Are you having trouble finding the right size of an electric guitar for your child? Finding the right electric guitar that will suit your child can be a bit frustrating, that is why we have reviewed the best electric guitar for kids. To allow your kid to flourish, he or she will need a guitar of size and especially a guitar that they like that matches the tastes of a child their age.
Finding the right instrument and equipment, finding a guitar teacher, and constantly motivating your toddler are just a few of the things to consider. But you can take our word for it when we say it’s worth it! Seeing your child develop musical skills, expressing his emotions using a musical instrument, and seeing him grow and mature both musically and emotionally is an exhilarating and wonderful experience.
To make it easier for you to find a good electric guitar for kids, we have carefully scrutinized the market for instruments in search of the best products.
Top Picks
Top 5 Options
1. Jackson JS1X Dinky Minion
The Jackson JS1X Dinky Minion is an incredible children’s guitar. With its poplar body and ebony handle with a thin and narrow profile, it is pleasant and easy to play for all those with small hands, including adults.
With its 2/3 scale of 22.5 inches, it is light and comfortable to hold, whether played standing or sitting. The Jackson JS1X Dinky Minion is available in several colors which should satisfy most tastes.
2. Fender Squier Mini Strat V2
This Fender Squier Mini Strat V2 is a reduced replica of the entry-level Squier Bullet model, itself inspired by the iconic Fender Stratocaster.
It is made in poplar for the body, its neck is in maple and the fingerboard in Indian laurel with 22 frets. Its three Standard single-coil pickups offer great versatility and allow you to play in several musical registers, from jazz to rock, through the blues.
It is a very good electric guitar for children, that will allow him to start his learning well and get acquainted with one of the biggest brands of electric guitars in the world: Fender.
3. Epiphone Les Paul Player Pack
As you may already know, Epiphone is owned by Gibson. The guitars take all the Gibson codes at a much cheaper price, without necessarily cutting back on quality.
The Epiphone electric guitar provided in the pack is a Les Paul Player which offers a perfect sound for rock, but also jazz and blues, according to taste. This versatility is partly due to the two humbuckers that provide the punch to the guitar. The Epiphone Electar 10 Watts amp is pretty good and is enough to start learning to play.
4. Ibanez GRGM21
This Ibanez is perfect for young beginners who like heavy rock and metal styles. With its 22 inches 3/4 neck in ultra-thin maple, it offers incredible playability, allowing children to exercise at speed from an early age.
Finished in an elegant and brilliant black, this Ibanez GRGM21 also embeds two humbuckers which develop a powerful sound to play in the register of heavy rock and metal, as extreme as it is. Its fixed bridge keeps the chord, allowing the budding musician to focus on learning while worrying about tuning. With its low price and high efficiency, it will undoubtedly delight your child and your wallet.
5. Bontempi- Guitar, 241310
What to choose for the little ones, knowing that they will grow quickly and that they will have to play on a larger guitar, and taking into account also that there are chances that the guitar will not last long between their hands… Around 3 years old, I will be more tempted to recommend a guitar which is not a toy, but a toy that is not a guitar either.
This inexpensive model may be a good entry point for young children. Operating on three LR6 batteries, this member in our list of best electric guitars for kids is a light guitar (just under 900g). It connects directly to headphones or a pair of headphones via a 3.5mm jack. This guitar offers a first didactic and educational experience!
Why the Right Size May Vary From Child To Child
The right size varies from child to child because some kids often have longer arms. It is necessary to make sure that your youngster can accompany you to the music store to try each of the guitars that interest him. Choosing an instrument that is perfectly suited to your child is the essential starting point for his success in guitar.
Starting to learn the guitar with an instrument that is too “big” or “too small” could result in hours and hours of frustration for your child, slow progress, and even the acquisition of a poor, deficient technique.
Find a Great Kids Guitar Combo Amp
Before 8 years of age, it may be more reasonable to start with an inexpensive set that contains everything your child needs to get started. The interest of the box is first to offer amp, guitar, strap, pick, carrying case, and other accessories at a reduced price. It’s quick, simple, and also has the advantage that if the child is no longer interested in the guitar after a few months, at least it will not have cost you an arm.
One cannot overstretch the importance of getting an amp box along with any of the best electric guitars for kids. This box with its ¼ size guitar (perfect for children between 4 and 8 years old) will be ideal to start strumming the very first riffs. The guitar itself is relatively well assembled, which not necessarily a useless question is given the price of the set. The amp is not extremely powerful but has the advantage of accepting the connection of headphones, which will not be too much.
Electric Guitar Kids Size
Once the choice of the type of child guitar is made, we must now think of choosing the right size for the child. Depending on the age and size of the child, there is a guitar size of its own.
There are 4 guitar sizes: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and finally 4/4. The latter sizes are the guitars for adults. These sizes depend on the size of the body and the length of the neck of the guitar.
For an electric guitar, size 3/4 will be perfect for children over 6 years old. For children under 6, it is best to buy a 1/2 guitar. From 11 years old, it is advisable to buy a 4/4 guitar for the child.
How to Choose an Electric Guitar For Kids
When buying an electric guitar for a child, it is essential to pay attention to a few things. First of all, and it is obvious, the children are small. You should, therefore, orient yourself to shorter guitars, especially 3/4 electric guitars. This is because size is important when choosing the best electric guitar for kids.
Specifically, look for guitars with a thin, easy-to-play neck with a light body. Also, beware of poorly designed guitars. The market is full of cheap guitars that sound so bad that it’s best not to buy them at all.
Accessories
Amplifier / cable
Electric guitars cannot produce the correct sound without a good amp. You can usually find them for beginners at around $100. To connect the two, you will need a cable, which costs around $10. While $10 doesn’t seem like a high rate, all of those little extra things are starting to add up in your budget.
Tuner
Furthermore, a good tuner, if your child does not know how to tune a guitar, is essential. Even if the guitar is tuned when you buy it, it will probably be detuned after a few hours of practice. A tuner is therefore crucial. But rest assured, these are simple and easy to use devices.
Metronome
A metronome is another equipment to favor for a good practice of the guitar and the development of musicality. This is why we recommend that you get a digital metronome. Some also offer the tuner functionality, all for relatively reasonable sums, ranging from less than $10 to a hundred depending on the brand.
Protective cover
The protective cover or case is also essential equipment. Indeed, your child will probably need to transport his guitar, especially to go to his lessons. At first, a protective cover for an electric guitar should be enough.
Avoid the effect pedal
On the other hand, one thing you should avoid from the start is the purchase of a guitar effect pedal. The best electric guitars for kids come with great sounds already. Yes, the pedals are excellent, but you should not alter the basic sounds by adding strange effects or distortion. A beginner should always be able to hear the sound of his electric guitar properly so that he can judge what he is playing.
Strap / Picks
You will also need to purchase a decent guitar strap. It is good to note that playing in a standing position (with a strap) and in a seated position (without strap) are two opposite worlds because the muscular positioning is completely different. Either way, a strap provides good safety even when seated and should be taken into account. Finally, you will need picks (picks), which can be purchased for a ridiculous cost.
What is a reasonable price for a beginner electric guitar?
When it comes to the price of electric guitars for beginners, It all depends on the qualities you look for in the guitar. The best electric guitar for beginners has great aesthetics, versatility, and sound.
The price for a beginner electric guitar varies from $150 – $500 depending on its brand and quality.
What should I look for when shopping for a guitar?
Whether you are a beginner just starting to learn six strings, or an experienced guitarist finding the perfect instrument for your style is a quest not to be taken lightly. Here are few things to key an eye out for.
The ropes
The most obvious difference is in the composition of the strings. For example, the electric guitars for kids have great string composition. On a classical guitar, the strings are made of nylon or fluorocarbon, while on a folk guitar they are made of steel.
The handle
Most of the time a guitar neck will not have the point present at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, and 15th frets as is the case on folk and electric guitars. This can be a bit unsettling at first and it will take time to adjust.
The body
Unlike folk guitars which often have a cutaway in the body to allow easier access to the treble, the shape of a guitar tends to be very symmetrical, and it is very rare to see cut sides, except on crossover guitars.
The sound
A guitar has a soft and “mellow” sound and is most often used for picking. The musical styles that are most often associated with the guitar are classical, folk, bossa nova, and flamenco among others.
Should I buy a larger guitar so my child can grow into it?
If your child is between, for example, a ¾ and a regular size guitar, in terms of age or size, then you should opt for a larger guitar, here the regular size guitar. Because after all, why would you buy a smaller guitar if you have to buy a larger one in a few months or even a few weeks. So the best electric guitar for kids should be one that will suit them perfectly for long.
Also, although a child under the age of 10 can learn to play an instrument that is slightly too large for them, we recommend that you buy an instrument that suits them – it can be difficult for a child to adopt a good posture and correct hand positioning on a guitar that is too large – and these bad habits could remain with your child even in the long term, despite themselves.
When it comes to electric guitars for beginners, the choice you make will likely be based on several factors, including price, sound, versatility, and aesthetics.
Guitar specs
Body Size:
Overall length: 19 3/16 inches/ 485mm
Upper bout width: 11 1/16 inches/ 282mm
Middle bout width: 9 1/2 inches/ 241mm
Lower bout width: 14 1/2 inches/ 367mm
Depth:
Upper bout: 3 7 /8 inches/ 97mm
Lower bout: 4 inches/ 101mm
Neck Width:
At nut: 2 1/8 inches/ 53mm
12th fret: 2 1/2 inches/63mm
Neck Thickness:
At 1st. fret: 22.5mm
8th. fret: 24.5mm
String Spacing:
At Nut: 1 3/4 inches/ 44mm
At Bridge: 2 5/16 inches/ 59mm
Standard String Length:
650mm
Conclusion
In summary, this guide reviews the best electric guitars for kids and we hope you have found it useful. With any of the best electric guitars on our list, you kid can enjoy an easy and convenient playing time. We recommend you get the The Jackson JS1X Dinky Minion which is our best pick. It offers a light and comfortable feel for your kid while sitting or standing.
Now is the time to determine your exact needs, your child’s musical preferences and tastes, as well as the budget. So armed, you can find the most suitable electric guitar. Don’t hesitate to show your child some of the guitars listed above, and if he knows what he wants, it’s even better.
