Which Starter Guitar Should I Buy as a Beginner Guitarist?
Which Starter Guitar Should You Buy as a Beginner Guitarist?
When you start playing guitar, you obviously need an instrument first.
But which starter guitar should you buy as a beginner guitarist: a classical (Spanish) guitar with nylon strings, an acoustic (western or folk) guitar with steel strings, or an electric guitar?
Choosing a first guitar is confusing for most beginners. You don’t yet know how motivated you’ll be, how fast you’ll progress, or even which style of music will really grab you. In this guide, you’ll learn the pros and cons of each type of starter guitar so you can choose an instrument that fits your style, your hands, and your budget.
Don’t Spend Too Much on Your First Guitar
As a beginner guitarist you hardly notice the difference between an expensive guitar and a cheaper one. What matters far more is that the guitar is easy to play, stays in tune, and doesn’t destroy your motivation.
I always advise new students to start with a budget-friendly starter guitar. That can be:
- a low-priced new guitar from a local shop
- or a good second-hand instrument
Why? Because at the beginning you don’t know yet if guitar is really your thing. Maybe you’ll fall in love with drums, piano, bass or even another instrument later. With a cheaper or used guitar you keep your risk low and your options open.
Should You Choose a Cheap or Second-Hand Classical, Acoustic or Electric Guitar?
In my studio I see this situation all the time. Parents or adults buy a guitar before they ever take a first lesson. And in 9 out of 10 cases they walk into the shop and come home with a classical (Spanish) guitar “because that’s what beginners play”.
Then they tell me they want to learn AC/DC, Metallica, Foo Fighters, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queens of the Stone Age and similar bands. Deep sigh.
Here’s the problem: a classical or Spanish guitar is mainly used for classical music, flamenco and campfire songs. For rock, metal, funk and most modern pop, it is simply not the ideal instrument.
So first decide what you want to play, and then choose the type of guitar.
Choose a Guitar That Really Suits You
You may have heard this as a child:
“You must start on a classical guitar first. Only later you can move to acoustic or electric.”
That idea is stubborn, but wrong.
For starters:
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A classical guitar has a wide neck and nylon strings. That can feel comfortable for fingerstyle, but it often makes chord playing harder, especially for players with smaller hands or shorter fingers.
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A western / acoustic guitar has steel strings that are thicker and feel harder on your fingers at first. The neck is narrower than on a classical guitar, which makes chord playing easier once your fingertips are used to the strings.
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An electric guitar usually has the thinnest neck and the lowest string tension. That makes fretting notes physically easier, especially for beginners with joint or muscle issues.
However, easier on the fingers doesn’t automatically mean easier to learn. You still have to develop timing, rhythm, coordination and musical understanding on any type of guitar.
Classical or Spanish Guitar – Who Is It For?
A classical guitar features a large body and nylon strings. It is mostly used for:
- classical music
- flamenco
- traditional and campfire songs
Pros
- Warm, mellow tone
- Nylon strings are softer on the fingertips
- Can be played without amplifier – good for quiet practice
Cons
- Wider neck – chords are harder, especially for small hands
- Limited for modern pop, rock, metal and funk
- For band situations you need a microphone or pickup and PA
If your heart is in classical music or flamenco, or you mainly want soft campfire tunes, a classical guitar can be a good starter guitar. For most beginners who love contemporary music, it’s usually too limited.
Acoustic (Western / Folk) Guitar – Versatile but Physically Heavier
An acoustic western guitar has a similar body size to a classical, but steel strings and often a slimmer neck.
Pros
- Clear, bright, louder sound
- Works great for pop, rock, singer-songwriter, folk, country, blues
- Can be played without an amp
- Many models have built-in pickups so you can plug into an amplifier or PA and use effects
Cons
- Steel strings are tougher on the fingers at first
- Larger body and higher string tension can feel heavy on joints and muscles
- A really good acoustic can be more expensive than a basic electric setup
If you love unplugged music, acoustic rock or singer-songwriter styles, a western acoustic is a solid choice for a starter guitar. Just expect a few weeks of sore fingertips while your hands adapt.
Electric Guitar – Easiest on the Hands, Most Flexible in Style
An electric guitar has a solid or semi-solid body and thin steel strings with lower tension. It needs an amplifier to be heard properly, but that amp gives you massive tonal flexibility.
Pros
- Thinner neck and lower string tension – often the most comfortable option for beginners
- Huge style range: rock, metal, pop, funk, jazz, blues, indie and more
- You can practice silently with headphones through many amps or audio interfaces
- Effects pedals and amp models let you shape almost any sound
Cons
- You need extra gear: at least an amp or good headphone solution
- More cables, more options, more things to tweak (which can distract beginners)
- Without an amp the guitar is very quiet
If you mainly listen to pop, rock, metal, funk or modern styles, an electric guitar is usually the most logical starter guitar for beginners. You’ll get closer to the sounds that inspired you in the first place.
Conclusion: Which Guitar Should You Buy as a Beginner?
Here is the simple, backward-compatible rule I explain to my students when they choose a starter guitar:
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On an electric guitar you can play everything: classical arrangements, acoustic-style pop, rock, metal, funk and more.
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On an acoustic (western / folk) guitar you can cover a lot of ground: classical pieces, folk, country, pop, rock and acoustic arrangements – but heavy rock and metal will always feel like a compromise.
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On a classical or Spanish guitar you can play classical, flamenco and a few other styles, but typical pop, rock, funk and metal are difficult both in sound and feel.
So the classical guitar is the most limited in style, the electric guitar is the most flexible, and the acoustic western sits in the middle.
Practical summary
- Love classical music and flamenco only? → Start with a classical guitar.
- Love acoustic pop, folk, country, campfire songs? → Start with an acoustic western guitar.
- Love rock, metal, funk, pop and modern bands? → Start with an electric guitar and a small practice amp or headphone solution.
Whatever you choose, buy a guitar that fits your budget, feels comfortable in your hands, and makes you want to pick it up every single day. That is the real “best starter guitar for beginners”.
Take Your Guitar Playing To The Next Level!
Wouter Baustein
Music Producer, Music & Mindset Coach
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.
