The primary choice you have to make when purchasing a beginner acoustic guitar is deciding what kind of music youre going to play. A nylon-string classical guitar is best suited for playing classical, Latin and some kinds of folk and pop music. A steel-string guitar works best for playing rock, country, and some pop and folk music. Its up to you to play the various kinds in order to decide the sound you want for your beginner acoustic guitar.

Most teachers will recommend purchasing nylon guitar strings for the person just learning to play as they are a little easier on the fingers. However, this may not be a good idea if the student wants to learn to be a rock star or if they don’t care for the classical style music as the nylon string will never sound just right.

Music intended for steel-string guitars obviously sounds better when played on a steel-stringed guitar. On the other hand, if you are dreaming of learning how to play classical guitar music, a steel-string guitar is not the right instrument for you to begin practicing on. Either way, you’ll eventually develop calluses on your fingers after about one to two months of steady practice.

If you are shopping for a more classical nylon-string guitar, you should remember that these guitars are called classic for a reason - they all have the same relative dimensions. Their bodies are smaller and their fingerboads wider, which produces a distinctive classical sound. It is the feel and the tone to these classical guitars that varies. As is true when buying any guitar, you need to try out several of them before choosing the beginner acoustic guitar that you are going to buy. The steel-string model of beginner acoustic guitar that people usually start out with is the six-string dreadnought guitar. There is only a slight variation between dreadnought guitars and they provide a sound that novices are often seeking.

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.

It is very important to invest in a high quality electronic tuner if you are just beginning to play guitar. The ear takes time to develop and the beginner just doesn’t have it yet. If you can tune your beginner acoustic guitar quickly, you will have more time to play, which is really what the beginner wants to do.