors for how much fun the new hobby will be. The following values can serve as a reference:
| Player height | Guitar size |
| 110 to 130 cm | 1/4 scale length |
| 120 to 140 cm | 1/2 scale length |
| 130 to 150 cm | 3/4 scale length |
| 140 to 160 cm | 7/8 scale length |
| from 150 cm | 4/4 scale length (normal size) |
In our guide “Finding the right classical guitar size” you can view all our classical guitars sorted by size.
