“I believe every guitar player inherently has something unique about their playing.” -Jimmy Page.
If your child has expressed the desire to learn a musical instrument such as the guitar, parents should do everything they can to encourage their sons and daughters to do so since there are so many benefits.
It's worth stating that kids can learn to play the guitar as young as five or six years old. While there may be challenges in learning at such a young age, the potential to grasp new information is fantastic!
Therefore, mothers and fathers should instruct themselves about how their children can take guitar lessons and what type of equipment is needed for young learners. Also, if you didn't already know, there are specifically made and designed guitars for children.
Without further ado, to help guitar learners between the ages of 8 to 12 years old, in today's article, we'll consider everything there is to know about 3/4 guitars!
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How to Choose a Guitar Size That is Adapted to Your Child?
As we have just brought out in the preceding paragraphs, a 3/4 sized guitar is tailormade for children that are between the ages of 8 to 12 years old. Although age is a factor that guitar manufacturers use to determine which guitar is best for a growing child, another criterion that comes into play is height. Why's that? Well, some children are taller or bigger for their age.
Not only the height is taken into account but also the size of the hands. It would be a shame to have a youngster start learning the guitar as a beginner on an instrument that is too small; this could discourage them or derail their overall progress.
Here is a chart to help you choose the right size guitar for your child:
| 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 + |
The 3/4 guitar is the one recommended for a child measuring between 130 and 150 cm. This is the last size guitar before moving to a 4/4 guitar, the complete guitar, or in other words, the normal-sized adult guitar.
If you're worried about having to buy another guitar for your child who is going through growth spurts, you might want to purchase a guitar that is slightly bigger so that they can grow into it. For instance, if your child is 145cm tall and/or has big hands, have them try out a 4/4, or adult guitar.
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What's the Difference Between a 3/4 Guitar and a Standard Guitar?
It's worth stating that a 3/4 guitar is made the same way as a standard 4/4 guitar. The only thing that changes about it is the size. A 3/4 guitar is smaller than a standard-sized one. The name of 3/4 guitars is slightly misleading because it is not 75% the size of a standard guitar.
The length of a 3/4 guitar is generally 90 cm.
A 3/4 guitar is suitable for children between 8 and 12 years old but also for people of small stature or wishing to transport their guitar during a trip abroad since it takes less space. A 3/4 is the perfect idea for an 8-10-year-old kid who wants to learn the guitar.
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What Are the Best 3/4 Classical Guitars For Children?
Of all 3/4 guitars on the market, you will find classical guitars much easier than others. Why's that? Well, classical guitars are great for beginners because of their nylon strings. For example, classical guitars have six nylon strings that don't hurt your fingers, a must for kids, and a wider neck which means greater spacing between the guitar strings.
With a 3/4 classical guitar, your child will be able to play classical music, flamenco, gipsy jazz, folk, international music, and many more genres.
Here are 3 of the best 3/4 classical guitars. To find the following three options we used criteria based on the guitar's features, price, quality, durability, manufacturer reputation and the reviews of past clients.
| Yamaha JR2TBS 3/4 | Stagg C530 TR 3/4 Classical Guitar | Cordoba C1M 3/4 |
|---|---|---|
| Without a doubt the best classical guitar in this category. The sound is clear, balanced and natural. It is suitable for both a child and for the traveler wishing to save space. The fingerboard is rosewood, the scale length measures 54 cm and it has a mahogany finish which gives it a magnificent look. Highly recommended! | A highly recognised brand, Stagg guitars are fantastic. 3/4 size is available for the C430M classical guitar model. | Another brilliant guitar brand, Cordoba has wonderful guitars for young ones. This guitar has a 24" scale, a spruce top, mahogany back and sides. The notes sound as good as on a 4/4 guitar. |
| £196.50 | £80.00 +/- | £149.00 |
Which 3/4 Folk or Electro-Acoustic Guitars Are Best For Young Guitar Players?
Even if many guitar instructors and experts advise young beginners to start their lessons on a classical version, your child can perfectly start on folk or electro-acoustic guitar without any serious issues. It's important to state that these models are also suitable for children who are no longer beginners and wish to continue to evolve towards an intermediate or advanced level of playing.
Folk guitars are basically acoustic guitars with the main difference being the strings. You will always find steel strings on a folk guitar and nylon strings on most classical guitars. The strings affect overall comfort since they are tougher on the fingers; therefore, folk guitars might be more complex for young kids. Nonetheless, the folk or electro-acoustic guitars are fantastic since they produce a very clear sound that accompanies rock, blues, and jazz genres of music.
Also, it's worth stating that electro-acoustic guitars allow you to play both acoustic and electric versions of the guitar; if you have an amp. Electro-acoustic guitars are more compact than electric guitars.
Without further ado, in the table below you'll see the three best folk or electro-acoustic guitars on the market today.
| Fender FA15 3/4 | Yamaha JR1FG 3/4 | Yamaha APXT2 3/4 |
|---|---|---|
| The Fender brand is best known for its electric guitars but it also offers excellent acoustic guitars like the FA15 3/4 for child learners. THe sound is powerful and warm thanks to an agathis top. The strings are steel and the scale length is 59.2 cm. | Designed from Yamaha's FG line, this junior version has a shorter scale with a length of 54cm. It is easy to play for children from 8 to 12 years old but also adapts to travelers who want to reduce space. | It's a good electro-acoustic guitar if your child wants to start learning about electrics before moving on to a 100% electric guitar. Its pitch measures 58 cm. A pickup system is integrated with a tuner for easy tuning. Several colours are available. |
| £134.49 | £138.95 | £256.50 |
Which 3/4 Electric Guitar Should I Buy For My Child?
For young guitarists who want to get into playing and jamming out on an electric guitar, buying a 3/4 guitar that is in their size is also possible. Though it's not the traditional route of learning, starting your child out with an electric guitar model is quite doable, especially if your child is passionate about rock and heavy metal music. You'll need to plan to buy an amplifier for your child's electric guitar; an extra expense you might not have thought of.
It's worth stating that electric guitars are much thinner than acoustic guitars, even in 3/4 sized dimensions. The strings of electric guitars are made of steel but you have to exert less pressure to successfully support them and have the right sound come out.
To help parents buy the best 3/4 electric guitars for their children, we've created a table with the two best options available for purchase in the UK at music shops and online.
| Squier Mini Stratocaster IL DR 3/4 | Ibanez GRGM21-BKN 3/4 |
|---|---|
| The Squier brand is the one used by Fender for guitars that are specially manufactured and dedicated to children. The mini stratocaster will undoubtedly please your young rocker in training! Poplar body, maple neck, 22.5" scale length and 3 built-in single pickups. | The Japanese brand, Ibanz, is very well known for its acoustic guitars but it also offers a lot of electric guitars with a particular shape that is slightly different from the norm. Scale length is 56.4 cm. Suitable for the youngest of guitar players. |
| £140.00 | £150.00 |
With the two previously mentioned options, your 8-12 year old will start to experience what it feels like to be a rockstar in training!
Are There Any Tips or Tricks for Buying Your First 3/4 Guitar?
If you're new to playing the guitar or buying one for a friend or family member, you might need some assistance to guide you towards purchasing the right one. It's worth stating the principles or suggestions for buying a 3/4 guitar are the same for purchasing a normal, adult-sized guitar. Before getting started, you'll want to ask yourself the following questions:
- What type of music do I want to play?
- How often will I play?
- Have I decided between a classical, folk, or electric guitar?
- What's my budget?
- Am I planning on buying new or used?
If you're buying a 3/4 guitar for your child, you'll still want to ask the previously mentioned questions. Also, since you don't know everything about musical instruments, don't hesitate to seek advice from your child's guitar teacher.
As for tips, we highly recommend heeding the following suggestions when buying a 3/4 guitar:
- Buy From a Music Shop: most people enjoy shopping online because they don't have to go into the store, when buying the first 3/4 guitar for yourself or your children, it's highly suggested to buy from a music shop. Why? You get to try out your future guitar, get a feel for it, and see whether it's comfortable to play. Also, the invaluable advice from the shop owner or seller will help you decide upon a guitar that fits your needs.
- Shop Around: instead of settling for the first guitar you lock your eyes on, we highly recommend reading reviews online, going to music shops to see the 3/4 models that they have to offer, and asking friends and music experts for advice. Buying the first 3/4 guitar you find or see isn't always a great idea because you don't get a chance to see all the potential options out there.
- Consider Buying Used: as we have briefly mentioned in this article already, secondhand guitars are a fantastic option for children who are growing; no parent wants to constantly buy new guitars every few months! So, instead of purchasing new, look at classified ads to find affordable and high-quality 3/4 guitars for a fraction of the price. Most of the time your child won't even realise it's used!
In conclusion, we sincerely hope that this guide has equipped parents with the information that they need to buy their kids a 3/4 guitar for music lessons!
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