How to Choose Your First Guitar (Without Wasting Money)

Buying your first guitar can be confusing. A poorly set-up guitar is one of the most common reasons beginners give up — it hurts to play and never sounds right. Here is what to look for.

1. Decide acoustic, electric or classical

Acoustic (steel-string) suits songs and strumming, electric suits rock and lead, and classical (nylon-string) is softer on fingers and great for fingerstyle and younger learners.

2. Check the action

Action is the height of the strings above the fretboard. High action makes chords painful. Ask for a guitar with low, comfortable action or get it set up after purchase.

3. Pick the right size

Smaller learners may be more comfortable on a 3/4 size guitar. Adults usually play full-size instruments.

4. Don’t overspend — or underspend

Very cheap guitars often have tuning and playability problems. A reliable entry-level guitar from a known brand is a better investment than either extreme.

5. Learn first, buy later

The smartest move is to start lessons before you buy. At Goonj, we help every student find the right instrument for their level and budget, so you buy once and buy right. Start guitar classes.