1/2 size guitars are very popular for young students since the age between 5 and 8 years is the perfect age to start learning guitar. The best beginner guitar is a steel-stringed acoustic guitar. That’s why this is the best beginner guitar for electric players. 3.7 out of 5 stars (10) Total Ratings 10, 61% agree - Stays in tune. We’ve heard countless examples of people who want to learn the guitar but have been put off after playing acoustic guitar strings that feel like cheese wire. The secret to learning guitar is: Make things easy and fun. The Yamaha FG JR1 3/4 Size Acoustic Guitar is considered the best guitar for kids who are just starting out. The Ed Sheeran-favoured Little Martin has a shorter scale length than many of the other acoustic guitars in this guide, which makes it one of the best guitars for small hands. 3/4 guitars are fine for children under the age of 11, or as travel guitars, but if you want to learn properly, then buy a full-size guitar at the start. Many players just starting out prefer to kick off with an acoustic guitar. My advice is start with an acoustic, then after 4-8 months you can ‘graduate’ up to electric guitar. Over 100,000 guitar-learners get our world-class guitar tips & tutorials sent straight to their inbox: Click here to join them. But before we get into the full rundown of beginner-worthy guitars, we've also provided more advice to help you zero in on the right beginner guitar for you. ), Well, you would be amazed at how often people choose the more difficult path. Let me explain…. Electric guitars have more components to get to grips with, but they’re also more versatile than acoustics, particularly if you want to start playing rock, blues or metal – making them great guitars for beginners too. It will be much easier and much more fun for you to approach things in this order. It is a proper guitar, not a toy. People who learn on a steel-stringed acoustic guitar have the best chance of success. Bath The Squier Classic Vibe ‘50s Stratocaster is a sight to behold. A secret I learned over 20 years and through tens of thousands of hours of teaching guitar? Now you should have the list of candidates down to around 5 guitars. Let’s run through them, from biggest to smallest. Assuming you want to play plugged in, you’ll want to look at the guitar’s pickups. I’ve given you other great options for electric and classical and also different body shapes. We want this space to be nice and big for guitar beginners. Basically, a 3/4 of a regular size acoustic guitar, it is easier for most beginners to play. The combination of superb build quality, excellent tones and stunning looks make for an enticing package, and one which you're unlikely to grow out of any time soon. I guarantee that 1-2 of the 5-6 guitars you try will feel better to you. (Unless your sole and only aim is to be a bass player!). The ideal thickness of a steel-stringed guitar neck for most people is around 120mm. One person’s “perfect guitar” is another person’s nightmare. Or will you choose the option that makes things frustrating and harder? It is 3/4 size, but the fretboard is full size, full length - the body is smaller and the fretboard set back to make the guitar shorter overall. The 112 is far from fancy and simply concentrates on the bare necessities. At the very entry-level sits Squier’s Affinity range, which are decent guitars, but just above that sits the Classic Vibe range which is streets ahead in terms of value. Read the full Fender CD-60S All-Mahogany review, A low-cost beginner acoustic guitar that punches above its weight, Launch price: $199/£219/€222 | Type: Dreadnought | Top: Solid spruce | Back & sides: Nato | Neck: Nato | Scale: 25.6" | Fingerboard: Rosewood | Frets: 20 | Tuners: Chrome die-cast | Electronics: N/A | Left-handed: No | Finish: Matt. This is one of my best tips for beginners and it will make an instant impact: You must put new strings on your guitar and they should be “extra light gauge” strings. Things will be a little harder for you if you want to go electric or classical, but you may enjoy it more, so go for it. Acoustic Beginner; Acoustic Solid Top; ... best to go for an electric guitar. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. But hey, sometimes the planets don’t align and you may only have access to an electric guitar. Begin with your budget and stick to it. Read the full Martin LX1E Little Martin review, Launch price: $499/£459/€599 | Body: Layered sapele with sitka spruce top | Neck: Sapele | Scale: 23.5" (597 mm) | Fingerboard: Ebony | Frets: 20 | Tuners: Chrome | Electronics: N/A | Left-handed: Yes | Finish: Satin. If you’ve decided to start with an electric guitar, the choices are far wider and more varied. Change your strings and you’ll sound better and make life easier. It’s easier to make an acoustic guitar sound good than an electric guitar. In terms of acoustic guitars, the Martin LX1E is one of the best guitars for beginners and an outstanding instrument for players of any age or ability. But for beginner guitarists, it’s a recipe for disaster and overwhelm. (It's free.). Well that varies from person to person due to body shape & size, height, finger thickness, hand size, posture, musical tastes and your physical environment and home/practice space. The original Fender Mustang is something of a cult classic. It simply means it has newer strings. The thicker neck of the classical/flamenco guitar ‘steals’ a lot of this reach (your hand has to expand and stretch further to accommodate the thicker neck), this makes things harder and more frustrating for guitar beginners. But if you try this guitar and don’t like how it feels, reject it immediately. Nylon string parlor guitars on the other hand have a different shape, following the compact design of "parlour" instruments from the early 1900s. Now don’t get me wrong, these guitars have a lovely tone (I own 3 of them) and I hope at some point in the future you will own one and play it as much as I play mine. Some guitars are difficult to play. Fast & Free shipping on many items! J&Z 36 inch 3/4 beginner classical guitar will satisfy the needs of the beginner who is looking for the sound and play-ability of a real classical guitar. Shop with confidence on eBay! The G2622's construction gives a different response and resonance to other new releases from Gretsch and, with these pickups, moves further from the Gretsch sound, approaching the character of Gibson's classic ES-335 design. Guitar Size Guide - Beginner Guitar Guides Guitar Size Guide. You have a choice to make, right now at the beginning of your guitar journey and it’s a crucial choice. Buyers' guides to all the best music gear, 5. A child who is 6 to 8 years old would most likely need a 1/2-size guitar. A good example from this brand is the GX18CE Taka-mini, an acoustic-electric guitar designed for beginners, small sized adults and for use as a travel guitar. Most beginner guitarists who use an electric guitar sound REALLY bad and this is hugely demotivating for a guitar learner in the early stages of their journey. And the best part about it is that it is one of the most affordable ½ size classical guitar for students and beginners. This particular example is a semi-hollow design, which means it puts out more volume when unplugged and offers an earthier, less aggressive tone than a solidbody design when plugged into an amp, which is great for blues and country music. (I change my strings every week. I started on a full-size classical guitar right back when I was knee-high to a grasshopper; initially, it's hard, but your fingers adapt fast enough and you will soon develop flexibility and dexterity. (If you don’t know how to read chordboxes yet, read our guide: How To Read Guitar Chordboxes In 60 Seconds.). Learn how everything fits together quickly, easily and effectively. Whether you go for electric or acoustic, we’ve prepared a range of the best beginner guitar options that hit the mark in terms of sound, build quality and playability. With sales season now in full swing, now's your chance to get a great deal on a new guitar. It’s time to try each one. Bass guitars are mainly used to play single-note melodies to accompany other guitarists. A child who is 11 or 12 would most likely need a full-size guitar. Join us on Facebook for daily guitar tips. Your body size is an important consideration and your comfort and ability to reach around the guitar are obviously vital. The only way to identify the best beginner guitar for YOU is to go and try these different shapes. but also timeless fundamentals that will deepen your understanding. This affordable model from guitar giant Yamaha is a typically classy, clean acoustic build with a matt finish that gives a lived-in working guitar appearance. Obviously, this changes slightly with each person, so it's important that you have an opportunity to try some guitars out or ask for advice. There is a slight leap in price above the Affinity guitars, but the accompanying leap in overall quality makes this a guitar that shouts value for money. BA1 1UA. In my experience, around half of all guitar learners don’t actively choose their first guitar. For this reason, I recommend people learn guitar first and THEN move on to bass if they want to. Vangoa is a pretty unknown guitar brand since it isn’t on the market for a long time. Most obvious is the sound; acoustic guitars are designed to work without amplification. The Bullet Mustang is the most affordable version of the model yet. You should definitely learn electric guitar, but I don’t recommend you start there. If it’s a beginner acoustic guitar you’re looking for, you’ll want to consider a few factors. The craftsmanship from Martin is excellent too, meaning the LX1E could easily last your entire playing career. Mitchell is GuitarCenter’s house brand, all their guitars get a quality inspection in the USA upon arrival from China. Thank you for signing up to Musicradar. However, any misgivings you may have will be more than washed away by the great price. It’s much better to have the scales tilted this way. © National Guitar Academy Ltd | All Rights Reserved, How To Read Guitar Chordboxes In 60 Seconds, The Best Beginner Guitar For Electric Players, The Best Beginner Guitar For Acoustic Players, Our 3 Recommended Best Guitars For Beginners, The 3 Criteria To Choose The Best Beginner Guitar For YOU, Why Beginners Should Avoid Classical & Flamenco Guitars, A Secret Tip That Makes You Sound 10% Better Immediately. But what if your local guitar shop has 30 guitars that fit your criteria? The moment when you choose your very first acoustic guitar or electric guitar is an extremely exciting one. There are 3 criteria that you need to use. It was loved by alternative bands and players - including Kurt Cobain - in the '90s for its short scale, affordability and potential for modding. It's a great time to upgrade your home music studio gear with the largest selection at eBay.com. Your body size matters. Looking for an acoustic guitar for a child can be tough because you don’t want to get the wrong size and ruin their experience with music. Here we guide you towards great entry-level acoustic and electric guitars to suit your budget. Who is the best acoustic guitarist of 2020? These smaller guitars are very popular at the moment due to artists like Ed Sheeran. 7/8 and 3/4 classical guitars fall under this category, and are popular for beginners and serious students of the instrument. You’ll need one of the. It also features two of Epiphone's exceedingly powerful Ceramic Plus humbuckers; plus, built into the bridge pickup ring is a Shadow E-Tuner, activated via a small push- button on the ring – it's incredibly useful for first-timers to have a tuner close to hand at all times. Single coil pickups are versatile, and suit many different playing styles like rock, jazz and blues. Quick Look at Our Top Picks: Best of the Best: First Act FG127 Acoustic Guitar Runner Up: Yamaha FS800 Small Body Solid Top Acoustic Guitar Best Affordable: Fender MA-1 3/4-Size Steel String Acoustic Guitar Best for Beginners: Taylor GS Mini Mahogany GS Mini Acoustic Guitar Best Mini Travel Acoustic Guitar: Luna Safari Series Before we finish, I wanted to offer a few specific recommendations so you have something solid to act on. Will you take the option that will make things easy and fun? Trust us, if looked after, this will be a guitar for life. Read the Squier Classic Vibe ‘50s Stratocaster review, One of the best beginner electric guitars with long-lasting appeal, Launch price: $299/£199/€259 | Body: Alder | Neck: Maple | Scale: 25.5" | Fingerboard: Rosewood | Frets: 22 | Pickups: Alnico V bridge humbucker 2x Alnico V single coils | Controls: Volume, tone (with push-pull coil-split), 5-way selector switch | Hardware: Vintage-style vibrato with block saddle | Left-handed: Yes (Pacifica 112J) | Finish: Natural Satin, Old Violin Sunburst, Raspberry Red, Sonic Blue, Black, Silver Metallic. Give it some thought! Guitar sizes – The Tweens choice: Three quarter-size guitar. Its smaller size makes it portable, yet this guitar still pumps out some impressive volume. If you want a great-value semi-hollow, this is among the best sub-$500 electrics around. And thankfully, there is a guitar body shape to match every human body shape! I’m telling you this because most beginner guitarists play on nasty dull strings and then wonder why they sound bad. And it sounds amazing. It’s your choice dude, my advice is just a guide, after all! The material may be man-made, but the fingerboard and bridge look like dense ebony, while the dark-hued HPL back and sides ape a dark, rich mahogany, giving it a classy feel. ), The classic acoustic shape. It's serious fun. Ages 5-8 : 1/2 Size; Ages 9-13 : 3/4 Size; Ages 13+ : Full Size; What's the best guitar for beginners? All these tone-altering elements interact with one another to create endless permutations. For intermediate and advanced guitarists, this is one of the coolest things about electric guitars! It’s a well balanced instrument, sounds decent and is great value. How easy is it to get your arm around and over the instrument? Absolutely not. When it comes to choosing one of the best acoustic guitars for beginners, you’ll no doubt be looking for something that looks great, stays in tune throughout practice, and has an attractive, entry-level price tag. Receive mail from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors? (Middle Pickup) | Hardware: Chrome | Left-handed: Yes | Finish: 2-Color Sunburst, Black, Fiesta Red, White Blonde. Guitar strings should be bright and shiny. If you inherited the guitar from somewhere, the strings will almost definitely be dull and old. Electrics also tend to have smaller necks than acoustic guitars, which is good for beginners, and they make the best guitars for kids and small hands – particularly ‘short-scale’ models, where the frets are closer together, making it easier to play chords. Live Chat ... 3/4 Classical Guitars; Acoustic Guitars . Like its acoustic voice, the Martin sounds very 'conventional' plugged in and that's no bad thing, especially for beginners. You don’t want to waste your money on a beginner guitar that isn’t suitable, or that you'll grow out of too quickly. As one of the ‘big two’ in acoustic guitars - along with Martin - there is a level of quality and excellence that can be reasonably expected from Taylor. They look like this: This is an electric guitar that has both a sound box and one or more electric pickups. Guitars are very different from one another in size, shape, sound and playability. A child who is 4 to 6 years old would most likely need a 1/4-size guitar. The body shape of your ideal guitar is due to your personal preference. So if after reading this you think your Found Guitar isn’t ideal then please consider spending a little money to pick up your own steel-stringed acoustic. 🙂. Humbuckers, on the other hand, produce a fatter, rounder sound which works well for heavier styles or music. Beginner Guitars have a few characteristics that usually make them more suitable for beginners than something higher up in the range. ✓  Stop struggling. Why should new players settle for just okay when they need to be comfortable and inspired? If acoustic guitars are ‘standard guitar’ than electric guitars are the “GT Turbo Ultimate Edition”. My entire teaching philosophy is built around that simple statement: Make Things Easy & Fun. ), you are a guitar learner. More often that not, these instruments get passed around because someone else failed to learn with it! From ages 9-13 you are looking at ¾ size and for anyone over 13 a full-sized guitar should be no problem. The short answer is that the best beginner guitar is the guitar that you find fun and easy to play. This will allow you to rule lots of guitars out straight away. You will be amazed at the difference new strings make to the sound of your guitar. An acoustic guitar is, essentially, just a lump of wood with a hole in the middle. ), Only consider guitars in your previously-decided-upon price range. A Great Fender 3/4 Acoustic With Nylon Strings. In the case of electric starter guitars we pair up the best electric guitars and amplifiers. Beginner 36” Classical Acoustic Guitar - 3/4 Junior Size 6 String Linden Wood Guitar w/Gig Bag, Tuner, Nylon Strings, Picks, Strap, for Beginners, Adults - Pyle PGACLS82SUN (Sun Burst) 4.4 out of 5 stars 276 Having a good beginner guitar is essential. That’s fine, it’s absolutely your choice. You May Also Like. Read the full Gretsch G2622 Streamliner review, The best Les Paul for beginners – Guns N' Roses approved, Launch price: $249/£249/€279 | Body: Okoume w/ AAA flame maple veneer | Neck: Okoume | Scale: 24.75" | Fingerboard: Rosewood | Frets: 22 | Pickups: 2x Epiphone Ceramic Plus humbuckers | Controls: Volume, tone, 3-way selector | Hardware: 14:1 ratio tuners, Tune-O-Matic bridge and Stopbar tailpiece, Shadow E-Tuner on bridge pickup mounting ring | Left-handed: Regular Les Paul Special II only | Finish: Appetite Amber only. We share ninja tips (for instant fun!) For this reason, electrics are often a better bet for many learners, particularly those with smaller hands. (Don’t be seduced by the pricier options the guitar salesman seems intent on showing you!). Strum the chord and feel how the guitar sits in your palm and on your thigh. The overall quality of this package is high. Something like the Yamaha FG700S would be a good candidate for “best beginner guitar” for most adults. As a general rule, the strings that music shops put on their guitars tend to be thicker as this makes the instrument’s volume louder and more full-bodied which makes it sound better in a busy shop environment. There … A good beginner guitar for classical players is the Yamaha C40. Broadly, they fall into two camps: acoustic or electric. You can certainly play them without being connected to an amp, but they will be very quiet. This is a fact: Lots of people try to learn the guitar and not everyone succeeds. This is an excellent option for those who decide to go with a nylon-string folk guitar for their child. Big tone, big volume. In time, I hope you progress to electric guitar and you’ll master all the above variables and that will allow you to sound awesome on the electric guitar. It’s certainly cheaper than going electric as there's no need to buy a separate guitar amp and you can start playing straight away. The tuners are quite generic but more than up to the job, while the nut and compensated saddle are well cut with a sensible, get-on-with-the-job string height. You will receive a verification email shortly. The bolt-on maple neck and six saddle hardtail bridge feel reassuringly rigid, while the tuners did a sterling job in our tests of holding their pitch without too much hassle. Your local guitar shop with re-string the guitar for you. Shop from the world's largest selection and best deals for Size 3/4 Acoustic Guitars. learn guitar (and progress fast). The CD-60S's action is great out of the box, too. A 3/4 size guitar is suitable for children between 6 and 10 years. What guitar will you choose to learn with? They don’t get the opportunity to pick it as they either find it in a dusty basement, or inherit it from a friend, or borrow it from a family member, or it falls to earth from a passing UFO. These 5 Black Friday sales for musicians are amazing - save up to 70% on music gear, Last chance! It’s a timeless classic. My mission is to spread the gift of music far and wide. Best Guitars for Beginners India 2020. A miracle of playability. They are like shrunken dreadnoughts. Or is it ‘welcoming’ you. But when we say brighter that doesn't mean overly shrill. Firstly, most beginner guitars are made at a more friendly price point, using materials that are easier to find. The string height is plenty low for beginners, and the pickups are high-output enough for a decent rock guitar tone, even though the neck pickup is a little dark and underwhelming. Large guitars that are not recommended for small people! MusicRadar, The 3/4 size Dreadnoughts has repeatedly proven its reliability for adult travelers looking to play on their trip or in small gatherings without the extra weight of the regular adult guitars. It's really easy to dial in, making it open-mic ready – when the time comes! You will receive a kit with all the essentials a student might require, including a carrying case, tuner strings, a string winder, a polishing cloth, … Why We Liked It - If the small hands you’re looking for a guitar for are attached to a kid, you should probably be looking for a smaller guitar than full-size, and this ¾ is a really great guitar for beginners. Who is the best online guitar personality of 2020? The amp and the large number of variables only magnify their shortcomings and create multiple points of failure and complexity. Kids in this age are already enough matured to learn something seriously and capture things easily. Here’s what the nylon strings of a classical guitar look like, with their loops: An electro-acoustic is an acoustic guitar that you can plug into an amplifier if you need more volume or want to use some effects. It sits above Squier’s entry-level Affinity range but boasts far superior build quality, hardware and tone. The best acoustic guitar for kids and other beginners is a 3/4 size guitar strung with nylon strings. Don't miss the latest deals, news, reviews, features and tutorials. These are the devices which translate your playing into an electrical signal that an amplifier turns into sound. The two humbuckers are the most obvious departure from the original, providing angular grit in the bridge position and a pleasing, earthy warmth in the neck. Dreadnoughts, of course, come in many different tonal shades but we should expect plenty of roomy lows, 
a strong thump in the lower mids, crisp highs: a big projecting sound. Wow, this is a question I’ve been asked hundreds of times. If you’re a short or petite adult, you may feel more comfortable with a 3/4 size guitar. The most important thing of all is that you pick an instrument that has welcoming playability in your hands. Chris Corfield These guitars have much thicker necks, which makes it very difficult for beginners to correctly form chord shapes. The fundamentals will be in place. If you have no desire to learn acoustic guitar, or if you have inherited an electric guitar from somewhere and it’s all you have, then sure thing. It’s not a major procedure, it’s a quick and simple piece of essential maintenance that needs to happen on an ongoing basis. Electric guitars have to be connected to a guitar amp. The best beginner guitar for many people is one that they can play without worrying about volume! This is one of the most practical considerations when buying an electric guitar. A 3/4 size guitar is great for travelling if you want to take your guitar with you on holiday or trip, they're great for children and people with smaller frames and they're no longer known as "toy" guitars - they can be incredible quality guitars that professionals like Ed Sheeran rely on! To buy an electric guitar and not be able to turn the amp up is like having a top of the range sports car in your garage, that you never drive. 🙂. Epiphone Slash ‘AFD’ Les Paul Special-II, The best Black Friday plugin deals 2020: discounts on Waves, Native Instruments, Plugin Boutique, IK Multimedia and more, Free music samples: download loops, hits and multis from SampleRadar, The best DAWs 2020: the best digital audio workstations for PC and Mac, The 12 best audio interfaces 2020: top audio interfaces for music-making and production, 11 best laptops for music production 2020: portable computers for musicians, producers and DJs, Arturia responds to Behringer’s KeyStep MIDI keyboard lookalike Swing: “This is not fair competition”. It doesn’t have to be for an adult either. Much like the half-size, both electric and acoustic guitars are available in three quarter-size. Some guitars are definitely “better” for beginners than others. Once you've decided on the best beginner guitar for you, you may need to pick up a few extras. Playing-wise, you’ll probably find electric guitars easier to handle on account of their thinner necks and smaller form-factor. © In this handy guide we've rounded up the best guitars for beginners – whether you're going acoustic or electric – that are the perfect match for newcomers to the instrument. Overall, it’s a simpler experience. Remember my philosophy: Make Things Easy & Fun! I only include it here so you have something tangible you can try out. 3/4 guitars on Amazon. You will instantly sound 10% better and that will make you want to play more. So think of this, your first guitar, as your ‘trial model’. By They run in this order of priority. ✓  Learn 12 beginner-friendly versions of every chord. I started on a full-size classical guitar right back when I was knee-high to a grasshopper; initially, it's hard, but your fingers adapt fast enough and you will soon develop flexibility and dexterity. If you are a total beginner, you better make sure you learn on a guitar that’s easy to play! This is a nice, compact size of guitar and, in my personal experience, women much prefer this guitar type to the jumbo or dreadnought style. This guitar delivers a sweet and classic Spanish style. By contrast, the tone of an electric guitar has dozens of variables: amp tones & channels, 3-5 pickup positions, volume and tone controls, on-board effects and a bunch of other stuff. The small size makes it appropriate for children under the age of 12 or those looking for a guitar to take on the go. Or would your neighbours/parents/spouses not approve!? What’s the best beginner guitar for YOU? It is a fantastic adult starter guitar or ideal for a child moving to a full sized classical guitar or acoustic guitar. The classical guitar from Vangoa is a 3/4 beginner guitar that comes with such a pickup system. 🙂. If you're looking for a great starter electric guitar, we’d happily recommend the Squier Classic Vibe ‘50s Stratocaster. Absolutely fine for most men and taller women. Electric guitar. The best beginner guitar for children is never a full-size guitar. It’s just one of those things that has to be done regularly. Neck and middle combined produces a fine modern Strat-like mix - the added brightness will cut through a multi-FX patch nicely. Is it ok for you to have a guitar amp dialled up where you live? Folk music is best played on a steel string acoustic. The best beginner guitar is an instrument that’s easy to play and that’s not the case here. Smaller-bodied acoustics are easier to handle but don’t project their tone as well. However you acquired your ‘Found Guitar’, I hope you now understand that it’s probably not the best beginner guitar for you. Away from body shape, you’ll want to look at the guitar’s neck and fingerboard, and the distance between the strings and frets. Additionally, we noticed that many beginner guitarists don't really know what to look for in a guitar, or how much they should expect to pay for their first one. Beg or borrow to get a guitar that I’ve recommended because that will stack the odds in your favour and allow yourself to learn in an easier way and a way that’s more fun. That’s why our top three picks for the best beginner acoustic guitars come from Fender, Yamaha and Taylor, who tick all of the above boxes. This 3/4 size electric guitar is a truly budget-friendly way of introducing kids to the world of the guitar. Receive news and offers from our other brands? Notice the ‘hourglass’ shape here? If you buy your guitar from a guitar shop they will usually restring it for you for free. This guitar sounds incredible and is much more approachable for a beginner than say, a Stratocaster or a Les Paul. In my experience, beginner guitarists do NOT sound awesome on their electric guitar.
2020 best 3/4 size guitar for beginners