Start with body size and how it feels in your hands

The first thing to test is whether the guitar sits comfortably against your body and whether your hand can reach around the neck. Acoustic guitars come in five main sizes: full-size (dreadnought), concert, grand concert, parlor, and travel. A full-size dreadnought is the standard—about 41 inches long—and works well for most adults. If you have smaller hands, a shorter neck on a concert or grand concert guitar (around 38 to 40 inches) will let you fret notes without stretching as much.

Hold the guitar across your lap the way you would play it. Your fretting arm (usually your left) should be able to reach the first fret without your elbow locking straight. Your strumming arm should have room to move freely without hitting your body. If you are under 5 feet 4 inches tall or have particularly small hands, try a concert-size guitar before buying full-size. The difference in comfort matters more than you might think when you are learning, because an uncomfortable guitar teaches you bad posture.

Key Takeaways

  • Body size affects comfort and playability—full-size dreadnoughts work for most adults, but smaller players should test concert or grand concert sizes before committing.
  • Wood type shapes the sound: spruce and cedar tops are standard, and different back woods (mahogany, rosewood, maple) change how the guitar resonates and projects.
  • Action (string height) matters more than price—a $300 guitar with low action is easier to play than a $1,000 guitar with high action, and a technician can adjust it for $50 to $150.
  • Test the guitar in person if possible, because sound and feel vary widely even within the same model, and you need to hear how it sounds to your ear.
  • Budget $200 to $400 for a beginner guitar that will stay playable as you improve, rather than spending $100 on something that will frustrate you into quitting.

Understand how wood type affects tone and durability

The top of the guitar (the face that vibrates when you pluck the strings) is almost always made from spruce or cedar. Spruce is brighter and more responsive—it projects well and develops a richer tone as it ages. Cedar is warmer and darker from the start, which some players prefer for fingerstyle playing. Both are good choices; the difference is mostly about your ear. If you play in a loud band or need volume, spruce tends to cut through better.

The back and sides of the guitar are usually mahogany, rosewood, or maple. Mahogany is warm and woody, rosewood is bright and punchy, and maple is crisp and articulate. These woods also affect how durable the guitar is—rosewood and maple are harder and more resistant to dings, while mahogany is softer and shows wear faster. For a beginner, mahogany is forgiving and affordable. As you play more, you may develop a preference for how different woods sound, but at the start, focus on whether the guitar feels good to play.

Check the action and have it adjusted if needed

Action is the height of the strings above the fretboard. High action makes the guitar harder to play because you have to press harder to get a clear note, and your fingers tire faster. Low action makes playing easier but can cause buzzing if it is too low. The ideal action for a beginner is somewhere in the middle—high enough that the strings do not buzz, low enough that you do not need superhuman finger strength.

When you test a guitar, press down on the first fret and the last fret at the same time, and look at the gap between the strings and the fretboard in the middle. If the gap is more than a quarter-inch, the action is probably too high. If the strings buzz when you play open chords, the action is too low. Many beginner guitars come with action that is too high from the factory. A guitar technician can lower the action by adjusting the nut and bridge, which usually costs $50 to $150 and makes a huge difference in playability. A $300 guitar with adjusted action will feel better than a $1,000 guitar with high action.

Listen for clear tone and even volume across the strings

Play each string open (without fretting) and listen for a clear, ringing tone. The sound should not be dull or muted. Then play a straightforward chord—an open G or D—and listen for whether all the strings ring out evenly or whether some are quieter than others. Uneven volume usually means the guitar has a structural issue or the action is uneven, and it is hard to fix.

Pluck the strings one at a time and listen for sustain—how long the note rings after you pluck it. A good guitar will sustain for several seconds. A cheap guitar will sound dead and short. This is one of the clearest signs of quality, and you can hear it when ready. If you are buying online and cannot test the guitar in person, watch videos of the exact model being played and listen to how long the notes ring.

Decide between new, used, and budget brands

A new beginner guitar from a reputable brand (Yamaha, Fender, Takamine, Ibanez, or Cort) in the $200 to $400 range will be playable and hold its value. These guitars are made to a consistent standard, and you know what you are getting. A used guitar from a good brand can be a bargain if it has been maintained, but you need to inspect it for cracks, loose bracing, or fret wear. If you are buying used, ask the seller whether the guitar has been serviced recently and whether it has any structural damage.

Very cheap guitars (under $150) often have high action, poor intonation (the strings do not stay in tune up the neck), and thin tone. They are frustrating to play, and beginners often quit because they think they are bad at guitar when really the guitar is bad. Spending a little more upfront saves you from that trap. If budget is tight, buy a used Yamaha or Fender instead of a new no-name brand.

Test intonation by playing up the neck

Intonation is whether the guitar stays in tune as you move up the fretboard. Play the open low E string, then play the 12th fret (the octave). Use a tuner to check whether they are the same note. Then check a few other strings the same way. If the 12th fret is noticeably sharp or flat compared to the open string, the guitar has intonation problems. This is usually caused by the bridge being in the wrong position or the neck being warped, and it is expensive to fix.

Intonation problems are rare in new guitars from established brands, but they are common in very cheap guitars and some used guitars that have been stored in dry conditions. If you find intonation problems during your test, it is a reason to walk away or negotiate the price down significantly.

Consider where you will play and what sound you want

If you plan to play in a bedroom or living room, a smaller guitar (concert or parlor size) will be loud enough and easier to hold for long periods. If you want to play in a band or at open mics, a full-size dreadnought projects better and cuts through other instruments. If you play fingerstyle (plucking individual strings instead of strumming), a warmer-sounding cedar-top guitar may feel more natural. If you play folk or rock, a brighter spruce-top guitar is more versatile.

These are preferences, not rules. The best guitar is the one that sounds good to your ear and feels comfortable in your hands. If you are not sure what you want yet, a full-size spruce-top dreadnought is the safest choice because it works for almost every style and every player.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a dreadnought and a concert guitar?

A dreadnought is larger (about 41 inches) and louder, with a brighter, punchier tone. A concert guitar is smaller (about 38 inches) and quieter, with a warmer tone. Dreadnoughts are better for strumming and playing in groups. Concert guitars are better for fingerstyle and for players with smaller hands.

Do I need to spend a lot of money to get a good beginner guitar?

No. A guitar in the $200 to $400 range from a brand like Yamaha or Fender will be playable and will not hold you back as you improve. Spending more does not make you a better player, and spending less often means you get a guitar that is frustrating to play.

Can I adjust the action myself?

Minor adjustments to the truss rod (which controls neck relief) can be done at home if you follow a guide carefully, but lowering the action properly requires removing and reshaping the nut and bridge. This is a job for a technician. It costs $50 to $150 and is worth the money.

Should I buy a guitar with a cutaway?

A cutaway makes it easier to reach the high frets, but it reduces the body size and makes the guitar quieter. For a beginner, a non-cutaway guitar is better because you get more volume and resonance. Once you are comfortable playing, you can decide whether a cutaway matters to you.

What if I cannot test the guitar in person before buying?

Buy from a retailer with a return policy so you can send it back if it does not feel right. Watch videos of the exact model being played so you can hear the tone. Read reviews from other players. Check the specifications for action height and wood type. Many online retailers will also adjust the action before shipping if you ask.