When you first begin learning guitar, one of the most exciting choices you will make is when buying your instrument. But with so many different options available, choosing the best beginners guitars can be confusing. Handily, we’ve pulled together this simple guide to picking the best guitar for beginners for you!
Read below to discover how to choose a good guitar for beginners and pick the instrument which is best suited to you and the style of music that you want to play.
Which Type of Guitar do You Want to Play?
Your first decisions will be about the type of guitar you want to buy – an acoustic guitar, electric guitar, acoustic-electric guitar, or bass guitar.
Are Electric Guitars the Best Guitar for Beginners?
Electric guitars are a popular choice with beginner guitar players and are a great choice if you want to learn to play either pop, rock, or metal songs with a full, attractive guitar sound.
- Many find these lighter, slimmer guitars easy to handle and comfortable to play.
- The strings on the guitar neck are closer together, so you may find learning chords harder when you first start playing.
- Electric guitars are usually more expensive than acoustic guitars, which is something to consider when you are first starting out.
- You will also need to buy an amp if you want to learn to play electric.
Are Acoustic Guitars the Best Beginners Guitars for Beginners?
Acoustic guitars are a very popular choice for learners and are usually less expensive than electric guitars. They are a good choice if you like light rock, traditional and folk music.
- Very good for learning on.
- Good for songwriting.
- A less expensive option than an electric guitar.
- A larger body can take a little while for beginner guitarists to get used to.
- Harder strings may be difficult to play at first.
Is an Acoustic-Electric a Good Guitar for Beginners?
Acoustic-electric guitars combine the features of both the guitars detailed above. They have the same tone as an acoustic guitar and look very similar, but you can also plug them into a soundboard or amp.
- You can play with the tone of an acoustic guitar but with the powerful volume of an electric instrument.
- Switch between playing your guitar plugged or unplugged.
- The price point of these instruments is usually in the middle of cheaper acoustics and more expensive electric options.
- If you want to play your acoustic-electric guitar plugged in you will also need to buy an amp.
Are Bass Guitars the Best Guitar for Beginners?
A four-stringed bass guitar will have a lower pitch than other guitars and is usually used to provide the rhythm and base notes of a musical performance. These instruments also need to be plugged into an amp.
How to Choose a Good Guitar for Beginners
Once you have made the decision about what type of guitar you would like to play, there are still some decisions to be made before you make your selection. You will need to know what size you are looking for, and which accessories you will also need to buy. We also highly recommend setting a budget before you begin buying.
How to Choose the Size of Your Guitar
If you are going to have fun playing the guitar, you will need to be comfortable with your instrument, and that means picking a size and shape which is suited to you.
Different styles of guitar shapes will be suited to different types of players. For example, dreadnought guitars produce a full, thick tone but smaller players may struggle to handle the instrument comfortably. Parlour guitars have slimmer bodies and will be easier to manage for smaller players.
If you are looking for the best beginners guitars for children, then you should look for a smaller-scale guitar that they will be able to play comfortably. These have shorter necks and fretboards which smaller hands won’t struggle with.
- A 1/2 guitar is suitable for children up to 7 years old.
- 3/4 size guitars are suitable for children ages 8 to 11.
- Full-sized guitars are generally suitable for children aged 12 and above.
Make Sure to Set You Budget Before You Buy a Good Guitar for Beginners
You must decide on your budget before you begin looking for your first guitar. This will help to make sure that you don’t get carried away with buying an expensive guitar that isn’t suited for your skill level. You also won’t be tempted to just pick the cheapest option available (these are often made of the cheapest materials.)
As a beginner, you can start on the lower end. You will find that there are plenty of high-quality, well-built beginner guitars available. There is no need to spend up to a thousand dollars on an instrument to learn on. You may find that the instrument is not a great fit for you and you want to try something else. So, keep your spending conservative at the beginning.
Think about what you can comfortably afford and make sure you have what type of guitar you want in mind before you begin shopping.
Which Guitar Accessories Will You Need?
Once you have decided on a good guitar for beginners, you may need to also buy some accessories so you can get started right away!
Guitar Pick
Guitar picks are the plectrums that you use to strum against the strings. These come in a variety of thicknesses. You should try playing with a medium until you get a feel for playing and select which thickness pick you are most comfortable with.
A Guitar Tuner
If you want to make sure that you are playing in tune, you will need to buy a tuner. These are not expensive and are an important part of your guitar playing and learning. For an acoustic guitar, you will need an in-built mic tuner, electric guitar players can plug their tuners in. There are also headstock tuners that can be used for either type of guitar.
Headphones
If you want to keep the volume down while you are practicing on your electric guitar, you can plug some headphones into your amp to keep from disturbing your family, pets, or neighbors.
Extra Strings for Your Guitar
Your guitar strings will break here and there after regular use, or if you tune them too tight as a beginner. It makes sense to keep a spare set of strings nearby, so you can quickly replace them when they snap.
A Guitar Amp
If you have chosen an electric guitar for beginners, you will need a compact practice amplifier while you are just learning. A two-channel start amp will allow you to play with both a clean and distorted tone which will support you in playing a number of different music styles.
Guitar Cable
You will need a cable to connect your electric guitar to the amp. When buying, make sure you pick one which is long enough for you to use comfortably as you sit on a chair to practice.
A Guitar Case
You can protect your guitar while traveling back and forth to lessons by buying a guitar case. You can choose between an inexpensive soft case or a more expensive hard case. An inexpensive guitar case should be fine for most beginner guitars and when you progress to a more expensive instrument you can invest in a more protective hard case.
Guitar Strap
Make sure to buy a guitar strap that will allow you to be comfortable while you play.
Summary: Which is the Best Guitar for Beginners?
Choosing a good guitar for beginners is not something to be rushed. When you decide you want to play, it can be easy to get too excited and buy the first option that catches your eye. But if you are to be comfortable while you play and progress quickly you will need to know how to pick the best beginner’s guitars.
Look back over our guide to the Best Guitar for Beginners before you start looking and you’ll be on track to picking the right instrument for you.