Are you looking to buy a first acoustic guitar for your musical child, grandchild, niece or nephew? If so, then I hope this guide makes your decision process a bit easier. My goal is to give you confidence that you’re buying an appropriately sized instrument that will ensure they are comfortable. And above all, the acoustic guitars for kids featured below are all of sufficient quality that they’ll be able to learn and love the guitar without feeling frustrated that their instrument is holding them back. The guitars featured span a pretty wide price range, so you should find something that suits your budget.
If you’re not caught up on what acoustic guitars are all about, fear not. Please check out my introductory articles explaining acoustic guitars along with some basic guitar anatomy. Then come back to this page and my descriptions and explanations will make more sense!
Recommended Acoustic Guitars for Kids
 |  |  | |
| Ranking | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
| Brand | Martin | Taylor | Yamaha |
| Model (w/ Amazon Link) | LX1 | BT1 | JR1 |
| String | Steel | Steel | Steel |
| Shape | Concert | 3/4 Dreadnought | 3/4 Dreadnought |
| Top Material | Solid Spruce | Solid Spruce | Spruce |
| Back/Side Material | Mahogany | Walnut | Meranti |
| Neck Material | Birch | Sapele | Nato |
| Fingerboard Material | Richlite | African Ebony | Rosewood |
1st Place – Martin LX1
- Like its full-size cousins, the Martin LX1 features a solid spruce top. This is an especially great feature at this price point. A solid wood top is often cited as the number one determining factor in a guitar’s ability to project a rich, full sound.
- Another nice feature of this particular guitar is that it includes a gig bag. A gig bag is a padded, soft-sided bag designed specifically for the safe storage and transport of a guitar. These are great for taking your child’s precious instrument to a friends house or to an instructor’s studio.
2nd Place – Taylor BT1
- An extremely popular choice in a quality instrument for a young person is this guitar known as a Baby Taylor. It’s three quarters the size of a full dreadnought guitar. But it still comes packed with the same materials and design of Taylor’s full-sized models. For example, the combination of a solid Sitka spruce top and an ebony fingerboard are found on Taylor guitars selling for thousands of dollars.
- This guitar also comes with a deluxe Taylor gig bag to keep your instrument safe while traveling about.
3rd Place – Yamaha JR1
- This guitar costs less than half of the Martin and Taylor models. So if you’re on a tight budget, then this is best model for the money.
- While I would probably not recommend this guitar for a ‘tween or a teenager, if you’re looking to inspire a child between 6 and 11 years old, then you can’t go wrong with this Yamaha model.
- Like the other guitars on this list, it comes with a gig bag so your young musician can keep their guitar safe.
Summary of Buying Guide for Acoustic Guitars for Kids
I certainly wish I started to learn and love to play guitar younger in my life. So if you’re considering purchasing an acoustic guitar for your child, grandchild, niece, nephew, etc. know that you’re giving them an opportunity to learn about music, develop a new skill and maybe even a life-long passion.