Wait! The title idea for this post is completely wrong. Buying a full-size guitar for a beginning student so they can “grow into it” is one of the absolute worst things you could do for their musical future.
If you subscribe to this philosophy, you may as well start buying clothes four sizes too big and hoping for the best. Don’t let an uninformed salesperson at a guitar shop talk you into this just because they don’t carry an appropriate child-size guitar. Many families get lured into this thinking because it seems more economical — “We won’t have to buy another guitar when they grow!” But the reality is, a bad fit from the start can make learning guitar so uncomfortable and frustrating that many children simply give up.
Playing guitar is already full of challenges. Having an instrument that feels awkward and oversized adds unnecessary difficulty. Comfort is key — if a young student can’t hold the guitar easily or sit with it properly, they are far less likely to stick with lessons.
Look at how violins are handled: students are properly sized for their instruments, and most rent different sizes as they grow. With guitars, unfortunately, there’s less awareness and fewer rental options — so full-size purchases happen more often, even when it’s not what’s best for the student.
Is there a happy medium?
Yes! You can absolutely find quality guitars that fit children comfortably without breaking the bank. One outstanding option is the Art & Lutherie Ami guitar. It has a smaller body that’s easy for kids to hold, but a full-size neck that feels like a standard guitar. Plus, its tone quality and projection can even impress seasoned players.
If a child is very small, however, you may need to wait a little longer or look at other musical options until they’re big enough. Finding a properly fretted, good-sounding short-scale guitar can be tricky and expensive.
In those cases, starting with piano, keyboard, or ukulele are great alternatives. The ukulele, in particular, is affordable, easier for small hands, and teaches skills that transfer naturally to the guitar later.
The bottom line: If a child can’t get comfortable with their instrument, frustration builds quickly. There’s always an adjustment phase with learning anything new, but no beginner should feel buried behind a guitar they can barely handle.
Get the right size. Give them a real chance to love music.
You’ll be glad you did.
Henry Bahrou
Guitarist, Music Theorist, Music Academy Director
Grosse Pointe Music Academy
Your right buddy! When kids are expose on music instruments the tendency is that they are encourage it to learn, Just like my kids, they used to see me playing the guitar and we always jam. Now they know the basic because they asked me to teach them. So for the parents who want their kids to be active in this kind of activities better encourage them when they are still young 🙂