What Guitar Should a Beginner Buy? My $60 Setup & What I Learned

So your curiosity brought you here. I'm guessing you want to learn guitar and have no idea where to start. Trust me — I've been there. There are so many guitars to choose from: acoustic, classical, electric, and a whole lot of others in between. And you're probably thinking, "Which one do I actually buy?"

That's exactly the question I had when I started. So let me break it down for you — the different types of beginner guitars, the pros and cons of each, and what I personally bought when I was just getting started.

The Three Main Types of Guitar

Before you spend a dime, it helps to understand what you're choosing between. There are three main types of guitar that most beginners will consider: acoustic, classical, and electric. Each one feels different to play, sounds different, and comes with its own trade-offs.

Acoustic Guitar

Acoustic guitars use bronze (or phosphor bronze) strings and produce a bright, full sound without needing any extra equipment. You just pick it up and play — no amp, no cables, nothing. That simplicity is one of its biggest strengths for beginners.

The trade-off? Those bronze strings are tough on your fingers, especially in the first few weeks. Your fingertips will be sore until you build up calluses, and that's completely normal. Every guitarist goes through it. But if you want the classic singer-songwriter sound and the convenience of grab-and-go, an acoustic is a solid choice.

Classical Guitar

Classical guitars use nylon strings, which are noticeably softer and easier on your fingertips. If finger pain is a major concern, that's a real advantage right out of the gate.

However, there are some things to be aware of. The neck on a classical guitar is wider than an acoustic or electric, and the frets are more spaced out. For beginners with smaller hands, that extra stretch can feel uncomfortable at first. Classical guitars also tend to have fewer frets, which limits how far up the neck you can go — and that means some songs may be harder or impossible to play on one.

Electric Guitar

Electric guitars use steel strings, which are thinner and easier to press down than the bronze strings on an acoustic. The action (the distance between the strings and the fretboard) is usually lower too, which means less effort to fret notes cleanly. For pure playability out of the box, electric guitars are hard to beat.

The downside is that you'll need an amp to hear yourself properly. You can play an electric unplugged, but the sound won't project much — it's barely louder than a whisper. On the flip side, once you do plug in, you can get some incredible tones and experiment with effects that just aren't possible on an acoustic.

Where I Started — My $60 Beginner Setup

I always wanted to play guitar, and when I finally decided to go for it, I went with the cheapest option I could find. I didn't research brands. I didn't compare types. I just looked at what was in my budget and pulled the trigger.

I grabbed a $40 electric guitar off OfferUp and paired it with a super cheap amp from Amazon — one of those tiny ones about the size of a Bluetooth speaker, maybe $20. In total, my entire beginner setup cost me around $60.

Was it the "right" choice? Honestly, I didn't even think about that at the time. And looking back, I think that's actually the best mindset to have when you're starting out.

My Advice: Just Get Something and Start Playing

Here's what I'd tell any brand-new guitarist: don't overthink it. Don't spend a ton of money on a fancy brand. Don't buy a bunch of unnecessary pedals or accessories. Just get yourself something you can play and start learning.

The best guitar for a beginner is the one that gets you playing today — not the one you spent three weeks researching and never actually bought.

If you want my honest recommendation, go with an electric guitar if your budget allows for a small amp. The strings are easier on your fingers, and you'll spend less time fighting the instrument and more time actually making music. If you'd rather keep it simple and skip the amp, grab an acoustic. Just know that your fingers are going to hurt for a bit until you build up calluses — and that's totally normal.

As for classical guitars, I'd mainly recommend those if you're specifically drawn to that style of music, or if you want something gentler on your fingers while you're building up experience. Interestingly enough, the classical guitar is actually my guitar of choice these days. I've grown to love the warm sound of nylon strings, and I find a lot of inspiration in playing classical pieces. But that preference developed over time — it wasn't where I started.

TL;DR

Acoustic guitar — grab and play, no extra gear needed. Bronze strings are tough on fingers at first, but you'll build calluses quickly.

Classical guitar — nylon strings are easier on your fingertips. Wider neck and fewer frets can be limiting, but great if you love that style.

Electric guitar — easiest strings to play, lowest action, incredible tones. You'll need an amp, but even a cheap one works fine to start.

No matter which one you pick, the most important thing is that you pick one and start playing. You can always upgrade later once you know what you like. The guitar that's "best" for you is the one that's in your hands right now.