9 Best Kids Guitars – That They’ll Actually Want To Play

Whether you’ve got a future rock star in your hands and you want to help them realise their dreams or your child is just dipping their toe into the world of guitar and you don’t want to splash out on a pro-level guitar just yet, there’s a world of guitar options out there to choose from that will suit all budgets. We understand that trying to find the best kids guitar for your child can be a little difficult sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be with our handy guide. We compiled a selection of our favourite kid's guitars that would be comfortable to play, encourage a positive playing experience so that they would WANT to play it and kept everything well under the £300 price tag. These are our top 9 best kids guitars that won’t break the bank, will sound good and will encourage your future musician to keep playing for many years.

 If your child is younger than 9 years old, you’re best starting them out with a ¾ size acoustic guitar. These smaller body guitars are some of the best kids guitars thanks to the fact little hands find it easier to navigate the fretboard. Anything older than 8-9 you’re best with a full size, but we’ll get to that in a minute. In addition, a classical guitar has nylon strings, which are a lot easier on the fingers – especially when you’re learning to play for the first time. So we recommend the Admira ADM100 Alba 3/4 Classical Guitar – one of the best kids guitars thanks to its smaller body size, nylon strings and fantastic sound, not to mention its high build quality and budget friendly price tag. This incredibly affordable guitar has been designed and crafted underneath the guidance of Spanish-trained guitar luthiers, so you’re getting an exceptional sounding guitar. The tone woods used such as the pine sound table, sapelli back and sides, mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard ensure everything sounds great – meaning the songs your child learns how to play actually sound like they should (with a little practice of course), encouraging them to continue. The smaller scale and nylon strings make it comfortable to play too. The good thing about the ¾ size, means that even though your child will get bigger, it can still be used when they’re an adult, as these guitars are often relied upon by musicians everywhere as travel guitars due to their convenient size, but impressive sound. You won’t throw this one away, when you decide to upgrade to a larger size.

If your child prefers the classic side of music, and you need a full-sized acoustic guitar, we recommend the Yamaha C40 II Classical Guitar which is a nylon-stringed acoustic and one of the best kids guitars you can buy. The Yamaha C40 II Classical Guitar is often the standard when it comes to beginners’ guitars thanks to its budget-friendly price tag, amazing sound and build quality. The spruce top, meranti back and sides and rosewood fingerboards are often found on guitars many times the price, meaning you’re getting a super high-quality instrument that your child will enjoy playing and one that will give them an accurate representation of the song they’re playing. The Yamaha C40 II Classical Guitar is a great sounding guitar that will encourage a positive learning experience.

If your child is older than the age of 9-10yrs you’re sometimes better off getting a full-sized acoustic (or electric guitar) as it means you don’t have to upgrade further down the line. This way they can get used to the dreadnought shape whilst playing chords and progressions and won't struggle making a transition from 3/4 to full-size. The Eastcoast MKOA Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar is a budget-friendly full-sized acoustic guitar at £79, so it's not going to break the bank and makes a great gift, too. Don't be fooled by the price though as this is an incredible sounding acoustic guitar that features high-quality tonewoods and a comfortable neck that will help children (and adults too!) play guitar. The more comfortable the playing experience the better you play!

Whilst we on the subject of full-sized dreadnought guitars, we have to include the Tanglewood TWUD Dreadnought Mahogany Acoustic Guitar . This is a budget-friendly, steel-stringed option that includes everything your child needs to start on their journey to rock stardom - solid playability and a great sound. For under £200 you get a full-sized dreadnought that really brings out the best in your playing thanks to a Mahogany Top with Mahogany Back and Sides. These tonewoods encourage a positive playing experience as each note is warm and resonant. If it sounds good - you're more likely to stick at it! This is one of the best kids guitars thanks to the bright tonewoods used, comfortable mahogany neck and highly responsive sound. It’s a joy to play and one you won't ever need to upgrade. If you can afford to stretch your budget to just under £200, it's worth it!

A great way to get your kids excited about playing guitar is to get them a decent guitar and amp starter package. The Yamaha Pacifica 012 Guitar Starter Pack, Black with Amp & Accessories features a high-quality Yamaha Pacifica 012 Guitar and a Line 6 Spider V 20 amp that is jam-packed full of great sounds, effects and a built-in tuner – this is everything you need to get started. The reason we think that this is one of the best kids guitars is down to the amazing playability of the guitar as well as the presets within the Line 6 Spider 20. The presets allow you to dial in classic guitar sounds from the likes of The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Metallica, Nirvana, Jimi Hendrix, Pink Floyd and many more, instantly letting you get the perfect sound each and every time. This means your child will be able to enjoy sounding like their heroes as they learn! A fantastic way to encourage a positive learning experience for sure, and a budget-friendly children's electric guitar that will last a lifetime. You even get a strap, spare strings, lead, string winder and plectrums - everything to get started!

The Eastcoast GT100 Electric Guitar is one of the best kids guitars, thanks to the fact you get everything you need to start your musical journey including amp, gig bag, leads and tuner. It's also great for adults who want to learn to play too! We love it as the Eastcoast GT100 Electric Guitar is a perfect starting point for younger players due to the comfortable body shape and versatile single coil pickups. This makes it a great all rounder as you get to grips with different musical styles. A fantastic option for younger players and adults alike that is enjoyable to play. Available in a range of different colours here.

The Squier Affinity Stratocaster is one of the most popular beginner guitars available thanks to its high-quality construction, budget-friendly price tag and exceptional sound. The Squier Affinity Stratocaster pictured here in MN, 2-Tone Sunburst, in particular, is one of our favourites and one of the best kids guitars which will easily follow your youngsters well into adulthood – this thing will last a lifetime. The Squier brand by Fender is relied upon by guitarists of all genres and skill levels, with this particular model taking the classic Fender Stratocaster design and making it more affordable without neglecting quality. You have that authentic Fender strat sound via 3 single-coil pickups, a comfortable rosewood fingerboard with medium jumbo frets and a tremolo bridge for those whammy bar solos, making it both versatile and comfortable. This is a guitar you can rely on and something your child will happily play when they’re 80 years old! If you want a guitar you won’t have to upgrade for a very long time, this is a great option. If you wanted a smaller ¾ size option for little ones, we also recommend the Squier Mini Strat Version 2 guitars – great playability and quality, just smaller. Available in a range of different colours here.

One for the bass players! The Ibanez TMB100-IV Talman Bass seen here in Ivory Gloss not only presents the 4 string enthusiasts out there with a budget-friendly option for recording and a “2nd” guitar for touring but is also one of the best kids guitars in our opinion due to the comfortable offset body, shorter scale and powerful pickups. Again, this is not a guitar that you’ll have to upgrade unless you really want to, as it’s an intermediate option designed to offer superior playability and sound onstage or when recording. The reason we think it’s one of the best kids guitars available is down to its comfortable neck profile and shorter 34" scale, similar to an electric guitar, which feels great to play even after hours of practice. Both of these features make learning the bass guitar, and playing in general, a more enjoyable experience for students. The hybrid blend of split single-coil Precision Bass and Jazz Bass pickups provide all the lush tonality you need to cover a wide variety of genres and the small price tag makes it affordable for all. A great choice when looking for a beginner bass for kids that they won’t outgrow. Available in different colours here.

The Epiphone SG-Special VE Guitar in Vintage Worn Cherry is ideal for the little rockers out there who prefer a more “classic” rock look and sound to their guitars. This is one of the best guitars for kids and beginners due to its modest price tag, comfortable 22 fret fingerboard, which makes playing easier and the fact it will encourage learning and a positive playing experience because it sounds fantastic when plugged in. There’s nothing worse than plugging a guitar into an amplifier only to sound terrible, it’s disheartening and really makes you just want to put the guitar down! Thankfully the Epiphone SG-Special VE Guitar sounds amazing due to the 2 x Humbucker pickups, which are ideal for all genres and styles.

A great kids guitar that they’ll gladly use on stage when the time comes! View a full range of guitars over at PMT Online, including guitar starter packs, acoustic guitars and electric guitars. Or call in to your local PMT store to speak to one of our experts about finding the best kids guitar. Alternatively call us on 0151 448 2089 – we’re happy to help you find the right option.