How to Draw a Cartoon Guitar: Easy 9-Step Guide

Ready to rock? This tutorial is perfect for young artists ages 5 and up who want to draw their own musical instrument. All you need is a pencil, an eraser, and a piece of paper to get started. By the end of this lesson, you will have a vibrant cartoon guitar ready for your next masterpiece.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A colorful, finished cartoon guitar drawing, perfect for kids to learn from.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Soundhole

Drawing the center soundhole of a cartoon guitar using two concentric circles.

Draw a small circle, then a larger circle around it to create the soundhole. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil pressure light so you can easily clean up any overlapping lines later.

Step 2: Forming the Neck

Adding the long, narrow neck of the guitar extending from the body.

Extend two straight lines upward from the soundhole, angling them slightly toward each other. Connect them at the top. Teacher's Tip: Use a ruler if you want perfectly straight lines, or practice freehand for a more organic, cartoon look.

Step 3: Adding the Frets

Drawing horizontal fret lines across the guitar neck.

Draw several horizontal lines across the neck to create the frets. Teacher's Tip: Space them out evenly to make your guitar look professional and balanced.

Step 4: Sketching the Headstock

Drawing the guitar headstock with tuning pegs.

Draw an irregular hexagon at the top of the neck, then add small teardrop shapes on the side for the tuning pegs. Teacher's Tip: Think of these as the 'ears' of the guitar—keep them symmetrical for the best look.

Step 5: Adding Depth

Adding depth lines to the guitar neck and headstock.

Draw parallel lines along the side of the neck and headstock to give them a 3D effect. Teacher's Tip: This simple technique makes your drawing pop off the page!

Step 6: Starting the Body

Starting the curved outline of the guitar body.

Draw a long, sweeping curved line starting from the neck to begin the guitar's body. Teacher's Tip: Imagine you are drawing a large peanut shape; keep your hand loose and fluid.

Step 7: Closing the Body

Closing the curved outline of the guitar body.

Continue the curved line until it meets back at the neck, completing the body shape. Teacher's Tip: Don't worry if it's not perfect—cartoon guitars look great with a little personality!

Step 8: Adding Body Dimension

Adding a side panel line to the guitar body for 3D effect.

Draw a parallel curved line along the inside edge of the body. Teacher's Tip: This creates the illusion of the guitar's side panel, giving it a realistic 3D feel.

Step 9: Drawing the Bridge

Add a small rectangular shape on the body to represent the bridge. Teacher's Tip: This is where the strings would be anchored, so place it just below the soundhole.

Step 10: Bring It to Life with Color

A fully colored, vibrant cartoon guitar drawing.

Your outline is finished! Use your favorite colors to fill in the guitar. Teacher's Tip: Try using bright colors like neon blue or hot pink for a fun, modern cartoon look, or classic wood tones for a traditional vibe.