Buying a quality beginner guitar is one of the most important keys to a student's development and progress. First off, the cheap guitars you can buy at the large retail stores (like Wal-Mart or Target) are unsuitable for learning. They are toys, not instruments. You want to get a legitimate guitar that will play well in your child's hands. I have all my recommended guitars in the Online Store below for you to choose from. The higher the price, the nicer the quality of guitar (nicer wood, tone, and hardware). But no matter your budget, any of those guitars will play great in your child's hands.
For guitar size I have a general guideline: If your child is particularly tall for their age (as tall as a 5th grader or taller) or is going through a growth spurt then I'd get the full size. But if not, you'll want to go 3/4 size. The vast majority of elementary aged students are going to need a 3/4 size.
There are three things required for Guitar Band: 1) Acoustic Guitar 2) Snark S-1 “Son Of Snark” Tuner 3) A Dozen Guitar Picks. All three of these can be ordered below or bought from your local music store. IMPORTANT: Your child must have a Snark S-1 “Son Of Snark” Tuner. Off brands will not work. All students must have the same type of tuner in order to learn properly.
Below IS MY Amazon MASTER List. It gives you ALL my recommended options IN ONE PLACE. You can SELECT FROM All The Guitar OPTIONS & EASILY purchasE one, plus a tuner & Picks.
Remember, the 3 required pieces of equipment are:
1) Acoustic Guitar 2) Snark S-1 “Son Of Snark” Tuner and 3) a 12-pack of Guitar Picks.
Master List for 3/4 size guitars
Master List for Full Size guitars
BUT WHAT ABOUT THE OTHER EQUIPMENT OPTIONS IN THE STORE? These additional equipment items in the store I highly recommend for the best for practice, guitar maintenance, and playing experience a child can have:
Gig Bag & Hardshell Cases - you’ll see that most guitars come with a soft case called a gig bag. This will provide protection for the guitar from scratches and moisture. If you want a hardshell, there are options in the store.
Music & Guitar Stand - make your child's practice much easier! The music stand keeps their sheet music organized and at eye level, while the guitar stand keeps their guitar is in plain sight so they can start practice quicker.
Strings - all strings will go dull and eventually break given enough time. This is normal. It’s always best to have a set of spare strings in the guitar case so if one breaks during a lesson, it can quickly be repaired. I would also suggest that a student change their strings at least once a semester. Having new strings will make the guitar sound brand new and be more fun to play. 3/4 size guitars need Extra Light gauge strings while full size need Light gauge strings.
Capo - allows you to change the key of a song on the fly. This is essential for intermediate players but can come in handy even with beginners. Certain songs a student may want to learn could require a capo to be played correctly. My favorite capo is the G7th. It’s professional grade and what I personally use on stage. I’ve also listed the classic Kyser Capo. It’s cheaper but will still work well. I use it around the house and for practice guitars.
Batteries - pretty much all clip-on tuners use standard CR2032 Button batteries. The D’Addario micro tuner is pretty good on battery life, but it will run out eventually. It’s always best to keep some for backup in the guitar case.
Strap - most beginner acoustics need a strap that has a string which ties around the headstock of the guitar.