I want to learn to play the guitar. What's the best acoustic guitar for a total beginner?

Welcome to the wonderful (and occasionally fingertip-hurting) world of guitar playing! For a total beginner, the "best" guitar is one that stays in tune, feels comfortable in your hands, and doesn't cost a fortune—because if it's hard to play, you're less likely to practice.

Here are the top acoustic guitar recommendations for beginners, broken down by budget and style:

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Orangewood Rey or Manhattan (Best Modern Value)Orangewood specializes in direct-to-consumer acoustics that are professionally set up before shipping out. The Orangewood Rey Mahogany Cutaway at Orangewood Guitars (around $175) or the Manhattan dreadnought come with a great gig bag and have a reputation for having a low, comfortable "action" (meaning the strings aren't miles away from the fretboard, making it easier on your fingers).

Check out this helpful overview of top beginner guitars to see how these models compare in sound and feel:

59sThe best beginner acoustic guitars: These are the 4 youYouTube · Guitar World · ...18K views · 4 months ago

What to Look For as a Beginner:

1. Body Size: Dreadnoughts (like the Yamaha FG series) are full-sized and loud, but if you have a smaller frame, look for a "Grand Auditorium" or concert-size body so your arm isn't strained reaching over the top.
2. Action (String Height): High action makes pressing strings down painful and difficult. Buying from a reputable brand or taking a cheap guitar to a local shop for a quick "setup" changes everything.
3. Starter Packs vs. Solo Guitars: Bundles (like the Yamaha GigMaker Pack at Guitar Center ) give you a tuner, picks, and a strap right away, but sometimes buying a slightly better standalone guitar and a $15 clip-on tuner separately yields better quality.[1]

To help narrow this down, let me know:

• What is your budget range?
• Do you prefer a full-sized guitar or something a bit smaller/more compact?

If you're an adult total beginner, I'd start with the Yamaha FG800. It's around the $200–$250 range, has a solid spruce top, comfortable neck, and enough quality that you won't immediately feel the need to replace it as you improve. Guitar World specifically highlights it as a strong choice for adult beginners, while other current beginner guides also put it near the top of the category.Guitar World+1

• Yamaha FG800 - $229.00 (Chicago Music Exchange)

Two I'd seriously consider

• Yamaha FG800 — my pick for most adults. Full-size dreadnought, solid spruce top, loud and balanced sound, and roughly $215–$230 in current listings.Guitar World

• Fender CD-60S — excellent alternative. Its comfortable neck and rolled fingerboard edges make it particularly approachable when your fingers are still getting used to chords. Current versions are around $230.MusicRadar

• Yamaha FG800 - $229.00 (Chicago Music Exchange)

• Fender CD-60S Dreadnought - $229.99 (Sweetwater)

One important caveat

Don't automatically buy a full-size dreadnought if you're small-framed. They're fairly large. A smaller-body guitar such as the Yamaha FS800/FS820 or Fender CC-60S can be much more comfortable, and comfort matters enormously when you're trying to practice consistently.Guitar World

And I wouldn't spend $500+ on your first guitar unless you specifically want to. A good ~$200–$300 instrument gives you plenty to learn on.

If you tell me your budget, your height/build, and whether you want to play mostly songs/chords, fingerpicking, or singing along, I can narrow it down to one specific guitar and the accessories you'll actually need.

Welcome to the world of guitar! Starting out is an exciting journey, and choosing your very first acoustic comes down to striking the right balance between comfort, durability , and affordability so you actually want to keep practicing.

Watch this overview to see how top beginner acoustics compare side-by-side:

Here are the top-recommended acoustic guitars for total beginners, widely praised for their playability and value:

Add to list Yamaha FG800 (or the budget-friendly F335): Yamaha is the gold standard for beginner guitars . The Yamaha FG800 features a solid spruce top which gives it a remarkably rich, clear tone that actually improves as the wood ages. If you want to spend a little less, the Yamaha F335 Dreadnought is ultra-durable and very gentle on the wallet.[1]

Add to list Fender CD-60S : Another massive favorite for newcomers . It has a dreadnought body style for great volume, but Fender designs these with rolled fingerboard edges and a slim neck profile that makes pressing down strings (which hurts fingertips at first!) significantly easier.

Add to list Orangewood Rey : If you prefer a slightly smaller, more ergonomic body shape (Grand Auditorium) with an upper cutaway to reach higher frets easily , Orangewood ships their guitars setup and ready to play straight out of the box from their Los Angeles workshop.[1]

Add to list Seagull S6 Original : If you have a slightly larger budget and want a "lifetime" beginner instrument you will never outgrow, the Canadian-crafted Seagull S6 offers exceptional warmth, a solid cedar top, and a uniquely comfortable hand-finished neck.

To help narrow it down, what is your approximate budget and do you have smaller or larger hands ? I can give you a more tailored recommendation!

The Yamaha FG800 (or the smaller-bodied FS800 ) is widely considered the best overall acoustic guitar for a total beginner , retailing for around $230.

Top Beginner Acoustic Guitars

What to Look For in a Beginner Guitar

• Solid Wood Top: Guitars with a solid top (like spruce or cedar) resonate better and actually sound richer the more you play them. Avoid all-plastic or cheap laminated junk found in generic superstore toy bundles.
• Body Size: Dreadnoughts offer a full, loud sound , but concert or parlor body shapes (like the Yamaha FS800 ) are much more comfortable if you have a smaller frame or shorter arms.
• Action (String Height): High string action makes pressing down on strings painful and difficult. Yamaha and Fender entry-level acoustics are famous for having user-friendly setups right out of the box.

To help narrow down the best choice for you, tell me:

• Your budget range
• Your body size or age (if buying for a younger player)
• Whether you prefer ordering a complete kit with accessories or buying a standalone instrument

I can give you a final specific recommendation.

For a total beginner, the best acoustic guitar is usually one that is easy to play, stays in tune, and sounds good enough that you’ll want to practice. You don’t need a $1,000 guitar to start.

My top pick for most new players:

🥇 Best overall beginner acoustic: Yamaha FG800

Typical price: about $200–$300 Why it’s great:

• Solid spruce top (a big step up from many cheap beginner guitars)
• Loud, full sound that won’t feel “toy-like” after you improve
• Very reliable build quality
• Good enough to keep for years, even after you’re no longer a beginnerFretLane+1

Best for: adults learning strumming, folk, country, pop, and singer-songwriter styles.

Downside: The full-size dreadnought body can feel a little large if you have a smaller frame.

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🥈 Easiest-feeling beginner guitar:

Typical price: around $230–$250 Why beginners like it:

• Comfortable neck shape
• Rolled fretboard edges make chords feel smoother
• Solid spruce top
• Warm, balanced soundMusicRadar

Best for: someone worried about sore fingers or who wants the easiest first experience.

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🥉 Best if you have smaller hands or want comfort:

A smaller “concert” body:

• Easier to hold sitting down
• Great for fingerpicking
• Less physically intimidating than a big dreadnought

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What I would avoid as a first guitar

• Very cheap $50–$100 guitars (often have high strings that make learning frustrating)
• Oversized guitars if you find them uncomfortable
• Guitars bought only because they look cool—comfort matters more

Budget to plan for

A good beginner setup:

• Guitar: $200–$300
• Clip-on tuner: $10–$20
• Picks: $5
• Gig bag: $30–$60
• Optional setup (adjusting string height): $50–$100

My simple recommendation

• Most adults: Yamaha FG800
• If comfort is your top priority: Fender CD-60S
• If you’re smaller or want a less bulky guitar: Yamaha FS800

If you tell me your budget, age/size, and what music you want to play (Taylor Swift, Metallica, folk, worship, blues, etc.), I can narrow it down further.

If you're a total beginner, I'd make the Yamaha FG800 my first choice. It consistently ranks among the best beginner acoustics, and its solid spruce top gives you a surprisingly good sound for the money.MusicRadar+1

• Yamaha FG800J Solid Spruce Top Dreadnought - $259.99 (Guitar Center)

My picks

• 🥇 Best overall: Yamaha FG800 — around $230–260. Great build quality, full sound, and something you won't immediately outgrow.Guitar World

• 🥈 Easiest to play: Fender CD-60S — around $230. Its comfortable neck and rolled fretboard edges are particularly nice when your fingers aren't used to guitar yet.MusicRadar+1

• 🎸 If the guitar feels too big: Consider a smaller-bodied Yamaha FS800 or Fender CC-60S. A smaller body can be much more comfortable while you're learning.Guitar World

• Fender CD-60S Dreadnought - $229.99 (Guitar Center)

• Yamaha FS800J - $199.99 (Guitar Center)

• Fender CC-60S Concert - $229.99 (Sweetwater)

One important tip: don't buy the cheapest acoustic you can find. A guitar with uncomfortable action (strings sitting too high above the fretboard) can make learning unnecessarily frustrating. Spending roughly $200–$300 gets you into a very good beginner range today. Current listings put the FG800 around $230–260 and the CD-60S around $230.MusicRadar

If you tell me your budget (e.g. $150, $250, $500) and whether you're an adult or child, I can narrow it down to the exact guitar I'd buy.

Welcome to the club! Picking your first acoustic guitar is an exciting step, and the golden rule for beginners is simple: you want an instrument that stays in tune, feels comfortable in your hands, and doesn't hurt your fingers more than it has to.

When starting out, look for a solid wood top (rather than fully laminated/plywood bodies) because it improves the sound as it ages, and a comfortable body shape.[1]

The top acoustic guitars universally recommended by music educators and gear reviewers for total beginners include:

Add to listYamaha FG800 (or FG800M) — Widely considered the undisputed king of beginner acoustic guitars. It features a solid spruce top, excellent projection, and incredible build quality for around $240 . If you prefer a matte/satin feel that isn't sticky on your hands, look for the FG800M variant.musicradar.com+1[2][3]

Watch this detailed overview to see why the Yamaha FG800 is praised as a top choice for new players:

14:15Full Yamaha FG800 Review (2024) - Best Cheap BeginnerYouTube · Guitarist Next Door · ...18K views · 2 years ago

Add to listFender CD-60S — Another legendary entry-level dreadnought. What makes this particularly great for newbies is Fender's "Easy-to-Play" neck shape featuring rolled fretboard edges , which makes pressing down on strings feel much smoother on raw fingertips. It runs right around $230.[1][2]

Add to listOrangewood Rey — If you want a slightly more modern, boutique online buying experience, Orangewood makes fantastic, budget-friendly starter acoustics . The Rey (priced around $165 - $175) has a grand auditorium cutaway shape that is a bit easier to hug and reach around than a massive dreadnought, plus it comes professionally set up out of the box.[1]

To help narrow down the ideal choice, let me know:

• What is your budget range?
• Do you have a preference for body size (e.g., a large booming dreadnought vs. a smaller, more compact concert/auditorium size)?