How to Pick Your Child's First Guitar

by Ed Maier

I was recently in a music store trying a few guitars out in their acoustic room. A couple approached me and asked me if I worked there. When I said I didn't, they hesitated... then one said, "Actually, that's even better."

They told me they were picking out an acoustic for their fifteen year-old and asked if I could offer an opinion on a guitar.

I love talking about guitars. The only way to get me to talk more is to ask me about my kids. So, I asked if he wanted to play electric or acoustic.

"Not he, she... and acoustic"

Cool.

Most people have the same concerns about buying a first guitar. Though the guitar is a very popular instrument, it's not easy to play. You're making your hands do things they don't normally do. You're pressing your fingers against steel wires. It's easy to get frustrated.

You don't want to get ripped off and you don't want to invest money in a guitar only to have it sitting untouched in a closet months later.

With a first guitar, I think it is important to minimize the physical challenges and maximize the excitement. The player needs rewards as soon as possible. That's why I don't agree with the idea that a new player's first guitar must be an acoustic, especially a steel-string acoustic. Advocates of the steel-string acoustic as a first guitar sometimes talk about the player needing to "toughen up" and struggle a little in order to appreciate the really "good" guitar he or she will get later.

This approach sounds like a recipe for a guitar ending up in the closet.

Most people who want to play have a mental picture of the guitar they want. That's the guitar that gets the person excited about playing. In order to keep that excitement, it makes sense for the first guitar to be pretty close to that picture. If it's an acoustic like the person's favorite singer has, great. If it's an electric like the cool guy in the awesome band, that's fine too. If it's a nylon-string classical, excellent.

There's also a need to match the guitar to the child's age and size. For kids younger than about five, get a guitar-shaped toy. Having strings might add some realism but they aren't absolutely necessary. At this age, both of my sons had $20 First Act guitars from the toy store. Despite the packaging of these guitars as a way to learn, I don't think they are good for learning. For little ones, though, it's a great way to strum along and pretend. The size is perfect.

Beyond about age six, there's a chance to learn some basics. The problem is standard-size guitars are way too big for little hands. Several manufacturers make smaller versions of electric and acoustic guitars in popular shapes. You'll see these "mini" guitars priced around $100-$150. My oldest son has a Squier mini electric and it's an acceptable guitar, though there's definitely some cost-cutting. What's important is that it's a "real" guitar and it's the right size for someone 7-12 years old.

Once the child is old enough to handle a full-sized guitar comfortably, several options are available.

Acoustic Guitars

Acoustic guitars come in two flavors: steel-string and nylon-string. Steel-string acoustics are louder because the strings are made of... well... steel. You hear them a lot in folk and country music as well as in the "soft" parts of a lot of rock songs. Nylon-string guitars use strings made of nylon or nylon wrapped with metal. They are most often used in classical and flamenco music.

NEVER put steel strings on a guitar made for nylon strings. A nylon-string guitar is not made to support the pull of steel strings and damage is almost certain.

A lot of people want to keep the price of the first guitar low. Right now, the quality of guitars priced under $300 is really impressive. I've found some under $200 that would have come home with me were it not for a tight budget.

The couple at the music store asked a great question: "What makes guitars more expensive? What changes as you go up in price?"

For acoustic guitars, the two things that influence price the most are the wood used and the amount of labor involved. At lower prices, guitars are often made from laminated woods. "Laminates" are multiple thin layers of wood pressed and glued together -- like plywood. For guitars, the opposite of laminated wood is "solid" wood. Solid woods are considered more desirable because they are less stiff, vibrate more freely, and usually sound better. Laminates and solid woods can be used in the same guitar and it's common to find guitars with solid tops and laminated backs and sides. This is a very cost-effective compromise.

Caring for an Acoustic Guitar - some important notes

You should know that acoustic guitars require some care. When you think about the force of six steel strings pulling on it, an acoustic guitar top is a surpisingly thin piece of wood. That makes it sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity. Laminated woods fare a little better here and might be a better choice if the guitar needs to be "low maintenance". Even then, I strongly encourage people dealing with low humidity to look into ways to humidify the guitar.

Dry air can cause all sorts of problems for guitars. Buy your acoustic from a music store that controls the climate for their guitars. Some stores will run a humidifier when the air is dry or have a special room set aside for acoustic guitars.

Accessories, Strings, and Set up

For accessories, I'd suggest an electronic guitar tuner (often under $10), a variety of picks in different gauges to try out, and an introductory book or video. Ask the store if they will put on a fresh set of strings and do a basic set up. They might not but it can't hurt to ask. A hard case is always a good idea but they do add to the price. On the other hand, a good case can often be reused for multiple guitars. Despite their cheapish appearance, the "styrofoam ice cooler" cases (EPP Fort) are actually fantastic. A gig bag is better than nothing but you still have to be very careful -- it offers no protection from knocks or crushing.

You aren't stuck with the strings that came on your guitar when you bought it. I recommend people starting out use lighter strings than normal. The guitar will not be as loud but it becomes much easier to play. In my opinion, developing the coordination to play should come first. The strength and callouses for heavier strings will come naturally.

Most acoustic guitars use so-called "light" gauge strings. If you want to make it easier, you can get "extra-light". I'm also a fan of "silk and steel" strings. These are a hybrid between nylon strings and steel strings. They are not loud but they play very easily and have a pretty sound. They are intended for steel-string guitars -- don't try them on a nylon-string instrument.

A good "set up" for an acoustic guitar can make a world of difference. Everything on a guitar is a push-pull balancing act. If the strings are too far off the fretboard, they are difficult to play. If they are too close to the fretboard, they buzz. A set up just means getting all the little push-pulls right so the guitar plays easily without buzzing. It's a little like fine-tuning a race car. If the guitar seems too hard to play (hint: try out some of the high-priced acoustic guitars and compare), try paying for a set up. You don't have to do this right away but it's something to keep in mind.

Pickups

Many acoustic guitars come with built-in pickup systems so the guitar can be plugged in to an amplifier or recording console. I'm not a fan of these in any acoustic guitar under $300. I just haven't heard one that sounds good to me. Of course, if the player loves a guitar that happens to have a pickup, by all means get it. If you get a guitar without a pickup, one can be installed later. For recording, you will get better results with a good microphone.

Brands and Stores

What about brands? If you are going to a music store that is taking care of its acoustics, you'll probably find more goods than bads. If I had to make a safe bet for an under-$300 acoustic, I'd say Yamaha. I think I've liked every Yamaha I've tried. However, I've found other great value brands -- Walden and Simon & Patrick, for instance. Ibanez seems oriented towards flash in their acoustics but that might appeal to some. At the risk of making too broad a generalization, eBay seems to have a lot of overhyped junk. If you want to buy online, I've found zzounds.com to have good prices and superior customer service.