A friendly beginning for young guitar players
Kids Guitar!
A structured online guitar course for young beginners—built around a comfortable setup, clear first notes, familiar melodies, rhythms, riffs, and chords, plus patented child-friendly notation that helps children play songs they like in notes that make sense.
Young beginners welcome • Child-sized instruments • Guided course pathway
Explore Kids GuitarA great first instrument
A child-sized guitar turns the fretboard into a hands-on musical map
Guitars come in smaller sizes, and the frets give every note a visible place. With an appropriate child-friendly setup, beginners can connect what they see, feel, and hear.
Smaller guitars for smaller players
A well-fitted guitar makes reaching the strings and frets more comfortable. Nylon strings or another teacher-recommended setup can also be kinder to new fingertips.
No breath-control barrier
Children can focus on listening, rhythm, coordination, and musical expression without first needing the lung capacity required by many band and orchestral wind instruments.
Frets make pitch visible
The fretboard is a built-in map. Children can see where notes change, repeat patterns, and begin connecting single-note melodies with chords and rhythm.
Free Printable Guitar Pack
See the Exact Notes method on the page
Start with a clear “Ode to Joy” arrangement, created to help young beginners recognize what to play and make familiar music with confidence.
Then request the free pack to receive all three printable songs together—ready to download and explore at your own pace. The complete set includes Hot Cross Buns, Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and Ode to Joy.
Download the Free Guitar PackPlay first • read more as they grow
We make playing and music reading easier for kids
Standard notation is a brilliant universal language—but it asks young beginners to decode many abstract layers while they are also learning how to hold a guitar, coordinate two hands, find strings and frets, and make music. The patented Exact Notes™ approach gives children a developmentally friendlier starting language using the string, fret, and finger numbers they already know how to read.
One clear action at a time
Exact Notes shows the string, fret, and finger number to use, so a child can focus on sound, movement, and the song instead of decoding several abstract symbols at once.
Quick wins build motivation
Recognizable melodies, rhythms, riffs, and chord patterns give children a reason to keep going. Progress feels immediate, musical, and worth repeating.
Standard notation grows with them
As playing becomes more comfortable, students add rhythm, staff reading, chord symbols, key signatures, sharps, flats, and other layers at a pace that fits their development.
A clear musical journey
From first sounds to confident playing
Each step adds one manageable layer, so progress feels musical instead of overwhelming.
1. Get comfortable
Set up a comfortable hold, identify the strings and frets, and learn how to make clear first notes.
2. Play real songs
Our easy-to-read notes for kids are especially designed for ages 5-12.
3. Add musical skills
Add chord shapes, smoother changes, stronger rhythm, listening, and early standard-notation skills.
4. Grow independently
Build a repertoire of songs, riffs, melodies, and chord patterns with increasing independence.
Choose the Support That Fits Your Family
Start independently, add flexible personal guidance, or join a small weekly live class. Every plan includes the Kids Guitar course library, printable sheet music, and a free one-on-one setup meeting. New lessons are included as the library grows.
Not sure which level is right?
Tell me about your child, goals, experience, and schedule. I’ll personally review the information and recommend the best starting point.
New Student? Start HereA low-pressure first step
Want to try the guitar path first?
Explore five instruments at our monthly featured event or meet privately for free help with guitar fit, setup, and the right starting point.
Free Instrument Petting Zoo
Join our featured monthly Saturday event at 10:00 a.m. Eastern. In 30 lively minutes, children meet piano, violin, cello, guitar, and ukulele, hear and compare them, and notice which sound and playing style interests them most.
Free one-on-one startup session
Meet privately for help checking guitar size and setup, finding a comfortable first position, answering your questions, and planning a confident first week.
Current Live Class Times
Choose the day and time that fits your family
All times are Eastern Time. Classes are limited to five students or fewer, so enrolling early gives families the best chance of securing their preferred time.
Live Online Kids Guitar Classes
Monday–Thursday:
- 1:00–1:30 PM ET
- 5:00–5:30 PM ET
- 6:00–6:30 PM ET
- 6:30–7:00 PM ET
Additional Thursday option: 1:30–2:00 PM ET
The 1:00 and 1:30 PM classes are especially helpful for homeschool families and students in British time zones.
A structured week—not a pile of videos
Clear practice guidance between every course step
The course gives students a repeatable learning rhythm and families a clear answer to “What should we practice today?”
1. Learn
Watch a short, hands-on lesson and meet one manageable guitar idea, pattern, or song section.
2. Practice
Use the guided music and course directions for brief sessions that fit your child’s attention span and schedule.
3. Check the setup
Pause to notice posture, hand position, finger comfort, rhythm, and tone before small habits become frustrating ones.
4. Continue clearly
Celebrate progress, follow the next course step, and keep building confidence without guessing what comes next.
Flexible enrichment from home
Music that fits your family
Use Kids Guitar as a homeschool music course, an after-school enrichment program, or a structured companion to private study. Short lessons and flexible practice make it easier to work around family schedules, travel, different learning speeds, and the weeks when life simply gets busy.
Supportive for careful learners, fast-moving students, and everyone in between.
Built from decades of teaching
A method created for the students traditional notation often leaves behind
Zach Tolan has taught since 2002 and has led more than 60,000 lessons and classes. He is the inventor of the patented Exact Notes™ notation system, author of Kids Piano! Volumes 1–3, and a TEDx speaker.
The goal is simple: make the first steps clearer, keep the challenge at the right level, and help more children become confident, curious musicians.
Frequently asked questions
What age is Kids Guitar for?
Does my child need prior music experience?
Will my child still learn standard notation?
What instrument does my child need?
Can homeschool families use this as a music course?
Ready when your learner is
