10 Best Beginners Acoustic Guitars That Will Make You A Great Guitarist!

By Monica | Guitar

Mar 23
best beginner acoustic guitar

A guitar player's priority is always getting a good instrument. Even beginners should find themselves in such kind of pursuit. If you are just a novice in this field, then you have to acquire the best beginner acoustic guitar. But how would you be able to find one? Read this article to learn more!

Your first guitar purchase is a significant investment. Any seasoned guitar players would tell you that. Well, it is not about the price, but the act of buying itself. After all, purchasing a guitar is proof that you are serious in this endeavor. It doesn't matter if the cost of the guitar ranges from $100 or more. As long as you are willing to invest in a robust and quality unit, there will be no stopping you.

Of course, beginners should start on acoustic guitars first. It is not ideal to jump on electric guitars immediately. First, they are not a practical move. They will just dwindle your money without any reason at all. And second, it is hard to learn the basics of a guitar using an electric instrument. It would be a very bad move.

On the flip side, we all know that not all acoustic guitars are worthy of praise. Some of them have flimsy build and don't suit for practice purposes. Fortunately, we got you covered in this article! Specifically, we have listed some of the best acoustic guitars for beginners in the market today! So what are you waiting for? Read on!

10 of the Best Beginner Acoustic Guitar

More...

Beginner Acoustic Guitar Buying Guide

There are some things that you have to keep in mind before you buy an acoustic guitar. At the end of the day, you don't want to get an instrument that doesn't cater your needs or preference. We know that you are willing to spend for a quality guitar. Needless to say, you are hoping that you can get something that would make your fingers itch for some action!

Skill Level

Skill Level

If you are just an amateur who just want to learn the ins and outs of guitars, then there is no need for you to risk on buying a guitar that is too expensive. Well, it is undeniable that high-end models have excellent features and build. But it doesn't mean that they are your only option.

Some entry-grade guitars can already cater your needs. Always remember that your goal here is to learn the instrument. Therefore, the guitar that you should choose doesn't have to be that good and flashy. Moreover, you can always upgrade as your skill level progresses as welL!

Tonewood Type

Tonewood Type

It is essential for you to know the various tonewoods usually used in a guitar. Specifically, the tonewood plays a huge factor in the overall sounding of a guitar. For example, some guitarists say those who are into fingerstyle should choose a lighter wood because they have proper resonation. Take a look at the guideline below to see the different types of wood that are being used in guitars.

  • Spruce - This is a standard wood for regular acoustic guitars. One of its key features is the provision of high-speed sounds. If you are looking for an ordinary acoustic guitar, this is an excellent choice already!
  • Cedar - You will love a cedar tonewood if you want to produce a warm sound. Typically, flamenco and classic guitars use this kind of tonewood.
  • Maple - Maple is excellent in the production of high tones and low response rates.
  • Mahogany - Many guitarists always recommend to choose a guitar that has a mahogany body. In fact, it is the ideal choice for acoustic guitars because it can create high-quality overtones.
  • Rosewood - This wood increases the sophistication and richness of sound. You can see this wood on the side and back of a guitar.

Check out this Youtube video to know how tonewood affects the sound of a guitar:

Size of the Guitar

A beginner should also pay attention to the size of the instrument. Many are so oblivious to this fact, but the body size can affect the sounding of a guitar. Specifically, it can manipulate the projection of sound and tone as well.

Apparently, guitars that have large bodies produce loud sound and low tone. If you are playing in a crowded event or auditorium, then you need a huge guitar. Meanwhile, the hole in the center of a guitar is seemingly similar for almost models, regardless of their size. Their particular role is to amplify the volume of the instrument.

However, some guitars don't have holes. Manufacturers remove this particular component to create a low-sounding instrument. Overall, you have to consider your preference when you are dealing with the size. Are you comfortable playing big guitars? Or are you the type who always go with smaller instruments? Only you can answer this question.

Neck of the Guitar

Neck of the Guitar

Acoustic guitars nowadays have either 14-fret or 12-fret necks. Specifically, these numbers indicate the length of the neck of the guitar. You should know that short necks can produce high-pitch sounds. Meanwhile, guitars that have long necks can generate a low but warm tone.

Of course, you should also consider the thickness and width of the neck, since they will affect your play style as well. If you have small hands, you might want to use a guitar that has a thin neck. Those who are into classics and fingerstyle will benefit from guitars that have wide necks.

Strings

Strings

Another aspect that you should be wary about is the strings. Obviously, a guitar won't be a guitar without the strings. Most of the guitars today are using steel strings. However, you can still spot guitars that are using nylon strings.

Nylon strings are typical for the classical genre because they can create soft sounds. They are also easier to use compared to their steel counterparts. Therefore, they should be your ideal choice if you are just a beginner. However, you have to remember that you should avoid using nylon strings if your guitar is a steel-string by default. Otherwise, it will damage your instrument.

A Piece of Advice to Beginners

Before choosing a guitar, you should consider its price first. Some of you might be reluctant to spend a lot for your first guitar. However, you should know that cheap guitars don't offer quality sounds. Moreover, they lack tonal clarity as well. Because of this, we always recommend that novices should pick guitars that have a middle-range price. In this way, they will be able to learn the instrument easily.

For amateurs, it is not bad that you settle down on a guitar with a laminate top to than an authentic wood. The sound quality is not that good, but it will still allow you to learn the basics of the guitar. But if you are really serious about this, then you should choose a real wood guitar by all means!

Lastly, do not ever compromise your comfort. Always choose a guitar that allows you to play comfortably!

10 of the Best Beginner Acoustic Guitar 

*Below, you'll find our more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices or read customer reviews on Amazon.



The are a lot of Seagull guitars that you can see on the market today. But it is undeniable that the Seagull S6 is their trailblazer. Many guitar players deem this unit as the best instrument a beginner can use.

Of course, we cannot reject such claims. After all, the quality of Seagull S6 is something that you can't ignore. This guitar uses various tonewoods (e.g. cedar and rosewood) to produce a dynamic performance. It also got a tapered headstock that guarantees stability in tuning!


Pros:

  • High-quality construction (made in North America)
  • Comes with a double-action rod
  • Its headstock is ideal for open tunings
  • Made from high-quality tonewoods
  • The fretboard is soft and comfortable for the fingers

Cons:

  • Some people says that this guitar is overrated

Let's take a look at this product...




The brand Fender is an empire in the guitar industry. Once you own a guitar like this, you will be able to learn anything. One of the greatest products that Fender released is their acoustic guitar bundle.

All of the accessories and components that you need to get started are present in this package. The guitar in this bundle is a full-sized dreadnought and comes with a 20-fret neck! Therefore, we are confident that beginners would be able to master this instrument with the use of this instrument alone!


Pros:

  • All playing accessories and components are present
  • It has a rosewood bridge that comes with a bone saddle
  • The top uses a high-quality laminated spruce
  • Suitable for any type of applications and genre
  • The tone it produces is full and warm

Cons:

  • Issues of defects for online deliveries (although very minimal)

Let's take a look at this product...




If you are looking for an on-the-go guitar, then you should consider the Taylor GS Mini. Specifically, this guitar is the miniature version of the Grand Symphony. The size went down, but the quality is still the same. Because of this setup, the guitar became an ideal choice for modern applications.

It has a quality build, considering that its body is from Sitka spruce. Meanwhile, its sides and back are using laminated spruce. When it comes to its sound, we can just say that it is pretty articulate and distinct!


Pros:

  • Ideal for starters and children because of its small size
  • The fretboard is very smooth to the fingers
  • Perfect for travels because of its portability
  • Can generate warm and articulate sounds
  • Made from high-quality materials

Cons:

  • Might be an expensive choice for your part

Let's take a look at this product...




We were quite surprised when we tested the Jasmine S34C. Who would have thought that this seemingly ordinary guitar packs a lot of punch! It has an outstanding sound production, with the clarity and articulation on the top spot! It is a good acoustic guitar for beginners because of everything about it is basic.

Specifically, it uses a Spruce top and a dreadnought body which is common for many guitars today. Meanwhile, it comes with a Venetian-type cutaway which makes it more appealing than its counterparts.


Pros:

  • Comes with an advanced bracing for additional rigidity
  • Ideal for players with small hands because it has slim neck
  • It has saddle and bone nut
  • Fingerboard and bridge are from high-quality rosewood
  • The sounding is pretty impressive

Cons:

  • Only ideal for beginners
  • Its tuning pegs are somehow flimsy

Let's take a look at this product...




The FG Series of Yamaha has been on the market for around 50 years already. But despite being one of the oldest acoustic guitars, its quality doesn’t wane off. In fact, the series is still one of the best-selling guitars in the industry today.

And among the acoustic guitars that you should grab from this series is the FG830. From its look, it is already impressive and attractive. It should not be a wonder anymore why many amateurs want to grab this unit. When it comes to sounding, we can say that the Yamaha FG830 has an irreplaceable performance!


Pros:

  • Uses the Sitka Spruce as its top
  • The back, sides, and fingerboard are using rosewood
  • Comes with a diecast tuners for tuning stability
  • It has scalloped bracing pattern to increase its durability
  • Hand-crafted for astute sounding and tonal clarity

Cons:

  • Some minor defects reported from those who made online orders

Let's take a look at this product...




If you want an excellent beginner acoustic guitar, then you should consider grabbing the Epiphone DR-100. According to the Epiphone, this is their top-selling acoustic guitar. And we have no reason to doubt such claim.

After all, the build, sound, and appearance of this instrument is something that any professionals and beginner would like. This particular acoustic guitar is usable for any musical genre. Moreover, the sound it produces is balanced and articulated as well!


Pros:

  • Perfect for both beginners and experienced guitarists
  • Comes with a 14-fret mahogany neck
  • It uses the beloved Sloped Dovewing headstock of Epiphone
  • The tuners are available in multiple types of finishes
  • Perfect for any music genres

Cons:

  • The fretboard is quite short

Let's take a look at this product...




The Oscar Schmidt OG2SM is among the acoustic guitars that really blown us. Although it is not a popular guitar brand, its quality is still surprisingly good.

From its built, we can already conclude that this guitar is for beginners. It is using a dreadnought body, which gives comfort to its users. Meanwhile, it comes with a Spalted Maple top, which is a big plus for this instrument!


Pros:

  • High-quality gloss finish
  • The fingerboard is very smooth
  • Built from the combination of high-quality materials
  • Affordable choice for beginners
  • Excellent sounding and tonal production

Cons:

  • Some people says that this guitar is overrated

Let's take a look at this product...




The Fender FA-100 is one of the best choices that any amateur guitarist can have. This instrument will enhance your learning pace because of its simplicity and user-friendliness.

In fact, Fender already stated that this guitar is meant for beginners. Therefore, you should not worry about investing in this product. Moreover, the FA-100 comes in a package. All the playing amenities you need are in this bundle already!


Pros:

  • It has a rosewood bridge and bone saddle
  • The neck is using a Maple tonewood while its fingerboard is a 20-fret rosewood
  • Comes with a glossy spruce top
  • Integrated a specialized bracing for additional durability
  • Sounding is pretty decent

Cons:

  • Only ideal for practice applications
  • There are some issues on its strings

Let's take a look at this product...




If you are searching for a less-expensive steel-string acoustic guitar, the Fender CD-60CE is a perfect option. But despite its reasonable price, this instrument still exhibits excellent performance and built. It uses an X-bracing on its Mahogany top to improve its rigidity.

Meanwhile, the back and sides are all made from high-quality mahogany. The neck has a single-cutaway style, which allows you to access its twenty frets. As a result, beginners would be able to explore the basic concepts of a guitar by using this instrument!


Pros:

  • Uses various high-quality tonewood
  • The bridge has a compensated saddle
  • It got a built-in preamp and tuner
  • The Fishman Isys III System improves it overall sounding
  • Highly affordable

Cons:

  • Some guitarist find the body to have an awkward shape
  • It uses a size 12 strings, which is not suitable for beginners (you should replace it)

Let's take a look at this product...




The Rogue RA-090 is the final candidate on this list. But it doesn't mean that this guitar displays the weakest quality. In fact, any beginner would love to have it on their arsenals. The first reason for this is its affordability. Those who are afraid to invest big on their first acoustic guitar would love to settle on this one.The second reason is its quality.

Specifically, the Rogue RA-090 has unique design points that are iconic for any traditional acoustic guitars. It uses a combination of different tonewoods (e.g. Whitewood and maple) to enhance its performance. You will also love the way this guitar sounds. It can produce warm and articulate sounds that are essential for practicing purposes.


Pros:

  • Robust and durable construction
  • Sound production is pretty decent
  • Uses the standard dreadnought design
  • Default strings feel very smooth to the fingers
  • Inexpensive acoustic guitar

Cons:

  • All the parts don't emit a premium "feel"

Let's take a look at this product...

Final Verdict

Having a good acoustic guitar is essential for beginners and aspiring learners. A quality instrument would allow any practitioner to harness his/ her skills. In short, you would be able to learn the technicalities and concepts once you have a user-friendly guitar.

Among all these products we featured, we deem that the Seagull S6 Original is the best acoustic guitar for beginners. It is an easy decision, considering the build and quality of this instrument. Amateurs would not encounter any difficulties in learning with this guitar because it has a smooth interface. It is comfortable to handle and the sounding it produces is truly exceptional.

Meanwhile, the instruments of this list are some of the best beginner acoustic guitars on the market. Each of them possesses unique features that enhance their usability and sounding. Having them would certainly progress your overall skills! Therefore, there should be no harm in trying any of them!

Did you learn from this article? Do you have any other guitars that would be perfect for any amateurs? Tell us all your thoughts in the comment section below!

Follow

About the Author

Hi everyone! Im Monica and I am an avid lover of guitars and everything in-between. My current profession is not really music-related. It is quite discouraging but I just don't want to drop my zeal--especially not to guitars! I created GuitarTrance.Com so that I can keep up with my hobby. Of course, I want to engage with the community as well! Hope we can all get along!

(2) comments

Add Your Reply