Information on Stringed Musical Instruments for Children

Choose a stringed instrument appropriately sized for your child.

Stringed instruments for children vary from the adult versions by size. Full-sized adult stringed instruments can intimidate a small child. Children struggle with finger placement on a full-sized instrument. Holding an adult instrument correctly can prove too challenging for small children. Children who practice on an inappropriately sized instrument may create poor technique that will last throughout their musical career. Many parents prefer to rent a stringed musical instrument rather than buying since children eventually outgrow small-sized instruments.

Violin

The most common stringed instrument choice for children is the violin. Violins come in seven sizes to match the size of the child. Sizing a violin to meet the child's needs requires two elements. First, the child's hand must be able fit around the scroll. Next, with the child's hand on the scroll and the violin on the shoulder, the child's arm should drop just a bit. Small violins sound worse than full-sized violins. However, sacrifice sound quality to ensure comfort and usability.

Viola

The viola looks like a bigger violin. The viola plays scales that are lower than a violin's scales. Though violas come in a variety of sizes, they are not considered standard-sized instruments. They range in sizes from 12 inches to 16.5 inches long. Violas use viola bows that only come in one size, 29.25 inches. Smaller children need to use a smaller violin bow with their viola's for better manageability.

Cello

The cello plays notes lower than both the violin and viola and is considered the bass sound of the stringed orchestra instruments. The cello's deeper sound comes from its larger size. Because of this size, the cellist holds the cello between the knees. The end of the cello rests on the floor. Cellos come in five sizes beginning with the full-sized cello and then reducing the size of the cello by fractions of the full-size. The smallest cello is 1/8 the size of the full-sized cello.

Guitar

Guitars for children are either acoustic or electric. Many parents choose acoustic guitars over electric guitars for their beginning children because of price. Not only are electric guitars more expensive to manufacture but they also need an amplifier to effectively hear their sound. Acoustic guitars use either nylon or steel strings. Though steel strings are more common, children with small hands and fingers find steel strings difficult to press down. Guitars for children range in size from the 30-inch half-sized guitar to the 39-inch full-sized guitar.

References

• University of Texas String Project: The String Family
• Peter Zaret & Sons Violins: How to Choose a Violin for a Child
• Fiddleheads: Violin and Viola Sizing & Instrument Sizes Charts
• Childrens Music Workshop: About the Cello
• String Season: Purchase an Eastman Cello Outfit
• Active Musician: Buying a Child's First Guitar