Want low budget but decent playability?

by Mage, NCTM

So many different types of guitars exist that it can be confusing at first to figure out which one to get. Should you go electric or acoustic? What size of guitar would fit best with you? Are you left-handed or right-handed? And what styles of music would you like to play? These and other factors can help to determine which guitar you may wish to consider purchasing. This article will mainly be focused on getting your first guitar as a beginner.

Not everyone lives near a brick and mortar retailer of musical instruments, and with the COVID-19 pandemic it might not be as easy to visit one, so it is important that if you purchase your guitar online that the retailer has a return policy. Amazon.com has a 30-day return policy for most items. Note: As an Amazon associate I earn through qualifying purchases. What this means is that you can try out the guitar, and if it does not fit right then you can send it back and exchange it for another one.

Orientation

Lefty or righty? It may seem simple enough to pick a right-handed guitar if you are right-handed (if you write/eat with your right hand). But actually since learning the guitar involves coordination of both hands and their fingers it’s actually a little more complex than that. Consider the following points:

• If you tend to use your left hand to strum while playing “air guitar” (pretend to play guitar without actually holding a guitar) then you will likely be more comfortable with a left-handed guitar.
• Strumming the guitar involves creating and feeling rhythm, and this is often best felt with our dominant hand.
• Some people are ambidextrous and may need to explore before deciding if they will mainly play lefty or righty.
• There are much more right-handed guitars than left-handed guitars available in the market, and the left-handed ones tend to cost more (there is one manufacturer that I mention below that does not charge more for left-handed guitars though!).
• Some guitars are actually ambidextrous and can simply be restrung to fit left-handed players. Keep in mind that others may appear to be ambidextrous but actually require some modifications–checking with a qualified guitar technician is a good practice for these.

During your lessons I will help you assess which hand should do which task. If you would like to master your instrument it is important to consider which orientation will be best for your tendencies.

Size

Guitars come in three main sizes: full, 3/4, and half. It is important that the guitar is the right size for the beginner. Most teens and adults and even older kids will be just fine with a full size guitar, but some people might be transporting their guitars to different places, and having a 3/4 or 7/8 size can be helpful for portability. A 3/4 size guitar is suitable for most children, and smaller children would feel more comfortable with a 1/2 size, but in my experience of teaching children they tend to grow out of the 1/2 size very quickly. If you are fine with purchasing a guitar knowing that in a year or two, or even in a few months that you will likely have to replace it, then the 1/2 size is an option, or you could go with the 3/4 which the child will eventually grow into.

Electric or Acoustic?

There is this myth floating around that you must start learning on an acoustic guitar before you can play an electric one. I would like to debunk that myth: my dad bought me my first guitar when I was a child, and it was an electric guitar! I can play electric, acoustic, and classical guitars with no problem.

That being said there may be some reasons for you to select acoustic versus electric. Here are a few of them:

Why Acoustic?

• Perhaps you prefer the sound of an acoustic guitar and may be into styles of music that feature it.
• More portable–does not need any amplification.

Click here to see some acoustic guitars.

Why Classical?

• A classical acoustic guitar has nylon strings for the first 3–this can be easier on the fingers (though eventually you will have to develop callouses on your fingers as a result of playing any kind of guitar!).
• You may be more drawn to learning how to play classical music. To learn the proper clasiscal technique it is recommended to have a classical guitar, especially if you are in the Royal Conservatory of Music certificate program or the Certificate of Merit (via Music Teachers’ Association of California) program.
• You may wish for a good musical foundation which classical music offers; students who register with the Royal Conservatory of Music certificate program will want a classical guitar for both practice and the examinations (some students have more than one kind of guitar for different purposes!).

Click here to see some classical guitars.

Why Electric?

• Some find that the electric guitar strings are easier on the fingers (does not cut the fingers on the fretboard as much), but as mentioned above you will eventually have to develop callouses on your fingers in order to play any guitar!
• Certain styles of music lend well to electric guitar. Perhaps you prefer the sound of electric guitars which can be further enhanced and altered by the use of effects and amplification.

Click here to see some electric guitars.

No matter which kind of guitar you select, new or used, it’s important that it fits well, is set up correctly, and it’s something you will want to practice daily. Even for a beginner a guitar that is not set up correctly can lead to poor posture habits and a loss of interest in playing because even with good technique the student will become frustrated in not being able to get a good sound no matter how much effort they make. You may find some resources, both training and professional services, on guitar setup and building at https://luth.org .

Starter Guitars

Below I will list different kinds of guitars (acoustic, classical, electric) for beginners and those who are starting out with getting their first guitars. Please note that this does not cover all possibilities—I am just sharing examples of what could work for most beginners. If you find a guitar that you’re interested in feel free to message me with details before purchase, and I will let you know if I think it’s a “good buy.” Most of the items listed here are popular well-known brands as they are known for having decent quality. As the guitar student becomes more experienced with practicing and developing their own style things like materials, parts, electronics, and other features start to become important when upgrading from a starter guitar to a more intermediate one.

Acoustic Guitars

Here are some steel string acoustic guitars that you may wish to consider purchasing for a beginner. Some guitars are different sizes; it is important for you to choose a guitar that fits the student’s stature so that they can play comfortably and properly.

Classical Guitars

Electric Guitars

As you might already be able to see we are only at the tip of the iceberg, but there are already many different budget starter guitars that have decent enough playability. If you find other guitars feel free to send me a message, and I will let you know what I think! 😎 🎸 Also if you wish to upgrade to a more intermediate or advanced guitar there are so many more options!

Note: As an Amazon associate I earn through qualifying purchases.