If you are thinking about learning to play an instrument or your children have expressed an interest, the guitar is a great pick! It's the second most popular instrument to learn to play in the United States, following only the piano in popularity.

The guitar is a great instrument to learn because of its versatility. It appears in many different genres, so you can learn to play some of your favorite songs and other popular melodies. You can strive to become a popular musician or enjoy it as a hobby to help you relax during the weekends.

As a beginner, you can choose to get started on either the acoustic or electric guitar. When you become more proficient, it opens you up to learning other stringed instruments, like the banjo or ukulele.

Some people believe they're too old to start a new instrument, and others want to know if their children are too young to learn. Below, we'll talk about some factors to help you decide when to start guitar lessons.

Any Age Is a Good Age to Start Guitar Lessons

Every person is different, which means each of us learns a little differently, too. Like with learning any new skill, your age isn't the most important thing. As long as you're excited to learn, dedicated and ready to put in the time and effort, you should go ahead and learn!

Whether you're 7 or 70, everyone has to start at the beginning when they're learning something new. All you need is a good instrument, the motivation to learn and a great teacher.

When you're ready to start lessons, you have a few options that can make it easier for you. While people frequently think they need to start on acoustic, you can learn on either electric or acoustic — both types have their advantages. You could even start with a ukulele if your child has small hands, then transition to the guitar later.

What Is the Best Age to Learn Guitar?

While anyone can learn to play the guitar if they really want to, it is harder for children. If your child is under six, their hands may not have the strength to hold the guitar up and put enough pressure on the frets to create different notes and chords. This could cause them to get frustrated and want to stop their lessons.

However, there are solutions to even those problems. In addition to starting on a smaller instrument like the ukulele, you have other choices. You could put nylon strings on the guitar, which is much easier on the hands, or buy your child a half- or three-quarters size guitar to make it easier for them to handle.

Just because your child is younger than six doesn't mean they can't learn the guitar. If they really want to learn, go ahead and sign them up for lessons!

At Bananas at Large, we offer music lessons in guitar — and lots of other instruments — from some of the best teachers in the San Francisco area. Reach out to us to schedule your first lesson!