15 Best Guitars for Beginners 2021

There has never been a better time to get into playing the guitar. It’s an enriching way to broaden your musical knowledge and develop your sense of rhythm and timing that is all the more enjoyable with a well-chosen guitar. Whether you want to create hard-hitting riffs or strum chords around the campfire, it’s important to find the right instrument. Luckily, today’s market is full of high-quality guitars that are perfectly priced for beginning guitarists. Choosing the right instrument when you’re starting out will influence your playing experience more than at any other point along the road. You’ll want to choose an instrument that’s easy to play, stays in tune, sounds good, and that will inspire you for years to come.

Sweetwater knows that buying your first guitar is an exciting yet daunting task. So we tapped the expertise of our players, teachers, and technicians to create a list of the best guitars for beginners in 2021. Since all budding guitar players are different and want to play various styles, what constitutes the “best” guitar for beginners can vary widely. That’s why we’ve included acoustic and electric guitars in our list. So without further ado, here is Sweetwater’s list of the 15 best guitars for beginners in 2021!

Best Electric Guitars for BeginnersSquier Affinity Series TelecasterSquier Classic Vibe Telecaster ’50sIbanez Gio GRX70QAIbanez Gio GRG7221QAIbanez RG421Epiphone Les Paul StudioPRS SE Standard 24Squier Bullet Mustang HH

Best Acoustic Guitars for BeginnersLuna Aurora Borealis 3/4-sizeLuna Woodland Bamboo DreadnoughtTaylor Academy 10Takamine GD20Martin LXK2 Little MartinTaylor Baby Mahogany BT2Fender CD-140SCE

Best Electric Guitars for Beginners

Squier Affinity Series Telecaster

The Squier Affinity Series Telecaster is an excellent entry-level electric guitar. Affectionately called the Tele, the Telecaster helped usher in the era of the solidbody electric guitar and produces a bright and bold tone that’s been heard on records of all musical styles for the last six decades. The Affinity Series Telecaster provides full-bodied Tele tone at a price you can’t believe. It has a lightweight body and comfortable neck that make it easy to play for hours on end. The Squier Affinity Series Telecaster makes our list of the best beginner guitars for its classic sound, excellent build quality, and value pricing.

Descended from decades of fine instruments, the Squier Affinity Series Telecaster has everything you need to get started on your guitar journey. It has two vintage-style single-coil pickups that provide you with a wide range of tonal options. For the budding rock ‘n’ roller, this electric guitar is definitely one to consider.

Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster ’50s

The Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster ’50s re-creates the magic of the legendary black guard Telecasters from the early 1950s. This axe has vintage appointments and styling consisting of a singly-ply black pickguard, flat pole-piece bridge pickup, Alnico III magnets, and brass saddles. The Classic Vibe Telecaster ’50s has some modern enhancements that make it even easier to play. The most notable of these is a 9.5″ fretboard radius and modern C-shaped neck that make this guitar more comfortable to play as your skills develop.

You can’t go wrong with the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster ’50s. The Tele is a working-class hero that captures the most essential features of the electric guitar and leaves everything else by the wayside. It has versatile tones and classic styling that players of all backgrounds love. In the neck position, the Alnico III pickup provides you with a more mellow and relaxed tone. Meanwhile, the vintage-style single-coil bridge pickup delivers the legendary black guard tone — wiry, bright, and bold. One of the most popular guitars out there, the Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster ’50s takes everything we love about vintage Telecasters and packs it into a guitar that’s perfect for a beginner.

Ibanez Gio GRX70QA

Looking for something a little more modern? Ibanez specializes in creating high-quality versatile instruments that can be used in any genre. The Ibanez Gio GRX70QA is a triple-pickup solidbody electric guitar with a lightweight poplar body, rock-solid maple neck, and treated New Zealand pine fingerboard. It’s equipped with an Ibanez FAT-6 tremolo bridge that can handle anything from subtle vibrato to screaming dive-bombs while staying perfectly in tune. There’s not much that the Ibanez Gio GRX70QA can’t do.

This axe is equipped with two humbucking pickups in the neck and bridge positions. These high-output pickups use ceramic magnets to produce a powerful, modern tone that will drive your amp a little harder than traditional humbuckers. The single-coil pickup in the middle position delivers classic tones that are perfectly suited for clean melodies and chording. This guitar doesn’t just sound good — it looks awesome! With a quilted maple veneer, chrome hardware, and glossy finish, this axe looks the part of a high-octane playing machine. If you want to own a high-quality instrument without paying an arm and a leg, the Ibanez Gio GRX70QA is a great option.

Ibanez Gio GRG7221QA

The Ibanez Gio GRG7221QA is the only extended-range guitar on our list. It has seven strings and 24 frets that make it perfect for drop tunings and heavy riffing. In true Ibanez fashion, it has an incredibly thin neck that feels fast and buttery. This axe features two Ibanez Infinity R pickups that create scalding-hot tones that sound great through a dimed amp. Seriously, our guitar players couldn’t say enough good things about the Ibanez Gio GRG7221QA. This guitar is a budget-conscious option for anyone wanting to get started in the world of extended-range guitars.

This Ibanez has an eye-catching quilted maple top and painted headstock that make it stand out in a crowd. In addition to its visual appointments, it has features that greatly improve its playability. The Gio GRG7221QA is equipped with a hardtail bridge that makes its tuning stability second to none. Next, it has a classic double-cutaway body that gives you unparalleled access to the upper frets. If you’re a fan of heavy music, the Ibanez Gio GRG7221QA is perfect for you.

Ibanez RG421

The Ibanez RG421 is a dream to play and economical to buy. With an extremely thin maple neck and jatoba fingerboard, it’s perfect for barn-burning solos. With its dual humbucker pickup configuration, hardtail bridge, and excellent tuning stability, this model has the potential to be a rock machine. It feels great in your hand and has lightweight construction that you’ll immediately fall in love with.

When you’re just starting out, you’ll want a guitar that plays well, sounds amazing, and looks good at the same time. The Ibanez RG421 checks every box on that list and has more attitude than you’ll know what to do with. The mahogany body creates tons of resonance, and its pickups capture a large tonal range. It has a 5-way switch, master volume, and tone controls to coax more tonal possibilities from the powerful humbuckers. The neck has a 15.7″-radius fingerboard that’s designed to make soloing easy. The Ibanez RG421 is the sort of guitar that begs to be picked up.

Epiphone Les Paul Studio

The Epiphone Les Paul Studio is a budget-friendly reincarnation of the iconic Les Paul. One of the most recognizable guitars in the world, the Les Paul has been seen in the hands of rock icons, country stars, metal practitioners, and blues players around the world. The thick, powerful tone of a Les Paul has been heard on records from Led Zeppelin, Guns N’ Roses, and the Who. Today, Epiphone offers the Les Paul’s legendary blues tone at a price point that any player can justify.

This axe makes our list for its sheer versatility. No matter what genre you’re interested in, the Epiphone Les Paul Studio will be ready to play it. It has a solid mahogany body, mahogany neck, and pau ferro fingerboard that provide great resonance and warmth. When you plug it in, the dual humbucking pickups create a versatile and defined tone. Its sound suits any genre, whether through a clean or dirty amp. All in all, the Epiphone Les Paul Studio is a great choice for any beginner’s first guitar.

PRS SE Standard 24

The PRS SE Standard 24 is a guitar that combines good looks and great tone with excellent construction. Every PRS guitar is manufactured with quality in mind and delivers unmatched playability. This guitar has a resonant body, 24-fret maple neck, and two humbucking pickups. It comes with high-end features such as coil splitting, a PRS-designed tremolo, and a bound body. Like all PRS guitars, this one has a stunning finish that shows off the grain of its mahogany body. This eye-catching guitar is a favorite of players around Sweetwater.

The PRS SE Standard 24 is loaded with PRS 85/15 S humbucking pickups that give you clear highs and crystalline clean tones. When you dial up the gain on your amp, these pickups add extra grit and really rock. For more tonal variation, each pickup can be split into a single coil by pulling one of the pots. The PRS SE Standard 24’s range of tonal options makes it the perfect beginner guitar and workhorse for recording. The PRS SE Standard 24 is more than capable of growing with you as you sharpen your skills.

Squier Bullet Mustang HH

Leaning toward the alternative side of the music spectrum? The Squier Bullet Mustang HH is a great option for you to consider. When it was originally introduced in the 1960s, the Fender Mustang was intended as a student model. Since then, it’s been used by alternative rockers in bands such as Nirvana and Sonic Youth. The Squier Bullet Mustang HH is a short-scale guitar with eye-catching styling and a tone to match. Like some of the other guitars on our list, this guitar has two humbucking pickups that lend it more punch than a guitar with single-coil pickups.

You’ll love playing this guitar. Its 24″ scale length lends a softer feel to the strings and is well suited to players with smaller hands. It has a light basswood body, C-shaped maple neck, Indian laurel fingerboard, and a hardtail bridge that give it great resonance and tuning stability. If you’re an aspiring indie rocker or want an instrument that’s designed specifically for a beginner, the Squier Mustang HH is your top choice.

Best Acoustic Guitars for Beginners

Luna Aurora Borealis 3/4-size

The Luna Aurora Borealis 3/4-size guitar is perfect for beginners and students. It’s built by Luna, a company that’s known for producing instruments with top-notch build quality that have an unmistakable vibe about them. This acoustic has a scale length of 22.5″, which makes it easy to play. If you’re a player who can envision yourself traveling with your instrument, the Aurora Borealis will be perfect for you. This guitar is built for playing comfort and will inspire you to melodies of your own as you continue learning.

The Aurora Borealis 3/4-size guitar is a great option for anyone who wants to own a show-stopping acoustic guitar. It has a gorgeous gloss finish, a crescent moon soundhole rosette, and moon phase fingerboard inlays. Aside from its good looks, this guitar produces a large and open tone, thanks to its basswood body construction. This guitar has a slim mahogany neck that small hands will love. Whether you’re buying a guitar for yourself or any of your little ones, there’s a lot to love about the Luna Aurora Borealis 3/4-size guitar. It has good looks, a sweet tone, and a great vibe that you won’t want to put down.

Luna Woodland Bamboo Dreadnought

Want a guitar that’s as unique as you are? Check out the Luna Woodland Bamboo Dreadnought. The body of the guitar is made from bamboo and has a unique butcher-block-style construction. Around the soundhole, Luna added a laser-etched bamboo leaf rosette. Paired with the moon phase fingerboard inlays, this guitar has a great visual vibe that matches its laid-back sound. Bamboo is a lightweight renewable tonewood with a great degree of durability and bright tone. As such, the Luna Woodland Bamboo Dreadnought is the perfect guitar for the environmentally conscious beginner.

When you’re playing the Luna Woodland Bamboo Dreadnought, you’ll be surprised by its open and bright tone. The full-size dreadnought shape produces a lot of volume and lets the low end sing out without becoming muddy. If you want to take a guitar to the beach or sit around the fire, this is the perfect one for you. You’ll love the Luna Woodland Bamboo Dreadnought for its open tone and strong projection that’s perfect for any application you can dream up.

Taylor Academy 10

The Taylor Academy 10 has everything you could want from a beginner guitar. This acoustic guitar is a member of Taylor’s Academy series of acoustic guitars. Designed specifically for students, the Academy series is a range of affordable guitars that players of all ages will love to play for hours at a time. Staying true to Taylor’s roots, this acoustic guitar has a classic, straightforward appearance that lets the natural beauty of its tonewood shine through.

The Academy 10 has a solid Sitka spruce top that’s paired with layered sapele back and sides. For your playing comfort, Taylor included a beveled armrest on the upper bout. The armrest smooths out the contact point between your picking arm and the body of the guitar to increase playing comfort and reduce playing fatigue. It also has a scale length of 24.8″. This shorter scale gives the strings a softer feel that doesn’t require a lot of fretting pressure. If you’re looking for a beginner guitar that gives you unmatched bang for your buck, the Taylor Academy 10 is the one you want.

Takamine GD20

Hailing from the foothills of Japan, Takamine has been manufacturing world-renowned instruments since the ’60s. The Takamine GD20 acoustic guitar is a great option for any beginner. It has everything you want, including classic styling, great tonewoods, and a noteworthy voice. This dreadnought comes equipped with a solid cedar top with mahogany back and sides. It produces a big sound that easily fills any room it’s played in. Trust us, when you play it for the first time, you’ll know you’ve found a keeper.

The Takamine GD20 has an ovangkol-topped mahogany neck that produces highly articulate notes suited for the fingerstylist and flatpicker alike. This guitar has a split-saddle design to enhance intonation and ensure you always sound your best. With its premium tonewoods, tonal fidelity, and rock-solid construction, you won’t have to worry about replacing this axe any time soon. In fact, as you play, the cedar top will respond by producing warm, resonant tones. If you’re the type who thinks toward the future, you can be assured that the Takamine GD20 will easily keep pace as your musical interests grow.

Martin LXK2 Little Martin

The LXK2 Little Martin is made by one of the world’s most recognized acoustic guitar builders. Since 1833, C. F. Martin’s instruments have been seen in the hands of the world’s foremost musicians. Musicians of all kinds, such as Elvis, Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, and Ed Sheeran, trust Martin guitars to provide the acoustic tones you hear on many favorite records. The LXK2 Little Martin’s body is made from koa-grained HPL (high-pressure laminate). HPL is incredibly durable and resists damage from changes in temperature and humidity. Since it’s made from HPL, this guitar will last much longer than other acoustics in harsh environments.

This guitar isn’t just durable; it plays and sounds great at the same time. You’ll enjoy mellow tones and a comfortable low-profile neck carve. Made from Stratabond, the neck is sure to be comfortable for long practices. The Martin LXK2 Little Martin has a small body that won’t get in your way while playing. If you want a small-body acoustic guitar that can stand up to punishment and that travels easily, check out the Martin LXK2 Little Martin.

Taylor Baby Mahogany BT2

The Taylor Baby Mahogany BT2 will be the perfect guitar for any beginner. It’s a 3/4-size dreadnought with a solid mahogany top and layered sapele back and sides. It has sweet dreadnought tone with a midrange punch that you’ll love. Because of its size, this guitar is absolutely perfect for beginners with small hands. Alternately, this guitar can be the perfect travel companion for camping or bonfire lullabies.

The Baby Mahogany BT2 is a pint-sized dreadnought that pumps out full-sized tone. This authentic sound is perfectly suited to the student and seasoned player. This guitar’s short scale length makes fretting chords incredibly easy. In true Taylor fashion, this instrument is well crafted and will be sure to keep you company for years as your musical prowess grows. This guitar makes our list of the best guitars for beginners in 2021 for its great value and tone.

Fender CD-140SCE

Fender is responsible for creating many of the world’s most revered instruments. Their acoustics trace their lineage to the laid-back culture of West Coach beaches. The Fender CD-140SCE furthers that tradition by supplying budding guitarists with a well-priced acoustic that carries premium tonewoods and electronics. You’ll enjoy the responsive top, slim neck, and onboard Fishman electronics that work together to create a stellar playing experience.

The Fender CD-140SCE features a solid spruce top that’s paired with an ovangkol body. It has Fender-designed bracing that opens up the sound to produce a full low end while maintaining clear highs. The cutaway body allows you access to the higher frets for lead lines and innovative chord shapes. It has a rosewood fingerboard and a mahogany neck that has an easy-to-play shape and rolled fret edges for your playing comfort. To make your performing life easier, the Fender CD-140SCE has an onboard tuner and notch filter to control feedback. This allows you to plug in and play onstage without worry. We can’t imagine a better beginner guitar — once you get started with the Fender CD-140SCE, you won’t look back.

Conclusion

That’s all folks! You’ve finished our list of recommended axes that are perfect for first-time guitar players. No matter what age you are when you begin, Sweetwater is happy to help you start off on your musical journey. Remember, no matter what you want to play, Sweetwater has a guitar to fit your sonic tastes and budget. If you have any questions about the guitars on our list, call one of our Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700, and they’ll be happy to help you decide which guitar fits your needs.

The post 15 Best Guitars for Beginners 2021 appeared first on inSync.