You bought the guitar. It's been sitting in the corner for two months.
Or maybe your kid keeps watching YouTube tutorials but isn't making any progress. Or they're asking to take lessons and you're not sure what "good" guitar instruction looks like at their age.
Here's what you need to know — and how to get them started without wasting time or money.
What Age Can Kids Start Guitar?
Most instructors agree: age 6 or 7 is a reasonable starting point for acoustic or electric guitar. Classical guitar — which requires more precise finger placement — often works better starting around age 8 or 9.
That said, readiness matters more than age. A motivated 6-year-old will outlearn a reluctant 10-year-old every time.
The main physical consideration is hand size. Smaller kids often do better starting on a ¾-size guitar. If your child can comfortably wrap their hand around a standard neck and press strings without straining, they're ready.
What Beginners Actually Learn
A good beginner guitar program covers four things, in roughly this order:
- Posture and hand position. This is more important than it sounds. Bad posture creates bad habits that are hard to unlearn. A good instructor spends real time on this in the first few lessons.
- Basic chords. Usually starting with open chords: G, C, D, Em, Am. These five chords cover hundreds of songs your kid already knows.
- Strumming patterns. Learning to keep time and vary rhythm. This is where things start to feel like actual music instead of exercises.
- Simple songs. Playing real music early keeps motivation high. The best instructors introduce recognizable songs within the first 2–3 lessons.
Advanced technique — barre chords, scales, music theory — comes later. For beginners, the goal is to build the habit of playing and make it feel good.
What to Look For in an Online Guitar Instructor for Kids
Experience teaching children specifically. Teaching guitar to a 9-year-old is fundamentally different from teaching an adult. The best kids' instructors know how to simplify, encourage, and keep sessions moving without losing rigor.
A clear beginner progression. Ask the instructor: "What will my child be able to play after 8 sessions?" If they can't answer specifically, they don't have a structured program.
Patience with mistakes. Kids learn through repetition and a lot of wrong notes. The instructor's response to mistakes shapes whether the student keeps going or gives up.
Enthusiasm for the student's tastes. A kid who loves Taylor Swift will practice more if they're learning Taylor Swift songs. A good instructor meets students in their genre, not the instructor's.
How Online Lessons Compare to In-Person
For guitar, online and in-person produce comparable results — especially for beginners.
The practical advantages of online: no travel time, more scheduling flexibility, your child can record sessions for review, and access to instructors who aren't local.
The one advantage of in-person is physical adjustment — an instructor can physically show how to position a hand. Good online instructors compensate with clear camera angles and verbal cues, but it's worth knowing.
For most families, the convenience of online lessons outweighs the physical proximity benefit, especially once students are past the very first few sessions.
Spotlight: Chris V — Guitar Lessons on Wimzee
Chris V teaches two guitar formats on Wimzee: a beginner lesson for students just starting out and a more advanced session for students with some foundation.
He works with students on the core basics — chords, strumming, fundamentals — and structures sessions around actual songs to keep motivation high.
Beginner Guitar Lesson: Perfect for students with no prior experience. Chris walks through posture, first chords, and plays actual music from the first session. Price: $35. Format: one-on-one, online.
Book a beginner guitar lesson with Chris: https://wimzee1.mysharetribe.com/l/guitar-lesson-for-beginners/6793cd70-0bae-47a6-aefe-56489a7a8fd7?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=guitar_post
Guitar Lesson (Intermediate): For students who know some basics and want to develop further. Price: $60.
Book an intermediate lesson: https://wimzee1.mysharetribe.com/l/guitar-lesson/6793a23e-e841-41bb-b468-53e5b0512722?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=guitar_post
What to Do Before the First Lesson
- Get the right size guitar. For kids under 10, a ¾ size is usually right. For older kids or teens, standard size works.
- Tune it (or download a tuner app — GuitarTuna is free and works well).
- Find a quiet space with good lighting where your child can sit comfortably.
- Set realistic expectations. The first few weeks are awkward. Fingers will hurt a little. That's normal.
The students who stick with guitar and get good at it are almost always the ones whose parents kept showing up consistently — not necessarily the ones with the most natural talent.
Ready to Book?
One session to see if it clicks. That's all it takes.
Browse guitar lessons on Wimzee: https://joinwimzee.com?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=cta&utm_campaign=guitar_post_browse
