Choosing a Kids Guitar

Choosing a guitar for your kids can be quite an interesting process, but it can also be annoying. You may have to choose from a wide variety of styles keeping in mind the price factor and the comfort levels of your child. Before deciding on a particular product it is a good idea to know about the different types and their features so that it is easy to make a decision. There are two basic types of kids guitars are very popular, the kids electric guitar and the kids acoustic guitar. Let us examine each type, since there is a big difference between the two.  In addition, the type you get could make all the difference when it comes down to whether your child sticks with the instrument or not.

For the most part, guitars are a great instrument for kids who are ready to start playing something, and are into modern, rock music.  The first choice is the kids acoustic guitar. They are smaller guitars and kid-friendly. You can purchase this type whenever you want because you don't have to wait until your child grows up. However, you should be very careful in choosing the right size and style according to the comfort level of your child. These guitars come in three different sizes such as 1/2, 2/3 and 3/4.  These sizes refer to the size in relation to the full adult versions. While choosing the size remember to choose one size bigger as the kids grow up fast and will quickly outgrow a tiny instrument.  And, if you are buying for the first time you can look for some cheaper alternatives. Once he becomes an expert you can purchase better and more expensive models.

One of the top choices by parents is a Yamaha.  For around $150, you can get a complete set that includes kids size acoustic guitar, a tuner, a bag, a strap, and some lessons on a DVD as well.  Yamaha makes a few different kids guitar sets to choose from.

If you just want the guitar by itself, a good acoustic guitar for kids is the Hohner HAG250P. It is a half size, hand-crafted model that has an agathis top, sides, and back. The small scale is specially designed for children and can be used by children as young as 5 years old. It also comes with nylon strings for the comfort of beginners. It features a sturdy body, nylon strings and comes with 1 year warranty. There are a lot of companies that produce acoustic guitars for kids, but you want to make sure you get a quality one. Some of the really cheap factory produced models may look fine, but the reality is that they are harder to play and sound good. What this means is that no matter how hard your child tries, he or she might never sound good, and this is definitely not a good thing. The good news is that decent quality kids guitars only cost about $20 more than the cheapos, so it makes a lot of sense to purchase a good one.

The other type you can buy for your children is the electric kids guitar. These are better suited for older children who have already started to choose the music they listen to.  If your kid likes rock music and gets a glazed, bored look when you play acoustic songs from Bob Dylan and Neil Young, you might want to think about getting him or her a kids electric guitar.  The reason is because kids will learn to play so much quicker if they are learning something they are already listening to and like. Some parents might get freaked out by the thought of their kid making all kinds of noise, but this is just part of the process. Unlike the guitars used by grownups, the arms of the kids guitars are smaller. The popular sizes which are suitable for children are 1/2 and 3/4. Children who are 11 years or more can use the full size models. Choose the right size which is comfortable to hold so that it is very easy for your child to learn and play it well. If you select an improper size it could create a lot of strain and lead to lack of interest.  Most of the electric guitars for kids come as a set.  This means that you get the guitar, a small amp, a tuner, strings, a gig bag, chord charts, and even some lessons on a DVD, depending on which one you choose.

One of the best electric guitar sets for kids is the Fender Squier Children’s electric guitar.  This one is good because it is made by the leading guitar manufaturer in the world.  Fender makes solid, quality electric guitars, and this means that your child will be playing something that is built to sound good.  It features a 1 watt mini tone master mini amplifier, a padded gig bag, picks, and strap. The amp it comes with is pretty small.  This might be a good thing for parents if you live in close proximity to neighbors!  It might not put out a full-on rock sound, but it should be loud enough to hear fine.  If you need to upgrade to something louder, you can always just get a bigger amp easily. The size is 3/4 and suitable for children between 6-11. The kids guitar set includes a 10-foot cable also. Choose your particular style according to your budget and other considerations mentioned above.  You can find all of these guitars and more on Amazon.com, which offers a much bigger selection than you would get from any music store and ships free as well.