Is your kid ready to rock? Some guitar teachers encourage parents to have their children learn to play on acoustic guitars, but others say that a smaller-size electric guitar is great for learning, too. This is especially true if you have a child who wants to experiment with effects pedals and creating a sound. In this article, we've gathered some of the best options for when it comes to choosing the best electric guitar for kids.
Reviews: Best Electric Guitars for Kids
Best for Indie Rock
Squier Bullet Mustang
Best Playability
Epiphone Les Paul Express Short Scale
Best Value
Squier Mini Strat
Squier Mini Strat -- Best Value
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You probably already know that Squier is Fender's budget brand. Squier by Fender mainly offers affordable takes on legendary Fender designs. After all, Fender makes some of the best guitars in the world, but higher-end models aren't always feasible to get for kids and beginners. This one is a 3/4-size model with three single-coil pickups, and a maple neck with rosewood fingerboard makes it a great value for the money.
Our Star Rating
We think this one offers the best value for money -- you get a classic guitar at a great price. We give it four out of five stars.
Squier Mini Jazzmaster - Best for Experimenting with Effects
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Here's another great starter guitar either for kids or adults with small hands. The 3/4-size Jazzmaster has a comfortable offset body, and the maple fingerboard gives it a classic Fender look. Its dual-humbucker design cuts down on plugged-in noise, making it a great option if your child wants to experiment with finding the right guitar effects.
While the Fender Stratocaster is better suited to kids who like traditional rock 'n roll, the non-traditional Jazzmaster body is a better fit for the child who admires indie rock musicians. Unlike the full-size Jazzmaster, this one doesn't have a whammy bar. However, that does have the advantage of helping the strings stay in tune.
Our Star Rating
We think this is the best guitar if your child wants to experiment with guitar effects. We give it four out of five stars.
D'Angelico Premier Mini DC - Best for Motivated Kids
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You might have noticed that the price tag on this semi-hollow guitar is fairly high for a mini guitar. But if your child is seriously motivated as a guitarist, you may want to consider making an investment in a quality instrument. As a player progresses, budget guitars can become frustrating -- the intonation may be off, there may be playability issues, and the tone often isn't the best.
This guitar is also a great choice for a child discovering their sound because it isn't really a genre-specific instrument. The semi-hollow body does well in jazz or folk songs, but the Seymour Duncan pickups mean it can handle high-gain effects, too.
Our Star Rating
We think this is an excellent instrument for highly motivated kids. We give it four out of five stars.
Ibanez MiKro GRGM21 - Best for Aspiring Metal Players
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Thus far, we've covered kids electric guitar options that are largely focused on rock and similar genres. But if your child wants to learn to shred, mini guitars suited to metal are ideal. This short-scale guitar has a poplar body that's lightweight but still offers decent sustain.
Ibanez guitars are known for their neck quality, and the slim, fast neck on the miKro makes shredding possible even if you have very small hands. It comes with two Ibanez humbuckers for a powerful sound that's especially noticeable with some distortion.
Our Star Rating
We think this is the best guitar for your child if they want to play metal. We give it four out of five stars
Ibanez Paul Gilbert Signature PGMM31 -- Best Signature Model
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Plenty of signature electric guitars is high-end instruments that wouldn't be practical to choose as a guitar for your kid. But this small-size 3/4 electric guitar is a little different -- while it's the signature guitar of Paul Gilbert, it's one of the most affordable instrument choices on our list. It comes with Ibanez Infinity humbucker pickups, which are an upgrade from the pickups on the miKro.
The PGMM31 guitar is ideal if your child wants to learn lead guitar. Unlike learning on a kid’s acoustic guitar, learning on a mini designed for rock and metal will make moving up and down the neck significantly easier. And like the miKro, this guitar has a solid poplar body for impressive sustain with just enough high end.
Our Star Rating
We think this is the best signature model electric guitar on the list. We give it 3.5 out of five stars.
Epiphone Les Paul Express Short Scale -- Best Playability
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While kids who are about 12 years old and up can often comfortably play a full-size electric guitar, younger children typically need something a little smaller in order to accurately fret notes and chords. And if your kid wants an instrument modeled after one of the most iconic electric guitars ever made, the Les Paul Express is a great choice.
Like many electric guitars for kids, this one isn't too heavy on the decorations, but it's remarkably playable. It also is made with one of the best tonewoods on the list -- the body is solid mahogany. In electric guitars, mahogany delivers a well-balanced tone with a bit of bite. The combination of its short scale length of 22" and its SlimTaper neck profile make it one of the best electric guitars for people with smaller hands.
Our Star Rating
We think this little guitar has the best playability of any guitar for kids on the list. We give it five out of five stars.
Squier Bullet Mustang -- Best for Indie Rock
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Plenty of kids pick up a guitar because of a musical idol. And if your child's hero happens to be an indie rocker, the Mustang is a great option. This is another of the mini guitars made by Squier by Fender. The shorter scale plus the smaller, 3/4 size body makes it an excellent electric guitar for children. The Mustang comes with two humbucker pickups, so if you're annoyed by the hum that single-coil pickups sometimes cause, you'll probably like this option.
Like the Jazzmaster, the Mustang has an eye-catching offset body. However, with this one, Squier tells you what the body is made of. The Mustang has a basswood body, which you often see on more affordable electric guitars. A basswood body doesn't have the same tonal richness of woods as alder, but it's certainly acceptable in an electric guitar for kids. But just like higher-end Fender electric guitar models, it has a slim-C maple neck.
Our Star Rating
We think this is one of the best electric guitar options, especially for kids wanting to play indie or noise rock. We give it five out of five stars.
Squier Affinity Series Telecaster -- Best for Older Kids
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For a lot of older children, the right size electric guitar is a full-size one. This cheerful orange Telecaster is one of the most eye-catching guitars on the list. And as part of the Squier Affinity Series, it's designed to have great sound and playability without breaking the bank. It has a body made of alder, which is one of the most sought-after electric guitar tonewoods. Two vintage-inspired single-coil pickups give you great Tele sound.
Our Star Rating
We think this electric guitar is perfect to get for older children. We give it four out of five stars.
Squier Affinity Stratocaster HSS -- Most Versatile
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Lots of players young and old prefer a guitar that's tonally versatile, and this one certainly is. To start, it's equipped with a tremolo bar, so your child can do anything from adding subtle flutter effects to doing dramatic dive bombs. This small guitar also has one humbucker and two single-coil pickups, so it's capable of producing a range of different tones. Plus, the poplar body is a level up from the basswood used on many Squiers.
Our Star Rating
We think this is a great option for expressive players. We give it four out of five stars.
Buying Guide: Choosing an Electric Guitar for Your Child
Finding the first guitar for a child is certainly exciting, but it can also be daunting. Here are some things to consider before deciding what you need to get:
What Size Guitar?
If you've also looked into the best acoustic guitar for your child, you know that the right guitar size also depends on the size of your child. And while 1/2 size acoustic guitars are common, 1/2 size electric guitars are extremely rare. The 3/4 guitar size is the most common when it comes to mini guitars, and even some children as young as six can play them. For older children (around the age of 12), a full-size guitar may be better.
What Body/Neck Style?
Learning guitar can be tough at first. And for many kids, the strings hurt their fingers until they develop calluses. Just like with choosing acoustic guitars, finding a highly playable electric guitar is important.
The most crucial thing is to find a guitar your child will be comfortable playing. Often, that means a contoured, lightweight body, as well as a slim neck. Slim and/or tapered necks are especially important for younger kids or kids with small hands. A too-thick neck will make fretting even individual notes tough -- let alone barre chords.
What Kind Of Pickups?
Most often, the sound of a guitar for kids isn't earth-shattering. But if you want your child to be encouraged, it's good to find a guitar that at least sounds nice. Pickup quality can vary a bit between mini guitars, but it can be helpful to at least be familiar with the types of pickups.
Single-coil pickups have a brighter, more bell-like sound, but they can create more noise when plugged in (and especially when run-through effects pedals). Humbuckers tend to have a fuller, slightly darker sound, and they cause less plugged-in noise. P90s are essentially a combination of the two. Ultimately, the type of pickups you get in a guitar doesn't matter a whole lot when you're buying a guitar for a child, but you may want to listen to some sound demos and read reviews to find a sound you like.
Final Thoughts
Selecting the best electric guitar for your kid can be a daunting task. After all, a highly playable and good-sounding electric guitar can inspire and motivate your child, while one that's difficult or uncomfortable to play can be discouraging. Of the ones on the list, we think the best electric guitar for kids is the Epiphone Les Paul Express.
It has a neck that is both slim and tapered, so it's easy for kids to get acquainted with playing. The 3/4 size mini body is designed so a child can comfortably play sitting or standing, and the dual humbuckers deliver an impressively full tone. We also like the Squier Bullet Mustang. This smaller-size electric guitar has a head-turning aesthetic, and it also combines great playability with good sound.
Whichever electric guitar you choose, be sure to take playability, sound, and aesthetics into account. When your child has an electric guitar they can get excited about, they're more likely to keep playing for years to come.
