Buying your first guitar: what actually matters

Your first guitar doesn’t need to be expensive. It needs to be easy to play, because a guitar that fights you is the number one reason beginners quit.

Acoustic, electric or classical?

• Electric: the easiest to play (light strings, low action), and the best choice for rock, blues and lead guitar. Needs an amp or headphones amp.
• Steel-string acoustic: great for strumming and singing. Needs a bit more finger strength.
• Classical (nylon): soft on the fingertips and lovely for fingerpicking, but a wide neck and no string bends.

The four things that matter

1. Action: how high the strings sit above the frets. Low action is much easier. Any shop can adjust it (ask for a “setup”).
2. Tuning stability: does it stay in tune for a whole session?
3. Size: if you’re small or buying for a child, a smaller body or short scale helps.
4. You like it: seriously. A guitar you want to pick up gets played.

What to skip

• Expensive upgrades before you can play five chords.
• Heavy strings. Start light.
• Very cheap “toy” guitars that won’t stay in tune.

Already have a guitar? Great: start now, and use our free online guitar tuner every time you play.