Helping Your Little One Succeed at Preschool

Playing a musical instrument is great for a child's development. It can help them gain confidence, enhance learning, and express themselves in a healthy way. When your child expresses an interest in learning how to play the guitar, you probably want to support that dream. How do you choose the right guitar for your child to start with? Take a look at some tips that can help.

Rent or Buy?

The first thing that you want to consider is whether you should buy a guitar for your child or rent one to start with. There's no wrong answer here – a lot depends on your child and your finances.

If your child is very young, or if they have a habit of wanting to try new things but losing interest quickly, you may want to start out with a rental guitar at first. A rental can also be a good solution if you just don't have the money to spend on the new guitar that your child wants. As a bonus, many instrument rental companies include repairs and maintenance in the fee, so you won't have to pay extra out of pocket for those expenses. Instrument rental companies sometimes also have affiliations with local musical instructors or schools, so if you plan to enroll your child in guitar lessons, check with the instructor to find out if there's a deal available to you.

On the other hand, if you know that your child is liable to stick with guitar-playing for some time to come, it may be less expensive in the long run to simply buy a guitar outright. When a guitar is well cared for, it tends not to depreciate much in value, which means that buying a guitar can be a good investment in your child's musical future.

Classical, Acoustic, or Electric?

The next question is what style of guitar to start with. There are three main options that beginning guitar players usually choose from: the classical guitar, the acoustic guitar, or the electric guitar.

What type of music your child wants to play is an important factor to consider when choosing a style of guitar. A classical guitar is mainly used for Latin genres of music, some folk music, and classical guitar music. The soft nylon strings and light weight make this the easiest guitar to learn on. An acoustic guitar looks similar to a classical guitar, though it's a little heavier and has steel strings instead. This guitar is the most versatile and can be used for most types of music, except rock guitar solos and classical guitar music. Electric guitars require an amplifier and are used primarily for rock music.

Often, parents prefer to start their children on an acoustic or classical guitar, but your child may have other ideas. If they can only picture themselves rocking out on an electric guitar, they may not be motivated to learn and practice on a classical guitar. An acoustic may be a good compromise because of its versatility, but it's often best to let your child start on the guitar they're most interested in. Once they've learned, they may be more open to trying other types of guitars.

What Size?

You'll also need to decide what size guitar your child needs. This is where a guitar instructor or a music store professional can really help. Because an electric guitar is smaller than the other types, children can often start on a full-sized electric guitar at an earlier age, but you can find half-sized and three-quarter sized electric guitars for smaller children as well. For acoustic guitars, it's common for children to start on three-quarter sized guitars, and there's also a small-bodied acoustic that works for children who have outgrown the three-quarter size but aren't yet ready for the full body.

The classical guitar has the widest range of sizes, starting at one-quarter size and going up to a full size from there. When it comes to the classical guitar, it's also important to take the size of your child's hands into account, because the neck of a full-sized classical guitar is wider than other guitars. If your child has small hands, there are slim-necked options available.

Choosing your child's first guitar can be a fun experience for the two of you to share, as well as a way to get to know your local music store and your child's guitar instructor as they help you make your choices. Once the guitar has been chosen, your child's musical adventure can really begin.