It is one of the most common questions parents ask before booking a first lesson. Both instruments are excellent starting points — but they suit different children in different ways. Here is what to consider before you decide.
Age Matters More Than You Think
For very young children — ages five to seven — piano is often the easier starting point. The layout is visual and logical: notes are arranged in a straight line, and there is no complicated technique needed just to produce a sound. Press a key, hear a note.
Guitar requires a little more physical readiness. Pressing strings against a fretboard takes finger strength that many young children are still developing. That said, smaller-scale guitars exist for young beginners, and some children take to it naturally from age six or seven.
Think About Your Child's Personality
Some children respond better to the immediate reward of piano — they can play a recognisable melody within the first few lessons. Others are drawn to the guitar because of the music they hear around them — pop songs, film soundtracks, music their older siblings listen to.
Motivation matters enormously in music learning. If a child genuinely wants to play guitar, that enthusiasm will carry them further than starting on an instrument chosen purely for practical reasons.
Which Is Better for Music Theory?
Piano has a slight advantage here. The visual layout of the keyboard makes concepts like scales, chords, and intervals easier to understand — which is why many music teachers recommend piano as a first instrument regardless of what a student eventually wants to play.
That said, music theory can be taught effectively alongside any instrument. It is not a reason to choose one over the other if your child has a clear preference.
ABRSM Exams — Does It Matter Which Instrument?
Both guitar and piano have well-established ABRSM grade syllabuses. If your goal is for your child to work towards exams, either instrument will get them there. The grading structure, the progression, and the recognition are equivalent.
What If They Want to Play Both?
Many students do eventually learn a second instrument. Piano and guitar complement each other well — skills developed on one transfer meaningfully to the other. Starting with one does not close the door on the other.
The Honest Answer
There is no universally correct choice. The best instrument is the one your child is excited about — because excitement leads to practice, and practice leads to progress.
If you are still unsure, get in touch. I teach both guitar and piano, and I am happy to talk through what might suit your child before you commit to anything.