A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Right Guitar
Which guitar should you buy when you are starting to learn?
It seems like a simple question, but the answer is not always so straightforward. There are many different guitars, sizes, brands and prices, and for someone approaching the instrument for the first time, it can quickly become confusing. At the same time, choosing the right instrument is important. Your first guitar does not need to be expensive or particularly sophisticated, but it needs to be comfortable, reliable and suitable for what you want to learn.
A good instrument can make the first steps much easier. The wrong one can sometimes create difficulties that have very little to do with the student.
So, what should we look for?
First: What Do You Want to Play?
Before looking at brands or prices, it is worth considering what kind of music you would like to play.
If you already know that you want to play classical guitar, the choice is relatively simple: you will need a classical guitar with nylon strings. If you are interested in rock or electric guitar, naturally you may want to start with an electric instrument. The same applies if your main interest is acoustic guitar and contemporary songs.
But what if you simply want to learn guitar and you are not sure yet where it will take you?
In this case, I often find the classical guitar a very practical starting point. It can introduce many of the fundamental aspects of playing the guitar and gives the student the possibility to explore different kinds of music before deciding whether to move in a more specific direction.
This does not mean that everyone has to start with a classical guitar. If a student has a strong interest in a particular style, I believe that interest should be taken seriously. Motivation is an important part of learning.
If you are unsure, asking your teacher before buying an instrument is probably one of the best things you can do.
The Right Size
This is particularly important for children.
A guitar that is too big can make playing unnecessarily difficult. Reaching around the instrument, positioning the hands correctly and pressing the strings can all become harder simply because the instrument does not fit the student.
Classical guitars are commonly available in different sizes, including half-size, three-quarter-size and full-size instruments.
As a general indication:
a half-size guitar can be suitable for younger children;
a three-quarter-size guitar can work well for many primary-school-aged students;
a full-size guitar is normally suitable for teenagers and adults.
However, I would treat these only as guidelines rather than strict rules. Two children of the same age can be very different in height, hand size and physical development. For this reason, whenever possible, it is much better to choose the guitar according to the student rather than simply according to their age. There is also no great advantage in buying an instrument that is much too large because the child will eventually “grow into it”. The guitar should help the student play now.
How Much Should You Spend?
This is probably one of the most common questions when buying a first guitar. There is understandably a temptation to spend as little as possible. After all, especially with children, we do not yet know whether learning the guitar will become a long-term interest. At the same time, an extremely cheap guitar can sometimes make learning more difficult. Poor tuning stability, uncomfortable strings, high action or problems with the construction of the instrument can make even simple exercises unnecessarily frustrating. A beginner does not necessarily recognise that the guitar is the problem. They may simply think that playing is difficult.
For a first classical guitar, I would generally consider around £100 a reasonable starting point, although prices and individual instruments vary considerably. You certainly do not need a professional instrument at the beginning. What you need is a guitar that works properly, stays reasonably in tune and is comfortable enough to allow you to learn.
That distinction is important.
What About Brands?
Brands can give us a useful starting point, particularly when we do not have much experience choosing instruments.
For beginner guitars, brands such as Yamaha and Valencia have produced affordable instruments that can be good options for students. Depending on your budget, you can also look at makers such as Admira, Alhambra and Paco Castillo.
However, I would not choose an instrument based on the name alone. Two guitars from the same manufacturer can feel slightly different, and what works well for one student may not necessarily be the best choice for another. If possible, try the guitar before buying it or ask someone with more experience to have a look at it. A teacher can be particularly helpful here. We spend a lot of time seeing beginner instruments, including the problems that can come with them!
Should You Buy Second-Hand?
Absolutely. A second-hand guitar can be an excellent option.
In some cases, the same budget that buys a very basic new guitar can buy a considerably better second-hand instrument. But there is an important difference: when buying new, particularly from a reputable music shop, you have a certain level of reassurance about the condition of the instrument. When buying second-hand, you need to check it more carefully.
Cosmetic marks are not necessarily a problem. A few scratches on a guitar that has been played for several years may have very little effect on the instrument.
Structural problems are different. Check the neck, bridge, tuning machines, strings and general condition of the guitar. Make sure there are no serious cracks or obvious problems and, most importantly, check that the instrument is comfortable to play.
If you do not know what to look for, ask your teacher or an experienced guitarist before buying. Second-hand platforms can offer many possibilities, but a good price is only a good price if the instrument itself is suitable.
The Most Important Thing
Your first guitar does not have to be perfect. In fact, it probably will not be the instrument you play forever. As you improve, your technique develops, your musical interests become clearer and you begin to understand much more about the kind of sound and instrument you are looking for.
The purpose of a first guitar is different. It needs to give you a good starting point.
It should be comfortable enough that the instrument itself does not become an obstacle, good enough that you can develop your technique and listening, and appropriate for the music you are beginning to explore. There will be plenty of time later to search for a more sophisticated instrument. At the beginning, the most important thing is to find a guitar that allows you to start playing, exploring and enjoying music.
And if you are unsure, ask your teacher. Choosing an instrument is part of the learning process too.
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