One other point to consider is that a scaled-down guitar doesn’t guarantee that your child will stick with guitar. As your guitar player grows, they’ll need a bigger instrument, and this is a step up from the size (0). Choose the right size guitar. As there are so many different sizes when it comes to guitars, let’s have a look at some of the most common sizes. Here at FirstGuitar.com, each guitar is inspected, properly adjusted and set up so that the strings are easy to press down and the notes ring clearly. You need to hold your guitar in your hands, strum it, tune it, and listen to how it sounds up close and in real life. If you want to learn guitar, check out the 8 Step to Learn Guitar here. The point to remember here is that the names are just trying to simplify the different options. If you’re considering getting guitar lessons for your child, have a read of this guide to see how the age of your child affects the type and quality of lessons they will receive. You want something with smaller guitar dimensions to travel with that performs and records well with a small sound. One important choice you’ll have to make is what size and shape you’ll want your new instrument to be. The smaller length makes it easier to transport. Instruments that do not meet our standards are returned to our supplier. >>Martin Guitar Sizes >>Taylor Guitar Sizes. What is the size of a ‘full size’ guitar? If you were to buy the ‘perfect’ size guitar for your child today, in 6-12 months you may find that it starts to feel a bit small to your child. We have everything you need in one place and for one price. Replacing string ground fuse in custom Taylor T3. Some travel guitars cut the total length down while keeping a full-sized scale length, while others cut both total length and scale length down. Here are some general rules-of-thumb on what size guitar to get for children: The above recommendations are quite different from typical advice you see on other websites. What type of sound is ideal for your style of music and playing? By Nick Stoubis . For example, if your nine-year-old is small for his/her age, choose from the 6-9 year group. If the guitar is too big for the child to manage, it can frustrate them and they may give up learning the guitar. (1), Do you want more bass, more treble, or more balance from your acoustic guitar sound? This guitar is the most common guitar style that you’ll find, as it’s versatile, easy to use, and produces a great sound (1). Instruments that do not meet our standards are returned to our supplier. If the scale length is far below this range (eg: 20 inches or 50 cm), it is likely to be a scaled-down guitar such as a 3/4 guitar. As educators and musicians, our #1 goal is setting you up for success! Should you buy a full-sized guitar for your child? The following chart will help you choose the right sized guitar for your child. Other scaled-down guitars are designed for people with small hands or for children. The naming system used with acoustic guitars can be very misleading. We are currently looking for an experienced guitar teacher who would like to be part of our teaching community in Lancaster, PA. A password will be sent to your email address. Guitar Gear Finder is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, Amazon.co.uk, Amazon.ca, or Amazon.de. For example, Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) uses a Mexican peso and Brian May (Queen) uses a British coin. Body size/shape, scale length, nut width, even bout and waist size are all things to decide upon. Some scaled-down guitars are designed as travel guitars. You need a guitar with more projection and wider range than smaller guitar sizes, yet a more delicate size and feel than a larger style guitar (1). The shape and size of guitar that you should choose will depend on a number of factors including your physical characteristics and the style of music you like to play. Even a small difference in scale length can feel completely different when playing. You want more bass distinction than a dreadnought in your playing (1). #section_197202741 { It is important to note that guitar size is only one part of making it easy for your child to play. In this case, your tall nine-year-old would do well with a guitar from the 9-12 year group. There are many different types of scaled-down guitars used for different purposes. We carry a broad range of sizes in our entry-level range. We hand select each guitar we sell. has a different size considered standard. The guide will take you from knowing nothing about guitar to playing your first full song. The below photo compares a travel guitar against a full-sized dreadnought acoustic guitar: As you can see, not only does the travel guitar have a shorter total length, but the scale length is also shorter. A pick is usually one of the most important inexpensive accessories to select, often costing a little more 25¢. Anybody between 3 feet, 10 inches and 4 1/2 feet tall should get a half-size guitar. Folk music is best played on a steel string acoustic. To choose an acoustic guitar, go with a laminate top over a wood top if you're on a tight budget since laminate top guitars are cheaper. If you have a general idea of your personal preferences and how you’d like your guitar to perform for you, it’s now time to test out some guitars. Highly motivated children may desire a larger guitar because they view it as being more mature and feel a strong identity with it. An un-adjusted guitar will not be easy to play, even if it is the right size. 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