We’ve helped hundreds of kids start their musical journey on guitar—and we know that as a parent, you’ve got questions. Whether your child is drawn to shredding on electric or strumming acoustic melodies, we’re here to help you understand what to expect when starting beginning guitar lessons for kids.

Here’s what we tell families in their first week:

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How Old Should My Child Be to Start?

Most kids can begin private guitar lessons around age 6–7. Why that age?

• Their hands are strong enough to press strings.
• They’re starting to develop fine motor control.
• They can follow short sequences of instruction.

That said, we’ve seen some determined 5-year-olds do great with parent support!

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Which Guitar Should I Get: Acoustic or Electric?

Either one is great to start with—there’s no “wrong” choice.

Acoustic Guitar:

• Ideal for folk, pop, classical
• No amp needed
• Slightly harder to press the strings at first

Electric Guitar:

• Smaller neck, easier for little fingers
• Great for rock, blues, and jazz
• Needs an amp (but small practice amps work well!)

Still choosing? Yamaha’s beginner guitar guide is a great place to start.

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What Happens in the First Few Lessons?

We keep it fun, light, and goal-oriented. Students can expect to:

• Learn how to hold the guitar and pick properly
• Play simple rhythms on one string
• Start learning open string names and finger numbers
• Strum easy chords like E minor or G
• Maybe even play their first song!

We pace things based on your child’s attention span and excitement level.

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Do I Need Anything Else?

Just a few basics will go a long way:

• A properly sized guitar (3/4 or 1/2 size for most kids under 10)
• A tuner (clip-on or app-based)
• A few picks
• A folder or notebook for lesson notes
• Optional: a music stand and small amp (for electric players)

Want to know how to make early lessons successful? Our post on how private lessons succeed is packed with helpful info.

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FAQ

Q: How long are beginner guitar lessons?
A: We recommend starting with 30-minute weekly lessons for younger students. As attention span grows, longer sessions are possible.

Q: Will my child need to read music?
A: Not at first! We usually begin with simple visual notation (like fret numbers or chord diagrams) and introduce music reading gradually.

Q: How long before they can play real songs?
A: Many students can play a simple melody or chord progression by week 2 or 3. With regular practice, progress happens fast!