For parents who are musicians themselves, introducing their children to the world of music is often a joyful prospect. The question soon arises: which instrument is the right one to start with? While pianos, ukuleles, and recorders are common choices, the guitar often holds a special appeal. Many parents who play guitar dream of sharing their passion with their kids. However, even smaller-sized guitars can present challenges for young children. The body size and neck width can be difficult to manage, potentially leading to frustration and discouragement in budding young musicians.
This is where Loog Guitars steps in with their innovative line of three-string acoustic and electric guitars designed specifically for small hands. Founded in 2010 by Rafael Atijas as a master’s thesis project at New York University, Loog Guitars launched via Kickstarter the following year and have been making waves in children’s music education ever since.
Their acoustic range includes two main models tailored to different ages: the Mini ($79) with a 15.6-inch scale and the slightly larger Pro Acoustic ($129) at 20.4 inches. Both are available in a range of vibrant colors – red, green, black, white, yellow, and pink – appealing to young eyes. Importantly, unlike many budget-friendly children’s instruments, Loog guitars are constructed with a basswood body and maple neck, offering a more authentic instrument experience compared to plastic alternatives. To get a real sense of how the Loog Mini performs, I gathered my own children, aged four to eight, to put it to the test.
While the Loog Mini isn’t designed to compete with high-end guitars in terms of sonic nuance, it performs admirably for its intended purpose. The 15 frets, while a tad sharp on the edges, are perfectly functional. While sustain and volume might be modest, the guitar compensates with good intonation and comfortable low action. The nylon strings are gentle on little fingers, a crucial factor for beginners. Interestingly, the minor fret sharpness and slight tonal limitations were completely overlooked by my enthusiastic testers, who eagerly shared the Mini, each wanting a turn to play.
The immediate takeaway was how naturally the Loog Mini fit my children. They instinctively held it in a proper playing position, unlike their usual habit of laying full-sized guitars flat on their laps. It was clear they derived more enjoyment and a greater sense of accomplishment from the Loog compared to their plastic soprano ukuleles, which often felt more like toys.
Loog enhances the learning experience with a free companion app packed with useful resources. It includes a tuner, engaging video lessons and games, chord diagrams, and a metronome. Downloading the app on my iPhone, I let my kids explore. They quickly grasped the animated tuner – it gives positive visual feedback with “Perfect!” and plays a G–B–E chime when a string is correctly tuned. While the video lessons didn’t immediately captivate them, my daughter, using the initial notes of “Happy Birthday” from a game, quickly abandoned the phone and figured out the rest of the song independently. This could be attributed to her musically rich environment and limited screen time, but it still speaks to the intuitive nature of the instrument.
The Mini also comes with flashcards illustrating Loog chord shapes and their relationship to standard six-string guitar chords. This proved to be a valuable teaching tool. Using my own guitar, I demonstrated chords while the children mirrored the shapes on the Loog. This direct correlation is something that’s not as easily achievable with a ukulele, tuned a fourth higher than a guitar, which introduces transposition complexities.
Leaving the Loog Mini accessible in our living room proved insightful. Over several days, the kids gravitated towards it far more often than their ukuleles. They clearly enjoyed discovering melodies and learning new chord shapes. While not flawless in every aspect, the Loog Mini undeniably succeeds as an engaging and affordable entry point to guitar for young children. It’s a fantastic stepping stone towards mastering the standard six-string guitar.
Loog Mini, $79 (Street Price)
