During the pandemic, lots of people used their time at home to learn a new skill or two. Learning to play the guitar was one of the most popular choices.
There are several benefits to this activity, aside from having a new creative outlet. Playing an instrument can improve your memory, boost your confidence, and enhance your hand-eye coordination.
But to play, you have to have access to a guitar first. Let’s take a look at some of the best guitars that are suitable for beginners.
In general, the Taylor Academy 10 is one of the best when you’re learning how to play the guitar for the first time. It’s known for its high-quality sound and how easy it is to play.
The neck is made of maple and the body of solid Sitka spruce. This guitar is at the higher end of the price range, starting at around $499, but if you’re determined to learn and play, it’s worth the investment.
This all-mahogany acoustic instrument comes from a big brand name in the guitar industry, but at a reasonable price for beginners. Starting at only $299, this guitar is great because it stays in tune well and provides a full, balanced sound.
Fender revamped the design of this guitar to be more suitable for beginners. It produces less of a buzz when the player pushes down on the strings along the frets.
This beauty is an acoustic guitar by another familiar brand name. The Yamaha LL6 ARE is a mix of solid Engelmann spruce, rosewood, and mahogany.
It also comes in a left-handed format, in case that suits your style. The guitar starts at around $569 which is a little on the higher end if you’re starting.
But the sound quality is equal to that of a guitar that’s much more expensive.
The Martin LX1 is a relatively new model that was developed about ten years ago. It became popular when the singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran began to play it, and it took the market by storm.
If you want to stand out as a new musician, this guitar is an excellent choice for you. Though it’s not necessarily regarded as a beginner’s guitar, the size makes it easy to carry around.
The Martin has an incredible sound quality for its petite size, and even comes in an electric-acoustic version if you want the option to be plugged in.
The real Hummingbird that’s played by The Rolling Stones would set you back by around $3,000. But Epiphone has designed a beginner’s model that’s easier to play and at a much more affordable price that starts around $369.
It’s made of solid spruce and select mahogany with a glossed finish, which makes it quite aesthetically appealing. It does have a slightly lower action (the distance between the fretboard and the strings) which may make it a little more challenging to play, but it’s versatile enough to handle any style of music.
This is one of the most popular beginner guitars out there. You can buy one at almost any major department store.
This Yamaha’s starting price is $219 and you get a great quality sound for the price. However, it’s strictly a beginner’s guitar, since there are no electric-acoustic variations of this one on the market.
This travel-sized guitar is perfect for beginners because it’s smaller than average, which makes it easier to hold. It’s made of a mix of mahogany and Sapele laminate and is built to be used on the go.
The starting price is around $549, which will make sense to you the minute you start to play it. The Taylor GS Mini Mahogany has a broad range of tones, which is great when you want to perform a variety of musical genres.
Summary
Deciding which guitar is the best acoustic for a beginner can be tricky. This list is a good guideline, but it’s probably best for you to try them in person.
Strum a few chords at a local guitar store to get a feel for each model in your hands. How something looks online and how it feels when you’re in person can be significantly different.