When you’re out looking for a beginner acoustic guitar, you have to know what kind of music you’ll be playing on it. Latin and certain kinds of pop and folk melodies sound right on a classical guitar with nylon strings. Rock, bluegrass, and other kinds of pop and folk tunes work better on a guitar with steel strings. The only way you can really determine which of the two is right for you is to actually play both of them.

Because nylon is gentler on the fingers, many instructors recommend going with a nylon-stringed beginner acoustic guitar. This isn’t always the best recommendation, because not everyone wants to play the type of music that a nylon-string guitar produces. Some want to play like a rock star, or simply don’t like the tone that comes from a nylon-stringed guitar.

If your goal is to learn to play steel-string music, you should definitely start by practicing on a steel string guitar. At first, your fingers will be sore, but with time you will develop protective calluses. If, however, you want to learn classical music, don’t be enticed by a steel string guitar.

A classic guitar is considered classic because the dimensions are similar. So, keep that in mind if that’s the type of guitar you are in the market for. Classical guitars have a classical sound, with smaller bodies and wider fingerboards, and they will still differ in both feeling and tone. Before deciding which beginner acoustic guitar to purchase, try several. A great beginner acoustic guitar for the person just starting out would be the steel six-string dreadnought guitar. These types of guitars vary only a small bit size wise and just might have the tone that beginner players will really like.

The kind of wood your beginner acoustic guitar is crafted from affects the tone of the guitar. Many beginner acoustic guitars come with a spruce top. Make sure you select a model made from solid spruce and not one with a two-piece top. A solid top is long-lasting. When it comes to the back and sides, your options will generally be mahogany, rosewood or spruce. If you want a lighter tone, look for guitars that have back and sides of mahogany. You will get a heavier tone from a guitar that features rosewood back and sides.

When buying a beginner acoustic guitar, another thing you want is a fairly low action. The “action” is the term for the area between the neck and the strings. An action that is too high can slow your progress by shifting your focus and causing you to lose your concentration.

An accessory you need to buy along with your beginner acoustic guitar is a good electronic tuner. As a novice you haven’t yet developed an ear. If you have the ability to easily tune your guitar using the tuner it will give you more time to spend practicing and playing.