Best guitars for kids 2024: top electric and acoustic guitars for children

Epiphone Power Players SG on grey background
(Image credit: Future)

So your little one has decided they want to play guitar? Well, choose the right instrument, and they'll be set on a course to rock stardom; make the wrong decision, and you could halt their progress completely. Now, we know it's very difficult to know where to start when it comes to child-friendly guitars, but don't worry, we're here to help! In this guide to the best guitars for kids, we've hand-picked five electric guitars and five acoustic guitars that we found to be ideal for young players just starting out.

Playing the guitar is a fantastic way for a child to channel their energy and passion into something truly creative. It can also help boost their self-confidence, too. In addition, playing any musical instrument is a surefire way to make friends and learn audible and visual communication skills, as well as set them up with a hobby they are likely to carry with them forever. 

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

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Daryl Robertson
Daryl Robertson

Daryl is a Senior Deals Writer at Guitar World, where he creates and maintains our 200+ buyer's guides, finds the best deals on guitar products, and tests the latest gear. His reviews have been featured in prominent publications like Total Guitar, Future Music magazine, and MusicRadar.com.

During his career, he has been lucky enough to talk to many of his musical heroes, having interviewed Slash and members of The Offspring, Foo Fighters, Sum 41, Thrice, and more. In a past life, Daryl worked in music retail. For a little under a decade, he advised everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned pros on the right gear for their needs. 

Jonathan Horsley
Jonathan Horsley

Jonathan Horsley has been writing about guitars since 2005, playing them since 1990, and regularly contributes to publications including Guitar World, MusicRadar and Total Guitar. He uses Jazz III nylon picks, 10s during the week, 9s at the weekend, and shamefully still struggles with rhythm figure one of Van Halen’s Panama.

Chris Barnes
Chris Barnes

Chris is Guitar World's eCommerce Editor. In addition to testing the latest music gear, it's his job to manage the 200+ buyer's guides on the site and help guitarists find the right gear for them. Chris has been a guitar player for 30 years and a drummer for almost 20. He has worked in the music gear industry for over 20 years, including 7 years as Editor of the UK's best-selling drum magazine Rhythm, and 5 years as a freelance music writer, during which time he worked with the world's biggest instrument brands including Boss, Laney and Roland.

James Farmer bio
James Farmer

James is a freelance writer and former Junior Deals Writer at Guitar World. Before writing, James worked as a guitar salesman at a local music store, so he knows a thing or two about matching people with their perfect instruments. James also has experience working in other areas of the music trade, having briefly worked for online music distributor, RouteNote. James is a guitarist, bassist and drummer and has also toured the UK and Europe with his old band Hypophora.

Daryl Robertson
Senior Deals Writer

Daryl is a Senior Deals Writer at Guitar World, where he creates and maintains our 200+ buyer's guides, finds the best deals on guitar products, and tests the latest gear. His reviews have been featured in prominent publications like Total Guitar, Future Music magazine, and MusicRadar.com.

During his career, he has been lucky enough to talk to many of his musical heroes, having interviewed Slash and members of Sum 41, Foo Fighters, The Offspring, Feeder, Thrice, and more. In a past life, Daryl worked in music retail. For a little under a decade, he advised everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned pros on the right gear for their needs. 

Daryl is also a fully qualified sound engineer, holding a first-class Bachelor's degree in Creative Sound Production from the University of Abertay.