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New Released in April 2026
Guitar for Kids: Size, Strings and the First Chords
Choosing a guitar for kids is mostly about size and strings. The right guitar is one the child can hold without stretching and press without pain. Here is how to choose, and how to start.
No account, no download. The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
- MIDI keyboard
- Digital or acoustic piano
- Guitar
- Computer, phone or tablet
Guitar size by age
- About 4 to 6 years: 1/4 size.
- About 6 to 8 years: 1/2 size.
- About 8 to 11 years: 3/4 size.
- About 12 and up: full size (4/4).
- Height matters more than age: try the guitar seated, the arm should reach the first fret easily.
Nylon or steel strings
Nylon strings (classical guitar) are softer on small fingertips, which is why most children start on them. Steel strings sound brighter but press harder; an electric guitar has thin strings and is also easy to press.
Guitar for Kids: Size, Strings and the First Chords
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps.
Play the demoWhen to start
Many children start around 6 to 8, when the hand can hold a chord shape. Before that, a ukulele-sized guitar and lots of rhythm play are a good warm-up. Keep the first sessions to ten minutes: fingertips need a couple of weeks to get used to the strings.
First chords and practice
Em and Am are the easiest first chords, then E, A, D, C and G. Five minutes on one change, then a game: in ChordRunner the chord name appears, the child strums it and the microphone checks it.
Common questions
What size guitar does my child need?
Roughly 1/4 at 4–6 years, 1/2 at 6–8, 3/4 at 8–11 and full size from about 12. Check that the child reaches the first fret without stretching.
Nylon or steel strings for a beginner child?
Nylon: softer on the fingertips. Steel strings and electric guitars can come later or suit older children.
What does my child need to play ChordRunner?
A browser (Chrome or Edge) on a computer, tablet or phone, plus a USB MIDI keyboard, or a piano or guitar the microphone can hear. The on-screen keys let you try it first.
Is everything in the demo?
The demo has limited content. Advanced features are in ChordRunner Premium.
Your instrument is the controller.
ChordRunner is a browser game that teaches piano and guitar chords: a chord appears on screen, you play it on a real instrument, and your runner jumps. MIDI keyboard or microphone, both work.
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