Buying Your First Guitar: The Complete Beginner's Guide

Buying your first guitar is exciting and terrifying in equal measure. There are hundreds of models, confusing specs, and well-meaning advice from every direction. The good news: choosing the “right” guitar is simpler than you think, and you don’t need to spend a fortune to get something genuinely good.

Here’s everything you actually need to know - no fluff, no brand deals, just honest advice from someone who’s helped dozens of beginners pick their first instrument.

Acoustic vs Electric: The Big Decision

This is the first choice, and it matters more than brand or price.

Choose Acoustic If:

You want to play singer-songwriter, folk, country, or campfire music
You want something portable with no extra gear needed
You like the warm, natural sound of steel strings
You’ll practice in acoustic-friendly environments

Choose Electric If:

You want to play rock, metal, blues, jazz, or funk
You’re inspired by guitar solos and distorted tones
You prefer a thinner neck and lower string action (easier fretting)
You don’t mind the extra cost of an amplifier

Important truth:

Electric guitars are generally easier to play than acoustics. The strings are thinner, the action is lower, and pressing notes requires less force. If physical comfort matters most, electric has the edge.

However, acoustic guitars are more convenient - pick it up and play anywhere without plugging in anything.

Classical/Nylon String:

A third option with soft nylon strings and a wider neck. Best for classical, flamenco, or very young beginners whose fingertips are delicate. Not ideal for rock, pop, or country - the tone and feel are distinctly different.

Budget: How Much to Spend

Budget Range	What You Get
Under $100	Risky - often poor quality, bad intonation, uncomfortable. Avoid unless very tight on budget.
$150-250	The sweet spot for beginners. Brands like Yamaha, Squier, Epiphone, and Ibanez offer genuinely good instruments here.
$300-500	Excellent beginner-to-intermediate instruments. Solid tops, better hardware, better tone.
$500+	More than a beginner needs, but if budget allows, these instruments will last you years.

My recommendation:

Spend $150-250 on the guitar itself. If electric, budget an additional $50-100 for a small practice amp. Don’t cheap out below $150 - the playing experience on a bad guitar is frustrating enough to make you quit.

What to Look For

1. Comfortable Neck

Pick up the guitar. Does the neck feel good in your hand? Can you wrap your fingers around it without strain? Neck shapes (C, D, V profiles) vary between models. There’s no “best” - only what feels right to you.

2. Reasonable Action

Action is the distance between the strings and the fretboard. Press a string at the 12th fret. If it requires excessive force or if the string is more than 3-4mm off the fretboard, the action is too high. Most new guitars need a professional setup ($30-50) to play their best.

3. Good Intonation

Play an open string, then play the same string at the 12th fret. They should be the same note (one octave apart). If the 12th fret note sounds sharp or flat compared to the open string, the intonation is off.

4. No Buzzing

Strum each string open and fretted at several positions. If you hear persistent buzzing that doesn’t go away with proper technique, the guitar may have fret issues.

5. Stays in Tune

Tune the guitar, play for 5 minutes, then check tuning again. If it’s significantly out of tune already, the tuning machines may be poor quality.

Recommended Beginner Guitars

Acoustic

Yamaha FG800 (~$200) - The gold standard for beginner acoustics. Solid spruce top, consistent quality.
Fender FA-115 (~$150) - Budget-friendly with good sound.
Taylor Academy 10 (~$500) - Premium option with exceptional playability.

Electric

Squier Stratocaster (~$200) - Classic Fender shape, versatile tone, slim neck.
Epiphone Les Paul Standard (~$250) - Warm, thick tone, slightly chunkier neck.
Ibanez GRX20 (~$180) - Great for rock/metal with a fast, thin neck.
Yamaha Pacifica 112V (~$250) - Arguably the best all-around beginner electric.

Practice Amps (for Electric)

Fender Frontman 10G (~$50) - Simple, cheap, sounds decent.
Orange Crush 12 (~$80) - Better tone, classic rock sound.
Boss Katana Mini (~$100) - Multiple amp models, good sound at low volume.

What NOT to Do

1. Don’t buy the cheapest guitar you can find. A $50 guitar from a random brand will fight you at every step. The strings will be too high, the frets will buzz, and it’ll go out of tune constantly.

2. Don’t buy based on looks alone. A beautiful guitar that’s uncomfortable to play will collect dust. Playability first, aesthetics second.

3. Don’t obsess over wood types. Tone wood matters, but at the beginner level, the differences are subtle. Focus on comfort and build quality.

4. Don’t buy without playing it (if possible). A guitar that feels great in your hands might not be the one you’d choose from specs alone. Visit a shop if you can.

5. Don’t buy a bunch of accessories immediately. You need: the guitar, a tuner app (free), a few picks ($2), and maybe a strap ($10). Everything else can wait.

Essential Day-One Accessories

Item	Budget	Notes
Picks (variety pack)	$3-5	Get medium thickness (0.71-0.88mm)
Tuner app	Free	Guitar Wiz includes a tuner
Strap	$10-15	Essential for standing; useful for sitting too
Extra strings	$5-8	Keep a spare set; strings break
Gig bag	$20-30	Protect the guitar during transport

Try This in Guitar Wiz

Whether you choose acoustic or electric, Guitar Wiz has you covered from day one. Use the Tuner to bring your new guitar into tune, explore your first chord shapes in the Chord Library, and set the Metronome for your first strumming exercises. Your new guitar + Guitar Wiz = everything you need to start.

Download Guitar Wiz on the App Store · Start Learning →

FAQ

Should I buy acoustic or electric?

Choose based on the music you want to play. Acoustic for singer-songwriter and folk, electric for rock and blues. Electric is physically easier to play.

How much should a beginner guitar cost?

$150-250 is the sweet spot. This range offers genuinely good instruments from trusted brands without overspending.

Should I buy online or in a store?

In-store is preferred so you can try the guitar. But online purchases from reputable brands (Yamaha, Fender/Squier, Epiphone) at the $200 range are consistently good quality.