The Main Types of Guitars for Contemporary Music

Guitar Types – Electric, Acoustic, Spanish, Classical, Western…

When you buy your first guitar, the amount of choice can be overwhelming. Electric, classical, western, acoustic… every type of guitar feels, looks, and sounds different. On top of that, prices range from budget starter kits to professional instruments that cost several thousand euros.

This guide gives you a clear overview of the main types of guitars used in contemporary music, what they are good for, and what you can roughly expect to pay. That way, you can choose an instrument that actually fits your hands, your style, and your budget.

Electric Guitar: Brands, Price Ranges and Features

For a minimum professional-level electric guitar, you quickly end up around 1,200 euros or more for the guitar alone (without amp or pedals). One of the most popular brands is Fender. A genuine Fender USA model is a reliable professional instrument used in styles from pop and funk to rock and metal. More affordable are Fender Player / Mexican models, and the entry level line Squier by Fender.

Fender itself can roughly be divided into three quality and price levels:

Squier – budget line, great for beginners on a tight budget.
Fender Mexico (Player, Vintera, etc.) – mid-range instruments with solid quality.
Fender USA – professional instruments with higher-end components and finishes.

Another legendary name is Gibson, known for Les Pauls and SGs. New Gibsons usually start around 2,000 euros. Their cheaper line is Epiphone, which offers many Gibson-style models at much lower prices and is perfect for intermediate players.

If you want more modern features, brands like Ibanez are extremely versatile and work for many music styles. In the higher price ranges you’ll find brands like ESP, PRS, Music Man, and others. Just keep in mind: expensive does not automatically mean “right for you”. Always test guitars for neck shape, weight, and how they feel in your hands.

Classical or Spanish Guitar

Most beginning students still start on a classical (Spanish) guitar. This type of guitar has a slightly wider neck than a western or electric guitar. Chords can therefore feel more difficult at first, especially for people with smaller hands. On the other hand, the nylon strings are much softer on the fingertips, which is very helpful for absolute beginners and younger students.

The downside is that a cheap classical guitar often does not sound great. Once you move to a model with a solid top, the sound quality improves dramatically. A decent student classical guitar with a solid top usually starts around 200–220 euros. Classical guitars tend to have a warm, round sound that works beautifully for solo pieces, fingerstyle arrangements, and more intimate music.

Because of the wider neck and the more specific sound, a classical guitar can feel limited for styles like rock, metal, or modern pop. If you mainly want to strum chords and play songs from the radio, a western steel-string might be a better fit.

Western, Acoustic or Steel-String Guitar

A western, acoustic, or steel-string guitar has a narrower neck than a classical guitar and uses steel strings. The sound is brighter and more present, with more volume and projection. This makes it perfect for singer-songwriter music, pop, rock, country, folk, and blues.

Because the sound box is larger than on a classical guitar, the overall volume is higher. The narrower neck is often easier for beginners when playing chords, but the steel strings are harder on the fingertips. After a few weeks of regular practice you will build calluses and this becomes much more comfortable.

From a price perspective, acoustic guitars start very cheap – sometimes below 100 euros – but those instruments are often difficult to play and sound weak. As a rule of thumb, it is better to spend a bit more and look for a guitar with a solid top in the 250–400 euro range. A genuinely good, professional acoustic guitar can easily cost 1,000–3,000 euros or more (without pickup system or accessories).

Do not forget: compared to an electric guitar, both classical and western guitars can be more stressful for your joints and muscles, because you have to produce all the sound acoustically. Good setup, correct string gauge, and a relaxed playing posture are critical.

Take Your Guitar Playing To The Next Level!

If you like clear, practical guitar and music coaching instead of random YouTube tips, you need structure. My guitar books and coaching programs give you that structure, so you can finally make real progress and level up your playing.