1. Quick list
2. Best on a budget
3. Best overall
4. Best with a small body
5. Best budget dread
6. Best vintage tone
7. Best for style
8. Best modern tones
9. Best parlour
10. Best with a cutaway
11. Best classical
12. Best all mahogany
13. Buying advice
14. How we test
Many of the world's greatest guitarists got started on one of the best acoustic guitars for beginners. It's where the majority of us cut our teeth learning the instrument, but there is so much choice that it can be overwhelming to the uninitiated. To help you get off on the front foot, we've put together this guide to navigate your way through the busy entry-level acoustic market.
It's the best time to be a beginner guitar player, as there are so many quality choices out there nowadays. To be honest it makes us a little jealous thinking of our first acoustic with its finger-shredding lack of playability and unwieldy body shape. Learning the guitar is hard enough without an uncomfortable instrument getting in the way, but nowadays you can choose from loads of different acoustics, all with fantastic playability at a beginner-friendly price.
If you’re fresh-faced and new to the world of acoustic guitar, or just buying for someone else to learn, we've included some in-depth buying advice at the end of this guide. It's packed full of tips and tricks from our expert team of writers and will make certain you have all the knowledge you need to make an informed purchase. If you just want to get to the products, then keep scrolling.
Chris Corfield is a journalist with over 12 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands including Orange Amplification, MusicRadar, Guitar World, Total Guitar and Dawsons Music. Chris loves getting nerdy about everything from guitar and bass gear, to synths, microphones, DJ gear and music production hardware.
Best acoustic guitars for beginners: Quick list
Want to cut to the chase and find out exactly what we think are the best acoustic guitars for beginners on the market right now? Below, you’ll find a round-up of our top choices. You can jump to a more detailed review of every pick and our clever price comparison tool will help you find the best deals from around the internet.
The Fender CD-60S is a great value, entry-level warm welcome of an acoustic guitar. We particularly like its neck, with its rolled fingerboard edges ensuring it is easy to pull off barre chords and the like. The solid spruce top is a nice feature which adds some depth of tone beginner guitars are often devoid of. The large dreadnought body projects a boomy voice which will be pleasing as you start to make sense of those aforementioned barre chords.
As one of the acoustic world’s ‘big two’, Taylor Guitars has a long track record of producing some of the highest quality, best sounding acoustic guitars around. Recently, however, it made a conscious decision to appeal to the beginner guitarist, and the Taylor Academy 10 is the culmination of this. While the price may put it slightly out of reach of anyone only half-heartedly interested in learning, for those who are committed this guitar represents incredible value.
It’s not often a guitar can spawn an entire sub-genre, but the Martin LX1 did just that. After its launch nearly a decade ago, and with a little help from Ed Sheeran, the LX1 exploded in popularity and caused other brands to take note. The original is still regarded as the best though, and as a guitar for a learner, it comes exceptionally highly recommended.
The most surprising feature of the FG800 is the inclusion of a solid top – not something you usually find on a guitar at this price point. This allows the guitar to resonate freely, creating a fuller, warmer tone. Underneath the solid top lies Yamaha’s new scalloped bracing which results in plenty of volume and power. The large Dreadnought body accumulates all these features to produce a lovely, big tone.
If you like the shape of a dreadnought acoustic, but find them all to look a bit generic, then the Gretsch G5024E Rancher may be just the guitar for you. You’ll notice immediately the unique shape of the soundhole, but look a bit deeper and you’ll see lots of small details which make this into an interesting guitar. Things like binding on the body and gold-plated hardware add up to give this guitar a real sense of character. T
The Epiphone Hummingbird Studio is as striking tonally as it is visually and would make a great choice for learning on. There’s more to this guitar than the fancy graphics and timeless vintage finish, though. The sound it produces is versatile and balanced, making it ideal for strummers and fingerpickers alike, while the small details like split parallelogram inlays and oversized headstock add up to make a bold visual statement.
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Who says beginner acoustic guitars need to be boring - certainly not Yamaha! The Storia range is the newest addition to Yamaha’s long list of budget-friendly instruments, and this one definitely stands out from the crowd. Yamaha has designed the Storia I to not only be a great playing and sounding instrument but also to “elevate your décor.” We must admit, they’ve really nailed the brief and produced a guitar that will become the centrepiece of any room it’s in.
We’ve always been partial to a parlour. Its smaller size means it handles finger-picking styles better than all-out strumming and is a fantastic guitar for blues and folk. The small body results in a ‘pokey’ tone which is very prominent in the midrange, a big boomy dreadnought this is not. The CP-60s certainly has its own tonal characteristics and we don’t have any complaints about the build quality at this price either.
As masters of the ‘speed machine’ electrics used by some of metal’s biggest names, Ibanez knows a thing or two about making the guitar something to be played, not wrestled with. There are some nice details added in for comfort, including contouring around the waist and arm areas, and an asymmetrical neck shape which some players may find more intuitive. This isn’t the best learner acoustic guitar for everyone, but may be worth a look for anyone who has struggled with other guitars in the past.
An acoustic with nylon strings is always a popular option for younger kids. Nylon strings are softer than steel and are less harsh on the fingertips. Although you will likely graduate to a steel-string guitar, a nylon-stringed acoustic is a great option as a stepping stone and is more likely to keep a child on board. A rosewood fretboard delivers an excellent playing platform, with the flat radius ensuring you get into good habits straight away.
Thanks to the solid mahogany top, this Sigma is beautifully warm. The satin finish body is continued up the neck and results in a very smooth, comfortable guitar that a beginner will really appreciate. The 000-style auditorium body is smaller than a Dreadnought and sits well on the lap. If you’ve struggled with large guitars, the 000M-15 should be right up your street. Although slightly smaller, the 000M-15 is still a full-size guitar and has the projection to match. It’s a perfect balance between a smaller body and a big tone.
The best acoustic guitars for beginners in 2023
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Best on a budget
If you’re uncertain exactly how much time and dedication you have to put into learning the acoustic guitar, don’t worry. It isn’t easy, and it does take time. At the very least, however, make sure you give yourself the best chance by buying an acoustic guitar that will see you through those first steps.
The Fender CD-60S is a great value, entry-level warm welcome of an acoustic guitar. We particularly like its neck, with its rolled fingerboard edges ensuring it is easy to pull off barre chords and the like. The solid spruce top is a nice feature which adds some depth of tone beginner guitars are often devoid of. The large dreadnought body projects a boomy voice which will be pleasing as you start to make sense of those aforementioned barre chords.
However, the large body may be a potential detractor for the smaller-sized beginners out there, particularly the lower bout, which can be difficult to stretch over. Bear that in mind if you aren’t the biggest. However, this is a small gripe and if the size fits, with the Fender CD-60S, you’ll have a very solid base on which to build.
Read the full Fender CD-60S review
Best beginner acoustic overall
As one of the acoustic world’s ‘big two’, Taylor Guitars has a long track record of producing some of the highest quality, best sounding acoustic guitars around. Recently, however, it made a conscious decision to appeal to the beginner guitarist, and the Taylor Academy 10 is the culmination of this. While the price may put it slightly out of reach of anyone only half-heartedly interested in learning, for those who are committed this guitar represents incredible value.
Put simply, at this price bracket you will struggle to find a guitar which is as well made, which sounds as good, or is as easy to play. With the Academy 10, Taylor has produced the acoustic guitar we all wish we could have learned on. Although there is a left-handed electro-acoustic version – Taylor Academy 10E – Taylor doesn’t offer the pure acoustic in a left-handed variant. Lefties will have to bear the brunt of this and fork out a little more for the electro version.
Read our full Taylor Academy 10E review
Best small bodied acoustic
It’s not often a guitar can spawn an entire sub-genre, but the Martin LX1 did just that. After its launch nearly a decade ago, and with a little help from Ed Sheeran, the LX1 exploded in popularity and caused other brands to take note. The original is still regarded as the best though, and as a guitar for a learner, it comes exceptionally highly recommended.
Despite not being marketed as a learner’s guitar as such, the Martin LX1 is small enough to carry around in the included gig bag, ideal if you plan on taking it to your guitar lessons. The diminutive body is also a great option for those not comfortable with the size of a standard dreadnought.
However, with the smaller body, there is a slight compromise in volume and bass response but this is a minor detail and as a beginner, it probably isn’t going to ruin your day. There’s also an electro-acoustic version – the Martin LX1E – which is worth considering if you have future aspirations of performing.
Read our full Martin LX1E review
Best budget dreadnought
The Yamaha FG800 has long been the go-to instrument for many players taking their first steps into the wide world of acoustic guitar – and when you consider what you get for the money it’s easy to see why.
The most surprising feature of the FG800 is the inclusion of a solid top – not something you usually find on a guitar at this price point. This allows the guitar to resonate freely, creating a fuller, warmer tone. Underneath the solid top lies Yamaha’s new scalloped bracing which results in plenty of volume and power. The large Dreadnought body accumulates all these features to produce a lovely, big tone.
The nato neck feels smooth and well-finished and we can’t think of many other necks a beginner will feel more comfortable on. We understand that the understated look may not set the world on fire, but it does have a classic charm that you simply won’t get bored of.
Read the full Yamaha FG800M review
Best for vintage tone
If you like the shape of a dreadnought acoustic, but find them all to look a bit generic, then the Gretsch G5024E Rancher may be just the guitar for you. You’ll notice immediately the unique shape of the soundhole, but look a bit deeper and you’ll see lots of small details which make this into an interesting guitar.
Things like binding on the body and gold-plated hardware add up to give this guitar a real sense of character. Tonally, it sits firmly in standard dreadnought territory, so it should prove versatile enough for most styles, and would be ideal for the learner who wants to try their hand at different genres of music.
Other great features include an onboard Fishman Presys III pickup which will allow you to amplify the guitar whilst the onboard tuner will help keep you playing at the correct pitch. If you are anxious about the slightly higher price, worry not, as the Gretsch G5024E Rancher will take you well into the intermediate levels of playing if you are committed enough.
Best beginner acoustic for style
If you’ve heard of The Beatles, Oasis, Bob Dylan, or nearly any classic rock act from the last 60 years, then you’ll have heard a famous Hummingbird acoustic in action. The Epiphone Hummingbird Studio is as striking tonally as it is visually and would make a great choice for learning on.
There’s more to this guitar than the fancy graphics and timeless vintage finish, though. The sound it produces is versatile and balanced, making it ideal for strummers and fingerpickers alike, while the small details like split parallelogram inlays and oversized headstock add up to make a bold visual statement.
The inbuilt Fishman electronics mean the Hummingbird Studio is future-proofed for any beginner looking to perform onstage or record with it. The electronics also make this guitar suitable for any intermediate players out there looking for a secondary beautiful acoustic to take to the local open mic nights. Although we love the ’Bird’s striking visual appeal, we realise it may put off the more subdued.
Best for modern tones
Who says beginner acoustic guitars need to be boring - certainly not Yamaha! The Storia range is the newest addition to Yamaha’s long list of budget-friendly instruments, and this one definitely stands out from the crowd.
Yamaha has designed the Storia I to not only be a great playing and sounding instrument but also to “elevate your décor.” We must admit, they’ve really nailed the brief and produced a guitar that will become the centerpiece of any room it’s in.
Not only does the Storia feature a solid spruce top, but the off-white finish against the mahogany back and sides is pretty striking. While the light-blue interior marries the two together to create a beautiful-looking guitar that sounds equally as good.
Best beginner parlour
We’ve always been partial to a parlour. These slightly smaller-scale acoustic guitars are great in a number of situations and make ideal ‘living room’ guitars, to be played during the advert breaks on TV. The Fender CP-60S is a perfect example of a relatively inexpensive parlour, making it one of the best acoustic guitars for beginners.
Its smaller size means it handles finger-picking styles better than all-out strumming and is a fantastic guitar for blues and folk. The small body results in a ‘pokey’ tone which is very prominent in the midrange, a big boomy dreadnought this is not. The CP-60s certainly has its own tonal characteristics and we don’t have any complaints about the build quality at this price either.
One thing that may bother a beginner is the glossy neck which may cause your hand to stick now and again. If you’re susceptible to sweaty hands, perhaps consider opting for one of the satin smooth-finish neck selections. Nevertheless, this compact guitar is more than capable of handling all the fingerpicking blues you can throw at it and its petite stature makes the CP-60S an excellent acoustic guitar for beginners.
Best beginner cutaway
Some guitars are made for singing around a campfire. Others are made for delicate folk passages. The Ibanez AEWC400TKS, on the other hand, is made for players used to the delicate, lithe necks of an electric guitar. If you’ve tried acoustics in the past and found them too unwieldly, then the AEWC400TKS may be worth your consideration.
As masters of the ‘speed machine’ electrics used by some of metal’s biggest names, Ibanez knows a thing or two about making the guitar something to be played, not wrestled with. There are some nice details added in for comfort, including contouring around the waist and arm areas, and an asymmetrical neck shape which some players may find more intuitive. This isn’t the best learner acoustic guitar for everyone, but may be worth a look for anyone who has struggled with other guitars in the past.
Best beginner classical
One of the staples of music rooms and classical guitar schools the world over, the Yamaha C40 II Classical has been the first guitar for many a guitar player. Nowadays it’s the model for a beginner nylon string acoustic guitar, with many a pretender to its throne.
An acoustic with nylon strings is always a popular option for younger kids. Nylon strings are softer than steel and are less harsh on the fingertips. Although you will likely graduate to a steel-string guitar, a nylon-stringed acoustic is a great option as a stepping stone and is more likely to keep a child on board.
A rosewood fretboard delivers an excellent playing platform, with the flat radius ensuring you get into good habits straight away. The absence of fretboard markers can initially be confusing, but over time encourages players to not rely on them, which is a great habit to get into early on.
A spruce top gives this guitar a bright tone that’s very tonally balanced. Slap a decent set of strings on it and it will really sing, suiting an array of styles that will expand way beyond a classical repertoire.
Best all mahogany option
Sigma has had quite the journey. Initially the affordable branch of C.F. Martin and discontinued in 2007 the acoustic guitar brand was then resuscitated by German company AMI GmbH. Along the way, Sigma has always released affordable, well-constructed and great-sounding acoustic guitars and this 000M-15 is no exception.
Thanks to the solid mahogany top, this Sigma is beautifully warm. The satin finish body is continued up the neck and results in a very smooth, comfortable guitar that a beginner will really appreciate. The 000-style auditorium body is smaller than a Dreadnought and sits well on the lap. If you’ve struggled with large guitars, the 000M-15 should be right up your street. Although slightly smaller, the 000M-15 is still a full-size guitar and has the projection to match. It’s a perfect balance between a smaller body and a big tone.
Although we love the classy, subdued finish on display here, it may be a bit mature for the younger beginner who is looking to display a bit more personality.
Read our full Sigma 000M-15 Mahogany review
Best acoustic guitars for beginners: Buying advice
How to choose the best beginner acoustic guitar for you
Although it may feel daunting, buying the best beginner acoustic guitar is more straightforward than many other instruments. For example, with beginner keyboards, electric guitars or DJ controllers, there is a number of variables to consider, but with the humble acoustic guitar, things are a lot simpler.
Sound-wise, acoustic guitars are famous for their projection and rich resonance. Therefore it's reasonable to expect any acoustic guitar - from the cheapest to the most expensive - to produce a warm sound with plenty of volume. The differences lie in what you want to do with them. When it comes to the best acoustic guitars for beginners, factors like the shape of the body, the type of woods used and brand, all affect how the instrument will sound.
What acoustic guitar size is right for a beginner?
As you'd expect, acoustic guitars come in myriad shapes and sizes. So, let's quickly break down the most common.
Generally speaking, the bigger the guitar, the bigger the sound. But obviously, larger acoustics do have some problems for kids starting out. For example, the dreadnought is arguably the most popular and common of the acoustic guitar shapes. Its large frame produces a massive tone with plenty of low-end and depth. Although this guitar may be commonplace, we would avoid it for young players. Its large size can make it uncomfortable for many youngsters. Likewise, the jumbo - typically the largest of the acoustic world - is ginormous and can be too big for little arms to get around.
Smaller sizes such as concert, grand auditorium or folk offer a more effortless playing experience. However, you will lose a little bit of tone - not something that's hugely important at this early stage.
What kind of wood is best for a beginner acoustic guitar?
While it's true that the wood used on acoustic guitars gives the instrument its distinctive tonal characteristics, it's not always noticeable on beginner guitars. At this price point, you'll usually find fully laminated guitars rather than the more premium solid wood option.
That said, we can give you some general things to look out for. You'll find a lot of guitars go for the tried and true formula of spruce and mahogany. This combination gives a very balanced and sweet tone. In contrast, an all-mahogany guitar - top, back and side - is going to result in a darker, more mellow sound.
Perhaps you are seeking a bright tone, in that case, you are best opting for an acoustic guitar with maple back and sides. Not only does this look gorgeous, but the maple gives the guitar more presence in the top-end.
Do I need a pickup on my beginner acoustic guitar?
You might also want to consider whether you want to perform using your guitar or perhaps record with it. If so then it's worth looking for an acoustic guitar with onboard electronics, as they'll enable you to plug it into an amp or recorder in the same way you can an electric guitar.
Acoustic guitar pickups, simply put, are devices which translate the sound of your acoustic guitar into an electrical signal. This signal goes through your guitar cable and then into any of the best acoustic amps or a PA speaker. There's more science to it than that, but we won't go into it in too much depth here.
What else should I know about buying a beginner acoustic guitar?
An important factor in learning any instrument is how much you enjoy the learning process. Therefore, it is vital that the guitar you choose as your learning partner is one you enjoy playing. We've seen and heard countless examples of people who give up because they found it too challenging, but as players, we know it's because their beginner guitar is often not up to the task.
If you're committed to learning, it makes sense in the long run not to choose your first guitar with price as the only criteria. That said, we know it's not as simple as that, so we've got suggestions here from all ends of the spectrum.
Are steel or nylon strings best for a beginner acoustic guitar?
The two main string options you’ll face when searching for a beginner acoustic guitar will be either steel or nylon.
Traditionally kept for classical or flamenco guitar, nylon strings have been a perennial favourite of beginners starting on the acoustic. This is because nylon strings are a lot softer than their metal counterparts, meaning they can be gentler on your fingertips whilst you develop calluses. This has made nylon strings a popular choice amongst younger beginners. However, this is not to say they won’t sting at all because, as a beginner, your fingertips will be a lot more sensitive and it takes time to dull that sensitivity.
Your other option is a steel-string acoustic. Sonically, steel strings are a lot more common and popular. If you aren’t specifically playing classical or flamenco, steel strings will more likely suit your preferred tastes in music too. Although they can sting a beginner’s fingertips quite quickly, they will get that ‘teething’ stage over with faster. Also, a nylon string acoustic is often a stepping stone to a steel string, so if you want to cut out the middleman, go for a steel string option.
Beginner lessons
Picking up one of the best acoustic guitars for beginners is useless unless you know how to play it! Some people are able to pick things up by ear, or have someone in the house to show them the ropes. If neither of the above applies, we would heartily recommend taking lessons.
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 massive budget, online lessons are a great 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.
How we test beginner acoustic guitars
Acoustic guitars are some of the most subjective instruments out there. Every player has their own set of preferences that they look for in an acoustic guitar - but there are a few key criteria every beginner acoustic guitar should meet before we recommend it to our readers.
It's crucially important that a beginner acoustic guitar is built well, so the first thing we look at is the overall build quality of the instrument. We need to make sure any acoustic guitar we recommend is sturdy and reliable, and won't let you down. We make sure it's all put together properly, and that the moving parts move, and the parts that aren't mean to move, don't.
We then check the setup, and the level of finish of the guitar. We look at the action (the vertical distance between the strings and the fingerboard), and also the fretwork - making sure there are no dead spots or sharp fret ends. Beginner acoustic guitars, being on the cheaper end of the scale, can sometimes suffer from less thorough quality control checks from the manufacturer, so we like to make sure that everything is as it should be.
We then test the playability and sound. We check how comfortable the neck and body are, how the neck profile feels in our hand and how the fingerboard radius feels when playing. We'll play a variation of different styles including chord strumming and fingerpicking to come to our conclusions.
Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.
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