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Acoustic Guitar Reviews Reviews

What is the Best Acoustic Guitar for Beginners?

Who else wants to find the best acoustic guitar for beginners?

It’s no secret that finding the best acoustic guitar for a beginner can be challenging.

With so many different brands and so many different models available, it’s difficult to know which one is the best for beginners.

Comparing the different features and options of each guitar can be confusing and frustrating.

Plus, the worst thing would be to buy a guitar only to find out that it’s the wrong one for you.

All this ends up taking all the fun and joy out of buying a new guitar.

Fortunately, we’ve done the hard work and found the best ones for you.

We’ve looked in-depth at the different models, compared the various features, and weighed all of the options to find the very best acoustic guitar for beginners.

Check it out! You won’t be disappointed.

The Best Acoustic Guitar for Beginners: Best Overall

Yamaha FG800

Are you looking for a high-quality acoustic guitar that’s easy to play and perfect for a beginner? Then check out the Yamaha FG800.

It has a traditional dreadnought-shaped body composed of a solid spruce top and nato/Okoume back and sides. As a result, it delivers bright, crisp tones with plenty of volume, powerful projection, and plenty of bass and mids.

Additionally, the FG800 features a new type of bracing that gives you a punchier tone and better projection overall.

The neck is also made of nato with a slim shape, rounded edges, and a radius of 15.75″. As a result, it’s very comfortable in your hand, has a natural feel, and is easy for beginners to learn on.

With 20 frets and small dot inlays, the walnut fretboard has a simple, solid look and adds warmth to your tone.

Finally, the walnut bridge and chrome tuners warm up your sound and help ensure solid tuning stability.

Pros

  • Quality Construction
  • Solid Spruce Top

Cons

  • Plastic Nut and Saddle
  • Neck May Be Small for People with Large Hands

As you can see, the Yamaha FG800 delivers a traditional acoustic guitar that sounds amazing and is available at a very affordable price.

We think you’ll agree its straightforward design, quality features, and wonderful tone make it the perfect acoustic for a beginner.

Why wait? Click here and get yours now.

The Best Acoustic Guitar for Beginners: Best Budget

Jasmine S35

Are you looking for a quality acoustic guitar that has quality tonewoods, quality construction, and is very easy on your budget? Then check out the Jasmine S35.

It has a dreadnought-shaped body composed of a Sitka spruce top with mahogany back and sides. As a result, it has a warm, full sound that’s clear, bright, and has great projection.

The nato neck has a slim profile and a radius of 12″ so it feels natural in your hand and is versatile enough to play chords or leads on, while also adding warmth to your tone.

Plus, with 20 frets and Pearloid dot inlays, the rosewood fretboard delivers a classic look and adds a classic tone to your sound.

Finally, the bridge is also composed of rosewood and features a compensated saddle that improves intonation while also adding extra
warmth and resonance to your sound.

Pros

  • Available in Multiple Finishes
  • Full Body Binding
  • Jasmine’s Advanced “X” Bracing Improves Tone

Cons

  • Plastic Nut and Saddle

All in all, the Jasmine S35 delivers quality construction, desirable tonewoods, and easy playability at a very affordable price.

We think you’ll find it’s an excellent guitar for a beginner or anyone on a budget.

Don’t hesitate! Click here and get yours now.

The Best Acoustic Guitar for Beginners: Best Runner-Up

Fender CD-60

Are you looking for an acoustic guitar that’s easy to play and perfect for a beginner? Then check out the Fender CD-60.

It has a dreadnought-shaped body composed of a spruce top with mahogany back and sides. Additionally, it features scalloped “X” bracing so it has a balanced tone with plenty of volume and projection.

The mahogany neck has a “C” shape with a radius of 11.81″ so it’s easy for beginners to play and has a natural feel in your hand.

With 20 frets and white Pearloid dot inlays, the walnut fretboard has a classic look and adds some warmth to your tone.

Finally, the walnut bridge and die-cast tuners provide plenty of tuning stability and adds to a fuller sound.

Pros

  • Available in 3 Finishes
  • Includes Hard Shell Case

Cons

  • Plastic Nut and Saddle
  • Laminated Spruce Top

As you can see, the Fender CD-60 is a great choice for a beginner guitar.

We think you’ll find its warm and balanced sound and easy-to-play neck makes for an excellent guitar.

Don’t hesitate! Click here and get yours now.

The Best Acoustic Guitar for Beginners: Best Under $400

Takamine GD20

Are you looking for an affordable guitar with great tonewoods and excellent build quality? Then check out the Takamine GD20.

It has a dreadnought-shaped body composed of a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides so it has a warm, detailed tone with plenty of volume and projection.

The slim mahogany neck has a radius of 12″ so it’s very stable, has versatile playability, and is comfortable for beginners to play.

With Pearloid dot inlays and 20 frets, the ovangkol fretboard has a timeless look and adds a warmer tone to your sound. Plus, the satin finish neck provides a better feel and easy playability for beginners.

Lastly, the ovangkol pinless bridge and split-saddle design deliver superior intonation which results in a sweeter-sounding guitar, effortless string changes, and a more resonant guitar.

Pros

  • Quartersawn X-Bracing

Cons

  • Plastic Nut/Saddle

As you can see, the Takamine GD20 combines excellent tonewoods with modern improvements in a classic design.

We think you’ll find its easy playability and contemporary sounds satisfy your need for a beginner’s acoustic guitar.

Don’t miss out! Click here and get yours now.

The Best Acoustic Guitar for Beginners: Best Under $300

Ibanez AW54

Are you looking for an acoustic guitar that’s got a dynamic sound, old-school looks, and is great for a beginner? Then check out the Ibanez Artwood AW54.

It has a dreadnought-shaped body composed of a solid Okoume top and Okoume back and sides which gives it a rich, warm tone with generous volume. Plus, thanks to its Open Pore Natural finish, the wood vibrates more freely giving you a more dynamic sound.

The nyatoh neck has Ibanez’s AW shape and a radius of 15.74″ making it very stable, feel very comfortable in your hand, and easy to play fast leads on.

With 20 frets and small dot inlays, the Ovangkol fretboard ensures easy playability while adding wonderful bass and treble tones to your sound.

A black and white rosette surrounds the soundhole while the chrome tuners add to the natural, old-school look of this guitar.

Lastly, the Ovangkol bridge features Ibanez’s Advantage bridge pins which are designed to make string changes easier and to more securely anchor your strings.

Pros

  • X bracing ensures stability and a balanced tone

Cons

  • Plastic Nut and Saddle

As you can tell, the Ibanez Artwood AW54 delivers a great look, quality construction, and dynamic tones all at an affordable price.

We think you’ll agree that its bright, full sounds paired with its natural look make for a quality acoustic guitar that’s perfect for beginners.

Why wait? Click here and get yours now.

The Best Acoustic Guitar for Beginners: Best Classical

Yamaha C40II

Are you looking for a full-size classical guitar that delivers quality tones, great build quality, and is perfect for beginners? Then check out the Yamaha C40II.

It has Yamaha’s CG Shape Classical-shaped body composed of a spruce top with meranti back and sides. As a result, it has a lively sound that’s resonant and full.

The nato neck has the standard classical shape with a flat radius that’s perfect for learning to play the most complicated of leads.

With 18 frets and a full 2-inch nut, the rosewood fretboard has a classic look, adds warmth to your tone, and is wide enough to help beginners properly learn finger technique.

Lastly, the rosewood bridge and chrome tuners ensure proper tuning while enhancing your tone.

Pros

  • Comes with Yamaha’s Player Port app

Cons

  • Plastic Nut and Saddle

As you can tell, the Yamaha C40II is an affordable classical guitar with a great sound and timeless style.

We think you’ll find it’s perfect for a beginner who is interested in classical guitar.

Why wait? Click here and get yours now.

The Best Acoustic Guitar for Beginners: Best Acoustic Electric

Yamaha FGX800C

Are you looking for an acoustic electric guitar that’s focused on playability, tone, and build quality? Then check out the Yamaha FGX800C.

It has a traditional dreadnought-shaped body composed of a solid spruce top and nato/Okoume back and sides so it delivers a bright, warm tone that has wonderful voicing.

Additionally, it has a cutaway and scalloped bracing which enhances your volume and tone as well giving you easy access to the higher frets.

The nato neck has a thin profile and a radius of 15.75″ so it’s comfortable for beginners, very stable, and is easy to fret notes on.

With 20 frets and tiny dot inlays, the walnut fretboard adds a warmer tone to your sound and is easy for beginners to learn on.

The Yamaha System-66 electronics feature a proprietary under saddle piezo pickup as well as a preamp that includes a 3-band equalizer and tuner. As a result, you have complete control over your sound, and can always be in tune.

Lastly, the walnut bridge and die-cast tuners ensure tuning stability, while enhancing resonance and tone.

Pros

  • High Quality at an Affordable Price

Cons

  • Plastic Nut/Saddle
  • Tiny Dot Inlays

All in all, the Yamaha FGX800C delivers an acoustic electric guitar with warm, full tones and bright highs, and clear mids.

We think you’ll agree that it’s a great choice for a first-time acoustic electric guitar.

Why wait? Click here and get yours now.

The Best Acoustic Guitar for Beginners: FAQ

Buying an acoustic guitar shouldn’t be a hassle, but it often is.

Hopefully, you found an acoustic guitar on this list that ticks all the boxes for you.

  • What is the best acoustic guitar for a beginner?
    • Please see our Best Overall and Best Budget recommendations. Also, this post on Best Acoustic Guitars on a Budget, this post on Best Acoustics Under $200, and this one on Acoustic Electrics under $500.
    • If you’re looking for an acoustic guitar for an adult, see our recommendations in this post.
  • What kind of guitar should a beginner buy?
    • The biggest thing for a beginner is they have a guitar that they enjoy playing. An acoustic is probably the easiest for a beginner to start with.
  • Is it better to learn acoustic guitar first?
    • Not necessarily. Most of what you learn on an acoustic can be transferred to the electric guitar without any hassle. But the benefit of having an acoustic guitar is that it’s very portable, and you don’t need to plug it into anything in order to play. Plus, you can buy one really inexpensively.
  • How do I choose an acoustic guitar for the first time?
    • If you’re an adult, a dreadnought-sized guitar is popular and easy to play. If you’re a kid, or the size of a dreadnought is uncomfortable, try a classical guitar or even a parlor-sized guitar.
  • How much should I spend on my first guitar?
    • Please see our Best Budget recommendation. You can buy a guitar for as little as $50, but to find something that’s high quality and affordable, expect to pay at least $100.
  • Is Piano easier than guitar?
    • It’s more like it’s different. You can take a guitar with you pretty much anywhere. The bar, a cafe, the bathroom, you can practice anywhere. You can’t do the same with a piano. As far as playing music, it’s sort of apples and oranges. However, if you learn one, it’ll be easier and more intuitive to learn to play the other. It’s sort of like learning a second language.