Start with your budget and the type of music you want to play

The first decision is how much you want to spend and what sound you're after. A beginner electric guitar can cost anywhere from $150 to $300 and will work fine while you're learning. Mid-range guitars run $300 to $800 and hold their value better. Professional-grade instruments start around $800 and go much higher, but you don't need one to start playing well.

The music you want to play matters more than you might think. A guitar built for blues or rock will have different pickups and body shape than one designed for metal or country. You don't have to match perfectly—a decent guitar works across genres—but knowing your direction helps you avoid buying something that fights against what you want to do.

Key Takeaways

  • Budget ranges from $150 for a beginner setup to $800+ for professional guitars, and your starting price should match how serious you are about playing regularly.
  • Body style (solid, semi-hollow, or hollow) affects tone and comfort, and solid bodies are the most versatile choice for beginners.
  • Pickup type (single-coil or humbucker) shapes your sound more than almost anything else, so listen to recordings of each before deciding.
  • Neck feel—width, thickness, and wood—matters more than specs because you'll spend hours holding it, so you must play several guitars in person.
  • A complete beginner setup includes the guitar, an amplifier, a cable, a strap, and a tuner, and buying a bundle often costs less than buying separately.

Understand the three body styles and how they affect tone

Solid-body guitars are the most common and the best choice for most beginners. They're built from a single piece of wood with no hollow spaces inside. They're durable, affordable, and work well for any style of music. They also resist feedback when you turn up the volume, which matters if you ever play through an amplifier at volume.

Semi-hollow guitars have a thin wooden body with some air space inside, usually with a block of wood running down the center. They produce a warmer, slightly more resonant tone than solid bodies and are popular in blues, jazz, and classic rock. They're more expensive than solid bodies and can feed back if you crank the volume, which is why they're less common for metal or hard rock.

Hollow-body guitars are fully hollow inside, like an acoustic guitar. They have the warmest, most resonant tone but are expensive, heavy, and prone to feedback at high volumes. They're a specialty choice for jazz and vintage rock players, not a beginner instrument.

For your first guitar, a solid body is the right call. It's affordable, versatile, and won't limit what you can play later.

Pick the right pickup type for your sound

Pickups are the magnets under the strings that capture vibrations and send them to the amplifier. The two main types are single-coil and humbucker, and they sound noticeably different.

Single-coil pickups produce a bright, twangy, articulate tone. They're what you hear in classic rock, blues, and country. They're also cheaper and lighter. The downside is they can pick up electrical hum from nearby power lines and fluorescent lights—that's where the humbucker gets its name.

Humbuckers have two coils that cancel out that hum, and they produce a thicker, warmer, more aggressive tone. They're standard in metal, hard rock, and modern rock. They cost more and add a little weight to the guitar.

Listen to recordings of songs in the style you want to play and pay attention to the guitar tone. If you like what you hear, find out what pickup type was used. Many beginner guitars come with humbuckers because they're forgiving and work across many styles, so that's a safe default if you're unsure.

Test the neck in person—this matters more than the specs

The neck is what you hold for hours while playing, so how it feels in your hands is more important than any measurement. Three things matter: width, thickness, and the wood it's made from.

Width is measured at the nut (the white piece at the headstock where the strings start). Most electric guitars are between 1.6 and 1.75 inches wide. Wider necks are easier to play cleanly because your fingers have more space, but they're harder to reach across. Narrower necks are easier to wrap your hand around but require more precision. If you have small hands, try guitars with narrower necks. If you have large hands or play a lot of chords, a wider neck helps.

Thickness varies from thin (modern shredder guitars) to thick (vintage-style guitars). Thinner necks are easier to play fast, but thicker necks feel more substantial and can be more comfortable for long sessions. This is purely personal preference.

Wood affects tone slightly and durability more. Maple is hard and bright-sounding. Mahogany is warm and resonant. Rosewood is dense and dark. For a beginner, the difference is small—what matters is that the neck is straight and doesn't twist.

You must play several guitars in person to know what feels right. Go to a music store, pick up three or four different models in your price range, and spend ten minutes with each one. Your hands will tell you which one fits.

Check the hardware and electronics for reliability

Hardware is the metal parts: tuning pegs, bridge, and strap buttons. Look for solid metal construction without visible rust or loose parts. Tuning pegs should turn smoothly without grinding or slipping. The bridge should sit flat against the body with no gaps.

Electronics include the pickups, volume and tone knobs, and the output jack. Turn the knobs and listen for scratching or crackling—that means dirty contacts inside, which is annoying to deal with. Plug in a cable and wiggle it at the jack. If the sound cuts out, the jack is loose or damaged.

These things are fixable, but they cost money and time. A guitar with solid hardware and clean electronics will serve you better as a beginner.

Buy a complete beginner setup, not just the guitar

A guitar alone won't make sound. You need an amplifier, a cable, a strap, and a tuner. Many music stores sell beginner bundles that include all of these for less than buying separately.

A beginner amplifier should be 10 to 20 watts. That's loud enough to play at home and hear yourself clearly. Brands like Fender, Marshall, and Vox all make reliable entry-level amps in the $50 to $150 range. You don't need anything fancy—a basic amp with volume and tone controls is enough to start.

A cable is just a cable—any 10-foot instrument cable works. A strap keeps the guitar on your shoulder while standing. A tuner keeps the strings in pitch. A bundle usually includes all three plus the amp and guitar for $300 to $500 total, which is a better deal than buying each piece separately.

Play before you buy—don't order online without trying first

Buying a guitar online is tempting because of price, but you can't feel the neck or hear the tone through a video. If you're spending $200 or more, go to a music store and play the actual guitar you're considering. Every guitar is slightly different, even two of the same model.

If you live far from a music store, order from a retailer with a return policy. Sweetwater and Musician's Friend both allow returns within 30 days, so you can send it back if it doesn't feel right. That costs shipping money, but it's better than being stuck with a guitar you don't like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the brand matter for a beginner guitar?

Brand matters less than you think. Fender, Squier, Epiphone, and Ibanez all make solid beginner guitars. What matters more is how the specific guitar feels in your hands and whether the hardware is solid. A lesser-known brand with good construction beats a famous brand with loose tuning pegs.

Should I buy a used guitar to save money?

Used guitars can be good deals, but you need to inspect them carefully. Check for cracks in the wood, rust on the hardware, and whether the neck is straight. Play it through an amplifier to listen for electrical noise. If you're not sure what to look for, bring someone who plays guitar with you, or stick with new guitars from a store with a return policy.

What's the difference between a guitar with a tremolo system and one without?

A tremolo system (also called a whammy bar) lets you bend the pitch of all strings at once by moving a lever. They're fun for rock and metal but add complexity and can make tuning harder. For a beginner, a guitar without a tremolo is simpler and more stable. You can always add one later if you want.

How do I know if a guitar is the right size for me?

Electric guitars come in one standard size, unlike acoustics. What matters is how the neck feels in your hands and whether you can reach the frets comfortably. If you're under 5 feet tall or have very small hands, try a few guitars before buying to make sure the reach isn't a strain. Most people find standard electric guitars comfortable.

Is it worth buying an expensive guitar as a beginner?

No. A $200 to $400 guitar will teach you just as well as a $1,000 guitar. The difference in sound and playability matters more once you've been playing for a year or two and know what you want. Spend your money on lessons and practice time instead. You can always upgrade later.