The first step in learning to play the guitar is buying the instrument itself. This can be quite a difficult process as someone who can not play the instrument is obviously not in a very good position to know what to look for when purchasing one. The situation is comparable to buying a car without being able to test it because you can not drive. Such a person is an easy target for unscrupulous salesmen and/or may choose the instrument based on the wrong criteria. I have had many students show up for their first lesson with a poor quality guitar which they paid too much for or a guitar that does not fit their body. They could have saved hundreds of dollars had they contacted me before purchasing their instrument. The instrument itself may hinder their ability to learn to play and be a source of frustration. Your first guitar will be something that you will play for hundreds of hours so it is crucial to find an instrument that you enjoy playing.

This article is targeted mostly for first time or inexperienced buyers but does contain a section on purchasing professional level guitars. As this article is quite large I have divided it up into the following sections:

Types of Guitar

Size, Weight and Playability of the Guitar

Materials of the Guitar

Guitar Manufacturers

Used Guitars Vs. New Guitars

Shopping for a Guitar

Recommended Brands