1. Our top picks
2. Best overall
3. Best for kids
4. Best for adults
5. Best under $200
6. Best under $500
7. Best electro-acoustic
8. Also tested
9. Buying advice
10. How we test
Buying your first acoustic guitar is a fantastic moment and one you'll never forget. That's why it's critical to do your research to ensure you get the right instrument for your needs. Luckily, you've come to the right place. We've tested a range of the best acoustic guitars for beginners to craft this guide, help set you on the right path with your guitar playing and assist you in getting the ideal instrument in your hands.
Armed with an exemplary acoustic guitar, you'll be unstoppable. Not only will you find playing far easier and much more enjoyable, but if you have a guitar you love, you'll be more likely to stick with it and develop your technique. But what are the most important factors to consider when choosing a great beginner acoustic? Well, you'll want a guitar that stays in tune throughout your practice sessions and it will need to be built to last.
Of course, ticking all these boxes shouldn't exceed your beginner budget, either. That's why, with this expert round-up of the best beginner acoustic guitars you can buy in 2024, we're committed to proving you can get started with a great guitar bearing the moniker of a big-name brand on the headstock from as little as $149.
We personally research and test the latest beginner acoustic guitars to provide unbiased recommendations. We rate each guitar out of 5 and use the review data to inform rankings – in the next section you'll find the 6 guitars that came out on top.
Quick list
With this Fender, you have a leading brand producing an excellent acoustic guitar at an entry-level price. In our tests, we found that this dreadnought’s all-mahogany construction produced a full, rounded sound with playability to match.
We have to start by saying we absolutely love the look of the Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy. Its small stature and stunning finish just oozes vintage charm. That said, to be included in this guide to the best acoustic guitars for beginners, it needs to be more than a good-looking guitar - thankfully the G9500 more than delivers.
One of the lower-priced guitars in our guide, Yamaha’s FG800 is a seasoned veteran in the beginner’s acoustic field. The sound generated by this beauty could easily come from a more expensive guitar, and it’s reliable at holding its tune, too.
It may be considered a cheap acoustic guitar, but we found it difficult to find much wrong with the DR-100 for those on a budget. The Epiphone DR-100 produces a tone that you wouldn’t expect given the small price tag.
At around the $270 mark, the Alvarez AD30 is another dreadnought delivering well above its diminutive price tag. It kicks out significant volume from its sitka spruce body, which is as warm in tone as much as it is bright.
Taylor’s GS Mini doubles as a travel-sized guitar and dishes out all you need for home playing, especially for younger or smaller guitarists. The factory-set action is low, making it simple to play from the get-go.
Recent updates
04/23/24: To simplify things further we've narrowed our choices to only six products. These are the six models that we truly believe are the best beginner acoustic guitars on the market right now, and most worthy of your cash.
02/13/24: We audited the product list to ensure our selections were up-to-date and added new labels to help you better understand our choices.
01/11/24: We added an "at a glance" section to each entry in this guide. This is a very brief summary of our thoughts on each guitar to help you better understand if it's the guitar for you.
Best overall
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy If you want a big-name brand on a budget: Fender is the biggest name in the business, and the CD-60S is the perfect entry-level guitar from this legendary guitar maker.
❌ Avoid if you are small or don't like large guitars: The dreadnought body of the CD-60S produces a massive sound, but it can be a little too large for some to hold.
With this Fender, you have a leading brand producing an excellent acoustic guitar at an entry-level price. In our tests we found that this dreadnought’s all-mahogany construction produced a full, rounded sound, which equates to volume and confident mid-level power in support of a bright treble.
The tuners are positive and reliable, and at the sub-$200 mark they represent excellent quality compared with other guitars in this bracket. Previously, Fender’s acoustic guitars for beginners had an action that tended to be on the high side. But the CD-60S has an action low enough to enable easier playing, while avoiding troublesome fret buzz.
Read the full Fender CD-60S All-Mahogany review
Best for kids
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy if you want a traditional-sounding guitar: The Jim Dandy has plenty of retro charm and a sound to match. It's warm and full of character.
❌ Avoid if you need onboard electronics: If you are after a guitar you could eventually play on stage, we recommend looking at a model with a built-in pickup system.
We have to start by saying we absolutely love the look of the Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy. Its small stature and stunning finish just oozes vintage charm. That said, to be included in this guide to the best acoustic guitars for beginners, it needs to be more than a good-looking guitar - thankfully the G9500 more than delivers.
In our review, we noted just how impressed we were with the guitar's low action and how well intonated it was across the neck. Tonally, it’s as you might expect. Obviously, the reduction in body size also means that it’s not going to have the bass and resonance levels of a standard dreadnought. Instead, the tone is bright but not brash when strummed, and fingerpicked notes have a definite ‘pluck’ to them, with a strong attack and slightly reduced sustain.
There aren’t many acoustic guitars that are this much fun, and even fewer from respected names at this price point - making it an easy recommendation from us at Guitar World. Looking for more options for your little one? Check out our full guide to the best guitars for kids.
Read our full Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy review
Best for adults
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy if you are seeking superb build quality: For us, Yamaha offers the best build quality at this price point. Their guitars are impeccably finished and well-made.
❌ Avoid if you need onboard electronics: Unfortunately, this model does not come loaded with a preamp or pickup.
One of the lower priced guitars in our guide, Yamaha’s FG800 is a seasoned veteran in the beginner’s acoustic field. The sound generated by this beauty could easily come from a more expensive guitar, and in use it’s reliable at holding its tune, too.
A solid spruce top, more usually found on higher priced guitars, helps create the impressive tone. And it we think it really is the sound that helps this guitar stand out from the others at the sub-$200 mark. No amplification is included, but for this price who’s complaining?
While the neck has a rounded, comfortable profile, we found the the action to be a little on the high side, though nothing a local guitar tech couldn’t remedy.
Read our full Yamaha FG800 review
Best under $200
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy if you want an excellent guitar for not a lot of money: This Epiphone is remarkably well made despite its minuscule price tag.
❌ Avoid if you need something inspiring: Yes, this Epiphone is a great guitar, but it is a tad boring. So, if you have a little extra cash to splash, then maybe go for a more inspiring option.
It may be considered a cheap acoustic guitar, but we found it difficult to find much wrong with the DR-100 for those on a budget. The Epiphone DR-100 produces a tone that you wouldn’t expect given the small price tag. Available in a variety of finishes, the build quality outmatches most of the competition in this price bracket.
A select spruce top is accompanied by a mahogany body and neck, the latter of which features a slim taper profile for more comfortable playing, finished off with a rosewood fingerboard.
In use it’s a relatively easy player, and the body has ample resonance. If you’re on a very small budget, the Epiphone DR-100 is a no-brainer.
Read the full Epiphone DR-100 review
Best under $500
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy if you want volume and power: This guitar is bright, loud and powerful. We absolutely love the sound of this guitar, and we believe you will too!
❌ Avoid if you don't like dreadnought guitars: We are aware that dreadnought guitars aren’t for everyone. Some don't like the large body, and if that's you, we recommend a concert or folk-sized guitar.
At around the $270 mark, the Alvarez AD30 is another dreadnought delivering well above its diminutive price tag. It kicks out significant volume from its sitka spruce body, which is as warm in tone as much as it is bright.
Playing can be subtle but also as aggressive as you want to get, and this is where the AD30 delivers a surprising amount of power. The X bracing design is intended to aid resonance, which certainly rings out.
Construction is rugged and the guitar stays reliably in tune. The 50/50 gloss to matt finish on the neck balances resilience with ease of playing. Conventional rather than flashy, the AD30 is a reliable allrounder.
Read our full Alvarez AD30 review
Best electro-acoustic
Specifications
Reasons to buy
Reasons to avoid
✅ Buy if you are seeking a comfortable small-body guitar: The Taylor GS Mini is a joy to sit with and incredibly comfortable for all ages.
❌ Avoid if you need a loud guitar: Due to the small nature of the body, this isn't the loudest guitar on this list.
Taylor’s GS Mini doubles as a travel-sized guitar and dishes out all you need for home playing, especially for younger or smaller guitarists. The factory-set action is low, making it simple to play from the get-go.
We found the sound to be warm and clear, tending towards the mid-range. Though the trebles are bright, despite the size the bass isn’t lacking. The sound also includes ample sustain with notes enduring longer than would be expected from a ‘mini’.
The broad tonal capability across the range makes it well suited to a variety of musical styles, meaning this is one of the best acoustic guitar for beginners if you’re searching for tonal versatility as well as for an entry-level guitar that could last far beyond your newcomer years – not to mention it also take our top slot for the best guitar for small hands.
Read our full Taylor GS Mini Mahogany review
Also tested
The above models are our top choices when it comes to beginner acoustic guitars, but to compile the list, we had to review many more instruments. Below, you'll find a selection of beginner acoustic guitars that received positive reviews but didn't quite make it into our top six.
Epiphone Hummingbird Studio | Type: Dreadnought | Top: Solid Spruce| Back & Sides: Mahogany |
Based on its big brother from parent company Gibson, the ‘real’ Hummingbird would set you back closer to $3,000, so this one is a bargain - and easily one of the best acoustic guitars under $500. We found the sound to be well-balanced and ideal for various styles, though the action, straight from the box, could be slightly lower to make it easier for beginners to play.
For electrified sessions, Epiphone’s built-in Eperformer preamp is versatile enough to dish out a wide range of tones. Elsewhere, for us, the Grover tuners maintained reliable tension.
Read our full Epiphone Hummingbird Studio review
Martin LX1E Little Martin | Type: Travel Guitar | Top: Spruce| Back & Sides: HPL |
Don’t let the size fool you, though. Along with a brightness, in our test the guitar provided surprising volume from the Sitka spruce top and mahogany laminate sides. The high pressure laminate also helps deal with heat and humidity changes, which is useful for frequent travel.
Fishman Sonitone electric controls enable a relatively broad range of volume and tonal variety with a phase control to emphasize bass, which is useful when playing at lower volumes.
Read our full Martin LX1E Little Martin review
Seagull S6 Original | Type: Dreadnought | Top: Solid Cedar| Back & Sides: Wild Cherry |
Canadian-made Seagull guitars are renowned for their high build quality, and the S6 is no different. It’s a grown-up guitar in the sense that it’s far from flashy, but it has everything you need to last beyond your beginner days.
Its refined construction is complemented with a bright tone, but especially useful for the more gentle fingerpicking style, the Seagull S6 enables beautiful warmth with a low volume and light touch. As you’d expect from this level of build quality, this beginner’s acoustic stays in tune and is so easy and enjoyable to play.
Buying advice
How to choose the best beginner acoustic guitar for you
You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
So, if you're reading this guide it's likely you're looking for one of the best beginner acoustic guitars for you or someone you know? Here's everything you need to know to ensure you make the right choice.
If you want to take an even closer look at some of the best acoustic guitars for beginners in this guide, we recently performed a group test on the Epiphone DR-100, Fender CD-60S and Yamaha FG800 which should help you zero in on the right guitar for you.
Now, before we get into the buying advice, we should mention that the majority of the models showcased in this guide are available left-handed, so if you're a southpaw, you'll still be able to get your hands on one of our recommended guitars.
Acoustic guitar size, shape and sound
The first consideration you’ll need to make is the type of beginner acoustic guitar you're looking for, which will be primarily based on size and sound.
Smaller-bodied acoustics are easier to play, and the size makes them more portable. By contrast, the larger the guitar’s body, the louder the volume and the bigger the tone it will produce. The most common acoustic guitar design, and the most versatile, is the dreadnought, which strikes the ideal balance between sound and playability.
At the opposite end of the scale is the jumbo acoustic, which produces greater volume, and the parlour guitar, with its small body and softer tone. Smaller still are mini or baby acoustics.
You’ll find a mix of the above in our best beginner acoustic guitars guide, and of the three main designs there are various spin-off styles too. Tried and tested brands in this area include Fender, Epiphone and Yamaha, and Taylor and Martin are notable brands at the more premium end.
Start playing today!
- Take your first guitar lesson
- 10 easy guitar songs
- How to play scales
Are beginner acoustic guitars easy to play?
Relatively speaking, beginner guitars should be easy to play. If the guitar itself makes progress more difficult than it needs to be, you’re less likely to want to pick it up and practice. That means looking for a low action – the height at which the acoustic guitar strings are set above the fretboard.
While aiding comfort, a smaller-bodied guitar is also easier to play, especially for younger players or smaller guitarists.
While the body of a dreadnought guitar typically joins the neck at the 14th fret, providing easier access to the higher notes, the parlour guitar typically has a join lower down at the 12th. If playing the highest notes is important to the music you want to play, you may also want to consider choosing a beginner’s acoustic guitar with a body cutaway below the neck.
Wondering if you should go electric? We break down the pros and cons of each guitar style in this in-depth feature. Acoustic vs electric guitar: which is best for beginners?
How much should you spend on a beginner acoustic?
Once you've worked out exactly what you need from your beginner acoustic you can start to figure out your budget. We'd certainly suggest you avoid the sub $100, non-branded options you'll find on sites like Amazon. You'll quickly outgrow them and you'll run into issues like poor tuning stability, less than ideal action and poor sound.
As the guitars in this guide prove - we're looking at you Epiphone DR-100 - you can get your hands on a seriously well-equipped beginner acoustic for around $150. In fact, set a budget of between $150 and $250 and you'll walk away with a guitar that you will happily play for a few years without needing to upgrade.
Up your budget a little further and you can expect better components, improved tone and you may even get electronics as part of the package.
How do you tune a beginner acoustic guitar?
Tuning is typically a challenge for beginners, so guitar tuners, which ease the process and retain correct tension, are a vital accessory. If your budget is tight there are plenty of great clip-on guitar tuners on the market too. These are small, relatively inexpensive and easy to use.
If you get really stuck, we've compiled this handy step-by-step guide showing you how to tune a guitar.
Does my beginner acoustic need a pickup?
If the guitar you choose doesn’t include built-in amplification, a simple-to-install acoustic pickup can be retrofitted. You'll find examples of a variety of these types of strummers in our selection of the best acoustic guitars for beginners.
Buying advice: 30-second summary
Take a bitesize look at what you should consider before you buy one of the best acoustic guitars beginners:
- Think about guitar size: do you need a baby acoustic, small-bodied acoustic, dreadnought or jumbo?
- Are you buying a trusted brand? Fender, Epiphone, Yamaha and Taylor are great places to start.
- A low action – the height of the strings above the fretboard – makes a beginner acoustic guitar easier and more comfortable to play.
- Want to play higher notes? You'll need a guitar with a cutaway in order to access the higher frets.
- A guitar tuner makes a wise investment to keep your guitar sounding good.
- Want to amplify your playing? You’ll need to retrofit an acoustic guitar pickup, or opt for an acoustic electric guitar that comes already fitted with electronics.
Where is the best place to buy a beginner acoustic?
When it comes to buying your very first acoustic guitar, it's important to buy from a well-respected site or store. Now, while there are a myriad of music retailers out there, we only recommend the shops and sites we trust and have had experience dealing with personally.
In the US, we highly recommend checking out the likes of Guitar Center, Musician's Friend, Sweetwater and Fender. These sites always have competitive prices and more importantly, they each have excellent customer service and generous returns policies.
In the UK, we'd suggest starting with Thomann, Andertons, PMT, Fender and Gear4Music. Again, these sites always deliver when it comes to excellent prices, while also providing stellar service.
When should I buy a beginner acoustic guitar?
You may feel like there's no better time to shop than Black Friday, Amazon Prime Day, President’s Day or Memorial Day. And while it's certainly true that the Black Friday guitar deals are often pretty remarkable, the truth is, beginner acoustic guitars are regularly on offer throughout the year.
You can expect to see significant price drops on big-name brands, heavily discounted bundle deals, and clearance offers even outside of annual sales events.
So if you are in the market for your first beginner acoustic guitar, we don't suggest waiting around. Head over to your preferred retailer and see what offers they have on right now, or better yet, let our clever price widgets show you the best deals available from across the internet.
Where is the best place to get beginner guitar lessons?
Picking up one of the best beginner acoustic guitars is no use unless you know how to play at least the basics on it. Some people are able to pick things up by ear, or are lucky enough to have someone in the house to show them the ropes. If neither of these apply, we would always recommend taking lessons if you're able.
Face to face lessons are a great way to build a bond with a teacher and develop your skills in a hands-on way, but if you want to quickly understand basic guitar techniques, learn from the comfort of your home and don't have a huge budget, online lessons are a great, affordable route to take. You can learn more and discover our favorites in this guide to the best online guitar lessons.
You can currently make savings on a some of those platforms using the codes below, too.
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If you'd prefer to learn on your smart device, Simply Guitar has a fantastic app with a fun, lively gamified approach to learning the instrument. Right now you can sign up for a year and save $30, dropping the annual cost from $150 down to just $120.
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How we test beginner acoustic guitars
When it comes to beginner acoustic guitars, every player has their own personal preferences regarding the tone and feel. That said, regardless of taste, there are a few key criteria that a beginner acoustic guitar must meet before we'd feel comfortable recommending it.
- Build quality and durability - How good is the finishing and setup? Is the guitar comfortable to play?
- Sound - Does the guitar produce a decent tone using a variety of techniques?
- Features - Does the guitar come with any extras, such as a case or spare strings?
- Price - How does each guitar compare to others on the market, in terms of value?
Like with all instruments, we first look at the overall build quality. We closely inspect every inch of the guitar, from the body and neck to the machine heads, bridge, and saddle, to ensure they feel robust, sturdy, and up for taking you on your musical journey.
We'll next check the consistency of the fretwork to confirm there aren't any sharp frets or uneven frets that may result in buzzing. This ties into the playability of the guitar. For us, the guitar should be comfortable for someone completely new to the instrument, and this means a reasonably forgiving neck and unobtrusive body.
Lastly, we move our attention to the sound of the beginner acoustic guitar. To test the tone of the instrument, we will try a variety of different playing techniques and styles to see how the guitar handles them, from strumming wide-open chords with a flat pick to soft fingerpicking and everything in between. We are carefully listening to the volume the guitar produces and the overall tonal balance of the sound.
Find out more about how we make our recommendations and how we test each of the products in our buyer's guides.
More great beginner guitar gear guides
- Just starting out? Check out the best beginner classical guitars
- Downsize to one of the best 3/4 acoustic guitars
- Play more comfortably with the best guitars for small hands
- The best guitar straps for boosting playing comfort
- Plug in with the best beginner electric guitars
- Gear up with these guitar accessories for beginners
