Top 10 Acoustic Guitars For Beginners
Buying your first guitar can be a wild ride. It can sometimes feel both terrifying and exciting. Whether this is your first foray into music or you just want to learn a new instrument there are many things to consider.
The first thing to consider if you’re trying to learn guitar is comfort. How does it feel to play? Are the strings too heavy? Is the neck too wide? You won’t get far on a guitar that feels awkward to play.
Secondly, you want to consider quality and price. There are dozens of starter guitars out there but not all of them are equal. While not everyone can spend thousands of dollars on musical equipment, there is value in choosing a recognized name that produces a quality product
Here we’ll list our top ten guitars for beginners based on comfort, style, and price.
The Seagull S6 may not be a name you’re familiar with like say, Martin or Fender, but it’s a name worth remembering. Made in Canada out of quality materials including a solid cedar top and cherry wood saddle. The versatile and consistent sound is notable for a guitar under $500.
- Price Range
- $449 – $509
- Pros:
- -Sturdy Canadian Construction
- -Versatile Sound
- -Stays Tuned
- -Classic Fingerpicking Guitar
- Cons:
- -Thick Neck
- -Steel Strings May Be Difficult For Beginners
- -Price
The Taylor GS Mini is a travel guitar that is perfect for young learners or those who want to learn on the go. Another guitar made of top notch materials and quality workmanship. The durability of this guitar puts it in anther class.
- Price Range
- $499 – $699
- Pros:
- -Compact and Kid Friendly
- -Excellent Quality
- -Durable
- Cons:
- -Extremely pricey for a travel guitar
Ibanez is a brand name you’ll recognize and for good reason. With an excellent tone and mahogany finish this is a classic acoustic guitar if there ever was one. The sound quality carries over if you ever decide to plug in to an amp.
- Price Range
- $229 – $329
- Pros:
- -Good Overall Sound
- -Easy to Learn and Use
- -Low Price Point
- Cons:
- -Loses Sound Quality Over Time
- -Strings Tend to Need Replacing
The FA-115 is a solid starter for any beginner guitarist. No frills to speak of but made of quality construction including a solid spruce top. This guitar is a notable step up from other models in the same series.
- Price Range
- $179 – $199
- Pros:
- -Great sound
- -Slender Neck For Easy Playing
- -Low Price
- Cons:
- -No Frills Basic Design May Be Unappealing To Some
Fender is another brand name you’ll recognize and the CD-60S is great example of the quality they produce. With the rolled edges on the fretboard and a balanced sound this guitar can practically be played straight out of the box.
- Price Range
- $199 – $329
- Pros:
- -Easy to Play
- -Great Sound With Little to no Setup
- -Low Price
- Cons:
- -Strictly a Beginners Guitar May Be Outgrown By Older Players
- – Classic Style May Be Off Putting to Some Players
Epiphone is often considered the budget brand of Gibson guitars. However the Hummingbird Pro is the kind of guitar you feel proud to play on. Easily a starter guitar with a lightweight body and a great feel.
- Price Range
- $527 – $549
- Pros:
- –Easy to Play
- -Lightweight and Slender Design
- -Fantastic Look
- Cons:
- –May Need Professional Tuning to Fully Utilize
- -Lacks Some of the Classic Sound of Older Guitars
Another entry from Yamaha, this one stands out as a budget friendly guitar that plays and feels like something much more expensive. The design makes it easy to play for women and younger guitarists.
- Price Range
- $199 – $259
- Pros:
- -Easy to Play
- -A Grown Up Guitar That Works For Experienced Guitarists As Well
- -Highly Affordable
- -Can Easily Be Modified to Compete With More Expensive Guitars
- Cons:
- -High Action Steel Strings
- -Cosmetically Unappealing
Another name you might not immediately recognize, the AD30 is part of Alvarez’ Artist Series of guitars. With a spruce top and rosewood fingerboard as well as die cast chrome tuners, the craftsmanship of this guitar is top notch.
- Price Range
- $259 – $269
- Pros:
- -Versatile Tone and Range Despite its Body Style
- -Excellent Volume and Power
- -Mid Range Price
- Cons:
- -No Electronics Meaning Strict Acoustic Sound
- -Missing a Pickup
Our third entry from Yamaha and we saved the best for last. This is Yamaha’s top rated student guitar. It has a comfortable playing feel, warm tonality and solid construction. The perfect guitar for a beginning student.
- Price Range
- $199 – $259
- Pros:
- -Smaller Body With Powerful Sound
- -Superb Craftsmanship
- -Finished With Excellent Materials
- -Affordable
Martin is a name known by guitar enthusiasts and the Little Martin is the beginners choice to become a rock star. Small and portable but still packaging that full size Martin sound, the LX1E is the ultimate guitar players acoustic guitar.
- Price Range
- $329 – $449
- Pros:
- -Perfect Travel Guitar
- -Durable
- -Great Practice Guitar or For Simple Playing
- Cons:
- -May Feel Too Small For Some
- -Simple Design
- -Moderately High Price For a Beginner Guitarist
That’s our list of the Top 10 acoustic guitars for beginners. If you try one of these we’re sure you’ll find a guitar that fits your style, feels great, and is great to play. Whether you want to just jam with friends or plan on becoming the next platinum selling superstar having the right equipment is the most important first step.