How To Choose Your First Acoustic Guitar

By How To Host A Relaxed Open Mic Night
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11 Sep 2026

How To Choose Your First Acoustic Guitar

Start With How It Feels, Not How It Looks

Walk into any guitar shop and the wall of gleaming instruments can be overwhelming. Shiny sunburst finishes, exotic tonewoods, price tags that make your eyes water. It is tempting to reach straight for the prettiest guitar in the room, but experienced players will tell you the same thing: your first acoustic should be chosen with your hands and your ears, not your eyes.

An acoustic guitar is a physical relationship. You will hold it against your body for hours at a time, wrap your fretting hand around its neck, and press steel strings into your fingertips until they toughen up. If the instrument fights you, you will practise less. If it welcomes you, you will play every day without thinking about it. So before you think about brand names or wood species, think about comfort.

Body Size: The Single Biggest Decision

Acoustic guitars come in several standard body shapes, and the one you choose affects volume, tone and — crucially — how easy the instrument is to hold. For a beginner, this matters more than almost anything else.

Parlour and 00/000 sizes: Smaller, shallower bodies that sit comfortably against the chest. Ideal for smaller frames, younger players, or anyone who finds a full-sized guitar awkward. They project less volume but are wonderfully balanced and easy to fingerpick.
Dreadnought: The classic big-bodied acoustic. Loud, bold, with a strong bass response. Fantastic for strumming and singing along, but the deep body can feel bulky if you are petite or sitting on a low stool.
Jumbo and grand auditorium: Bigger and often louder, with a more even tonal spread. Great for players who want projection, though they can be heavy on the shoulder.
Travel and three-quarter size: Compact instruments designed for portability. Excellent for small hands, though the shorter scale means slightly less resonance.

There is no "correct" size — only the size that fits you. A smaller guitar that you play every day will teach you far more than a dreadnought that stays in its case.

Neck Width and Scale Length

Beginners often overlook the neck, then wonder why chords feel impossible. Neck width is measured at the nut, and it determines how far your fingers must stretch. Most steel-string acoustics sit between 43mm and 45mm, while classical guitars are wider at around 50mm.

A narrower neck is generally kinder to small hands and beginners learning open chords. A wider neck gives you more room for fingerstyle playing and complex picking, but demands more stretch. If you can, sit down with a few guitars and form a simple G chord on each. Notice which one lets your fingers land cleanly without buzzing or muting neighbouring strings.

Scale length — the distance from nut to saddle — also matters. A shorter scale reduces string tension, making bends and barre chords easier on tender fingers. Many beginner-friendly guitars use a scale of around 628mm rather than the standard 650mm, and that small difference is genuinely noticeable in the first few months.

Action, Strings and Setup

Action is the height of the strings above the fretboard. If it is too high, your fingers will ache and chords will sound sharp. If it is too low, strings will buzz against the frets. A well-set-up guitar should feel almost effortless to press down in the first position.

Many budget instruments leave the factory with action that is playable but not ideal. Ask the shop to check it, or budget for a professional setup from a local luthier. This small investment transforms an average guitar into a pleasure to play. Also consider string gauge: lighter strings (10s or 11s) are easier on beginner fingertips than heavy 13s, and you can always move up as your hands strengthen.

Tone: Trust Your Ears

You do not need an encyclopaedic knowledge of tonewoods to judge tone, but a few pointers help. Solid tops — usually spruce or cedar — vibrate more freely than laminated ones, giving richer, more complex sound that improves as the guitar ages. Cedar tends to sound warm and mellow from day one; spruce starts bright and opens up over time.

Back and sides of mahogany produce a warm, woody character, while rosewood offers deeper bass and shimmering treble. None of this is a rulebook. Play the same chord on five guitars and you will hear five distinct voices. Choose the one that makes you want to keep playing.

Try Before You Buy — and Ask Questions

Buying online is convenient, but an acoustic guitar is not a pair of shoes you can simply return. Whenever possible, visit a shop and play several instruments in your budget. Play the same few chords on each so you can compare fairly.

Do not be shy about asking for help. Staff in specialist music shops have usually played for years and will happily hand you a range of guitars, adjust the stool, or check the action. If you know an experienced player, bring them along — a second pair of ears catches things you might miss.

Finally, set a realistic budget and stick to it. A well-set-up mid-range guitar will serve you better than a poorly set-up expensive one. Buy the instrument that feels like an invitation, not an obstacle, and you will be playing songs within weeks.

Acoustic

Preparing For Your First Folk Festival Weekend

These gentle fingerpicking patterns help new writers accompany simple melodies. Practise slowly with a metronome before adding lyrics and dynamics to your songs.

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5 Comments

Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply
- John Abraham says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
  
  I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
  Reply
  - Robert Sonnysays Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
    
    I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
    Reply
Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply

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