"Sometimes you want to give up the guitar, you'll hate the guitar. But if you stick with it, you're gonna be rewarded." -Jimi Hendrix
When learning the guitar, whether you're older or very young, there will be some times that you just want to give up and stop playing. The guitar, like other musical instruments, takes time to master and fully learn. Nonetheless, the rewards are amazing!
There's such a feeling of accomplishment when you finally learn how to play a song from beginning to end!
Also, playing an instrument like the guitar is a form of expression that lets a person's creativity run wild; just one of the many advantages! The best time to learn an instrument such as the guitar is as young as possible. When honed from a young age, children become experts in their teens and can play like rockstars during adulthood.
Taking classes with a guitar tutor is highly recommended for young children since they will be taught the basics of playing and be provided with any assistance where they need to improve. But, maybe you're wondering which guitar is suitable for my child?
Indeed, depending on the age, height and size of a child's hands, a standard guitar will not be appropriate and will not allow them to comfortably play their new instrument. When a child plays a musical instrument that is not the right size for them, they may become discouraged and lose interest in playing. So, it's extremely important for parents to find and purchase the right sized guitar for their sons or daughters.
Without further delay, in today's article, we'll learn everything there is to know about 1/4 sized guitars for children!
What Sized Guitar to Choose for My Child?
Before you start learning all about 1/4 guitars, you might be wondering what sized guitar would be the best for children who are beginning to play. To help make a decision, you must take into account two main criteria: age and size of the children.
The size of the child must be considered because some children are taller than others for their age. Therefore, to help parents buy the right sized guitar, the following are the appropriate guitar sizes based on your child's age and height:
| Guitar Size | Age of Child | Height of the Child |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8 | 3-5 years old | 70 to 90 cm |
| 1/4 | 4-6 years old | 90 to 120 cm |
| 1/2 | 5-8 years old | 115 to 135 cm |
| 3/4 | 8-12 years old | 130 to 150 cm |
| 4/4 | 12+ years old | 150 cm + |
As you saw on the list, the 1/4 guitar is not the smallest guitar featured on the list. There is a 1/8 size. However, it's really difficult to find a 1/8 in most music stores; you'll have to look online.
If your child is 118 cm, do not hesitate to buy them a 1/2 guitar rather than a 1/4 guitar. The same is true if they have large hands for their age. Your child will be able to use the guitar longer since they will grow into it. If you're unsure about sizes, we strongly recommend seeking the assistance of a music tutor or music shop owner.
Nonetheless, when in doubt, it's always better to buy a bigger sized guitar since it will last a long time.
Also, it's important to state that even though 1/4 guitars are made for kids, some adults purchase them since they make the perfect travel-sized guitar.
Here is where you can learn guitar lessons
What is a 1/4 Guitar and What is the Difference Between an "Adult-Sized" Guitar?
See where you can get more information about some of the most effective guitar lessons here.
A 1/4 guitar is made in the same way as a "normal" sized guitar and has the same principles yet it is smaller. For instance, a 1/4 guitar has a scale length of 48 centimetres and the complete guitar does not exceed 78 cm.
The 1/4 guitar is perfect for budding guitarists who are between the ages of 5 and 7 years old; they can also be used as a travel guitar without any problem if you go on a road trip or plane ride.
It is the ideal size guitar for a child who's beginning their musical experience and who wants to learn the guitar.
Check out where to find guitar lessons here.
Which 1/4 Sized Classical Guitar is Best for a Child?
At the start, for young children, most 1/4 guitars will be classical guitars. In any case, it is advisable to learn to play an acoustic guitar rather than an electro-acoustic guitar or a folk guitar. But, why? Acoustic guitars have six nylon strings which hurt the fingers less. In addition, the classical guitar's neck is wider, which allows for greater spacing between the strings and facilitates learning with the right hand.
Classical guitars allow you to play different styles of music such as classical, flamenco, gipsy jazz, and folk.
Nonetheless, which 1/4 classical guitars are the best? Let's consider three highly recommended 1/4 sized classical guitars in the following list:
- La Mancha Rubinito CM/47 1/4: a good brand of classical guitars, La Mancha has the Rubinito series that is designed especially for children. The Rubinito CM/47 1/4 is of the highest quality with a magnificent sound and beautiful finishes. Also, it is perfect for your child from 5 to 7 years old. Check out Amazon for pricing details.
- Ortega R121-1/4 NT: the German brand, Ortega, also manufactures small guitars for children. The Ortega R121 1/4 NT has a 44cm scale and is perfectly adapted for children from 4 to 6 years old. You can find new Ortega R121 1/4 NT guitars for approximately £100.
- Startone CG 851: if you are looking for a more affordable guitar for your child, we recommend the Startone available in natural wood or in satin pink. The Startone CG 851 is perfect for beginners and the price is around £30.
While the three previously mentioned options are fantastic for young children, we highly recommend checking out what Yamaha has to offer since they are a reference for guitars.
Which 1/4 Electric Guitar to Choose?
Does your child prefer to take electric guitar lessons? Does your son or daughter have aspirations to become one of the world's greatest rockstars? It's worth stating that it's possible for children aged 5 to 7 to play the electric guitar on a 1/4 model.
While many may claim that starting on the electric guitar may be quite difficult for children, young ones are like sponges and can play anything that they put their minds to. However, to play or learn the electric guitar, the music tastes of your son or daughter should be rock, heavy metal, or alternative.
If your son or daughter has expressed a desire to play the electric guitar, they must take into account that there's a need to buy a small amplifier and that the electric guitar is louder than the classical guitar; warn your neighbours! Thankfully headphones have been invented and they can be attached to the amp to not disturb the entire family.
An additional benefit of playing the electric guitar for children is that the neck of an electric guitar is generally less bulky than that of a classical guitar which can make it easier for small hands to grip.
While there are many different 1/4 models on the market, the one that we recommend for children between the ages of 5 to 7 is the Harley Benton ST-Junior BK Standard Series. For how much? Depending on the music shop, you can find this guitar for approximately £50. With a scale length of 49 cm, a basswood body, and a maple neck, the Harley Benton guitar is ideal for young children.
It's worth stating that although Gibson, Ibanez, or Fender are highly recommended brands, it's difficult to find 1/4 models.
If you're buying an electric guitar for your children, you'll definitely need an amp. A greatly suggested amplifier is the Fender Frontman 10G amp that is available on Amazon for around £50 more or less. Since it's a 10 Watt amp, it's small, easy to transport, and has a headphone output so that your child can strum his guitar strings without making too much noise!
How to Tune a 1/4 Guitar?
Since it's smaller than a regular or adult-sized guitar, a 1/4 guitar is not easier to tune or modify. While it may be a challenge to tune a 1/4 guitar, it's not impossible. We recommend that you choose a new set of 1/4 guitar strings; nylon strings may be easily found.
A 1/4 guitar is usually tuned in La Re Sol Do Mi La to have a correct touch and sound. Just remember that the smaller guitar has 2.5 tones higher than a 4/4 guitar.
Be careful not to stretch out the strings on the first tuning too much since the nylon will become stretched.
We highly recommend watching a YouTube tutorial or asking the advice of a professional music teacher or guitar expert before tuning your child's 1/4 guitar. After you've seen how it's done, then you can attempt it on your own.
In conclusion, we hope that this article answered all of your questions about 1/4 sized guitars. We hope your young child will enjoy their guitar lessons!
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