Musical Christmas Gifts for Kids by Age: Guitar, Drums, Uke

A first instrument is one of the few presents that can last for years. The trick is getting the size right, so small hands can actually reach the notes, and getting everything in the box, so the first try is fun instead of frustrating. This guide goes age by age, then covers sizes, what to add, and the questions parents ask us most.

Gifts by age at a glance

Ages 3 to 5: drums they can play with their hands

Little kids want to make a sound right now, and drums deliver that. There's no wrong note on a drum, so every try sounds like music.

In stock now: our lead pick

Remo Kids hand drum set: five drums in one box

The Remo 5-piece Kids hand drum set ($154.99) is five drums in 6", 8", 10", 12" and 14" sizes, in a bright rainforest fabric finish. Small drums sound high and big drums sound low, so a child hears pitch just by moving their hands across the set. Remo is one of the best-known drumhead makers in the world, and these are made for little players.

Want something to put on the floor and play with mallets? The Remo 10" Kids floor tom ($95.99) comes with two mallets and is made for ages 3 and up.

Why parents like it

• Five sizes, five different sounds
• Play with hands or soft mallets
• Fun for brothers and sisters to share

Good to know

• These are hand drums; there are no cymbals or pedals
• Older kids who want a "real kit" should look at the 12+ section

For ages 5 and up

Stagg Kid's Cajon: a drum you sit on

A cajon is a wooden box drum. The player sits on top and slaps the front with their hands. The Stagg Kid's Cajon in red ($114.99) is sized for children, with a backrest so they can sit up straight and play, rubber feet that don't slide, and snare wires inside that add a crisp "snap" to each hit. It carries the US toy-safety certification (ASTM F963) for ages 5 and up. A blue front is also available.

Ages 5 to 8: a ukulele or a 1/2-size guitar

This is the age where many kids are ready for strings. Two good choices:

• A soprano ukulele has four soft nylon strings instead of six, so first chords take one or two fingers. It is the smallest and lightest ukulele, which is why music teachers often start young kids on it.
• A 1/2-size guitar suits kids who already know they want guitar. Choose nylon strings (a "classical" guitar): they are gentle on small fingertips.

In stock now: five colors

Stagg soprano ukulele with gig bag

Our Stagg soprano ukuleles are 21 inches long, tuned the standard G-C-E-A, with geared tuning pegs that hold their pitch, and each comes in a padded nylon gig bag. Kids pick the color: Ocean Blue, Green Grass, Lemon Yellow, Lips Red or Violet Purple, each $53.99.

Why parents like it

• Gig bag included
• Bright colors kids choose themselves
• Geared pegs that keep it in tune

Good to know

• New nylon strings stretch for the first week; tune it before each play until they settle
• A clip-on tuner makes that easy (see "What to add")

For young guitar players

Stagg 1/2-size classical guitar

The Stagg SCL50 1/2-size classical guitar ($110.99) has nylon strings and a truss rod, the steel bar inside the neck that keeps it straight as the guitar settles in. For a little less, the Stagg C410 1/2-size is $100.99. If your child is set on the steel-string sound of pop and country songs, the Stagg SA20D 1/2-size acoustic is $123.99.

Ages 8 to 11: a 3/4-size guitar

Most kids in this range fit a 3/4 guitar. It's big enough to sound full and small enough for their arm to wrap around the body.

Our top gift pick: everything in one box

Stagg 3/4 classical guitar pack

The Stagg 3/4 guitar pack ($135.99) puts the three things a beginner needs in one gift box: the 3/4-size SCL50 classical guitar, a clip-on chromatic tuner, and a nylon bag with two shoulder straps and a handle. The straps mean your child can carry it to lessons like a backpack.

Prefer to choose a color? The SCL50 3/4 comes on its own in blue or red, each $116.99. For steel strings, the Stagg SA20D 3/4 acoustic is $130.99 in natural or black, and there are left-handed models too.

Why parents like it

• Tuner and bag included: ready on Christmas morning
• Nylon strings are kind to new fingertips
• Comes in a gift-ready color box

Good to know

• Kids who outgrow it around 12 move up to full size
• Add a spare set of strings for the first year

Ages 12 and up: a real electric guitar or a drum kit

By about 12, most kids fit full-size instruments, and many want to play the music they actually listen to. That often means an electric guitar or a drum kit.

Electric guitar and amp

Stagg SES-30 and a Laney practice amp

The Stagg SES-30 ($156.99) is the classic three-pickup "S" style electric: a five-way pickup switch for lots of sounds, a vibrato bar, and a bone nut. It comes in ice blue metallic, candy apple red, black and sunburst, plus a left-handed black.

An electric guitar needs an amp. The Laney LX10 ($139.95) is a 10-watt practice amp made for beginners, with a drive switch for a rock sound, an input to play along with songs from a phone, and a headphone jack for quiet practice, which the rest of the house will appreciate. It also comes in red. For a battery-powered amp that goes anywhere, the Laney Mini-Lion is $99.95.

Drum kit: everything included

Premier Revolution 20" five-piece kit

For a teen who wants a full drum kit, the Premier Revolution 20" kit in black ($729.99) arrives ready to play: two rack toms, a floor tom, a 20" bass drum, a matching wooden snare, plus hardware, cymbals, a stool and sticks. The 20" bass drum is a little smaller than the common 22", which suits smaller players and smaller rooms. It also comes in white.

Not ready for a full kit? The Stagg student snare set ($155.99) includes a 14" steel snare drum, a stand, sticks and a backpack-style bag. It's a good start for a future school band drummer.

Guitar sizes by age and height

Height is a better guide than age, because kids grow at different speeds. These ranges are where most size guides agree:

A quick test: with the guitar on their lap, your child should reach the far end of the neck with a slightly bent arm. If the arm is fully stretched, go one size down.

Harmonicas: the stocking stuffer that's a real instrument

Every hole on a harmonica plays a note, so it sounds musical from the first breath. Our set of four 24-hole harmonicas ($31.95) comes in blue, black, red and silver, all in the key of C, each in its own little case. Four in a set means one per stocking. For an older child who's serious about blues, the Stagg blues harmonica set ($83.99) has seven harmonicas in seven keys, in a carrying case.

What to add so it's ready on Christmas morning

• A tuner. New strings stretch, so the first weeks need lots of tuning. The Qwik Tune QT-15 is $24.95. (The 3/4 guitar pack already has one.)
• A child-size strap for playing standing up: our child guitar strap is $3.95.
• A gig bag if the guitar doesn't include one: 1/2-size padded bag $51.95, 3/4-size padded bag $51.95.
• A capo to play along with songs in any key: Kyser classical capo $24.95, or the Kyser ukulele capo $24.95.
• Light-up drumsticks for young drummers: Firestix glow every time they hit, $17.95.

Frequently asked questions

What is the easiest instrument for a child to learn?

For the youngest kids, hand drums and the harmonica: both make a good sound on the first try. For kids ready for chords, the ukulele is easiest, with four soft nylon strings and simple one- or two-finger chords to start.

What size guitar does my child need?

Most kids aged 5 to 8 fit a 1/2-size guitar, 8 to 11 a 3/4-size, and 12 and up a full size. Go by height first: about 3'3" to 4'3" for 1/2 size and 4'3" to 4'10" for 3/4 size.

Should a child start on acoustic or electric guitar?

Either works. Nylon-string classical guitars are gentlest on young fingers, so they suit the youngest beginners. Older kids who love rock may practice more on an electric, and with a headphone amp like the Laney LX10 it can be quiet.

Is a ukulele a good gift for a 5-year-old?

Yes. A soprano ukulele is the smallest and lightest ukulele, about 21 inches long, so a 5-year-old can hold it comfortably and reach every fret.

What drum set is good for a kid?

For ages 3 to 5, hand drums such as the Remo Kids set. For ages 5 and up, a kid's cajon is a real drum they sit on. For teens, a full five-piece kit with cymbals, stool and sticks included, like the Premier Revolution 20".

What comes with the Stagg 3/4 guitar pack?

The 3/4-size SCL50 classical guitar, a clip-on chromatic tuner, and a nylon bag with two shoulder straps and a handle, in a gift-ready box.