This hub is about picking (pun intended) the first guitar for a young child, preteen, or someone of similar size. When buying a beginner a guitar, the first question to ask is: How big is the budding player's hands and can they reach all the frets comfortably? The second may be whether to buy an acoustic or electric (unless you plan to buy over the internet, your choices may be extremely limited). If you are buying an acoustic, the next question is string type. If you are buying an electric, it will be what configuration to choose. The final question is to determine how the new aspirant will learn their instrument. The first question will be dealt with in this hub, with the others in separate hubs.

A question of scale (again, pun intended)

It may seem odd place to start for people that have never played, but chording a guitar requires fingers that are not only dexterous, but also long enough to fret (press the strings properly to play the appropriate note) the instrument.

The reason this question must be asked first is because you will need to purchase a "small scale" guitar for those with diminutive digits. This will make your buying decision easier because you will be limited to fewer choices. There are approximately six different guitar scales to choose from, three are "short scale" and three are full sized. Let's look at the "short scale" guitars.

Half scale, three quarter scale, and seven eighths scale guitars are just that. They are approximately½, ¾ and 7/8 the size of a normal guitar, with shorter distances between the neck and bridge, between frets, and smaller hardware all around.

Half scale guitars are primarily offered as acoustics, though a very few electric models exist. There are a lot of proprietary brands in this category, ie the manufacturers tend to make only children's guitars and other instruments. There are more options with three-quarter scale guitars and the most options with seven-eighths scale instruments, as the professional guitar manufacturers build more models in the larger sizes.

Guitars of these scales may be the only option for youngest players, though they often offer some limitations. First, the size prevents large-handed people from playing (or sometimes tuning) the guitar easily. Second, the manufacture, while durable, is not of "high quality." By that I mean that while these guitars can sound ok, they rarely--if ever--sound "great," regardless of the ability of the player. Guitar manufacturers generally use the best wood when making the most expensive guitars. Thirdly, strings, accessories, and replacement parts may prove difficult to find. Again, these limitations become less severe as the size of the guitar increases.

Also, if the guitar you are purchasing is being bought at a music store or online, and the manufacturer also makes full-sized guitars (Dean guitars, who made the fuzzy ZZ Top guitars, makes fairly solid 1/2 and 3/4 and 7/8 models, as do Yamaha, Squire by Fender, and others), then you are probably buying a higher quality that most guitars of these scale.

One last note (as above):

Yes, another pun.

Half and 3/4 scale guitars also have one final issue: young bodies grow quickly. This means you'll be replacing the guitar because they will literally outgrow it. Guitars if this size tend to be very inexpensive ($60-$150 US for acoustics and electrics--anything more expensive is a middle or top tier guitar, and should only be purchased after they show real talent and dedication), so it isn't likely to cost a great deal to see if your little picker has the aptitude and interest.