best acoustic guitars for beginners
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10 Best Acoustic Guitars For Beginners

Even if you’re an entire stranger when it involves guitars, filled with dedication and also the right information, you may be able to find a good instrument which will facilitate your learning and help you grow into a good player.

The Acoustic Guitar Buying Guide for Beginners

While it’s hard to resist jumping straight in and buying the first primary guitar you see, it’s also crucial to think long-term when making your choice. As a beginner, you may want something that first and foremost feels comfortable and fun to play, sounds good and can hold its tuning reasonably well. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an upscale guitar, although you’ll find significant differences between a guitar within the $100 region and one nearer $400.

Unless you ain’t sure that playing guitar is for you, don’t make a brief-term investment along with your first purchase – take into consideration the very fact that a high-quality beginner guitar can grow with you as you become experienced with time. The list of guitars we’ve highlighted above would please an experienced player as much as a beginner. After all, you won’t know how long you’ll have the desire to play guitar but just in case if you don’t see yourself dropping the idea of playing, you should go for something well-built to last you for ages. Also, having an acoustic guitar is not enough, you will also need it’s accessories especially if you are a beginner.

Solid or Laminate Top?

There’s a difference between the two and as you will have guessed, a solid wood option – like you’d find mentioned in our Taylor A12e review – is healthier at providing more resonance and greater depth in tone. However, even lesser tone woods or laminated tops, when combined with good craftsmanship, can still provide good sound quality. So if you’re just starting out, there’s no have to worry an excessive amount of about whether a top is solid or laminated. associate with the guitar that suits your needs and fits your budget.

Steel or Nylon Strings?

There’s a standard belief that certain strings are better for beginners than others. While nylon strings are easier on beginner’s fingers, the most thing that matters when it involves guitar strings is the variety of music you’re trying to play, because the difference in feel and sound between the 2 materials is important – even for a beginner.

Nylon strings are essential for any classical instrument, and if you’re planning to play musical style or Latin styles like Flamenco, a nylon string guitar is that the thanks to going. Steel strings are more appropriate for rock, pop, blues, and just about everything else that doesn’t make up the classic umbrella. To understand it better you can take a look at our article on the best classical guitars for beginners.

Remember that if you’re looking towards performing and recording along with your new acoustic guitar eventually, you’ll want to induce hold of either a nylon or steel string guitar with electronics to have the option to plug into an amp. 

Note: Never use steel strings on a classical guitar, because the high-tension strings will damage the instrument. 

10 Best Acoustic Guitars For Beginners

In this article we’ll be looking into a number of simple and best acoustic guitars for beginners, highlighting our favorites within the list below. After the list of best Acoustic Guitars available for beginners in market and Amazon, you’ll find a handy buyer’s guide, offering you everything you wish to understand from a buyer’s perspective before you make a purchase.

Without further ado, let’s take a glance at the most recommended best acoustic guitars for beginners:

Taylor Academy 12e

Taylor’s A12e takes the words ‘entry-level’ and flips them the wrong way up. Because, as entry-level beginners’ models go, this can be more premium than the rest of the guitars in this article. The downside is you are paying a substantial sum for the pleasure! Still, the playability, comfort and tone on offer from is phenomenal – as we highlight more details in our Taylor A12e review below.

It sports a grand concert body made up of solid Picea sitchensis wood on the highest, with laminate Sapele back and sides, together with a mahogany armrest for optimal ergonomics. While electrics aren’t a necessity on beginner acoustics, we appreciate the standard of Taylor’s inbuilt preamp, offering very simple controls and a handy built-in tuner. An exceptional choice.

Specifications

Brand Taylor
Color Natural
Top Material Type Maple
Body Material Sapele
Back Material Type Layered Sapele
Neck Material Type Maple
Fretboard Material Type Ebony
Guitar Pickup Configuration Piezo
Guitar Bridge System Hardtail Bridge
Number of Strings 6

Features

  • 6-string Acoustic-electric Guitar with Sitka Spruce Top
  • Tayl ES-B Electronics – Natural Satin
  • Layered Sapele Back Sides
  • Hard Rock Maple Neck
  • Ebony Fingerboard
Pros
  • Rich, beautiful sound
  • High build quality
  • Smooth, fast playability
  • Beginner-friendly
  • Reliable brand
Cons
  • May be expensive for beginners
  • Somewhat specialized tone

Seagull S6 Original

The Seagull that began it all! The S6 could be a popular steel-string acoustic guitar that’s often touted jointly of the simplest models for learning to play guitar – and we’re inclined to agree. Its body is crafted with quality wood, it features a solid cedar top with a wild cherry back and produces a dynamic sound with an honest mid-range that projects wonderfully.

Sitting at the highest could be a distinctive, tapered headstock, which allows for greater tuning stability, while the hand-finished silver leaf maple neck – with rosewood fretboard – is slightly thicker than other acoustic guitars, and is great for fingerstyle guitarists. While the price tag could seem a bit high for a beginner’s model, it’s a guitar that will keep you playing for years.

Specifications

Brand Seagull
Color Tennessee Red
Top Material Type Cedar
Body Material Rosewood, Mahogany
Back Material Type Cherry Wood
Neck Material Type Maple
Fretboard Material Type Rosewood
Scale Length 25.5 Inches
Number of Strings 6

Features

  • Gear Hero HQ Exclusive Limited Edition Tennessee Red
  • Made in Canada
  • Select Pressure Tested Top
  • Double Action Truss Rod, Tusq nut and compensated saddle for better intonation
  • Tapered Headstock for precise and stable tuning and great for open tunings
Pros
  • Guitar sounds absolutely amazing
  • Sounds like a very high end
  • Nicely padded
  • Guitar is of superior quality
  • Easier to play
Cons
  • Some customers prefer glossy finishes for the sake of finish protection

Yamaha FG830

Yamaha’s FG series has been around for 50 years and remains one of the best-selling acoustic guitars to ever hit the market. So it’s no surprise that we happily recommend the FG830 to beginners searching for a pretty, comfortable and great sounding guitar at a really reasonable price. The guitar features a naturally finished solid spruce top with rosewood back and sides, moreover as a nato neck, smooth rosewood fretboard, and 20 frets. For a reasonable guitar, the sound is surprisingly high-end, with excellent projection, an expensive tone, and a good dynamic range. It’s comfortable to carry and really slick to play, while the advanced scalloped bracing enhances the sound quality and adds reinforcement to the soundboard.

Specifications

Brand Yamaha
Color Autumn Burst
Top Material Type Spruce
Body Material Rosewood
Back Material Type Rosewood
Neck Material Type Rosewood
Fretboard Material Type Rosewood
Hand Orientation Right
Guitar Bridge System Fixed
Number of Strings 6

Features

  • Solid Sitka Spruce Top
  • Rosewood Back & Sides
  • Rosewood Fingerboard
  • Rosewood Bridge
  • Diecast Tuners
  • this guitar has an adjustable truss rod

Pros
  • Rich tone
  • Great sustainability.
  • Durable body.
  • Good choice for beginners.
Cons
  • No cutaway.
  • May need professional tuning over time.

Fender CC-60SCE

Fender’s CC-60SCE is a product of the California based company’s new Classic Design acoustic series. This model may be a handsome concert-sized electro-acoustic with classic styling and timeless tones. The solid spruce top helps in maximum harmonic vibration, while the smaller concert body and rolled rosewood fingerboard are comfortable to use for long sessions. The piezo pickup and Fishman preamp also allow you to go from an unplugged acoustic set to an amplified gig with just a cable.

The onboard equalization controls and tuner facilitate your dial in your perfect sound correct from the body of the guitar. The CC-60SCE features a wide sonic range, with clear trebles and well-defined bass. Great for gigging musicians who want acoustic tones and electric adaptability!

Specifications

Brand Fender
Top Material Type Spruce
Body Material Mahogany
Back Material Type Mahogany
Neck Material Type Mahogany
Fretboard Material Type Mahogany
Guitar Pickup Configuration Piezo
String Material Type Phosphor Bronze
Hand Orientation Right
Guitar Bridge System Hardtail Bridge

Features

  • Single-cutaway concert body style
  • Fishman low-profile pickup/preamp
  • Solid spruce top with scalloped “X”-bracing
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • Easy-to-play neck with rolled fingerboard edges
  • Also available in left-handed
Pros
  • Solid Spruce Top
  • Robust Electronics
  • Impressive Sound
Cons
  • None

Fender Tim Armstrong Hellcat

If you’re trying to find something a bit different, you will just find it with Fender’s Tim Armstrong Hellcat. The signature guitar fuses Rancid frontman Tim Armstrong’s punk core together with his acoustic roots and ends up in an inexpensive acoustic guitar which oozes attitude. The guitar features a naturally finished solid mahogany top, with scallop bracing, in addition to mahogany back and sides.

It has maple neck with satin-finished rosewood fretboard, decorated with a Hellcat and double-skull inlays, with Tim’s signature adorning the headstock. In short, it’s awesome! And it sounds pretty great too, partly because of the Fishman Isys III pickup system with active onboard preamp and tuner, with volume, bass, middle and treble controls. Big tone, big attitude, good price.

Specifications

Brand Fender
Color Natural
Top Material Type Mahogany
Body Material Mahogany
Back Material Type Mahogany Wood
Neck Material Type Mahogany
Fretboard Material Type Mahogany
Guitar Pickup Configuration Piezoelectric
String Material Type Steel
Hand Orientation Right

Features

  • Solid Mahogany Top, Laminated Mahogany Back and Sides
  • Scalloped X Bracing
  • Fishman Preamp.Number of Frets: 20
  • Compensated Saddle and chrome die cast tuning keys
  • Urea Nut and Saddle
Pros
  • Price
  • Vintage appeal
  • Brand tribute
  • Fishman Isys III System
  • Scalloped X bracing
Cons
  • Fret buzz/defective neck

Yamaha APX600

Since 1987, Yamaha’s APX series has been a go-to collection for acoustic guitar beginners trying to find great playability, tone and also the ability to plug into an amp – and therefore the new APX600 is not any different! Although, it is… in a good way! This APX600 upgraded model has seen improvements within the aesthetics and build, resulting in even better playability and an enhanced sound.

It still retains the aspects we loved from the sooner APX500III, like its body and unique design. While electronics might not be important for a beginner, having them on this affordable model may be a good excuse to practice – knowing that, one day, you’ll be playing it on stage!

Specifications

Brand Yamaha
Color Natural
Top Material Type Spruce
Body Material Mahogany
Back Material Type Mahogany
Neck Material Type Mahogany
Fretboard Material Type Rosewood
Guitar Pickup Configuration Piezo
Hand Orientation Right
Guitar Bridge System Fixed

Features

  • Thin-line cutaway Body design for exceptional playability
  • 25″ Scale Length and narrower string spacing for Enhanced comfort
  • New scalloped bracing pattern for increased bass response.Fingerboard Material:Rosewood
  • Abalone sound hole rosette
  • Stage-focused pickup system for shaping your sound in the mix.Top Material:Spruce
Pros
  • Comfortable and easy to play.
  • Clean, well-balanced sound.
  • Cutaway design for easy access to the higher frets.
  • Affordable.
  • The neck is ideal for younger and smaller-handed players.
Cons
  • A good sound, but it doesn’t sound like a dreadnaught.
  • Not the best choice for players with larger hands.

Blueridge BD-16

If you’re on a budget and looking out for your first guitar, or simply something new to practice on, the Bristol BD-16 from Blueridge packs quality sound and feel into a really affordable acoustic guitar. The guitar has robust mahogany back and neck, with a spruce top – it feels strong but is light to carry. It has a natural finish and shows off good craftsmanship, while the slim mahogany neck features a smooth rosewood fretboard, and is fast and fun to play.

The mahogany and spruce combine for a bright, full-sounding acoustic guitar with better projection. For such a decent price, the comfort and therefore the playability on offer make the BD-16 a winner for any beginner.

Specifications

Brand Bristol by Blueridge
Color Natural
Top Material Type Spruce
Body Material Spruce;Mahogany
Back Material Type Mahogany
Neck Material Type Mahogany
Fretboard Material Type Rosewood
String Material Type Phosphor Bronze
Hand Orientation Right
Guitar Bridge System Fixed

Features

  • Spruce top with scalloped braces provides a bright, full range sound
  • Beautiful mahogany back and sides for robust volume and responsive tone
  • Slim mahogany neck offers fast, easy action and inherently long-lasting stability
  • Chrome-plated 14:1 die-cast machine heads are smooth and precise to always keep you in tune
Pros
  • Price
  • Entry-level
  • Great sound
  • 7-ply body binding
  • Dreadnought
Cons
  • No solid top

Alvarez Artist Series AD30

Although the AD30 is that the entry-level model in Alvarez’s renowned Artist Series, it still offers a cosmic voice and superb build at excellent value. With a gorgeous traditional dreadnought body, the guitar is crafted with a top-quality solid Picea sitchensis top, and mahogany back and sides. With a mortise-and-tenon joint, the mahogany neck sports a good profile, and playing on the rosewood fretboard may be a joy.

As for the sound, the tonewoods – combined with the dimensions and scalloped bracing – give a powerful projection, with a high tonal range. At such an inexpensive price, this is often a valuable selection for any beginner on the search to find their style.

Specifications

Brand Alvarez
Color Natural
Top Material Type Spruce
Body Material Laminated-and-solid-wood
Back Material Type Mahogany
Neck Material Type Dovetail
Fretboard Material Type Rosewood
Guitar Pickup Configuration Acoustic
Hand Orientation Right
Guitar Bridge System Standard

Features

  • Solid Sitka spruce top
  • Hand sanded, scalloped bracing
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • Dovetail neck joint
  • Lifetime limited warranty
Pros
  • Sharp and loud sound output
  • Clear vibrations make pure sound
  • Sturdy pro steel strings
  • Best and handy for beginners
Cons

Epiphone DR-100

best acoustic guitars for beginnersThe affordable Gibson subsidiary Epiphone is well-known for both high-end originals and budget Gibson replicas, still, as some pretty great acoustic guitars – the wallet-friendly DR-100 being one amongst them. This popular acoustic is straightforward but reliable in its design, featuring a dreadnought body shape with an all-laminate construction and a handsome high-gloss finish. The 20-fret mahogany neck is straightforward to play, featuring Epiphone’s SlimTaper profile for speed and luxury, making practice sessions enjoyable.

Even though it’s a budget choice, it still sounds really great, with a deep, clean and well-balanced tone, allowing beginners to listen to themselves clearly.

Specifications

Brand Epiphone
Color Vintage Sunburst
Top Material Type Spruce
Body Material Mahogany
Back Material Type Mahogany
Neck Material Type Mahogany
Fretboard Material Type Rosewood
Hand Orientation Ambidextrous
Scale Length 25.50
Number of Strings 7

Features

  • Songmaker DR-100 Features: Classic go-to Dreadnought Shape, Select Spruce top, and Mahogany Body & Neck
  • Additional Details: SlimTaper C-profile neck, Epiphone Sloped Dovewing headstock, and Premium Die Cast tuners
  • Epiphone is one of American’s oldest and most revered instrument makers. Since 1873, Epiphone has made instruments for every style of popular music.
Pros
  • Affordable
  • Durable
  • Ambidextrous
  • Versatile
  • Low action
Cons
  • Sharp edges (uncomfortable)
  • Doesn’t stay in tune

Rogue RA-090

On a strict budget? Not even sure if the guitar is that the right instrument for you? Then the RA-090 from Rogue, with its very inexpensive price tag, will suit you perfectly. It features all the look points you’d expect from a conventional steel-string guitar, with a pleasant dreadnought body shape and three finishes to decide on from (natural, sunburst, and black).

The body is formed from whitewood, while the nato neck is home to a painted maple fretboard with 20 frets. Nothing premium about this guitar, but together the woods and build quality provide an honest sound with good projection and clarity, that enables any beginner to start out wiggling with confidence.

Specifications

Brand Rogue
Color Natural color
Top Material Type Spruce
Body Material Wood
Back Material Type Mahogany
Neck Material Type Nato Wood
Fretboard Material Type Rosewood
String Material Type Nickel
Hand Orientation Ambidextrous
Number of Strings 6

Features

  • 6-string
  • Dreadnought design
  • Whitewood body
  • 25-3/8″ scale length
  • Nato neck
Pros
  • Slightly Curved Fretboard
  • Great Tone
  • Durable Strings
Cons
  • Not Suitable For Kids

What is the easiest type of Acoustic Guitar to play?

There are several different popular guitar shapes, most of which are able to be pretty easy for a beginner to urge to grips with. Most of the respectable guitar brands have a plethora of beginner-friendly solutions. However, we propose avoiding a Jumbo Acoustic Guitar, which may be a popular style with country players. This variety of guitar is incredibly big and bulky, and ultimately adds an additional stress that beginners just don’t need.

For somebody just starting out, it’d be easier to start out on a dreadnought or an orchestra model, or – if you’re particularly small – a parlor guitar. Whichever acoustic guitar you finish up purchasing, the setup and strings play a big part in the overall playability of the guitar. Technically, you’ll spend a thousand dollars on a pretty looking acoustic guitar, but if the action is simply too high and also the strings are rusty, then you’ll struggle to play smoothly.

How much should I pay for an Acoustic Guitar for beginners?

It’s a decent question, although one with no definitive answer. Ultimately, learning on a $5,000 Martin would probably be very beneficial thanks to the standard, tone and playability of such a premium instrument but this would be an overkill, considering most experienced guitarists don’t even have one of these!

The best advice we can provide you with is to understand your passion, aspirations and enthusiasm. If you’re getting questions in your head like “Does one really have to get a heart attack while trying to buy an acoustic guitar for beginners with such expensive price tags to play the guitar, then it might be wise to invest a minimum of $100 to $200 on a reasonable acoustic that appears, feels and sounds better than an entry-level budget model. Buying the very best quality guitar you can afford will encourage you to practice and can feel more leisurely to carry and play.

With this in mind, if you’re planning to dedicate your life to playing guitar (and if you have got the budget), then spending up to $500 on a decent mid-range model, maybe something like an entry-level Taylor certainly won’t harm and can be an instrument which will stick with you for a very long time.

What to avoid when buying an Acoustic Guitar as a beginner?

There are a couple of important things to look out for when buying a guitar for the starting out, number one being plastic hardware, especially if it’s used on the bridge or the tuning pegs. Unless you’re paying not more than 100 dollars for the instrument, there’s no reason why a decent beginner’s guitar should have a plastic bridge or saddles, which aren’t particularly durable and do nothing for the instrument’s tone or sustain.

If you’re on an awfully strict budget and want something low cost to induce started, take a look at the Jasmine S35 review, which proves a powerful pick for beginners. We’ve covered just some aspects of what to appear out for when shopping around.

Do you really need an Amplifier with an Acoustic-Electric Guitar?

If you’re just starting out and have purchased an acoustic-electric guitar(better called an ‘electro-acoustic’), you will be wondering whether it’ll work without an amp. The great news is that you simply don’t need an amplifier to listen to the guitar. Without being plugged in, an electro-acoustic will work more like a daily guitar. In fact, you never need an amplifier for electro-acoustic guitar if you don’t want.

However, manufacturers charge extra for adding electronics (in the shape of pickups and preamps) to their acoustics, so to shop for one and never plug it in would be a waste of cash. A tiny low cost acoustic amplifier would work well if you simply want to practice with others, although you’d need something bigger for performances.

If you’re still deciding whether or to not purchase an electro-acoustic guitar, we recommend a normal acoustic guitar if you’re just a beginner. The explanation is that, as a beginner, you do not actually need to amplify your performances, as you won’t be performing much until after some months of solid practice.

Are you purchasing an Acoustic Guitar for a child?

Keep in mind that a full-sized acoustic guitar won’t be feasible for kids, unless they are doing some quick growing! Thankfully there are different kinds of guitars having different sizes that suit all ages. As a general rule, a ¼ size guitar will suit anything from the ages of two to five, a ½ size guitar is sweet for five to eight-year-olds, while a ¾ guitar will suit those kids who have an age of 8 to around 12. However, if you’ll be able to get your child to do some research and practice, you’ll find it easy to get the best and most appropriate one for them.

Final Words

Buying an acoustic guitar as a beginner may be a great experience and one that might influence your approach towards other things in your life could be life-changing! So when looking to get your first one, take it slow. Watch lots of videos, read our articles, and speak with experienced guitarists, before making your final selection. Passion may be a vital factor, especially for beginners, and hating your instrument from day one won’t get you very far in the long run, could be an occasionally frustrating journey you’re on the point of starting out. If you’re feeling unsure of a couple of models, just skip it and look into different one. You’ll soon find something that fits your requirements. Once you have your guitar, the fun of learning the instrument can start. Good luck and happy shopping!

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