WikiCompare live prices on guitar across Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Target, Best Buy, AliExpress, and curated Awin partner merchants. Acoustic beginner: Yamaha FG800 ($230 — best $/quality), Taylor GS Mini ($550 — small body, premium tone), Martin LX1 Little Martin ($450 — travel-size legend). Electric beginner: Squier Classic Vibe Stratocaster ($500 — punches way above price), Epiphone Les Paul Standard ($700). Amp: Fender Mustang LT25 ($150) or Boss Katana 50 MkII ($250). Skip the under-$150 starter kits — bad action makes practicing miserable. Get a setup ($50-80 at a local shop) on any new guitar — fixes action, intonation, and string height. Click any card to open the seller's product page; we earn a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions about guitar
Best beginner acoustic guitar?
Yamaha FG800 ($230) — Wirecutter pick, best $/quality ratio. Taylor GS Mini ($550) — small body, premium tone, great for kids/travel. Martin LX1 Little Martin ($450) — travel-size legend. Skip Squier acoustics — they're misnamed (Squier is Fender's electric brand). Avoid sub-$150 starter guitars — bad action makes practicing miserable.
Acoustic vs electric guitar for beginners?
Acoustic: simpler (no amp, no cables, plug-and-play), portable, develops finger strength faster. Electric: easier on fingers initially (lower string action), more genres possible, requires $100+ amp. Most teachers recommend acoustic first; electric second. Both teach proper technique.
Where to buy guitars online?
Sweetwater (consensus best — each guitar hand-inspected before shipping). Reverb (eBay for music gear — new + used from individuals). Guitar Center (broad selection, in-person fit + online). Musician's Friend. Sweetwater's personal sales rep adds real value.
How much should I spend on my first guitar?
$200-500 minimum for quality. Below $200, bad action + intonation will frustrate beginners + cause quitting. Yamaha FG800 ($230) is the sweet spot. Add: tuner (Snark Clip-On $15), gig bag ($30), strap ($20), extra strings ($10). Total starter kit: $300-600. Don't buy 'best-quality' guitar for first one — upgrade as you progress.
Do I need lessons or can I teach myself?
Mix of both. Free resources: JustinGuitar.com (most-recommended free site), YouTube tutorials. Paid: Yousician app ($150/year), local teacher ($30-80/hour). Beginners benefit from at least 5-10 lessons for proper technique foundation. Self-taught later. Most successful players combine teacher + apps + YouTube.
How often should I tune my guitar?
Every time you play. New strings need re-tuning frequently for first 2-3 days. Temperature + humidity changes detune guitars. Quality tuner (Snark Clip-On $15 or Boss TU-3 pedal $100) essential. Beginners give up because they play out of tune — fix tuning first, before anything else.