The best music gifts for kids

Size first, then the instrument

The one thing that separates a music gift a child plays from one that goes under a bed is fit. A guitar that is too big does not make a slow learner; it makes a child who concludes they are bad at guitar, and that is a much harder thing to fix than buying the right size. So before anything else on this page: if the child wants a guitar, get their height and age from a parent and put them through our guitar sizing chart. It takes a minute and it decides between three of the picks below.

The second rule is about what the child asked for. A child who asked for a guitar and receives a keyboard has received a well-meant no. If you do not know what they asked for, the ukulele and the keyboard are the two instruments a child of almost any age can succeed on without a sizing decision, and they are the two safe surprises here.

The picks, by age

Ages three to six: Loog Mini

Why it lands: three strings instead of six, so a preschooler plays a real chord on the first afternoon, and the chord shapes carry straight over to a six-string later. It is small and light enough to be held correctly, which a shrunken six-string is not. Who it suits: a child who is simply too small for a 3/4 guitar. What to check: the sizing chart. A tall five-year-old may already fit a 3/4 guitar, in which case the Yamaha below is the better buy. Tell the parents plainly that this is a bridge to a guitar and will be outgrown in a year or two.

Ages six and up: Kala KA-15S ukulele bundle

Why it lands: a real instrument with geared tuners that hold pitch, a warm mahogany voice, and a bundle that includes the tuner and bag. Four soft nylon strings, a chord with one finger, a recognizable song within the day. It is the easiest instrument on this site and the one with no sizing decision. Who it suits: almost any child from about six, and the right answer when you do not know what they asked for. What to check: nothing. Add the Hal Leonard ukulele book from our ukulele book page for a child over about eight.

Roughly eight to eleven, acoustic: Yamaha JR1

Why it lands: a 3/4-scale guitar built to the same standard as Yamaha’s adult line rather than a toy with a brand on it. It stays in tune, it takes a setup, it usually ships with a bag, and it holds resale value for when the child outgrows it. Who it suits: a child who asked for a guitar and measures into the 3/4 band on the chart. What to check: the measurement. A child who is tall for their age may already be a full-size player, and our guitar for a 10-year-old page walks through exactly that call. Add a clip-on tuner.

Roughly seven to twelve, electric: Squier Mini Stratocaster

Why it lands: a genuine short-scale Stratocaster with real pickups and a real Fender-family neck, not a novelty. The 22.75-inch scale is reachable for small hands and it holds tuning better than anything else at this size. Who it suits: a child under about twelve who specifically wants an electric guitar. What to check: the one thing that ruins this gift — there is no amplifier in the box. An electric guitar with no amp is a quiet disappointment on the morning. Our amp guide has the cheapest one that works, and the Boss Katana Mini on our under-$150 page is the one that makes practice sound good.

Any age: Yamaha 61-key touch-sensitive keyboard

Why it lands: touch sensitivity is the spec that matters at this price and the one the cheap boxed kits leave out. Without it, pressing harder does nothing, and a child learning dynamics on a non-sensitive keyboard learns a habit they will later have to unlearn. This one has it, 61 keys covers every beginner book, and it ships with the power adapter and music rest that are often missing. Who it suits: any child starting piano, with or without a teacher. What to check: whether the family already owns a stand and bench; they are usually separate, and our bench height page explains why a child’s wrists need to be level. A child with a piano teacher who is a year in may be ready for weighted keys instead — see our kids’ keyboard guide.

The stocking fillers: a tougher tuner and the right first book

The KLIQ UberTuner is a clip-on tuner with a noticeably stronger clip and hinge than the cheapest units, which matters because the clip is what breaks first on a tuner that lives in a school bag. It suits any child with a guitar, ukulele, bass or violin. The Alfred Kid’s Guitar Course is written for a child working with a parent rather than a teacher, which is where most first guitars land, with large print and real songs early; it suits roughly ages five to nine. The Faber Piano Adventures Primer is the piano book more children enjoy, starting on the black keys before any note reading. For both books, check which method the child’s teacher uses if they have one; series do not mix well mid-year.

What to expect after the gift

A first instrument is the start of a year, not the end of a shopping trip, and the family will be grateful to know what comes next. Our first-year checklist lists the small things that follow — the stand, the strings, the book — and our what instruments cost page gives the honest running cost per instrument. If the gift is for December, our Black Friday hub has the sourced record of which of these product classes actually discounted last year.