A half-sized electric guitar is a perfect instrument for a young rocker. Prepare your child for a life of musical fun by gearing them up with a sweet little half-sized electric guitar.
This article looks at the best half-size guitars in the electric category, exploring the top picks available today.
I tested 6 products and found the Loog Pro Mini VI to be the best half-sized electric guitar.
This unique instrument is one of the best electric guitars to learn on. These half-size guitars are super cute, fun, and exciting to play with. They are also pretty decent instruments for their size and price!
Guitars are a great first instrument to learn music on.
The guitar was the first instrument I learned as a child. Learning guitar is a great way for children to participate in musical activities. It has a lot of benefits and will help with musicality later in life.
Playing musical instruments helps with social skills, and both left and right brain activity.
We picked the Loog Pro Mini VI as our favorite half-size guitar for several reasons!
We loved the inclusion of a built-in amplifier. This saves a lot of hassle for guitarists. You don’t have to plug into an amp, you don’t have to move an amp around. The guitar is always ready to go.
This is nice as electric guitars aren’t always great to use without an amp, compared to using an acoustic guitar. With the Loog, it has a loud sound when the internal amp is switched on, which competes with other instruments.
When it comes to choosing a guitar for a child, it’s important you pick one which is comfortable for them to play, fitting their small arms and fingers.
Depending on their age and size, a 3/4 or 1/2 sized guitar may be the best option.
Half-size guitars are smaller than ¾ sized models. If the guitarist is under 9 years old, a half-sized would be best. If they are over 9 then a ¾ model would be advised.
Saying that anybody can actually play a half-sized guitar, although adults and teenagers may find it a bit fiddly.
Keep reading for our full review of the best half-size guitars.
Alternatively, interested in reading about the best electric guitars? Check out our post!
What size is a half-size guitar?
A half-size guitar isn’t exactly half the size of a full-size guitar, as the name might suggest.
Half-size guitars are in reality, closer to ⅔ of the size. Measuring around 30” instead of the usual 38” of a full size.
¾ sized guitars are the other option, these are a little larger, around 34”.
The instrument is mainly targeted towards children and people with small hands, but some adults also use it as a travel guitar due to its size and portability.
A half-size guitar can be found in many of the most popular guitar brands such as Fender, Yamaha, Ibanez, Epiphone…etc. Although they are quite niche still. This list is for electrics, but you can also find acoustic guitars in the half-size format. These are just as good for children playing guitar.
Hey, looking for an acoustic-electric guitar? Check out our post about the best acoustic-electric guitar under $400
Best half size electric guitars in our tests
- LyxPro 30 Inch Electric Guitar Starter Kit for Kids
- Saturnpower 30″ Beginner Electric Guitar with 5W Amp
- Best Choice Products 30in Kids Electric Guitar Beginner Starter Kit
- WINZZ 30 Inches Real Kids Electric Guitar with Beginner Kit
- Loog Mini 3-String Electric Kids Guitar for Beginners
- Loog Pro Electric VI, 6-String Guitar
6 Best half size electric guitar reviews in Details
1. LyxPro 30 Inch Electric Guitar Starter Kit for Kids
Product info
Got a budding guitar player in your life? Get them started on the right track with this half-size guitar bundle.
The LyxPro Guitar Starter Kit includes everything they need to start rocking out. It includes a half-size guitar, an amplifier, guitar cable, tuner, guitar bag, and spare strings. This half-size guitar kit is a complete set for any aspiring guitarist. The set is perfect for beginners, even if they have zero musical experience.
The guitar itself is of mid-range quality. It uses a basswood body, steel strings, and two humbucking pickups. The guitar comes fitted with a master volume knob and tone control. This guitar makes a crisp sound for a half-size guitar. The solid maple neck has a small profile, making it easy for younger players to play chords.
There were some issues with the tuning of the guitar and some loose screws. It didn’t sound bad for a guitar of its size, but would be out-performed by a regular-sized guitar.
Young musicians will be on their way to rocking out in no time.
Pros and Cons
- Features a decent quality half-size electric guitar.
- A complete set of everything you need to start playing guitar.
- Designed for beginners aged 6 or above.
- Also includes the GuitarASAP app that teaches you how to tune your guitar and play your favorite tunes!
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2. Saturnpower 30
Product info
The Saturn Power 30″ guitar is a great, affordable choice for beginners and long-time guitarists alike.
This mini guitar has a 30” mahogany body and offers all the features you need to start strumming immediately. The guitar is easy to operate and set up so all you need to do is plug in the strap and start to play.
This half-size guitar features one single-coil pick-up and volume control. The sound wasn’t versatile, but good enough to learn how to play guitar.
It is easy to carry, lightweight and comfortable. The hardware felt durable, featuring chrome die-cast machine heads and a fixed bridge – with no assembly required.
This package includes everything you need to get started: the guitar, amp, cables, strap, gig bag, picks, and spare strings. With a few lessons, your child will be ready to rock!
This guitar has a solid wood top, chrome, and a 2-year warranty. It’s an ideal toy guitar for kids and beginners.
The quality is comparatively mid-range. This is on the lower end of the budget spectrum and will be outshone by most other guitars. The quality is good enough for the price though and will be enough for a child to learn guitar on.
Pros and Cons
- This guitar is very suitable for beginners.
- No assembly required: the guitar comes pre-strung and tuned.
- Comes with a hardwood body and rosewood fretboard (22 frets).
- 30″ half-size electric guitar.
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3. Best Choice Products 30in Kids Electric Guitar Beginner Starter Kit
Product info
Next up is the Best Choice kids guitar, the perfect starter instrument for beginners.
This is another bundle, including an amp, cables, strap, picks, and a gig bag.
It’s lightweight, making it easy to carry to and from lessons. This guitar uses a light nato neck and alder body. The single-coil pickups have a midrange quality. The single-coil pick-up will produce a wide range of sounds to help your child explore different genres of music.
The guitar is durable and has decent-quality components that will last for years. Although there were some tuning instabilities compared to a full-size guitar.
The all-in-one guitar kit includes an amplifier which you can plug into an audio interface or use with headphones. The amp sound was decent for its size, and not too loud like some amps.
The quality of this mini guitar is decent but requires some setup. The action was a little high, but this is fairly easily changed. This is a common issue for many guitars anyway, both half-size and full-sized guitar models.
The Best Choice kids guitar is an excellent instrument to start with for beginners. This is the perfect instrument to prep a child for using a regular-sized guitar later in life.
Pros and Cons
- The perfect size for kids to learn how to play the guitar.
- Single coil pick-up which produces a large variety of sounds.
- Decent quality components and materials.
- Complete all-in-one guitar kit with amplifier included.
- Needed some setup.
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4. WINZZ 30 Inches Real Kids Electric Guitar with Beginner Kit
Product info
Introducing WINZZ’s most affordable guitar, the WINZZ 30″ guitar! This is a great starter guitar for anyone who is looking to learn how to play the guitar.
It has a maple fingerboard and fixed bridge, a single-coil pick-up, a volume knob, and chrome alloy bridge and tuners. You can plug it into an amplifier with the included cable or use headphones for late-night practice.
We have all heard that “practice makes perfect.” This is especially true for young guitar players that want to learn the most rewarding instrument in the world.
The WINZZ 30″ guitar with a solid body and chrome bridge was designed with this in mind.
The axe is perfect for beginners and has a smaller scale length which makes it more comfortable to play (and easier to learn).
With its single coil pickup and simple volume control knob, you’ll have all the electric tones you need.
The perfect gift for any little music lover, the WINZZ 30″ guitar is an eye-catching and practical instrument for young players looking to start learning. Double cutaway style, 21 frets, and 19.69” scale length make this a beautiful and durable choice.
Bright colors like the light of the sun fill this perfect guitar with positive energy and establish a long-lasting connection with its owner.
Pros and Cons
- Body crafted from durable hardwood for superior resonance.
- Rosewood fretboard with 22 frets for maximum playability.
- Polished painting surface to preserve the unique look of your guitar.
- Diecast chrome machine heads ensure tuning stability.
- Comes complete with accessories like an amplifier, strap, cable, etc.
- Comes in different finishes to match your style.
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5. Loog Mini 3-String Electric Kids Guitar for Beginners
Product info
Next, we have a fun instrument from Loog. The Loog Mini 3 is perfect for kids who want to learn guitar and comes approved by educators.
Loog Mini is a tiny 3-string electric guitar about the same size as a ukulele with a built-in amp and speaker and bundled with free lessons and an app that teaches you music through AR.
The Loog is a great way for children to learn with its small neck and 3 strings. Having 3 strings makes it easier for children to understand mentally, and requires simpler motor control.
This will prepare children to go on to play a full-size guitar in later life. This guitar is very small, almost half the size of a normal guitar.
This guitar features a built-in amp and speaker, so you can get a louder sound without having to plug it into an external amplifier. This makes the guitar ideal for both younger players and traveling guitarists.
Designed for beginners, Loog Mini has a very affordable price and is fun to play. It’s ready to go right out of the box so you can start jamming right away!
Great for kids and beginners, it has everything you need to learn electric guitar.
Pros and Cons
- Approved by educators.
- Built-in amp & speaker. Can play loud without plugging in.
- Real wood, real guitar: Includes flashcards with chord diagrams.
- Fun, bright electric design that kids will love.
- Better choice than other electric and acoustic guitars.
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6. Loog Pro Electric VI, 6-String Guitar
Product info
Loog is a revolutionary guitar company with a passion for quality, craftsmanship, and innovation.
The Loog Pro Electric VI is one of their most popular guitars yet with the most advanced features and components such as an integrated amplifier and speaker, high-quality solid wood body, neck, and fretboard.
Loog Pro Electric VI is perfect for beginners. It has everything you need to start playing the guitar. Its easy-to-play, compact size makes it perfect for kids or adults. It comes with lessons and an electronic tuner so you can learn to play at your own pace.
As the perfect electric guitar for beginners, Loog Pro Electric VI was designed to make learning the electric guitar easy. With a slim, compact size, low string action, a comfortable short-scale neck – Loog Pro Electric VI is the perfect guitar for any young guitarist!
Pros and Cons
- Excellent first guitar
- Built-in amp for practice.
- Free lessons.
- Super high build quality for the price.
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A Quick Guide to buying a half-size electric guitar?
What to look for when buying this type of product
The electric guitar might not always be the best choice. Sometimes an acoustic guitar is better, particularly for younger children. Electric guitars have the extra stage of using an amplifier, which can be complicated and unnecessary for young children.
You don’t need to use an amp with an acoustic guitar.
A classical guitar is a great choice because these have nylon strings which are softer on the hands of children. Particularly when you compare nylon strings to steel strings.
That being said, if your rocker is set on an electric guitar, there are a few things to consider.
You will need an amp unless it has a built-in speaker.
You also want to learn about tuning. If the guitar isn’t tuned, it won’t sound any good. Luckily you can tune them yourself very easily. Most mini electric guitar bundles on this list come with some kind of tuner. Otherwise, you can use a tuning app on a smartphone.
You may need to buy an additional guitar cable to plug the kid’s electric guitar into an amp. Although most of the bundles here come with a cable.
FAQs
What age is a 1/2 electric guitar for?
Can adults use a 1/2 size electric or acoustic guitar?
In reality, an adult may find a ½ sized guitar too fiddly to play properly. The size will become limiting. Adults are advised to play full-sized guitars.
Are 1/2 guitars good for beginners?
Their small size can make it easier for small hand players to learn guitar. However, for adults and older children, the small size may be too fiddly, and become a limiting factor,
If the beginner is below the age of 9, a ½ sized guitar could be a good fit.
What is the difference between 1/2 guitar and full?
Full-sized guitars are typically around 38 inches long, where half-sized guitars are around 30 inches. It may be surprising to find they are not exactly half, as this would likely be too small to play.
Everything else about the ½ sized guitars is identical to full-sized. They still use 6 strings tuned to the same EADGBe tuning. ½ sized electric guitars still use pickups and amplifiers to create their sound. The fretboard and notes are all the same, as are chord shapes and scales.
Conclusion
Overall we thought the best half-sized electric guitar was the Loog Pro Mini VI.
For a half-size guitar, you won’t find much better than this. It’s well made, you can tell that Loog put a lot of care and attention into the design of the guitar. Not only is it functional and performant, but it’s also fun! This thing looks cool, it has a unique body shape that gives kids a cool rockstar look.
We chose this as our best guitar for several reasons. The built-in amp is one. This opens up the guitar to sound better no matter where you play it. You don’t have to be tied to an amplifier.
This makes playing guitar exciting and adventurous. This will inspire children to learn, and progress as a musician.
The sound and feel of this guitar are great too. This feels like a guitar from a much higher price category. The rosewood fingerboard has an excellent, smooth response too.
This half-size guitar makes learning and playing guitar a lot of fun, what more can you ask for?
You can find the Loog Pro Mini VI on amazon today!Need a guitar for worship? Check out our post about the best electric guitars for worship.
Noah is an accomplished audio engineer with several years of experience producing music for major companies and independent artists. He enjoys sharing his vast knowledge of audio engineering topics to help musicians and music producers create great music.