Learning to play the acoustic guitar is one of the most rewarding hobbies you can pick up. The versatility and portability of the acoustic guitar make it an ideal instrument for beginners. With so many options on the market, it can be overwhelming trying to find the best acoustic guitar for starting your musical journey. This guide will compare six of the top-rated acoustic guitars for beginners, weighing factors like body style, top wood, and pricing.

The goal is to help you discover the right acoustic guitar based on your budget and needs as a novice player. Investing in a quality beginner acoustic guitar that is comfortable to play and sounds great is key to keeping you motivated as you learn. With the proper instrument, you'll be able to enjoy the guitar and stick with it for years to come. Let's explore some excellent starter acoustic guitars to consider for your budding music hobby.

Body Style

When choosing an acoustic guitar, one of the most important factors for beginners is the body style and size. There are several common acoustic guitar body types to consider:

Dreadnought

The dreadnought is the most popular acoustic guitar body style. It produces a loud, booming sound thanks to its large body size. The wide lower bout provides excellent projection and bass response. Dreadnoughts are great for strumming and flatpicking. However, the large body can be uncomfortable for smaller players.

Concert and Grand Concert

Concert and grand concert guitars have a mid-sized body that provides a balanced tone. They are comfortable for smaller players and new guitarists. The sound projection and volume is reduced compared to a dreadnought. These guitars are versatile for both fingerpicking and strumming.

Travel and Mini Acoustics

Travel and mini acoustic guitars have a very compact body size. They are extremely portable and easy to play. However, the small body lacks projection and volume. Travel acoustics are best suited for practice, travel, and smaller children.

Parlor

Parlor guitars have a small rounded body. They have a focused mid-range tone and reduced bass response compared to larger models. Parlor guitars are great for fingerstyle playing. The compact size makes them comfortable for beginners and smaller players.

For most beginners, a concert or grand concert size provides the best balance. They are comfortable to hold and produce enough volume for practice and jam sessions. Advanced players may prefer the booming projection of a dreadnought or the portability of a mini acoustic. But for starting out, a concert or grand concert hits the sweet spot.

Top Wood

The top wood, also known as the soundboard, has a big impact on an acoustic guitar's tone and sound projection. When strumming the strings, the vibrations transfer through the bridge to the top wood, which amplifies and projects the sound outward. The type of wood used for the top makes a noticeable difference.

Mahogany is a popular choice that produces a mellow, darker, richer tone. It offers great warmth and resonance. Spruce is bright and crisp, with excellent projection and headroom. It's a common material for top boards, providing balanced tone across frequencies. Cedar is relatively soft, providing a warm sound with smooth overtones. It's a good option for fingerstyle playing.

For beginning players, a guitar with a spruce or mahogany top will provide a balanced, quality tone. Avoid laminated tops, as solid wood soundboards enhance resonance and allow the guitar to mature over time. While tonewoods make a difference, skill and technique are still most important for beginners. Focus first on playability and comfort, then consider how the top wood influences the overall sound.

Fender CD-60SCE

The Fender CD-60SCE is one of Fender's most popular beginner acoustic-electric guitars. It features a dreadnought body style with a solid mahogany top and laminated mahogany back and sides. The neck is also mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard.

The CD-60SCE has a bright and balanced tone thanks to its mahogany and rosewood construction. It produces rich lows, pronounced mids, and crisp highs. The Fishman electronics also accurately reproduce the guitar's acoustic tone when plugged in.

Some key specs of the CD-60SCE include:

• Dreadnought body
• Solid mahogany top
• Mahogany neck with rosewood fingerboard
• Fishman electronics

For beginners, the CD-60SCE offers a great blend of playability, sound quality, and affordability. The slim neck profile and low action make it comfortable for new players. The full-bodied dreadnought design projects plenty of volume and resonance. And the onboard electronics provide flexibility if you want to plug into an amp or PA system.

Potential downsides are the laminated back/sides which don't resonate as well as solid wood. It also lacks higher-end appointments like bone nut/saddle. But at this price point, the CD-60SCE provides excellent value and will serve new players well for years of practice and performance.

Martin LX1E Little Martin

The Martin LX1E Little Martin is an excellent acoustic guitar for beginners. It has a compact 0-14 body size, making it a very portable and travel-friendly option. The top is made of solid Sitka spruce, which gives it a bright and crisp tone.

Sound Profile

The LX1E produces a balanced and articulate sound, with clear trebles and a strong midrange response. The smaller body size results in a more mid-focused tone, lacking some of the bass resonance of larger dreadnought acoustics. However, the overall sound is very balanced and defined. Fingerpicking and strumming both sound fantastic on the LX1E.

Pros for Beginners

• Compact and lightweight design is comfortable for younger players and easy to transport
• Quality solid spruce top provides excellent tone and projection
• Clear and balanced sound works well for various playing styles
• Durable all-laminate mahogany construction
• Carrying bag included

Cons for Beginners

• Smaller body lacks full bass response
• Higher price tag compared to other beginner models
• Laminate back and sides don't resonate as well as solid wood

Overall, the Martin LX1E Little Martin is an excellent choice for beginners looking for a high-quality, portable acoustic with professional-grade construction and sound. The bright and focused tone makes it very versatile, although the smaller body doesn't provide as full of a sound. The all-laminate build makes it durable, while the solid spruce top offers great resonance and tone. The compact size also makes it very comfortable for younger players.

Yamaha FG800

The Yamaha FG800 is one of the best acoustic guitars for beginners thanks to its budget-friendly price, quality construction, and balanced tone. This dreadnought guitar features a solid spruce top with Nato back and sides, providing a nice balanced tone across the tonal spectrum - strong bass, pronounced mids, and clear treble notes.

The FG800 produces a very resonant and open sound, especially for a guitar in this price range. The solid spruce top allows it to get quite loud when played hard while still retaining warmth and balance. Many reviewers praise the FG800's dynamic range, noting that it can go from soft, delicate fingerpicking to aggressive strumming.

Some of the key benefits for beginners include the slim neck profile for comfortable playing, low action right out of the box, and the onboard passive pickup system. The pickup allows plugging into an amplifier or PA system, expanding the guitar's versatility.

There aren't many downsides considering the affordable price. Some users find the factory strings lack luster tone, so a string upgrade can unlock the guitar's full potential. The thinner finish also shows wearing over time more easily than a gloss finish. However, these are minor tradeoffs given the overall quality and value in this price tier.

In summary, the Yamaha FG800 punches above its weight in terms of features, playability and balanced tone. The compact concert shape is comfortable for new players, and with a pickup system included, it’s ready to plug in and play live. The FG800 is easily one of the best acoustic guitar options for beginners.

Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy

The Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy is a great acoustic guitar for beginners looking for that classic, vintage parlor guitar sound and look without breaking the bank.

This guitar has a classic parlor style body made of nato wood, which gives it a balanced and focused tone. The top is made of laminated agathis, which helps project the sound. It's a small, comfortable body style well suited for beginners.

The hardware is very basic, with covered tuners and a compensated saddle for decent intonation. The G9500 has a C-shaped mahogany neck and rosewood fretboard. Overall the components are simple but functional.

The sound profile is focused and bright, with articulate notes and a smooth midrange. It's ideal for fingerpicking and playing blues, folk, country and other roots styles of music. The small body gives it a vintage, old-timey tone.

Some pros of the G9500 for beginners are the affordable price, classic styling, easy playability and balanced warm tone. It provides a great introduction to parlor-style acoustics.

Some cons are the laminated woods don't resonate as well as solid woods. It also lacks electronics for plugging in. The compensated saddle helps intonation but overall the hardware is very basic.

The Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy punches above its weight for beginners wanting that vintage parlor guitar sound without a high price tag. It excels at blues, folk and country styles.

Taylor GS Mini Mahogany

The Taylor GS Mini Mahogany is a great option for beginners looking for a quality acoustic guitar in a smaller, more portable size. This guitar has a solid mahogany top which produces a warm, balanced tone. The smaller body size makes it comfortable for beginners to hold and play while still retaining the signature Taylor bright and crisp sound.

Some key features and specs:

• Solid mahogany top
• Layered sapele back and sides
• Mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard
• Scale length: 23 1/2"
• 20 frets
• Elixir Light Gauge Phosphor Bronze strings

Sound Profile

The solid mahogany top gives the GS Mini a focused, warm and balanced tone that is great for fingerpicking and strumming. The smaller body enhances the midrange, giving it a clear and articulate sound. It handles both melodic, intricate playing as well as energetic strumming quite well. The tapered body shape helps project the sound while retaining the Taylor crisp highs.

Pros for Beginners

• Quality build and components at an accessible price point
• Smaller body size is comfortable for beginners to hold and play
• Produces a bright, balanced tone across the tonal spectrum
• Portable and easy to transport to lessons or jam sessions
• Slightly shorter scale length can help beginners form chords

Cons for Beginners

• Smaller body may lack the low-end bass response a beginner expects
• Higher action may require a setup for beginner playability
• Mahogany top is more delicate and prone to dings than spruce
• Lacks the electronics of other beginner-friendly models

Overall the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany is an excellent choice for a beginning player looking for their first real acoustic guitar. The quality and playability combined with the warm, balanced tone make this a great investment for starting on acoustic guitar. The smaller body size enhances comfort and portability while still retaining the Taylor signature sound.

Cordoba CP100

The Cordoba CP100 is an affordable nylon-string acoustic guitar that's great for beginner classical guitarists. It has a traditional fan-braced design with a solid Canadian cedar top and mahogany back and sides, which produces a warm, balanced tone.

Some key features and specs of the CP100 include:

• Traditional fan bracing provides excellent resonance
• Solid Canadian cedar top
• Mahogany back and sides
• Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
• Savarez Cristal Corum high-tension strings

The CP100 has a rich, full-bodied sound with nice bass, bright trebles and good note separation. The cedar top and mahogany body give it a nice warm tone that's very responsive. It's able to produce a wide dynamic range, going from soft and mellow to loud and bright.

Here are some pros for beginners:

• High-quality materials for the price
• Easy to play with comfortable neck and action
• Bright, balanced tone good for various styles
• Lightweight and comfortable to practice long sessions

And some cons:

• Fingerboard edges may be sharp for some
• Higher action than some beginner steel-strings
• May require a professional setup out of the box
• Lacks electronics of pricier models

Overall, the Cordoba CP100 is an excellent beginner classical guitar for the money. It provides a rich, warm nylon-string sound in an affordable package.

Conclusion

When looking for the best acoustic guitar for beginners, it's important to consider your budget, playing style, and musical goals. Based on the guitars we covered, a few top recommendations emerge:

• The Yamaha FG800 is an excellent choice for those seeking great sound and playability on a budget. Its solid spruce top and nato back and sides provide a balanced, resonant tone.

• The Fender CD-60SCE adds the convenience of built-in electronics at a very affordable price point. The mahogany top yields smooth mids and highs.

• The Taylor GS Mini stands out for its portability and refined sound. The layered rosewood back and sides make this a great choice for fingerstyle playing.

No matter which model you select, also be sure to get your guitar professionally set up. This will maximize playability and allow you to focus on honing your skills as a beginner guitarist. With consistent practice and dedication to learning, you'll be able to express yourself through music in no time.