Are you looking to introduce your young child to the world of music? If your child is too small to hold a full-size guitar, you may be looking into purchasing a 1/2 size guitar.
A half-size guitar is a great option to go with if your child is too small to hold on to a full-sized instrument. Not only are they easier to handle, but they’re also easy to carry around because of their size.
Giving your child a 1/2 guitar for them to learn how to play on has a large list of benefits, especially between ages 5 and 8. There are many different quality levels that a half-size instrument can come in.
Purchasing a half-size guitar for your child will ensure that your child doesn’t get frustrated attempting to hold an instrument that’s too big for them, as most 1/2 guitars are only 34 inches in length.
With all of the different models on the market, it’s important that you purchase a half size guitar that’s able to hold the tuning of strings and is durable enough for your small child to tote around.
That’s why today, we’ve created this complete guide to get a better understanding of the best 1/2 size guitar on the market and how to go about purchasing one.
| Best Overall 1/2 Size Guitar | Cordoba Mini II M (Guitar Center / Sweetwater) |
| Best Electric 1/2 Size | Ibanez Mikro (Sweetwater / Reverb) |
| Best 1/2 Size for Beginners | Yamaha CGS102A (Guitar Center / Reverb) |
| Most Affordable 1/2 Size | Hohner HAG250P (Amazon) |
Why should your child play a 1/2 guitar?
A 1/2 guitar is essentially half the size of a regular-sized guitar. There are many reasons why you may want to consider investing in a 1/2 size guitar. The majority of 1 2 guitar sizes are 34 inches and great for young children that are just looking to start out playing guitar.
Half-size guitars are great guitars for small children because of the child’s smaller hand size. An electric guitar would be too large for some size children to play, so a smaller size is much more manageable. This is because the neck 1/2 size guitars are a lot smaller and what you would find on a normal guitar.
As a result, it’ll make it much easier for your child to learn how to play chords. On a regular size guitar, the size of the neck will much too large for your child’s small hands to completely grip the neck.
If you’re somebody who has small hands and struggles with playing guitar, you may also want to consider picking up a half size guitar. The size of the instrument will be much easier for you to handle.
Once your child begins to grow and better understand the basics that come with playing guitar. This makes it easier for them to transition to playing a full-sized instrument.
What are the best 1/2 size guitars?
There are many different types of 1/2 size guitars on the market. Many Brands will produce poor quality guitars that are very cheap come on around the holidays but aren’t worth what you’re paying.
That’s why it’s important for you to carefully do your research to get an understanding of what instruments are worth your money.
We’re here to break down the top half size electric guitars and acoustic guitars.
Best 1/2 size acoustic guitars
Houses acoustic guitars are a great option for kids that are interested in learning how to play acoustic guitar. Acoustic guitars are a comfortable option to go with even if you aren’t sure if your child is interested in learning how to play acoustic or electric.
Many musicians find it easier to learn how to play acoustic and then move on to electric.
Cordoba Mini II MH
This half-size guitar is a great option to go with if you’re looking to introduce your child to nylon strings. Nylon strings are comfortable and easy for beginning musicians to play and learn on.
The Cordoba Mini II MHBody has a satin polyurethane finish, which provides a sleek and attractive look. You’ll find that there is layered mahogany on the sides, back, and top of the guitar. The use of mahogany provides this small instrument with a boosted tone.
Beginning musicians will find that the neck on this half-size guitar has a c profile, which means that it’s both comfortable and easy for small hands to begin playing the strings.
If you’re an experienced musician, you’ll notice that there is a warm and full tone that the guitar produces. The action is also great for pulling it right out of the box, so you shouldn’t have to worry about fiddling with it if you’re looking to pull it out and play.
The Mini II MH features all-mahogany construction for great acoustic tone, and the short scale (580 mm) makes it the perfect travel instrument.
Yamaha ½ size Classical Guitar
With this Yamaha half-size guitar, you’ll notice the timeless and classic appearance of this instrument. One thing is how many half-size guitar struggles do is stay and inconsistent tuning.
However, this isn’t a problem with this guitar. Also, because of the size of it, it’s easily playable for many beginners. You’ll find that there are nylon strings already pre-installed on his guitar.
The biggest downside of this classical guitar that it doesn’t come with a case. Also, there isn’t an option for you to install a body strap.
Considering the price, this instrument does a great job of providing the basic requirements that most parents are looking for out of a half size guitar for the child. There’s a lot of potentials for new musicians to grow fall learning this instrument.
The Yamaha CGS Classical Guitar is a great instrument for students learning the ins and outs of classical guitar technique. The guitar features a spruce top, meranti back and sides, a nato neck, and a rosewood bridge and fingerboard.
Hohner HAG250P Classical
If you’re really unsure if your child will enjoy playing an acoustic guitar, you’re probably less likely to invest a pretty penny into an instrument.
However, you shouldn’t Venture into purchasing a toy guitar, as if the poor quality that goes into producing me toy instrument can discourage your child from learning how to play in the future.
This acoustic guitar is the perfect balance between an actual 1/2 size acoustic guitar and a toy. It is the cheapest option that you can find on the market.
You’ll find that this has a Dreadnought acoustic appearance and comes with an Agathis body. Also, there’s a hardwood fretboard and mahogany neck.
With a 19 inch scale, the entirety of this acoustic guitar weighs less than 5 lb.
This guitar is 30'' in length, making it the perfect size for children. It features nylon strings, which are easier to play and safer for children. The guitar has accurate intonation and low action, making it the perfect first guitar for kids.
Strong Wind 30 inch Acoustic Guitar
The Strong Wind 30-inch acoustic guitar is at a hard to beat the price. Not only that, but this instrument also comes with fret markers and a case.
What sets this 1/2 size guitar apart from other available options is that it comes with steel strings. Steel strings are a great option to go with if you are looking to teach your child how to play folk music or other unique genres.
However, this option may not be the best for all budding musicians. This is because steel strings are a lot harder for new guitar players to learn how to play on.
Also, if you’re looking for a complete acoustic guitar kit, this isn’t it. This kid doesn’t come with a strap or pics for you to begin playing on.
This starter acoustic guitar features a sturdy and Half -size dreadnought body with smooth curves, promoting comfort during playing. The solid basswood of this dreadnought guitar produces a smooth, rich, full and vibrant sound ideal for rock, folk, country and so on.
Stagg C510
If your child is still very young, don’t forget to consider the acoustic guitar’s appearance. This is because the “cool look” guitar may be a great motivational factor for your child to learn how to play.
If you’re looking for an instrument that’s a 1/2 size acoustic guitar but doesn’t have the boring enough will finish that many other instruments come with, this acoustic guitar may be a better option for you to look into.
The Stagg C510 comes with nine different color options. Even a few models they offered come with graphics painted on the body of a guitar.
You’ll find that the top, back, and sides of his guitar are made with basswood. Also, there’s a NATO neck and a painted maple fingerboard.
Whether classical or rock, jazz or folk, there is a Stagg guitar for every occasion and for every budget.Ideal for children ages 6 to 12.
Yamaha CGS102A
If you know anything about acoustic guitars, you’ll likely know that Yamaha it’s one of the most popular acoustic guitar manufacturers.
One of the best things about Yamaha is that they often include high-quality functionality out of their guitars.
The functionality it’s offered in Yamaha guitars is what you would generally find in instruments that are well over the price range of what Yamaha is asking.
This acoustic guitar is the smallest instrument that Yamaha is currently producing. You’ll find the scale length of this guitar is 21 inches. Also, there’s only a bodied up of three and three-quarters of an inch.
The other features that you’ll find on this guitar include meranti sides and back. Also, there will be a spruce top and a rosewood fretboard.
A lot of the woods used in the production of this guitar will find with high-end acoustic guitars that cost thousands of dollars.
The CG series offers rich tone with improved volume, tone quality and response, superior playability with its easy to hold neck design and comfortable string height, and elegant appearance with its simple design.
Best ½ electric guitars
Has your child expressed an interest in learning how to play the electric guitar? Half-size guitars aren’t only available in the acoustic form. As technology continues to evolve, more and more electric guitars are coming in half sizes.
Let’s take a closer look at the best half-size electric guitars on the market:
SX RST Package
The SX RST Half-size electric guitar package is one of the best electric guitar packages that you can purchase on the market. This is a type of scaled-down Stratocaster electric guitar, which is a great investment to make if your child is looking to become introduced to the world of electric guitars.
This guitar comes with a basswood body. You’ll also find that it’s paired with a Rosewood fingerboard and a maple neck. If you have experience playing the guitar, you will find that this instrument is about 3 inches more narrow than the average electric guitar.
However, this difference in size is what makes it great to use as a travel instrument for yourself or by the hands of your small child.
In the package will come everything that your child needs to begin up playing the electric guitar. You’ll find a headphone amplifier that you were a child can plug in headphones come up which do come with the kits, for them to begin playing quietly.
Also, there is a gig bag, a body strap, a cable, and a few lessons for your child to use to begin learning how to play.
Package includes everything you need to start playing: Guitar, Guitar Amp, Instructional Video, Guitar Bag, Strap, and Cable!
Ibanez GRGM21BKN Mikro Electric Guitar
Ibanez is a very familiar electric guitar manufacturer for high-end guitars. However, they’ve taken a step into manufacturing half-size guitars that are comparable to their full-size instruments.
This guitar comes with a 22-inch scale neck. You’ll find that the neck is made of solid maple. If you have experience playing guitars, you’ll find a low tension on this neck, and then it’s a lot smaller than a regular neck that you would find on other guitars produced by this brand.
However, the set up for this instrument is very similar to what you would find from other guitars manufactured by Ibanez. There are even left-hand models for this half-size electric guitar. Plus, there’s a huge variety of different colors for you to choose from.
Another great added bonus of this guitar is that it comes with two hummingbird pickups. The hummingbird pickups are excellent to have and will produce a higher-quality sound than any other type of 1/2 size electric guitar on the market.
Though smaller than standard-scale guitars, it's no toy. The Mikro is made to the same high standards as all Ibanez guitars and features the very same Powersound pickups that go into all GIO series electric guitars.
WINZZ 30 inch Electric Guitar with Beginners Kit
Unfortunately, there aren’t that many half sizes of electric guitars on the market. However, this Half-size electric guitar is one option that you should consider only if your child is looking to learn how to play the electric guitar.
This instrument comes with a double cutaway and a 20-inch body. With 21 frets, this guitar is great for children between the ages of 4 to 8.
Also, you cannot purchase this electric guitar in a variety of different colors. As far as specs go, this guitar comes with a solid base wood body. You’ll find that the neck is made out of maple.
There are both volume control knobs and a single-coil pickup installed on the guitar. There’s also a chrome Alloy on the bridge, which helps to stabilize the tuning of this electric guitar.
In the kit that comes with this electric guitar, you will receive a gig bag, an amplifier, a strap, picks, and a guitar cable. The only thing you’ll have to worry about putting extra money out is installing batteries in the amplifier.
Double cutaway style 30 inches mini electric guitar with 21 fret & 19.69” scale length perfect for 4 - 10 years old right-handed children. 
$129.99
$99.99
FAQs
Question: What size is a 1/2 size guitar?
Answer: A 1/2 size guitar is 34 inches in length, ideal for children around 4’3″ tall
Question: What age is a 1/2 size guitar for?
Answer: A 1/2 (half-size) guitar is suitable for children ages 5-8 who are first learning to play the guitar. 1/2 size guitars are also great for backpackers or travelers who need a smaller guitar.
Question: Are half size guitars more comfortable for a child to play?
Answer: Yes, smaller size guitars are a lot easier for a child to play. This is because a half-size guitar has a smaller body and neck size. This difference in sizing we’ll make it a lot easier for your child’s small hands to hold on and manipulate the neck while playing.
Question: Can adults play a 1/2 size guitar?
Answer: Half-size guitars are best for small children who struggle to grasp and play a full-size guitar. However, these instruments aren’t just for young children. Adults with small hands or smaller bodies may also find great success in learning how to play guitar on a half size guitar. This is because the ½ size guitar is a lot easier to play on because of its smaller body.
Question: Can a guitar be too small?
Answer: Depending on the size of your body, a guitar can be too small for you. This is the same way that a full-size dreadnought acoustic can be very challenging for a young child to play, 1/2 size guitar can be too small to play on if you’ve got very large hands.
Question: What is a mini guitar?
Answer: A mini guitar is different than ½ guitar. A mini guitar is actually called a ukulele.
The Best Guitar for Your Needs
We would highly recommend purchasing the Cordoba Mini II MH ½ acoustic guitar if you’re unsure of any other option to go with. This is because the overall cost of this instrument is on the cheaper side, but it still produces a well rounded and warm sound. When your child is learning how to play acoustic guitar, this instrument doesn’t sound like a cheap toy.
Also, this guitar comes with nylon strings. That means that you won’t have to worry about re-stringing to put on a set of strings that are softer and more gentle on your child’s hands, especially compared to steel strings.
Finding the best ½ guitar for your child
A lot of half-size guitars on the market are easy and suitable for children to play. Plus, many brands offer a low-cost option the won’t leave you with are hurting wallet if your child decides that they aren’t interested in playing.
Not to mention, many brands offer steel string guitars and nylon string guitars for children but may have different levels of experience playing guitar.
The best acoustic guitar to purchase is the Cordoba Mini II MH. this is because it comes with nylon strings, which make attic credibly easy for beginning musicians to learn how to play. Plus, the sound that it produces is unlike other available 1/2 size acoustic guitars on the market.
The Mini II MH features all-mahogany construction for great acoustic tone, and the short scale (580 mm) makes it the perfect travel instrument.
The best half size electric guitar to purchase is the Ibanez GRGM21BKN Mikro electric guitar. This is because it comes with all of the high-quality features that you would find on an expensive full-size electric guitar but on a smaller sized instrument. The pickups that are featured on this electric guitar make it hard to argue with the quality that you’re offered in this instrument.
What instrument have you decided to purchase for your child? We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback down below! Feel free to check out the rest of our blog if you’re looking for more help finding the best guitar for you.
Further Reading:
- Acoustic vs Classical Guitars Explained
- 3/4 Size vs Full Size Guitars
- Best Travel Guitars Guide
- Loog Kids Guitars Review
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- Loog Guitar Review: Is It Worth the Buy? - August 22, 2023
- Precision Bass vs Jazz Bass Compared: Which Guitar is Better? - August 22, 2023