Best acoustic guitars for beginners 2024: top picks for new players, reviewed and demoed by experts

The best acoustic guitars for beginners in our studio
(Image credit: Future)

Buying your first acoustic guitar is a fantastic moment and one you'll never forget – I can certainly remember my first flat-top. That's why it's critical to do your research and ensure you get the best acoustic guitar for beginners that fits your needs from day one. Luckily, you've come to the right place. My name is Daryl, and I’ll be your guide through the wonderful world of beginner acoustics. I’m a former music retail manager and I spent much of my 10 years in that part of the industry helping new players choose the right first guitar. Now, I write about and review guitars for a living for Guitar World.

For me, a great acoustic guitar for beginners should be both inviting to play for newbies and sound good enough to keep their attention, all while being affordable and accessible to the majority of rookie guitarists – in my opinion, every instrument I've included in this guide achieves this.

Expert verdict: Fender CD-60S
Jonathan Horsley
Expert verdict: Fender CD-60S
Jonathan Horsley

“I found the CD-60S to be one very playable dreadnought with a wide, well-balanced tone that belies its modest price. Ideal for beginners – fun for all.”

Read more: Fender CD-60S review

Expert verdict: Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy
Stuart Williams holding a guitar
Expert verdict: Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy
Stuart Williams

“With stunning looks, a short scale length and modest price tag, I feel this is an ideal guitar for younger players and adults alike.”

Read more: Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy review

Expert verdict: Yamaha FG800
Daryl Robertson
Expert verdict: Yamaha FG800
Daryl Robertson

“There’s no doubt about it, the Yamaha FG800 is one of the greatest beginner acoustic guitars of all time. Its solid top helps deliver a rich, full-bodied tone usually reserved for more expensive instruments. In addition, the smooth neck is comfortable, extremely playable, and perfect for players at the beginning of their musical journey.”

Read more: Yamaha FG800 review

Expert verdict: D'Angelico Premier Gramercy
Chris Corfield author image
Expert verdict: D'Angelico Premier Gramercy
Chris Corfield

“In my opinion, the D’Angelico Premier Gramercy is, undoubtedly, a fine guitar for the money. It is well-made, sounds decent, and looks interesting. Some players may find the tone on the bright side, but it can't be denied that the Premier Gramercy offers outstanding value for players of all levels.”

Read more: D'Angelico Premier Gramercy review

Expert verdict
Richard Blenkinsop profile pic
Expert verdict
Richard Blenkinsop

“Boasting an impressive spec, I found that the Alvarez AD30 delivers the classic dreadnought sound and response that we all know and love at a fantastic price point. For me, this is more than just a superb first guitar, it’s also a fun and reliable workhorse.”

Read more: Alvarez AD30 review

Expert verdict
Daryl Robertson
Expert verdict
Daryl Robertson

“They say good things come in small packages, and Taylor can certainly attest to that with the GS Mini. Not only is this scaled-down guitar super fun to play, but I think it also has a sound that would rival some of its larger-bodied competitors.”

Read more: Taylor GS Mini Mahogany review

Swipe to scroll horizontally
ModelRetail priceStyleSolid TopElectronics Suited for
Fender CD-60S$199/£149DreadnoughtYesNoAdults/older kids
Gretsch Jim Dandy$189/£189ParlorNoNoKids/smaller players
Yamaha FG800$229/£248DreadnoughtYesNoAdults/older kids
D'Angelico Premier Gramercy$249/£199Grand AuditoriumYesYesAdults/older kids
Alvarez AD30$329/£249DreadnoughtYesNoAdults/older kids
Taylor GS Mini-e$699/£699GS MiniYesYesKids/smaller players
Epiphone Hummingbird Studio Type: Dreadnought | Top: Solid Spruce| Back & Sides: Mahogany

Epiphone Hummingbird Studio ★★★★☆
Type: Dreadnought | Top: Solid Spruce| Back & Sides: Mahogany
Based on its big brother from parent company Gibson, the ‘real’ Hummingbird would set you back closer to $3,000, so this one is a bargain - and easily one of the best acoustic guitars under $500. We found the sound to be well-balanced and ideal for various styles, though the action, straight from the box, could be slightly lower to make it easier for beginners to play. For electrified sessions, Epiphone’s built-in Eperformer preamp is versatile enough to dish out a wide range of tones. Elsewhere, for us, the Grover tuners maintained reliable tension.

Read more: Epiphone Hummingbird Studio review

Martin LX1E Little Martin Type: Travel guitar | Top: Spruce| Back & Sides: HPL

Martin LX1E Little Martin ★★★★☆
Type: Travel guitar | Top: Spruce| Back & Sides: HPL
Don’t let the size fool you, though. Along with a brightness, in our test the guitar provided surprising volume from the Sitka spruce top and mahogany laminate sides. The high pressure laminate also helps deal with heat and humidity changes, which is useful for frequent travel. Fishman Sonitone electric controls enable a relatively broad range of volume and tonal variety with a phase control to emphasize bass, which is useful when playing at lower volumes.

Read more: Martin LX1E Little Martin review

Seagull S6 Original ★★★★Type: Dreadnought | Top: Solid Cedar| Back & Sides: Wild Cherry

Seagull S6 Original ★★★★
Type: Dreadnought | Top: Solid Cedar| Back & Sides: Wild Cherry
Canadian-made Seagull guitars are renowned for their high build quality, and the S6 is no different. It’s a grown-up guitar in the sense that it’s far from flashy, but it has everything you need to last beyond your beginner days. Its refined construction is complemented with a bright tone, but especially useful for the more gentle fingerpicking style, the Seagull S6 enables beautiful warmth with a low volume and light touch. As you’d expect from this level of build quality, this beginner’s acoustic stays in tune and is so easy and enjoyable to play.

You can trust Guitar World Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Daryl Robertson
Daryl Robertson

I'm Guitar World's Senior Deals Writer. In this role I create and maintain the 200+ buyer's guides you'll find on the site, find the best deals on guitar products for our readers, and test the latest gear. My reviews have been featured in prominent publications including Total Guitar, Future Music magazine and MusicRadar.com.

During my career, I have been lucky enough to talk to many of my musical heroes, having interviewed Slash and members of The Offspring, Foo Fighters, Sum 41, Thrice, and more. Prior to joining the Guitar World team, I worked in music retail, at Kenney's Music in Dundee, Scotland. For a decade, I advised everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned pros on the ultimate gear for their needs, from beginner acoustic guitars, to top-end modelers.

Recent updates

10/10/24: We have completely overhauled this page, adding demo videos for each guitar, sizing guide photos so you can get a better sense of the scale of each guitar and added more in-depth information and clarity to our buying advice section.
06/06/24: In addition to auditing the products, we've also gone into further depth with our buying advice and testing methodology.
04/03/24: To simplify this guide, we've narrowed our choices to only six products. These are the six models that we truly believe are the best beginner acoustic guitars on the market right now, and most worthy of your cash.

Daryl Robertson
Senior Deals Writer

Daryl is a Senior Deals Writer at Guitar World, where he creates and maintains our 200+ buyer's guides, finds the best deals on guitar products, and tests the latest gear. His reviews have been featured in prominent publications like Total Guitar, Future Music magazine, and MusicRadar.com.

During his career, he has been lucky enough to talk to many of his musical heroes, having interviewed Slash and members of Sum 41, Foo Fighters, The Offspring, Feeder, Thrice, and more. In a past life, Daryl worked in music retail. For a little under a decade, he advised everyone from absolute beginners to seasoned pros on the right gear for their needs. 

Daryl is also a fully qualified sound engineer, holding a first-class Bachelor's degree in Creative Sound Production from the University of Abertay. 

With contributions from