For smaller children learning to play, a full-size guitar is often too much to handle. A 1/2 size guitar is a great option for new guitarists, and it has the added benefit of being highly portable. However, these guitars come in a variety of quality levels, and trying to learn on an instrument that never holds tune or is very poorly made can be a very frustrating experience. In this article, we've gathered some of the best 1/2 size options we could find.
Our Top 7 Picks for 1/2 Size Guitars
Best Craftsmanship
Yamaha JR1
Best All Around
Cordoba Requinto 580
Best Tonewoods
Cordoba C1M
Review of our Top Picks
Yamaha JR1 -- Best Craftsmanship
Important Features
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Brief Review & Star Rating
Review
You probably already know that Yamaha produces great-quality guitars for beginners (and their high-end guitars are pretty impressive, too). If the JR1 looks familiar, it's probably because it's modeled after Yamaha's best-selling FG Series of folk guitars. The JR1 has surprisingly big sound for such a small guitar. It can be difficult to achieve a full, natural sound with a guitar of this size, but even this smaller instrument is an example of Yamaha's quality craftsmanship.
Our Star Rating
While it is somewhat expensive compared to some of the other options on our list, this is a well-built and highly playable little guitar. We think it has the best craftsmanship on the list, and we give it five out of five stars.
Oscar Schmidt OGHSTBL-A -- Best Finish
Important Features
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Brief Review & Star Rating
Review
For the new guitarist who likes bright colors, this little 1/2 size acoustic guitar is a great option. Oscar Schmidt is Washburn's budget brand, so you'll be able to buy with confidence. It has a select spruce top, and the back and sides are made of catalpa, a lightweight tonewood that is also used for Chinese traditional instruments. Notably, this guitar also has a fully adjustable truss rod--something you don't always see in very small guitars.
Our Star Rating
Having a small size guitar in a color they like may help motivate kids to play. We think the range of colors this guitar comes in means it has the best finish options on the list. We give it four out of five stars.
Cordoba C1M -- Best Tonewoods
Important Features
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Brief Review & Star Rating
Review
So far, we've only covered steel-string acoustic guitars. This little classical guitar from Cordoba is an excellent choice for younger players. For kids with sensitive hands, a nylon string guitar may be easier to learn on, and this is a well-built yet affordable guitar for any beginner to classical music.
Our Star Rating
Many smaller guitars use engineered wood fingerboards, but this one has a rosewood fingerboard and is made with excellent tonewoods. We think it has the best tonewood construction on the list, and we give it five out of five stars.
Cordoba Requinto 580 -- Best All-Around
Important Features
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Brief Review & Star Rating
Review
Thus far, none of the guitars we've talked about have solid tops. However, this guitar is probably one of the best classical guitars that any child could start on. The top is solid Canadian cedar, which gives it an edge over the competition. The back and sides are mahogany, giving it a beautifully dark, warm sound. This little guitar even won Best in Show at Winter NAMM 2010!
Our Star Rating
Because of its solid top and overall great build, we think this guitar is the best all-around option on the list. We give it five out of five stars.
Yamaha GL1 Guitalele -- Best Novelty Option
Important Features
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Brief Review & Star Rating
Review
This is an interesting little instrument--while it sounds like a baritone ukulele, it plays like a standard six-string guitar. It might not be the best option for kids who are serious about learning guitar, but it's a fun and highly playable option. It's also a great choice for adults who want to achieve ukulele sound without learning another instrument.
Our Star Rating
This is an interesting novelty instrument, but it probably isn't the best choice for players looking to learn guitar. We give it three and a half out of five stars.
Hohner HAG250P -- Best Budget Option
Important Features
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Brief Review & Star Rating
Review
Some of the guitars with nylon strings that we've discussed are high-end instruments for smaller yet serious players. For parents who are just looking for an affordable small guitar for a child to play around on, this little Hohner just might fit the bill. It's made with agathis top, back, and sides. Agathis isn't the best tonewood, but it's commonly used for affordable guitars. The nylon strings also make it a great option for kids whose fingers might be too sensitive for steel strings.
Our Star Rating
Given its affordability and playability, we think this classical guitar is the best budget option on the list. We give it four out of five stars.
Yamaha CGS102A -- Best Affordable Classical
Important Features
Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
Brief Review & Star Rating
Review
Yamaha has been featured somewhat prominently on our list, but it's well-deserved. Yamaha is known for crafting playable instruments that can stand up to options that are many times the price. This smaller classical guitar is a great option for kids learning classical guitar, and it also won't break the bank. While the construction is all laminate, the spruce top and meranti back and sides give it fairly decent tone.
Our Star Rating
Given its quality build and fairly affordable price, we think this is the best affordable classical guitar on the list. We give it four out of five stars.
What Should You Know Before Buying A Half-Size Guitar?
Half sized guitars are ideal for young children learning to play guitar, but there are a few things to think about before you make a purchase.
Is This the Right Size?
If a small child tries to play a full size guitar, they will likely become frustrated quickly. Smaller kids usually can't reach all the way down the neck, and they may not be able to fret notes and chords on a standard guitar neck.
Generally, it's recommended that kids from ages five to eight use a half size guitar. By about age nine, many kids can comfortably handle a 3/4 size guitar. Once they reach about age 12, most kids can comfortably play a full-size guitar, but some may still be comfortable on a 3/4 size instrument.
Steel String or Nylon String?
If you play guitar yourself, you probably remember how painful your fingertips first became when you started playing. This is why some guitar teachers recommend that kids start playing on a nylon string guitar. While the string tension on any half size guitar will be less than that on a full-size instrument, nylon strings aren't as hard on fingers as steel strings are.
For an older child who is confident in their ability to handle, starting on a steel string guitar may be fine. For children who aren't trying to play classical music, introducing a steel string instrument early in their playing journey means they won't need to make the transition later on.
Considering Tonewoods
For more advanced guitarists, tonewood choices play a major part when it comes to choosing an instrument. For kids just learning to play, it may not be necessary to spring for higher-end tonewoods. However, an acoustic guitar with a solid top will almost always have a fuller, better sound than one made with all laminated wood.
Solid-top half-sized guitars are fairly hard to find, and the ones with solid tops are sometimes expensive. In most cases, an all-laminate guitar is perfectly fine for a starter instrument--just be prepared to upgrade to a solid-top model if your child shows a real interest in learning guitar.
In Conclusion
If you're in the market for a 1/2 size guitar, you already know that there are plenty of options out there. We think the Cordoba Requinto 580 is the best option on the list--its solid top makes its sound much better than that of most laminate-top half sized guitars, and the Torres fan bracing gives it authentic classical sound. If you're looking for something a little more affordable and also have a child who would rather learn on a steel string guitar, the Yamaha JR1 is a great runner up. While its top isn't solid, it's still a quality smaller guitar that sounds great for its size.