Best Cheap Acoustic Guitars for Beginners for any budget – Review
Best cheap acoustic guitars selection for beginners including branded instruments from Fender, Gibson, Martin, Taylor, Epiphone, Yamaha and more.
Wide range of good and cheap acoustic guitars on offer
Undoubtedly, in recent years there has been a great growth in the variety of brands, prices and models of acoustic guitars, especially in the lower price range. Here at Guitarriego we have posted how PRS and Gretsch have come up with excellent inexpensive or cheap acoustic guitar lines.
Thus, the wide variety of cheap acoustic instruments on the market from an extremely diverse group of manufacturers allows for a perfect guitar for every type of acoustic guitarist, whether experienced or beginner. Although the great variety, it can be dizzy and make it more difficult to find the ideal acoustic guitar with so many options. That’s why we put together this selection and review of the best cheap acoustic guitars to help the beginners or student guitarist find the best acoustic electric guitar according to their needs, tastes and budget.
Introduction to acoustic guitar
In acoustic guitars, the quality of their construction and material takes more importance than in a solid body guitar. Thus, although on paper acoustic guitars appear similar, they actually offer significantly different experiences to the extent that they are of better quality. Entry-level acoustics tend to be less robust, with less volume and tonal richness, not as playable as a higher-end model.
Thus, the action of the guitar, the height of the strings from the fretboard and frets, is usually higher. This not only makes playing harder, it can even affect the tuning. While this can sometimes be solved by paying for a good calibration and set-up of the guitar, this can be costly for a beginning guitarist, and in some cases it can even be structural and require a major repair from the luthier or instrument technician.
Woods used in acoustic guitars
The selection of inexpensive guitar woods is focused more on cost than quality, which has an impact on both tonal and overall build quality. Also, lower priced acoustics are more likely to use laminated woods rather than solid wood, which don’t vibrate as much as the solid woods found in higher priced and higher quality models.
Thus, for most experienced guitarists, acoustic guitars are totally solid, that is, where the top, back and sides are made of solid wood. This is the gold standard for tonal depth and volume.
When you are a beginning guitarist or guitar student, you probably don’t have enough budget to pay for an instrument of that quality. So, you should aim to find a guitar that has a solid top. Since the acoustic top is the most influential piece in the tone and volume of an acoustic instrument.
Acoustic guitar body types
There are three main types of acoustic guitar bodies. It not only defines its shape, but also its size and scale. The three body types are Palor or Parlour, Dreadnought, and Jumbo, which range from smallest to largest. The scales range from a typical 25 “on a parlor, to a typical 25.5” on a Dreadnought and up to 25.9 “or more on a jumbo.
[su_box title=”Main Acoustic Guitar Body Types” box_color=”#e80202″]
• Parlor o Parlour
• Dreadnought
• Jumbo
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Acoustic electric guitar: Electronics
You can opt for an acoustic guitar that includes pickups and other integrated electronics, that is, an electro-acoustic guitar or a acoustic electric guitar. However, it must be clarified that the quality of electronic components varies a lot. Here, there is no magic, you get what you pay for. Thus, the pickups and preamp of a cheap acoustic electric guitar will be of a very basic quality, not to say poor. In this regard, it is difficult to find a good and cheap acoustic electric guitar.
Acoustic Guitar Construction, Durability, and Value
Since acoustic guitars have many pieces glued together, their construction is more complex than that of an electric guitar. Thus, a poor quality guitar will tend to warp and peel over the years.
On high-end instruments where the build quality is excellent, the instrument will last for years and years with good care. Thus, it will also retain its playability, tone and value. This means that if you are sure that the guitar is not a passing fad for you, every bill you pay extra on your guitar will be an investment in your future career as a guitar player.
Ultimate guide to choosing the best acoustic guitar for beginners
The Guitarriego guide is designed to help you choose the best acoustic guitar that suits your needs, tastes and budget. With the variety of cheap acoustic guitars there is one perfect for any guitar student. With acoustic guitars for beginning guitar players of all brands, we will show you the best options, which in our opinion, the market offers today with manufacturers such as Epiphone, Yamaha, Martin and Taylor, Gibson, Fender and more.
A complete guide for guitar student or beginner should include shopping tips. Thus, those points to which you should pay attention when buying your new musical instrument, be it an acoustic or electric guitar. Therefore, at the end of the note we also include a practical guide of aspects that you should consider when choosing which cheap acoustic guitar to buy as a beginner or student.
Below you will find which are the best cheap acoustic guitars right now for beginners. The options are presented in order of features and price so that you can easily find the type of acoustic guitar you are looking for and its price.
The perfect acoustic guitar for you
This guide to the best acoustic guitars for beginners is designed to help you find the right instrument for you. Choosing your instrument correctly is essential to get off to a good start on the path of learning to play the guitar. Thus, buying your first acoustic guitar is an unforgettable moment that will mark your musical life. So making sure you choose the right acoustic guitar for your needs is critical. Thus, as you learn, the musical instrument will keep you interested in your new hobby. Thus, you will develop your musical skills more quickly.
Playing the acoustic guitar that’s right for you will make playing that much easier and much more enjoyable, inspiring you to practice more. Thus, the faster you will learn to play acoustic guitar.
What to consider when buying an acoustic guitar?
- Tuning
- Durability
- Good sound / tone
One of the most important to consider when choosing the best acoustic guitar for beginners is tuning. The guitar should be kept in tune throughout your practice sessions. Another factor is durability, which is also closely associated with the previous point. The instrument must be built to last. Acoustic instruments are great for playing anywhere, especially outdoors to play with friends or even play live. Finally, it should sound great, and this is closely related to the materials used and the build quality.
Cheap beginner acoustic guitars for any budget
Also, to meet the requirements for tuning, durability, and good sound and tone, the perfect guitar for a beginner must be inexpensive or cheap. When you are a beginner and just starting on this great journey that is the guitar, surely you want to spend as little as possible. With our expert roundup of the best cheap acoustic guitars for beginners, we’ll show you that you can start with a great guitar from a reputable brand that meets your budget.
In this expert guide, we made a selection and review of the best acoustic guitars for beginners right now and provided you with all the buying tips to help you make the right choice.
Best Cheap Acoustic Guitars for beginners:
- Epiphone DR100
- Yamaha FG800
- Alvarez AD30
- Epiphone Hummingbird Pro
- Martin LX1E Little Martin
- Seagull S6
- Yamaha LL6 ARE
- Fender CD-60S All-Mahogany
- Ibanez AW54CE
- Taylor GS Mini Mahogany
Epiphone DR100
This is the cheapest acoustic guitar for beginners with good build quality and great tone.
- Price: USD 149 / £ 129 / € 116
- Type: Dreadnought
- Top: selected spruce
- Back and sides: Mahogany
- Neck: Mahogany
- Scale: 25.5 ″
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Frets: 20
- Machine Heads: «Premium»
- Electronics: N / A
- Finish: Gloss
- Left-handed option: Yes
The Epiphone DR-100 sounds much better than you can expect given its price. When you’re looking for a beginner acoustic guitar option and don’t want to spend a lot of money, the Epiphone DR-100 is hands down the best option on the market.
Of course you can find generic brand guitars of Chinese origin, but for the most part they will be a far cry from the performance of this acoustic guitar. Thus, you should consider the option very well, since if the guitar with which you are learning sounds terrible, does not tune, or is difficult to play, it is likely that you will give up and abandon your learning.
So consider a reliable acoustic like the Epiphone DR-100. Epiphone is one of the world’s leading guitar brands with a history of tradition and excellence in quality. This Epiphone beginner acoustic guitar will give you solid tones, reliability, and a guitar that will keep you excited about learning the guitar.
Epiphone DR-100 guitar has a select spruce top, the sides and back, as well as the neck are mahogany. The neck profile is tapered, ideal for the beginning guitarist to play more comfortably. The fingerboard is made of rosewood, completing a large selection of woods.
Available in a variety of finishes: Natural, Vintage Sunburst, and Ebony. Build quality outperforms most of the competition in this price range.
Yamaha FG800
A best-seller of cheap acoustic guitars for beginners, with a classic setup and excellent value for money from Yamaha.
- Price: USD 199 / £ 259 / € 226
- Type: Traditional Western
- Top: Solid spruce
- Back and sides: Nato / Okume
- Neck: Nato
- Scale: 25.9 / 16 ″
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Frets: 20
- Machine Heads: Chrome Die-Cast (TM29T)
- Electronics: N / A
- Finish: Gloss body and matte neck
- Left-handed option: Yes
At one of the lowest prices on the list, the Yamaha FG800 is a best-seller, for good reason, it boasts excellent build quality and incredible audio. This veteran of acoustic guitars is one of the most appreciated by beginners and also experienced guitarists. As used by Yamaha, all its products are of excellent quality and at a very competitive price.
This Yamaha of less than USD 200, is in the most populated price range of options of all kinds of brands. However, the FG800 is hands down one of the best guitars, with great sound and quality.
The great characteristic of the Yamaha FG800 is due to the fact that its acoustic box has scalloped reinforcements, together with a solid spruce top, which is normally found in high-end instruments and higher prices; This enhances the sound of the low frequencies and gives the guitar an impressive tone.
All this makes the Yamaha FG800 a guitar of great reliability, quality and value for money. Without a doubt, the Yamaha FG800 will give you features that are hard to find in cheap acoustic guitars.
Yamaha FG800, a great acoustic guitar for beginners
This guitar is perfect for those looking for a classic audio without amplification, you will get an acoustic guitar of a quality that does not correspond to its low price. The only point of improvement that we have found is that the action could be a little better, but nothing that a local guitar technician or luthier cannot fix.
Alvarez AD30
Powerful, complete and cheap, a great acoustic guitar for beginners.
- Price: USD 269 / £ 229 / € 249
- Type: Dreadnought
- Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
- Back and sides: Mahogany laminate
- Neck: Mahogany 50/50 semi-Gloss
- Scale: 25.5 ″
- Fingerboard: Richlite
- Frets: 20
- Machine Heads: Chrome Die-Cast
- Electronics: N / A
- Finish: 50/50 satin gloss
- Left-handed option: Yes
Alvarez AD30 is another Dreadnought acoustic guitar that is worth much more than its price. With a sitka spruce top, it boasts as many warm bass tones as it does a bright, defined tone. With its large loudspeaker, you can play subtle or also loud, with great dynamics. AD30 acoustics offer surprising power. The X-bracing design is meant to aid resonance, which certainly sounds good.
The construction of the Alvarez AD30 is tough and solid. Alvarez AD30 guitar stays in tune reliably, giving stability to your tone. The 50/50 gloss-to-matte finish on the neck balances elasticity with playability. Conventional or classic, the AD30 is a reliable all-rounder ideal for the beginning guitarist.
Epiphone Hummingbird Pro
This is one of the best acoustic electric guitars with unique and different aesthetics for beginners who want to have a classic.
- Price: USD 369 / £ 299 / € 343
- Type: Dreadnought
- Top: Solid spruce
- Back and sides: select mahogany
- Neck: Selected Mahogany
- Scale: 25.3 ″
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Frets: 20
- Machine Heads: Chrome Die-Cast
- Electronics: Shadow ePerformer preamp
- Left-handed option: Yes
- Finish: Gloss
- Left-handed option: Yes
Used in its version of Gibson by no less than the Rolling Stones and also by the Oasis, and with a luxurious and traditional appearance of Epiphone, one of the brands with more history in the guitar. A neck distinguished by its mother-of-pearl inlays and an illustrated scratchplate, the Epiphone Hummingbird Pro certainly looks and sounds like it lives up to its reputation.
Based on the Gibson Hummingbird Pro that costs about $ 3,000, this Epiphone electro acoustic has a well-balanced and versatile sound, ideal for various styles.
Features Epiphone’s built-in Eperformer preamp for electrified sessions. The Eperformer preamp is versatile enough to deliver a wide range of tones. Additionally, the pegs are Grover, a recognized brand that ensures you maintain a reliable tuning.
This is a great instrument for fans of instruments with history. It has woods and finishes that give an audio and classic look. The only point where we find a point of better is in the action. It, as it is shipped from the factory, could be a little lower to make it easier for beginners to play.
Martin LX1E Little Martin
Classic and balanced sound with versatility of use for those looking for a quality acoustic electric guitar that is easy to transport.
- Price: USD 449 / £ 499 / € 505
- Type: Parlor
- Top: Sitka spruce
- Back & Sides: Mahogany High Pressure Laminate
- Neck: Stratabond
- Scale: 24 ″ and less
- Fingerboard: FSC Certified Richlite
- Frets: 20
- Tuners: Nickel Gotoh
- Electronics: Fishman Sonitone
- Finish: Hand rubbed / oil finish
- Left-handed option: Yes
Martin along with Taylor are among the most reputable brands as manufacturers of the best acoustic guitars in the world. The Martin LX1E Little Martin is in line with that tradition. This electro-acoustic travel guitar is ideal for beginning guitarists looking for a compact strum with bright, classic audio. In addition, its Parlor-type design makes the Little Martin a standard on the market.
Thanks to its Sitka spruce top, the Martin LX1E provides surprising volume with great shine. Its laminated mahogany sides provide a warm tone, making the Little Martin an acoustic electric guitar rich in tonal and harmonic frequencies. Mahogany high pressure laminate also helps cope with changes in heat and humidity, which is useful for frequent travel.
Electronic components of the Martin LX1E Little Martin
On the electrical side, it has a Fishman Sonitone system that allows a wide range of volume and tonal variety thanks to its phase control that allows emphasizing the bass. This feature is especially handy for when you play at lower volumes.
The reason a company of Martin’s quality can launch a guitar in this price range is that they save money on the size of the instrument, which allows cheaper woods to be used for their dimensions; and above all for the finish. The Hand Rubbed is a fast finish that allows the instrument to be finished quickly and extremely cheaply. If you prioritize quality over appearance, and are looking for a small instrument that is easy to transport, the Little Martin is undoubtedly your choice of the best acoustic guitar for beginners.
Seagull S6
Superior quality in a simple acoustic guitar, built to last, that suits beginner and intermediate players.
- Price: USD 499 / £ 529 / € 453
- Type: Dreadnought
- Top: Solid cedar
- Back and sides: Wild cherry
- Neck: Maple Silver Leaf
- Scale: 25.5 ″
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Frets: 21
- Machine heads: Chrome
- Electronics: N / A
- Finish: semi-gloss
- Left-handed option: Yes
Seagull S6 guitars made in Canada are renowned for their high build quality. It is a sober guitar, without details that make it more valuable, but it has everything you need to last you beyond your beginner days.
Its good build quality is complemented by a bright tone thanks to its solid cedar top. The Seagull S6 has a warm tone with a low volume and a light touch, thanks to the cherry on its sides and back. This beginner’s Seagull acoustic guitar maintains tuning and is easy and enjoyable to play.
It has 21 frets, one more than most acoustic guitars in this ranking, it may be a detail for some, but very important for guitarists of the entire fingerboard.
Yamaha LL6 ARE
The best acoustic electric guitar for beginners classical and complete at $ 500 .
- Price: USD 539 / £ 549 / € 508
- Type: Medium Jumbo
- Top: Solid Engelmann spruce
- Back and sides: Rosewood
- Neck: 5-ply Mahogany / Rosewood
- Scale: 25.9 / 16 ″
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Frets: 20
- Machine Heads: Gold Die Cast
- Electronics: Yamaha SRT Zero Impact Pickup
- Finish: Gloss
- Left-handed option: Yes
For those with a looser budget, the Yamaha LL6 ARE is probably the best option. With a configuration of classic woods similar to those of a high-end guitar, and pickup for amplification, it is the most classic and complete option.
Keep in mind that acoustic doesn’t have to mean not amplified, that’s why we show you this excellent electro-acoustic guitar option with a built-in pickup.
In addition, it features Yamaha’s acoustic resonance enhancement treatment process. Thus, you will get audio worthy of a higher-end guitar than what you are paying for. Thus, the Yamaha LL6 ARE is an ideal acoustic electric guitar for beginners who can stretch their budget.
The amplification system is characterized by its simplicity, with no additional control provided to the Zero Impact pickups. The action of the strings is low and the neck has a uniform thickness, and the finish of the Yamaha LL6 ARE is of excellent quality. If you want a complete classic beginner acoustic or electro-acoustic guitar, this is a great option with great value.
Fender CD-60S All-Mahogany
If you are looking for a cheap name brand musical instrument with warm and full audio, this is hands down the best acoustic guitar for beginners.
- Price: USD 199 / £ 179 / € 184
- Type: Dreadnought
- Top: Solid Mahogany
- Back and Sides: Laminated Mahogany
- Neck: Mahogany
- Scale: 25.3 ″
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Frets: 20
- Machine Heads: Chrome Die Cast
- Electronics: N / A
- Finish: Gloss
- Left-handed option: Yes
With this Fender acoustic guitar, you have the world’s leading brand, producing a great musical instrument at a cheap price for beginners. The all-mahogany construction of this Dreadnought produces a full, warm and rounded sound, delivering volume and power, rich in mids with the presence of bright highs.
The pegs are good and reliable, and under $ 200 they represent excellent quality. Previously, Fender beginner acoustic guitars had an action that tended to be on the high side. But the CD-60S has a low enough action to allow for easier playback, while avoiding annoying fret hum.
Ibanez AW54CE
One of the best acoustic electric guitars for beginners, either amplified or unplugged with excellent access to the high frets.
- Price: USD 329 / £ 319 / € 251
- Type: Dreadnought with cutaway
- Top: Solid Mahogany
- Back and sides: Mahogany
- Neck: Mahogany
- Scale: 25.6 ″
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Frets: 20
- Machine Heads: Chrome Grover
- Electronics: Fishman Sonicore pickup and Ibanez AEQ210TF preamp with integrated tuner
- Finish: Satin
- Left-handed option: Yes
This is the only guitar with a cutaway, which positively differentiates it from the rest. Also the mahogany finish is also noteworthy. The neck is mahogany with a satin finish, which allows the hand to glide better, helping all acoustic guitarists, not just beginners, play more easily. As an improvement point, there is the string action that is on the high side.
From our humble opinion this is the best Ibanez acoustic guitar for beginners. The Ibanez AW54CE offers a balanced and rounded tone thanks to the mahogany. This is another one of our guide’s basic guitars, which is enough to keep even the most seasoned acoustic guitarists happy.
The Ibanez AW54 electro-acoustic guitar also comes with an Ibanez preamp and Fishman pickup, along with a dual-band EQ. The sound through an amplifier is of a great quality for the value of the instrument, while maintaining the excellent tone quality of the unplugged guitar.
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany
High-end versatility and tonal quality at a cheap price, ideal for those who want a small acoustic guitar to transport or for comfort.
- Price: USD 499 / £ 549 / € 502
- Type: Mini GS
- Top: Tropical Mahogany
- Back and sides: Laminated Sapele
- Neck: Layered Sapele
- Scale: 23.5 ″
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Frets: 20
- Tuners: Chrome Diecast
- Electronics: N / A / ES-Go pickup available
- Finish: Varnish
- Left-handed option: Yes
The Taylor GS Mini doubles as a travel-size guitar and offers everything you need to play at home, especially for younger or smaller players. The factory-set action is low, making it easy to play right out of the box.
This guitar isn’t the cheapest option, but with the Taylor brand on its headstock, this guitar gets every dollar you pay and more.
The sound of the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany is warm and clear, tending toward the mid-range thanks to its body with a mahogany top and sides and bottoms made of sapele, also known as African mahogany. Although the highs are brilliant, despite the size, the bass is not lacking due to the tonal characteristics of its woods and its excellent construction.
The sound of the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany also includes ample sustain with notes that last longer than would be expected from a ‘mini’ acoustic guitar. However, not everything is perfect, the smaller size means less volume than a full-size guitar can give. The volume of the guitar is not only determined by the volume of its body, but also by the surface of the top of the guitar, dimensions that the GS Mini sacrifices to gain practicality and versatility of use.
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany: warm and versatile tone
In addition to high quality, it has great versatility. The wide tonal capacity throughout the entire frequency range makes it well suited for a variety of musical styles. This makes this Taylor acoustic guitar one of the best acoustic guitars for beginners if you are looking for tonal versatility in a small package. If you also want to connect it to an amplifier, you can buy the Taylor ES-GO to turn it into an acoustic electric guitar.
Taylor ES-GO: Pickup for GS Mini
The ES-Go is an aftermarket passive magnetic pickup that was developed specifically for the GS Mini, for installation in the mouth of the speaker. You can install it in minutes with just a screwdriver thanks to the connection bracket pre-installed inside the guitar. Pair it with the V-Cable, which has a volume control built into the cable itself.
Best cheap acoustic guitars for beginners and students
Perhaps, even with our list it is not easy for you to decide on the best cheap acoustic guitar option for beginners. Therefore, we will tell you which one we think you should choose.
Best and cheapest acoustic guitar
If you’re looking for a price-only option, we’re not afraid to tell you that the Fender CD-60S All-mahogany is the best acoustic guitar for beginners and students. This excellent acoustic guitar for beginners offers everything you might need to start with at a really low price: good tone, robust, and branded by Fender, the world’s largest guitar company.
Best and cheapest standard acoustic guitar
If you are looking for a standard acoustic guitar setup, as cheap as possible, then the Yamaha FG800 is the best acoustic for your style and needs. This Yamaha is one of the best selling guitars for good reason, for the quality, price and robustness.
Best Small Size Acoustic Guitars
If you need a small guitar and want something made with great quality, Martin and Taylor are your options. The Little Martin and GS Mini guitars are made by two of the world’s most renowned acoustic guitar builders. Both, with different aesthetic and tonal differences, will give you the possibility of finding the perfect acoustic guitar for you.
The most complete, versatile and cheap acoustic electric guitar
At the other price end, the Yamaha LL6 ARE is an excellent choice. This cheap acoustic electric guitar offers tonal versatility and features a built-in pickup that lets you plug it in.
Cheap acoustic guitar with best classic design
Finally, there are those who shop with their eyes and like to play sophisticated instruments, but do not have enough budget for a high-end guitar. For those beginning guitarists, the Epiphone Hummingbird Pro is the cheapest acoustic guitar with an eye-catching, classic aesthetic that won’t go unnoticed. This Epiphone is based on the Gibson Hummingbird used by great musicians like Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Liam Gallagher and more, it is a fine, good and cheap guitar.
We hope that with this entry-level instrument model guide you have been able to find the best cheap acoustic electric or electro-acoustic guitar for students or beginning guitarists. If you are still not sure which cheap acoustic guitar to choose, read the buying advice, they will help you better understand the characteristics of each instrument and make it easier for a beginner to choose.
Buying advice: cheap acoustic guitars for beginners
Here you will find everything you need to know to find the best acoustic guitar for beginner or student guitarists.
Acoustic guitar types: body size, shape and sound
The starting point is to define what type of acoustic guitar you are looking for, for that you must identify the different types of bodies that there are. This means what size and sound of guitar you are looking for. Mini or travel type acoustics with a smaller body are more portable and easier to play, especially for children or people with small hands. On the contrary, the larger the body of the guitar, the louder the volume and the broader and richer the tone. The most common acoustic guitar design, and the most versatile, is the Dreadnought, thanks to its balance of sound and guitar playability.
The largest model is the jumbo acoustic guitar, which produces more acoustic volume. On the contrary, among the classic guitar models is the Parlor or Parlour, with its small body and softer tone. Smaller still are the “mini”, “baby” or travel acoustics.
[su_box title=”Main Acoustic Guitar Body Types” box_color=”#e80202″]
• Parlor o Parlour
• Dreadnought
• Jumbo
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Acoustic guitar sizes and high fret access
While smaller guitars are generally more comfortable, access to the high frets may also be important to you, i.e. 12th fret or higher. While the body of a Dreadnought guitar is generally attached to the neck at the 14th fret, which provides easier access to the higher frets; Parlor-type acoustic guitar generally has a lower junction at 12, making higher notes difficult to access. If playing the higher notes is important to you or you need them for the music you want to play, you should consider this. Although, this is easily solved with a beginner acoustic guitar with a body cutaway below the neck as in the case of the Ibanez AW54CE.
In our guide we show you all the options, making our guide complete and diverse with all kinds of acoustic guitars for beginners and guitar students. In addition to the three classic main designs there are also several derivative and original styles created by the various manufacturers and guitars with cutaway for better access to the high frets.
Guitar top
The guitar top is a fundamental part of any acoustic instrument. The top is where its sound is amplified and much of its tone is defined. So always consider options with solid and non-laminated wood tops. Maybe your budget is so limited that you don’t have this option, but if not, always avoid laminated covers.
Guitar action
To make it easier for the guitar student to learn, guitars for beginners should be easy to play. For this, the action of the guitar strings is very important. The action of the guitar is called the height at which the strings are placed on the fretboard. The higher the action, the more difficult it will be to play it since it will require exerting greater force in the pulsation of the strings and the more travel you will have to do to reach contact with the fret.
In addition, the action of the guitar affects the tuning, the more distance there is, the more tension changes there will be and the guitar will have tuning problems.
Guitar tuning
Tuning is often a challenge for beginners, so guitar pegs, which make the process easy and maintain the correct tension, are vital.
A well-made nut is also a critical element in tuning your acoustic guitar. If the nut does not let the string flow well, this will affect your tuning. When tuning, pay attention to this detail.
Already said in the previous point, the action is also a fundamental aspect for the tuning. The further away from the fretboard and frets the strings are, the more tension will be required to support the string on the fret, moving the tuning higher. This difference will be most noticeable when playing open and fretted strings at the same time.
It is always good to have a tuner, especially when you are a beginner and you do not know how to tune by ear. We leave you our selection of Guitar Tuner Pedals: what you cannot miss on your pedalboard, we also give you access to an easy-to-use free online guitar tuner.
Do you need to amplify yourself?
If you will need to connect your guitar to an amplifier, consider an electro-acoustic guitar. However, if your guitar does not include built-in amplification, an easy-to-install acoustic pickup can be retrofitted; like the Taylor ES-GO, a pickup for the GS Mini.
Advice and Tips for buying an acoustic guitar
Here’s a little look at what to consider before buying one of the best acoustic guitars, be it cheap or expensive, for beginner or experienced guitarists:
- Guitar Size: Do you need a small body travel or Parlor or Parlour portable acoustic guitar, a medium Dreadnought type, or are you looking for a big and powerful one like a Jumbo?
- Look for guitars with solid wood tops instead of laminated tops.
- Looking for a reliable brand? Martin, Taylor, Fender, Gibson, Epiphone, Yamaha, PRS, and Ibanez are excellent manufacturers of acoustic guitars of all levels to consider.
- Watch the action of the guitar: the height of the strings above the fretboard, makes an acoustic guitar for beginners or experienced guitarists easy and comfortable to play. Additionally, it affects the octave and tuning of the instrument.
- Do you play on the higher frets? You will need a guitar with a high fret neckjoint or a cutaway to be able to access the higher notes.
- Consider the pegs and nut to avoid tuning problems. In this sense, also a guitar tuner is a good investment to keep your guitar in tune.
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