Best Guitar for Beginners: How to Choose Your First Guitar

Start with the music you want to play

Let your favourite songs decide the type. Strummed songs and singing along suit an acoustic. Rock, blues and lead lines suit an electric. Nylon-string classical guitars are gentle on the fingertips and suit fingerstyle and classical repertoire.

Check size and comfort

A guitar that is too large makes chords harder and practice tiring. Younger players and anyone with a smaller frame should look at three-quarter or compact bodies. Hold the guitar sitting down: you should reach the first fret without straining your shoulder.

Look for easy playability

Low string height (action) and properly finished frets make the first months much easier.

• Strings should sit close to the fretboard without buzzing.
• Tuning machines should hold pitch.
• Nylon strings are softer on fingertips than steel strings.

Budget for the essentials

Plan for a tuner, a few spare sets of strings, picks and a strap or footstool. Electric players also need an amplifier and a cable.