When you decide to learn the guitar, it is an exhilarating time. Choosing your first axe is a right of passage, but how much should you spend on a beginner guitar? Naturally, your budget will have the final say. Luckily you don’t need to spend a fortune to get an excellent beginner’s guitar. However, I suggest buying the best instrument available in your price range. Starting with a better quality instrument will help you learn. Rather than grabbing a thrifted or knockoff instrument, it’s important to make sure you begin your journey with a guitar that will sound and feel right in your hands. I’ll explain everything you need to know to get a great beginner guitar.
How much should you spend on a beginner guitar? You should spend at least fifty to five hundred dollars on a beginner guitar. If you can afford to spend more, do so. The quality of your first instrument will impact how you sound and help you understand more about guitars. There’s more to playing than learning to read music and position your fingers.
What Size Guitar Is Good For A Beginner
Before deciding how much you should spend on a beginner guitar, you need to know what size to look at. Most of the time, smaller guitars are going to be more cost-effective. However, for a large adult, this isn’t an option.
Additionally, you need to consider what type of guitar you plan to play. Since there’s a size difference between a classical guitar with nylon strings, an acoustic guitar with steel strings, and an electric guitar, this matters. The right size acoustic may not be the correct measurement for an electric.
I will break these down by height on the list below. If you are a smaller adult, ignore any labels that say a guitar is for kids. The right size is more important than the right label, and humans are more varied than general categories can express.
Guitar Size By Type & Height
Please keep in mind that these are just rough estimates. Some people have long arms and fingers, and others have shorter. If you’re not comfortable holding your guitar, go up or down a size. The sound quality on a well-made guitar won’t change with size.
- Electric Guitar- 30-39 inches tall (roughly three feet or less) half size. 39 to 49 inches tall (three to four feet) three-quarter size. Over four feet typically means a full-size guitar.
- Acoustic Guitar- Under three foot nine, half size. Three nine to five foot four, three-quarter size. Five-foot-five and above, full-size guitar.
- Classical Guitar- Under three-foot-three, quarter size. Three-foot-three to four-foot-one, half size. Four-foot-one to five-foot-four, three-quarter size. Five-five and above, full-size.
As you can see, classical guitars have more available sizes. However, acoustic is where most new musicians begin, and it may be what you think of when you hear the words ‘classical guitar.’ Meanwhile, due to the smaller size, a full-size electric is great for adults who aren’t very tall.
The YMC 38″ Blue Beginner Acoustic Guitar is great for many new musicians. Not only do you get a great steel-string guitar, strap, and gig bag, but you also get a pitch pipe, picks, and other accessories. You’ll appreciate being able to start playing right away. Learn more on Amazon by clicking here.
What Type Of Guitar Is Best For Beginners
The type of guitar you want to play matters as much as how much money you spend on it. There are three main kinds of guitars, and they all sound, play, and feel different. I’ll explain them briefly, so you know which one you are looking for.
Electric guitars are mostly self-explanatory. This style usually has a solid body rather than a hollow one, but there are exceptions. Some jazz and blues guitar players have hollow body electric guitars. All electric guitars require an amp and power source to play.
Electric guitars are the most wild-looking. The hard body allows for a plethora of unique shapes. Additionally, you’ll probably find these in far more colors than any other type of guitar. These are the guitar world’s rebels, but they also require the most gear and tend to take more time to set up for play.
A steel-string acoustic guitar is by far the most common. These are outstanding for new learners. Moreover, they never really go out of style, and they’re incredibly versatile.
You will see acoustics everywhere. It is the most prevalent type of guitar. A hollow body, with or without a pickup in the usual, symmetrical style makes this iconic guitar so popular.
Finally, the classical guitar has nylon strings and is used to play flamenco, among other music types. With a deeper body and more available sizes, classical guitars give a rich sound to any song. However, these instruments are not as loud and tend to be much easier on the fingertips.
If you intend to learn classical or electric guitar, then it’s alright to start with one or the other. That said, most new musicians begin with an acoustic guitar because it is easier to learn. The shape of the body and neck are conducive to both seated and stand-up playing styles.
A guitar that gives you more like the Care2Rock Acoustic Guitar Beginner Bundle from Amazon is ideal for new musicians. You’ll have a well-made, ready-to-play instrument with accessories. Plus, you get a free one-on-one lesson with a Care2Rock professional to help you get started right. Best of all, Care2Rock does even more because they also provide free lessons to underprivileged youth in foster homes. Get a great guitar and help a good cause when you click here.
What Makes A Good Beginner Guitar
There are several factors that you should consider before choosing a beginner guitar. How much you should (or can) spend is only part of the picture. Naturally, the size of the guitar also matters. However, there’s more to a good guitar.
Easily the most important thing for a beginner guitar is quality. An instrument requires skill and dedication. If you’re looking for a cheap throwaway, then you probably aren’t ready to start learning yet.
Some factors are more about your personal style. Whether you go with a red, blue, or neon orange guitar, it won’t change the music. Pay close attention to the string action, accessories, and features.
Action, Accessories, and Features
Action is the amount of space between the fret and the bottom of your strings. You can use any ruler to figure this out. According to Artist Guitars, you need the following dimensions for string action.
- Electric Guitars 2-2.3mm
- Acoustic Guitars 2-2.7mm
- Nylon String Guitars 3-3.6mm
Accessories are vital for new musicians. It would help if you had a place to store your guitar, such as a bag, case, or stand. Additionally, you want picks, any chords, a tuner, and other accouterments necessary to play. Hence a guitar kit is ideal since it comes with more than merely an instrument.
You don’t need a whole bunch of extra features that you don’t understand and cannot use. A whammy bar is great, but you don’t need one to get started. The same goes for a wah pedal. It would be best if you learned to read music before you worry about having all the bells and whistles.
Choose a well-reviewed, trusted guitar like the ADM Beginner Acoustic Guitar from Amazon. Not only can you choose from six different colors to suit your style, but this guitar sounds great. The arched back gives a fuller sound and a longer sustain. Better still, this guitar offers a one-month money-back guarantee and a one-year manufacturer defect warranty. Get yours delivered fast when you click right here.
Which Guitar Should I Buy As A Beginner
When you start really looking for a guitar, there are so many choices it can seem overwhelming. Narrow it down first by type and size. After that, look at what features and extras come with the guitar. It would be best if you had a case, but not a hundred extra strings.
Once you’ve considered that, then think about whether you want to play seated or standing. Choose a guitar that suits that style, with a good strap, so you have your hands free to do the playing.
I recommend starting with a Best Choice Products Acoustic Guitar from Amazon. This set includes everything you need to begin playing. You’ll have everything from a digital tuner to a cleaning cloth and more. Additionally, this style can grow with you as you advance your technique and understanding. Have a BCP delivered to your door by clicking here.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need a thousand-dollar guitar as a beginner, but it’s alright to get one if you can. Naturally, if you’re not sure whether you’ll pursue the guitar, then you may want a more cost-effective option. However, a good guitar retains its value even after you play it, so you can resell a decent guitar if you change your mind later, or when you upgrade.
Spend enough to ensure you start with a high-quality instrument. Read reviews, and make sure you pick the right size and style for your musical intentions. For example, an electric guitar is generally the wrong choice for a bluegrass or flamenco music fan.
You can get a great guitar at an economical price if you do your research. However, you should always get the best you can afford where instruments are concerned.