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10 Best Beginner Guitar 2025 in the United States

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Our technology thoroughly searches through the online shopping world, reviewing hundreds of sites. We then process and analyze this information, updating in real-time to bring you the latest top-rated products. This way, you always get the best and most current options available.

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Our Top Picks

#1

Winner

Fender FA-25 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Beginner Guitar, with 2-Year Warranty, Includes Free Lessons, Sunburst

Rating
9.9
Chosen by1,327
Body Size and Shape
Action
Build Quality and Materials

Most important from
673 reviews

Body Size and Shape
It's lightweight and great for travel, making it an excellent choice for beginners and those on the go.
Action
Despite initial concerns, the guitar's setup required minimal adjustments and played beautifully right out of the box.
Build Quality and Materials
The build quality is solid with smooth, level frets and reliable tuning stability.
Brand and Reviews
The guitar offers a rich tone that is surprisingly impressive for its price.

The Fender FA-25 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar is tailored for beginners with its user-friendly features. As a dreadnought guitar, it offers a bold and rich bass tone suitable for genres like country, folk, or bluegrass. The full-size body ensures a deep, resonant sound, making it enjoyable for both kids and adults to play. The 'C'-shaped neck and walnut fingerboard make it comfortable to hold and play, which is crucial for beginners learning their first chords and strumming techniques. The light weight and all-laminate body contribute to ease of handling, while the sealed-gear tuning machines provide reliable and accurate tuning stability.

The inclusion of bronze strings offers a bright, ringing tone, further enhancing the playing experience for entry-level musicians. The guitar's build quality is solid, leveraging materials like a laminated basswood back and a spruce top for durability and good sound projection. With a scale length of 25.6 inches, this guitar maintains the standard string tension, making it comfortable to play across different hand sizes. Additionally, Fender's legacy of quality and craftsmanship is a significant plus, assuring buyers of the guitar's reliability.

The free lessons through Fender Play are a valuable addition, providing a structured learning path with thousands of instructional videos. The 2-year warranty further adds to the peace of mind. However, the laminated body might not produce as rich a tone as a solid wood guitar, and the guitar's larger size might be cumbersome for very young children. For beginners, this guitar represents a well-rounded choice with robust support and learning resources.

Rating
9.9
Chosen by1,327
Body Size and Shape
Action
Build Quality and Materials

Most important from
673 reviews

Body Size and Shape
It's lightweight and great for travel, making it an excellent choice for beginners and those on the go.
Action
Despite initial concerns, the guitar's setup required minimal adjustments and played beautifully right out of the box.
Build Quality and Materials
The build quality is solid with smooth, level frets and reliable tuning stability.
Brand and Reviews
The guitar offers a rich tone that is surprisingly impressive for its price.
#2

Fender Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar - Natural Bundle with Gig Bag, Tuner, Strings, Picks, Fender Play Online Lessons, and Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD

Rating
9.8
Action
Build Quality and Materials
Brand and Reviews

Most important from
2910 reviews

Action
The action is great; I can play bar chords on the low frets, which was always a problem with other guitars.
Build Quality and Materials
The guitar is great quality, tunes easily, and the included tuner is easy to use.
Brand and Reviews
Fender makes quality guitars with a beautiful sound, perfect for beginners.

The Fender Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar bundle is a great choice for beginners looking for a budget-friendly option without compromising on quality. One of its key strengths is its durable construction, featuring an all-laminate design with a lindenwood top and mahogany back and sides. This ensures that the guitar can withstand the rigors of learning while producing a full-bodied tone thanks to its scalloped 'X'-bracing. The slim neck and dark-stained maple fingerboard contribute to its playability, making it comfortable for new players just starting their musical journey.

Another significant advantage of this bundle is that it comes with everything you need to get started: a gig bag, tuner, strap, extra strings, picks, and access to Fender Play online lessons, along with an instructional DVD from Austin Bazaar. This makes it particularly appealing to those who want a comprehensive package without needing to purchase additional accessories separately.

There are a few considerations to keep in mind. While the guitar is well-constructed for beginners, some may find the sound slightly less rich compared to higher-end models, as it uses engineered wood for the body. Additionally, the weight of 9.18 pounds might be cumbersome for some learners, especially younger players or those with smaller frames. The Fender Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar bundle is well-suited for beginner guitarists who are conscious of their budget and want a reliable instrument to start learning. Its comprehensive package offers great value, though some players might eventually seek a more advanced model as they progress in their skills.

Rating
9.8
Action
Build Quality and Materials
Brand and Reviews

Most important from
2910 reviews

Action
The action is great; I can play bar chords on the low frets, which was always a problem with other guitars.
Build Quality and Materials
The guitar is great quality, tunes easily, and the included tuner is easy to use.
Brand and Reviews
Fender makes quality guitars with a beautiful sound, perfect for beginners.
#3

Yamaha 6 String Beginner Solid Spruce Top Traditional Western Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar With Rosewood FIngerboard, Natural Finish, Right, (FG800J NT)

Rating
9.8
Body Size and Shape
Neck Width and Scale Length
String Type

Most important from
2022 reviews

Body Size and Shape
Its concert size is comfortable for smaller players and children, making it a versatile choice.
Neck Width and Scale Length
The neck might feel a bit wide for some, but this is a personal preference.
String Type
The medium gauge strings that come with the guitar are suitable for strumming but might need changing for those who prefer light gauge for bends.
Action
Despite the need for professional setup adjustments, once the action and neck are fine-tuned, the guitar sounds and plays amazingly.
Build Quality and Materials
The solid spruce top is a huge plus, providing a bright and full sound that improves over time.

The Yamaha FG800J NT is designed specifically for beginner guitarists, making it a great choice for anyone just starting out. One of its standout features is the solid spruce top, which produces a bright and balanced tone with impressive low-end projection. This is essential for beginners who want a well-rounded sound as they learn their first chords or start writing songs. The guitar's dreadnought body shape contributes to its volume and resonance, making it enjoyable to play.

Craftsmanship is another strong point; Yamaha uses quality materials like nato and mahogany for the back and sides, which not only enhances sound quality but also ensures durability. The rosewood fingerboard adds a nice touch, providing a smooth playing experience. The FG800J’s build quality is further backed by Yamaha's detailed quality control checks, so you can trust that you’re getting a reliable instrument.

The guitar's phosphor bronze strings are common and provide good sound quality, but beginners might find them a little challenging to press down at first, depending on the action. If you’re a beginner looking for a reliable and well-sounding guitar, the Yamaha FG800J NT is definitely worth considering.

Rating
9.8
Body Size and Shape
Neck Width and Scale Length
String Type

Most important from
2022 reviews

Body Size and Shape
Its concert size is comfortable for smaller players and children, making it a versatile choice.
Neck Width and Scale Length
The neck might feel a bit wide for some, but this is a personal preference.
String Type
The medium gauge strings that come with the guitar are suitable for strumming but might need changing for those who prefer light gauge for bends.
Action
Despite the need for professional setup adjustments, once the action and neck are fine-tuned, the guitar sounds and plays amazingly.
Build Quality and Materials
The solid spruce top is a huge plus, providing a bright and full sound that improves over time.

Buying Guide for the Best Beginner Guitar

Choosing your first guitar can be an exciting yet overwhelming experience. The right guitar can make learning more enjoyable and keep you motivated. When selecting a beginner guitar, it's important to consider several key specifications to ensure you get an instrument that suits your needs and preferences. Here are some essential specs to look at and how to navigate them.
Type of GuitarThere are three main types of guitars: acoustic, electric, and classical. Acoustic guitars are versatile and great for playing a wide range of music styles. Electric guitars are ideal if you're interested in rock, blues, or metal, and they require an amplifier. Classical guitars have nylon strings and are perfect for classical and flamenco music. Choose based on the genre of music you want to play and your personal preference.
Body Size and ShapeGuitars come in various body sizes and shapes, which can affect comfort and sound. Smaller body guitars, like parlor or concert size, are easier to handle and great for smaller players or children. Larger body guitars, like dreadnoughts, produce a louder and fuller sound but can be bulky. Consider your body size and comfort when choosing the guitar's body size and shape.
Neck Width and Scale LengthThe neck width and scale length of a guitar can impact playability. A narrower neck is easier for beginners, especially those with smaller hands, as it allows for easier chord changes. Scale length affects string tension and playability; shorter scales are easier to play but may have a different tone. Try different neck widths and scale lengths to see what feels most comfortable for you.
String TypeGuitars can have either steel or nylon strings. Steel strings are common on acoustic and electric guitars and produce a bright, loud sound. Nylon strings are used on classical guitars and are softer on the fingers, making them easier for beginners. Choose based on the type of music you want to play and your comfort level with the strings.
ActionAction refers to the height of the strings above the fretboard. Lower action makes it easier to press the strings down, which is beneficial for beginners. However, too low action can cause buzzing. Look for a guitar with a comfortable action that doesn't require too much effort to play but still produces a clean sound.
Build Quality and MaterialsThe build quality and materials of a guitar affect its durability and sound. Solid wood guitars generally produce better sound but are more expensive. Laminate wood guitars are more affordable and durable, making them a good choice for beginners. Check for good craftsmanship, such as smooth fret edges and a well-finished body, to ensure the guitar will last.
Brand and ReviewsReputable brands often provide better quality and customer support. Research different brands and read reviews from other beginners to see which guitars are highly recommended. This can give you an idea of the reliability and playability of the guitar you are considering.

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