What guitar types are the best to buy for beginners?

The best guitar types to buy for beginners are those that are easy to play, comfortable to hold, fit the beginner’s budget, and motivate the guitar newbie to play and practice regularly. 

Motivation is crucial when you are learning to play guitar. Choosing a guitar type that aligns with your favorite music genres can fuel that motivation to learn and practice. For instance, an electric guitar might be a better choice than a classical guitar, if you are drawn to rock or metal.

A guitar’s playability, comfort, and cost-effectiveness for beginners depend on several key features that vary across different guitar types. These features include string action, neck dimensions, string gauge, the necessity of additional equipment, and the guitar’s size and weight.

String action: String action refers to the distance between the strings and the fretboard. Lower action makes it easier to press the strings, a major factor for beginners developing finger strength and dexterity.

Neck dimensions:  The neck is where a player places their fingers to fret notes, so its dimensions are crucial for comfort and playability. A neck that is too wide or thick is difficult for some players to navigate, especially those with smaller hands.

String gauge: String gauge refers to string thickness.  Lighter gauge strings require less force to press and bend. Thicker gauge strings produce a fuller, louder sound but demand more finger strength.

Additional equipment: Some guitar types require additional equipment to produce their intended sound. This impacts your initial budget and playing convenience.

Physical size and weight: The size and weight of the guitar affect comfort, especially for younger or smaller players. A lighter instrument is easier to hold and play for extended periods. A smaller body and lighter guitar body is a better fit for smaller or younger players.

The guitar types that are the best to buy for beginners are ranked and listed below.

1. Classical Guitar

2. Steel String Acoustic Guitar

3. Electric Guitar

4. Acoustic Electric Guitar

1. Classical Guitar

A classical guitar, also called a nylon-string acoustic guitar, is a guitar type featuring nylon strings, a wider neck, and a soft mellow sound. Classical guitars are frequently used for fingerstyle playing, a technique where the guitarist plucks the strings directly with their fingertips, nails, or picks attached to fingers. The classical guitar is a popular choice for genres like classical, flamenco, and folk.

String action: String action is typically higher on classical guitars compared to acoustic or electric guitars. The higher string action requires slightly more finger strength at first, but the higher string action results in a wider range of volume and expression, which are essential for classical and flamenco playing styles.

Neck dimensions: Classical guitars usually have wider necks than steel-string acoustic guitars. The wider neck provides ample space for fingerpicking, which is essential for executing intricate classical pieces. However, the wider neck can be challenging for beginners with smaller hands to form chord shapes.

String gauge: Classical guitars use nylon strings. Nylon strings have a thicker gauge when compared to steel-string acoustics or electric guitars. This thicker gauge contributes to the warm, full-tone characteristic of classical guitars. While the nylon strings initially feel slightly more resistant to pressing down than lighter gauge strings, the nylon strings are gentler on fingertips. This makes the nylon strings particularly suitable for beginners who are still developing calluses.

Additional equipment: Classical guitars, being acoustic instruments, do not require any additional equipment to produce sound.

Physical size and weight: Classical guitars are lightweight and smaller when compared to dreadnought-style acoustic guitars. This smaller size and lighter weight make them a comfortable choice for beginners, especially younger players.

Pros of classical guitar for beginners: Nylon strings are gentler on fingertips, making classical guitars more comfortable for beginners who are still developing calluses. Classical guitars do not require any additional equipment to produce sound.

Classical guitars are lightweight, making them comfortable to hold and play.

Cons of classical guitar for beginners: The wider neck can be challenging for beginners with smaller hands to form chord shapes. Classical guitar’s sound and playing style can be limiting for genres like rock or blues that require the brighter, snappier tone of steel strings.

Recommendation for beginners: The classical guitar is the best guitar to learn guitar playing for beginners, especially for beginners who are concerned about finger pain or want to develop a strong fingerstyle technique. The classical guitar is a good learning guitar because the nylon strings and wider neck spacing encourage precise playing, while the clear tone makes it easier to learn notes and chords.

2. Acoustic Guitar

The acoustic guitar uses steel strings to produce a bright, resonant, and projecting sound. The strings’ vibrations resonate through the guitar’s hollow body, which acts as a resonating chamber. Larger bodies on acoustic guitars produce greater volume and resonance. Acoustic guitars come in many body shapes and body types. Each body shape offers a different tone, sound, and playing comfort. However, the dreadnought shape is the most popular acoustic guitar body type that is commonly associated with the acoustic guitar. Acoustic guitars are common in many genres, from rock and pop to country and folk. But the acoustic guitar is also a good guitar for R&B and singer-songwriter genres like soul, blues, and indie pop.

String action: String action on acoustic guitars is lower than the string action on classical guitars. Lower action makes it easier to press down the strings, requiring less finger strength and improving playability for beginners.

Neck dimensions: Acoustic guitar necks are narrower than classical guitar necks. This difference in neck dimensions is more comfortable for beginners with smaller hands, as it allows for easier navigation and chord formation.

String gauge: Acoustic guitars use steel strings. Steel strings, especially those with lighter gauges, produce a brighter and louder tone but require more finger strength to fret.

Additional equipment: Acoustic guitars produce sound without external amplification, making them portable for practice, performance, and songwriting without the need for any additional equipment.

Physical size and weight: Acoustic guitars, especially dreadnought models, have a larger build and the weight of a dreadnought acoustic guitars typically ranges from 4.5 to 6 lbs (2 to 2.7 kg). However, extended playing sessions, particularly for younger or smaller-bodied individuals, may lead to fatigue or discomfort due to the dreadnought’s size and weight.

Pros of acoustic guitars for beginners: Acoustic guitars are suitable for various musical styles. They produce sound without external amplification, eliminating the need for additional equipment like amplifiers. Acoustic guitars are common in many popular music genres, providing beginners with learning resources and inspiration.

Cons of acoustic guitars for beginners: Beginners may find steel strings tougher on their fingertips than nylon strings. The larger size and weight, particularly of dreadnought models, can be a factor for younger beginners or those with smaller physiques.

Recommendation for beginners: The acoustic guitar is a great choice for beginners interested in popular music styles like rock, country, or folk. While the steel strings require more finger strength, the acoustic guitar’s full sound and versatility make it a rewarding instrument to learn.

3. Electric Guitar

The electric guitar has a solid body construction with electromagnetic pickups and relies on an amplifier to produce sound. Electric guitars produce sound through electromagnetic pickups by converting string vibrations into electrical signals. These electrical signals are then amplified through an amplifier to produce sound. This makes it possible to shape the tone with various tone controls on the guitar and amplifier and with additional effects pedals. These tone possibilities make the electric guitars incredibly versatile because of the wide range of sounds and effects they can produce. Electric guitars are popular instruments in many genres, including rock, blues, metal, jazz, and pop.

String Action: String action is lower on electric guitars when compared to acoustic or classical guitars. The lower string action makes it easier for beginners to press the strings down, requiring less finger strength.

Neck Dimensions: Electric guitar necks are available in various dimensions, but many models, especially those designed for rock guitar or beginner metal guitar, have narrower necks when compared to acoustic or classical guitars. The narrower neck dimensions on electric guitars can be more comfortable for beginners with smaller hands.

String Gauge: Electric guitars use steel strings, typically with a lighter gauge than acoustic guitars. The lighter gauge strings require less force to press down, making them easier for beginners to play.

Additional equipment: Electric guitars require an amplifier and a cable to produce sound.

Physical size and weight: Electric guitars are generally smaller and lighter than acoustic guitars. The smaller size and lighter weight of an electric guitar can make it more comfortable to hold and play, especially for extended periods.

Pros of electric guitars for beginners: Electric guitars offer a wide range of sounds and effects, making them suitable for various musical styles. Electric guitars are physically easier to play than acoustic or classical guitars due to their lower string action and lighter gauge strings.

Cons of electric guitars for beginners: Electric guitars require additional equipment, such as an amplifier and a cable, which adds to the initial cost. Electric guitars can’t be properly played without an amplifier.

Recommendation for beginners: The electric guitar is a good choice for beginners interested in genres like rock, blues, or metal. The electric guitar’s playability and diverse sounds can be motivating for new players. However, the need for additional equipment should be factored into the decision.

4. Acoustic Electric Guitar

The acoustic-electric guitar is an acoustic guitar with a built-in pickup system. The built-in pickup system allows the acoustic guitar to be amplified. This makes the acoustic electric guitar a popular choice for performers and those who want to play live or in front of big crowds. Electric acoustic guitars are suitable for various musical styles, including rock, pop, country and R&B.

String action: String action on acoustic electric guitars is comparable to that of standard acoustic guitars. Lower string action makes it easier to press the strings down, which is beneficial for beginners.

Neck dimensions: Acoustic electric guitars have neck dimensions comparable to standard acoustic guitars. The neck width can vary depending on the model and body shape.

String gauge: Acoustic electric guitars use steel strings, just like standard acoustic guitars. Steel strings produce a bright and projecting sound but require more finger strength to fret compared to nylon strings.

Additional equipment: Acoustic electric guitars have a built-in pickup system that allows them to be amplified. To amplify the acoustic electric guitar you need an amplifier and a cable. However, acoustic electric guitars can also be played unplugged like a standard acoustic guitar in which case there is no need for any additional equipment.

Guitar’s size and weight: Acoustic electric guitars have similar size and weight characteristics to standard acoustic guitars. The size and weight can vary depending on the model and body shape.

Pros of acoustic electric guitars for beginners: Acoustic electric guitars offer the versatility of an acoustic guitar with the added option of plugging into an amplifier. This makes electro acoustic guitars suitable for both quiet practice and louder performances. Many entry level acoustic electric guitars come equipped with built-in tuners, which can be very helpful for beginners who are still learning to tune their instrument.

Cons of acoustic electric guitars for beginners: Acoustic electric guitars are often more expensive than standard acoustic guitars due to the added electronics. Buying an amplifier and a cable adds to the initial cost and setup as well.

Recommendation for beginners: Acoustic electric guitars offer versatility but they are not essential for beginners just starting their guitar journey. Focus on developing fundamental skills on a standard acoustic guitar first. Consider an acoustic electric guitar later if you decide to perform or require amplification.