1/2 size guitars are very popular for young students since the age between 5 and 8 years is the perfect age to start learning guitar. Guitars in this size are also called 34 inch guitars. Kids in this age are already enough matured to learn something seriously and capture things easily. These small guitars for children are also very famous among travelers and backpackers thanks to the small size. However, a 1/2 guitar doesn’t measure just the half of a full size guitar. Instead, it measures the half of the scale of a standard size guitar.
In this article, we are going discuss the different guitar types and present you the best 1/2 guitars.
Nylon string, steel string or electric guitar?
If it’s not the first guitar for your child, you could consider also getting an acoustic steel string or an electric guitar (an electric guitar also comes with steel strings). Since your child has already developed hand and finger strength, steel strings wouldn’t be a big issue even for young fingers. You should ask your child before if he feels like trying a new guitar type and talk with his guitar teacher about this idea. In any case, at some point almost every child has the wish to try out an acoustic steel string or electric guitar (since these guitar types are played by the big rock and pop stars). Given that many students start between 5 and 9 years learning the guitar, the market is full of 1/2 size guitars from well-known manufacturers (e.g. Yamaha, Cordoba).
Best 1/2 classical guitars
As just said, the market for kids guitars is dominated by 34 inch guitars. And most of them are classical guitar with nylon strings because most children in this age are beginners.
Let’s start with a brand that you probably knows although you have maybe nothing to do with musical instruments: Yamaha. The huge manufacturer Yamaha offers also student guitars in different sizes. The Yamaha CGS 102A is great student half size guitar for a really fair price. It features a spruce top which ensures a good sound quality. The intonation of Yamaha guitars is normally really accurate as well as the action is pretty low , which makes it easier to press down the strings. They also stay in tune for a long time and are nicely finished. That’s definitely a beginner guitar to recommend. I also started playing on a Yamaha guitar and don’t regret it. I still love my first Yamaha guitar.
Recommondation!
Yamaha
Let’s start with a brand that you probably knows although you have maybe nothing to do with musical instruments: Yamaha. The huge manufacturer Yamaha offers also student guitars in different sizes. The Yamaha CGS 102A is great student half size guitar for a really fair price. It features a spruce top which ensures a good sound quality. The intonation of Yamaha guitars is normally really accurate as well as the action is pretty low , which makes it easier to press down the strings. They also stay in tune for a long time and are nicely finished. That’s definitely a beginner guitar to recommend. I also started playing on a Yamaha guitar and don’t regret it. I still love my first Yamaha guitar.
Hohner
If your budget is quite limited, then take a look at the Hohner HAG250P. It costs only about the half of the classical guitars. You can’t compare this guitar with a kid’s guitar from Yamaha, Cordoba or Ortega since quality regarding the finish and the sound are pretty lower. The out of the box setup may vary (sometimes quite alright, sometimes is the action too high). A guitar to consider for parents who are on low budget or who are not sure if their child will stick with the guitar or not.
ADM
Another pretty affordable guitar is the beginner guitar from ADM. It even comes in a bundle, which means that some accessories are already included. They offer the guitar in different colors, which is a great thing if your child adores a pink or blue guitar for example. The overall quality is alright for the price but same here you can’t expect a high quality guitar but rather a first instrument to start with.
If your budget is quite limited, then take a look at the Hohner HAG250P. It costs only about the half of other typical classical guitars. You can’t compare this guitar with a kid’s guitar from Yamaha, or Cordoba since quality regarding the finish and setup The out of the box setup may vary (sometimes quite alright, sometimes is the action too high). It’s a guitar to consider for parents who are on low budget or who are not sure if their child will stick with the guitar or not.
Another pretty affordable guitar is the beginner guitar from ADM. It even comes in a bundle, which means that some accessories are already included. They offer the guitar in different colors, which is a great thing if your child adores a pink or blue guitar for example. The overall quality is alright for the price but same here you can’t expect a high quality guitar but rather a first instrument to start with.
Best 1/2 acoustic guitars
If your child is already playing the guitar and needs to move to a bigger size or simply wants to get a better guitar, then an acoustic guitar with steel strings might be a good choice. There is not a huge choice of 1/2 acoustic guitars on the market because most kids stick with their classical nylon string guitar. However, there are a few manufacturers that offer 1/2 acoustic guitars.
The music instrument brand Pyle offers nearly guitars in every size. They are pretty affordable and have a good quality as well as a good sound. They often sell their guitars in bundles, which means that all essential accessories (tuner, strings) are already included, which definitely great for beginners. They have also guitars in different and interesting colors that kids like.
Pyle
The music instrument brand Pyle offers nearly guitars in every size. They are pretty affordable and have a good quality as well as a good sound. They often sell their guitars in bundles, which means that all essential accessories (tuner, strings) are already included, which definitely great for beginners. They have also guitars in different and interesting colors that kids like.
Pyle
Pyle also has acoustic electric guitars. Acoustic electric guitars are equipped with an equalizer and allow you to connect your guitar with an amplifier, so that you can even play on stage with the guitar.
Oscar Schmidt
When looking for an acoustic guitar for children you should also consider the brand Oscar Schmidt. Oscar Schmidt is manufacturer that has a guitar building history of more than 100 year. They are well-known for their good beginner acoustic guitars. The Oscar Schmidt OGHSB is a nice starter guitar with a solid sound and a good finish. The guitar is also available in black.
Pyle also has acoustic electric guitars. Acoustic electric guitars are equipped with an equalizer and allow you to connect your guitar with an amplifier, so that you can even play on stage with the guitar.
When looking for an acoustic guitar for children you should also consider the brand Oscar Schmidt. Oscar Schmidt is manufacturer that has a guitar building history of more than 100 year. They are well-known for their good beginner acoustic guitars. The Oscar Schmidt OGHSB is a nice starter guitar with a solid sound and a good finish. The guitar is also available in black.
Best 1/2 electric guitars
Electric guitars are also equipped with steel strings but they are a way thinner. In addition to that, the action of electric guitars is quite lower than on acoustic ones. That’s why a child can also start on an electrical guitar since the strings may hurt the fingers in the beginning just a bit more than nylon ones. There is not a large choice of 1/2 size electric guitars but there is one model which is exactly the guitar most guys are looking for.
SX is not a very well-known manufacturer but it offers some 1/2 electric guitars that look pretty nice and solid. They already come in a package, which is a great bonus for beginners and parents, because it includes equipment, such as an amplifier and a cable.
You can’t expect a lot from this small amplifier but it includes a headphone, so that the child can play the guitar without making too much noises. Once, your chould gets more serious about playing the electric guitar, you can get a better amplifier. The Fender Frontman 10G and the Blackstar FLY3 are some really good amplifiers for beginners. They are small and have already a cable included.
Next smaller guitar: 1/4 size Guitar
Next bigger guitar: 3/4 size Guitar