Our top 3 picks

If you’re in a hurry, have a gander at our top three guitars from the list below! Together, they cover the range of genres and styles you might want to explore. Each one excels in a different area – but is also dynamic enough on its own to be used by virtually any beginner.

The best electric guitars for beginners

1. Squier Affinity Stratocaster MN 

Body Material:  Poplar

Neck Material: Maple

Scale Length: 25.5″

Pickups: 3 x Ceramic Single-Coil

Bridge: 2-Point Synchronised Tremolo with Block Saddles

Squier guitars are often the go-to for beginners. This Squier Affinity Stratocaster is one of the best electrics for beginners because it offers the full Fender experience, staying true to the elements of a classic Fender Stratocaster.

Its trio of single coil pickups are perfect for getting to grips with changing between pickup positions as you’ll have five different combinations to play with! This lets you open up your guitar tone and really experiment with the different sounds this model has built-in.

It’s also incredibly well made for the price, meaning it’ll easily get you through your formative years as a guitar player!

With 21 frets, it may have slightly fewer than some of its counterparts. But, if we’re being honest, these missing frets are probably the ones most guitar players would use the least – you certainly won’t miss them (I find it really hard to fit my chubby fingers onto the 23rd and 24th frets at the best of times). And the excellent playability from the smooth, satin-urethane-finished maple neck more than makes up for it anyway.

Most Squiers are made in Indonesia, which is well known for producing midrange to high-end guitars. This, again, sets the Affinity apart from its competitors, many of which are made in China with slightly lower build standards and setups.

Some genres you might want to use this for range from pop and rock to blues. Anything heavier than that, and it might sound a little thin. That being said, it’s a great all-rounder and is guaranteed to kickstart your guitar journey in style.

The single coils produce a bright, twangy tone which is really good for making your chords sound crystal-clear. They’re also really dynamic – and with three, you’ll have lots of voicings to play with.

Shop now | Squier Affinity Stratocaster

2. Yamaha Pacifica 112J 

Body: Alder

Neck: Maple

Scale Length: 25.5″

Pickups: 1 x Ceramic Humbucker, 2 x Ceramic Single Coil

Bridge: Vintage Style Tremolo

Sometimes, you don’t know what style or genre you want to play when you’re first starting out. You just want to play guitar! If that’s the case, The Yamaha Pacifica 112J will see you right.

This is another all-rounder which boasts the bragging rights of a humbucker and two single coil pickups. You can access meaty, high-output tones and thinner single coil twangs from the same guitar. Unlike the Squier Affinity, this opens the guitar up to almost all genres and styles, allowing you to go into the world of hard rock and metal should you wish.

At its core, the Pacifica 112J is a really comfortable guitar, with 22 frets and a deep cutaway for accessing those higher frets. This is great for learning some simple solos, and you’ll be hard pressed to find a more dynamic beginner instrument.

Not only will it take you through the very start of your journey, but also into the intermediate and even higher levels (although you’ll probably have upgraded to a more specialist guitar by then).

This is a great guitar for beginners who want to use a whammy bar too. The bridge features a tremolo system, which you can press down (with the bar) to add some vibrato (‘wobble’) to your riffs and chords.

It’s probably best to use the whammy bar sparsely, as it can lead to tuning issues if you’re bending and pulling like a maniac all the time (less so on a high-end guitar), but it can really add something special to your playing experience.

All in all, you’ll find this very enjoyable to play. Also made in Indonesia, the build quality is good straight out of the box, and it’s a very robust guitar for the price.

Shop now | Yamaha Pacifica 112J

3. Greg Bennett Ultramatic UM-3 Electric Guitar 

Body Material: Alder w/ Quilt Maple Top

Neck Material: Mahogany

Scale Length: 24.75″

Pickups: 2 x 403H Open Humbuckers

Bridge: Tune-O-Matic

This is one which is geared towards those who like a big, powerful sound. With two humbuckers, the Greg Bennett Ultramatic makes no apologies for being a loud powerhouse, offering plenty of output to boot.

These pickups are also designed by Seymour Duncan, a world-renowned pickup maker who are known for their superior quality. You’ll notice that this guitar sports a divine finish, with a quilted arched maple top – a rarity on beginner guitars!

So, this is one of the best guitars for showing off a superb aesthetic. But it also has a Tune-O-Matic bridge – something which helps to keep your strings in tune. Other low-end guitars have a habit of going out of tune much faster than their high-end counterparts, so this is a nice addition to the Ultramatic.

Now, it does feel quite heavy – but this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Some players prefer the ‘feel’ of a heavier guitar – just look at the popularity of Gibsons (they weigh a tonne!). However, it may start to make your shoulders ache after long periods of playing. That being said, the weight ensures this guitar has great resonance and is nice and sturdy.

Made in Indonesia, the Ultrasonic boasts a smooth mahogany neck and an American black walnut fingerboard – two high-quality tonewoods.

Shop now | Greg Bennet Ultramatic

4. Epiphone Coronet 

Body Material: Mahogany

Neck Material: Mahogany

Scale Length: 24.75″

Pickup: Epiphone P-90 PRO Dogear

Bridge: Lightning Bar Compensated Wrap Around

If you want a guitar which has both a stripped-back yet unique design, the Epiphone Coronet is the way to go. This unusually shaped guitar is made by Epiphone, who are owned by Gibson. They make many Gibson lookalikes which are much less expensive than a genuine Gibson (they are to Gibson what Squier are to Fender). However, the Coronet is completely unique to Epiphone, so it really stands on its own.

This guitar has a long, illustrious history, having first been introduced in 1959. This, however, is a much more modern version, although it bears a P90 Dogear – a vintage-style pickup that bridges the gap between single coil and humbucker! It produces a nice, thick, warm sound which will give your riffs a vintage-style twang with a bit of fuzz around the edges.

Unlike most guitars, this is the only pickup it has – controversial! However, many players prefer this, as you can often get all the tones you need from this single magnet, without having to fiddle around with a load of dials. And it creates more space on the guitar, meaning nothing’s in the way of your picking hand. It also reduces the price!

If you think you’re the type of person who wants a nice, one-size-fits-all tone that works for plenty of genres, this guitar is the way to go!

The mahogany body makes it a little heavier than most but also improves its sturdiness. And the mahogany neck compounds this, whilst feeling nice and smooth to the touch.

The build quality is good – Epiphone are actually renowned for producing seriously high-quality instruments. The price may be a little above the core competition, but this is a reflection of the Coronet’s unwavering quality as a beginner guitar.

Shop now | Epiphone Coronet

5. PRS SE Standard 24-08 

Body Material: Mahogany

Neck Material: Maple

Scale Length: 25″

Pickups: 2 x TCI “S”

Bridge: PRS Patented Tremolo

They say you eat with your eyes first. Well, in a guitar sense, you practise with your eyes first, then your fingers! PRS guitars are very, very well known for their sublime finishes and exotic tonewoods. Whilst most of their guitars will cost into the thousands, the PRS SE Standard 24-08 offers a much lower-priced alternative which still gleams with a stunning finish.

It may sound daft, but a nice-looking guitar definitely keeps you inspired to keep playing. It also helps you look great on stage – let’s not forget that visuals are more important than you think when playing live!

It goes far beyond mere devilish good looks, though. The SE Standard 24-08 hosts a tonne of superior components.

Its pickups consist of two TCI ‘S’ humbuckers. These are super dynamic, and also benefit from the inclusion of a ‘coil-split’ switch, which splits the humbuckers to make them sound more like single coils! This means that, tonally, the SE Standard 24-08 is probably the most dynamic guitar on the list.

Like the Yamaha Pacifica, this one also features a dedicated tremolo system, a PRS Patented tremolo, which will give you a superior performance compared to its cheaper counterparts (which can go out of tune quite fast!). And it also comes with its own bespoke gigbag, meaning you won’t have to fork out for one further down the line. This could well be the best guitar for beginners with a bit more cash to burn!

Shop now | PRS SE Standard 24-08

6. Ibanez GRX40 GIO 

Body: Poplar

Neck: GRX Maple

Scale Length: 25.5″

Pickups: 1 x Infinity R Humbucker, 2 x Infinity RS Single Coils

Bridge: T106

You may have heard the name Ibanez – especially if you’re a rocker or metalhead. This Japanese company is very well known in the guitar world, and their GRX40 GIO is symbolic of their quality guitar design even at the lower levels. This sleek, sharp six-string sports the classic Ibanez shape, with pointed horns for an extra ‘metal’ look.

Now, whilst most Ibanez guitars are geared towards rockers and metalheads, this one is a little more diverse, with an Infinity humbucker and Infinity single coil pickups. These deliver a wide range of tones that will cover anything from metal to blues. Being an Ibanez, though, its sound is still more geared towards those who want to play the heavier genres – if you’re using distortion, you’ll love it.

Made from poplar, it’s a lightweight guitar, which takes a great strain off your shoulders when you’re playing standing up. It’s also got a handy tremolo system, which once again lets you add vibrato to your riffs and chords by pushing on the whammy bar.

Ibanez are known for their razor-thin necks which are typically seen on their higher-end, prestige models. It facilitates really fast playing – or shredding. You’ll be pleased to know that this guitar sports a strong maple neck which, whilst not thin, still feels really smooth and easy to play.

All in all, the sharp aesthetics and powerful humbucker make this a great guitar for open-minded metalheads who want a few more options when it comes to exploring different genres.

Shop now | Ibanez GRX40 GIO

7. Jackson JS11 JS-Series Dinky 

Body Material: Poplar

Neck Material: Maple

Scale Length: 25.5″

Pickups: 2 x Jackson High-Output Humbucking

Bridge: 2-Point Fulcrum Tremolo

If you’re on a budget, or if you’re a rocker through and through, the Jackson JS11 could easily be the best guitar on the list. And I’m not saying that because I’m a biased metalhead.

The insanely low price tag belies this guitar’s immense quality. A pair of Jackson’s own High-Output humbucking pickups deliver that output-rich, heavy tone which is essential to heavier genres – this thing roars like a dragon!

And it doesn’t look shabby either, with a regal finish exuding a high-end aesthetic. The body may be relatively thick, but it’s made from poplar, so it has a nice, lightweight feel. You’ll have no trouble handling it – and that goes for the neck as well. Finished in satin urethane – meaning it’s really smooth – sliding your hand down its surface really is a breeze.

Even the build quality is superb – the JS11 has been made to handle aggressive playing, so it can be thrown around a bit without trouble (although this is not advised!). It also has a tremolo system for adding vibrato. However, this may well detune the strings after some use, so it’s best to use it sparingly.

From AC/DC to Iron Maiden and Architects, this metal machine has been made to have technical, aggressive riffs hammered onto its fretboard. With 22 frets, there’s more than enough room to learn those blistering solos – although many metal guitars boast 24 frets. It’s unlikely you’ll miss those two extra tiny frets though.

Jackson are owned by Fender, so you know you’re getting good build quality as standard. All in all, this one just feels immensely satisfying to play.

Shop now | Jackson JS11

8. Jet Guitars JT-300 Roasted Maple 

Body Material: Basswood

Neck Material: Canadian Roasted Maple

Scale Length: 25.5″

Pickups: 2 x Ceramic Single-Coil

Bridge: Fixed

Another one for vintage lovers! This Jet JT-300 is shaped like a very iconic guitar from the past (wink wink). But, once again, the price tag is more than attractive. Build quality is great, with a sturdy fixed bridge for maintaining decent tuning stability.

The two Ceramic single coil pickups provide that vintage, twangy sound which is synonymous with the guitar tones of old (that’s not to say you can’t make modern music with them though).

Ceramic magnets are some of the most powerful around, so even though these are single coils, they still pack enough of a punch for rock and blues. They probably won’t suit hard rock or metal and will sound noisy with lots of gain, but they still give this guitar a really dynamic tone.

One feature which really sets this guitar apart is the roasted maple neck and fretboard! The roast gives this normally light, bright wood a darker aesthetic, and you usually only find this on much pricier guitars. It also helps the wood resist moisture absorption, which can damage it over time.

The Modern ‘C’ shape of the neck allows it to fit into your hand with ease. This is one of the most dynamic neck shapes, suiting virtually any playing style. As such, you’ll be able to explore a plethora of styles with this workhorse of an instrument.

Shop now | Jet Guitars JT-300

9. 3/4 New Jersey Classic Electric Guitar + Amp Pack 

Body: Basswood

Neck: Maple

Scale Length: 24″

Pickups: 2x Open Humbucking

Bridge: Tune-O-Matic

The only starter pack on our list. But, wow, what a steal! In the 3/4 New Jersey Classic pack, you get everything you could ever wish for as a beginner guitarist. The most important of these is the amp, which is an essential tool for any electric guitarist.

The Gear4music-made model has everything the beginner needs, including a Gain dial (perfect for rock and metal) and Bass and Treble dials for tone-shaping (changing which sound frequencies are emphasised).

The guitar itself has a thick, meaty, noise-free sound thanks to its dual humbuckers. And it’s a little smaller than your average electric, being a 3/4 size. This makes it much easier to handle for smaller players, and easier to play in general. Its basswood body is lightweight, whilst the gloss finish gives off an element of class and quality.

There’s a gigbag for carrying the New Jersey around, as well as a strap, a tuner, spare strings, and picks.

Beginner packs like these are the go-to for many guitarists who are just starting out because they offer everything you need from the get-go. If you just buy a guitar, you’ll then need to at least buy an amp and instrument cable to get playing, and you’ll find it harder to get started without the various other accessories too.

This pack has made the list because the guitar is comfortable to play, suits many different styles of guitarist (especially rockers), and serves as a great starting point for anyone. It’s hard to go wrong when you’ve got everything you need right at your fingertips!

Shop now | 3/4 New Jersey Classic Electric Guitar + Amp Pack

10. LA Electric Guitar by Gear4music

Body Material: Paulownia

Neck Material: Maple

Scale Length: 25.5″

Pickups: 3 x Single Coil, White

Bridge: Vintage 6 Screw Bridge

Coming in strong with the vintage look, this LA Electric is universally affordable. But that’s not to say the quality is lacking in any way. In fact, it has a bunch of good reviews from the likes of Music Radar, Guitar and Bass Magazine, and Play Music Magazine.

Three single coils make up the sonic palette of this tone machine. They’ll deliver a sharp, crisp twang which is perfect for helping chords shimmer and lead lines to stand out. And with three, you’ll be able to experiment to your heart’s content. It’s one of the best beginner guitars for players on a tight budget as it keeps up with its competition well.

It plays really well too! With a nicely carved maple neck and double cutaway shape, it allows you to sail up and down the fretboard with ease.

The fretboard material is actually one of the reasons this guitar’s price is so reasonable – it’s made from oiled poplar laminate. This is much cheaper than alternatives like rosewood and ebony but is still plenty sturdy. The same goes for the body, which is made from inexpensive paulownia – which also happens to be incredibly light!

And then there are the included accessories which come with every model – a gigbag, strap, picks, cable and more! This only ups the value for money further, making this model one of the most attractive options out there for any beginner.

Shop now | LA Electric Guitar by Gear4music

11. Seattle Electric Guitar by Gear4music 

Body: Basswood

Neck: Maple

Scale: 25.5″

Pickups: 2 x Humbuckers, 1 x Single Coil

Bridge: Tremolo

The Seattle Electric Guitar by Gear4music is a stylish and versatile guitar that offers great playability, tonality, and a range of specifications perfect for beginners. Once again, the value for money here is exceptional, and it won’t burn through anyone’s wallet.

Designed for comfort, the sleek and contoured double-cutaway design of the body allows for easy access to the upper frets, ideal for playing solos or more intricate melodies. The basswood construction also contributes to the lightweight feel of the guitar without compromising on durability.

One aspect you may find difficult when first picking up this guitar is the body shape. Whilst this unique design sets this guitar apart from competitors, it is unusual and may feel a bit strange at first.

The guitar’s neck is made of a smooth and comfortable maple, finished with a rosewood fingerboard featuring 22 medium jumbo frets. The 10-inch radius fingerboard provides a perfect balance between comfort and string-bending potential, allowing players to achieve a wider range of sounds with ease.

It’s fitted with two humbucker pickups and a three-way pickup selector. This setup results in a sonic platform with punchy highs and warm, thick lows – the ideal tone for many types of music, including rock, blues, and metal.

The Gear4music Seattle Electric Guitar in sunburst is a well-designed and versatile guitar that offers excellent playability and tone at an affordable price. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced player, the Seattle guitar’s range of features will give you the flexibility to achieve the sound you’re looking for.

Shop now | Seattle Electric Guitar by Gear4music

What to consider when buying an electric guitar

The style of music you’ll be playing

The music you’re most into and want to play should be one of the main factors in guiding your choice of guitar.

Whilst most electrics, as you’ll see from the above list, cater to a vast array of styles, there are still lots of smaller details which will tilt them towards specific genres. A guitar with two humbuckers, for instance, is undoubtedly geared towards rock and metal, whereas one with three single coils could be better for jazz and pop.

Give careful consideration to this, and also look at the types of guitars your favourite players are using for their music. This may give you the best place to start if you’re a total beginner guitarist. You may have fallen in love with the Fender Mustang shape because Kurt Cobain played it or the Gibson Les Paul from Matt Heafy’s thunderous playing in Trivium.

Generally, the styles of guitar that your heroes are playing will work well for you as well.

Guitar shape

The shape of a guitar mainly affects its aesthetic and feel. For many years, the two most iconic electric guitar shapes were the Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul – everyone recognises these. But now, there’s a vast array of guitar shapes available to you, such as the Ibanez RG, PRS McCarty, and many more.

This gives you a lot of choice. If you can, it’s best to try out some different shapes in your local music shop and see which one you like the look and feel of. After all, you may find one more comfortable than the other or that another shape has better balance.

Nearly all electric guitars have at least a single ‘cutaway’ (and often a double cutaway) – a chunk cut out of the body which lets your hand reach the highest frets. Apart from that, the shapes can vary dramatically. You’ll also want to think about how body shape can affect the weight of a guitar – those which are thicker will inevitably be heavier – although the tonewood will also help to determine this.

Most importantly, pick a guitar shape which inspires you, one which makes you want to touch that guitar all over and give it a good strum on the regular!

Pickups

Pickups are arguably the most important part of any electric guitar. They’re the rectangular metal blocks that sit underneath the strings, and they’re always made from magnetic metal. Electric guitar strings are also made of magnetic metals. Do you see where this is going?

When you hit the strings, they pull on the magnetic field of the pickups – this is what generates the electric signal that makes electric guitars, well, electric! This signal then runs through your instrument cable and then into an amplifier, which then boosts it and adds volume. So, the ‘tone’ of your guitar – the way it sounds compared to other guitars – comes almost solely from the pickups themselves, not the wood, bridge, neck, or anything else.

Now, there are two main types of pickup:

• Single coil: This looks like a single row of metal ‘dots’ all in a row. They have a bright, ‘twangy’ sound which won’t overpower any other instruments. Single coils have historically been prone to high noise levels, especially when the gain (distortion) is turned up, so it’s best to use these for lighter genres like blues, jazz, and pop.
• Humbucker: This looks the same as a single coil, but doubled in width. In fact, most of these look like two single coils stuck together, because that’s sort of what they are. Unlike single coils, humbuckers don’t produce any unwanted hum – they cancel it out. This makes them very ‘clean’ sounding. But, ironically, they’re usually used for ‘dirtier’ genres like metal because of their higher output – they produce a more powerful sound.

Pickups should absolutely be one of your primary considerations when choosing your first electric guitar. Remember: single coils for lighter genres, humbuckers for heavier, and a mixture of both if you want to explore numerous genres.

Hardware

The bridge, pickups, tuners, and nut are some of the main pieces of hardware on an electric guitar. They hold a guitar together and help it do its job. The tuners and bridge, for example, hold your strings in place and help them stay in tune whilst you play. On beginner guitars, especially those with lower build quality, the hardware can be a bit shaky, which can lead to regular tuning, noise, and playability issues.

That’s why it’s important to research the guitars you’re looking at (by reading articles like this, well done you), and even try them out if possible. There are plenty of forums in which people regale their experiences with certain guitars, as well as official reviews.

The perfect beginner electric guitar will have sturdy hardware which helps it perform at its best. Your tuning should stay fairly regular, and your sustain (how long your notes ring out for) should be fairly long. Whilst construction standards nowadays are much better compared to 30 years ago, you may still find the odd guitar which has sharp fret edges, poor intonation, or flimsy tuning machines.

Brands

The age-old question – which brands are best? Once again, this mostly depends on which genres and styles you’ll be playing as a beginner electric guitarist. If you’re after a good all-rounder, Fender Squiers are always a good bet. If you know you want to explore rock and metal, then Ibanez could well be the way to go.

If you’re looking for a more midrange guitar from the get-go, PRS are a great place to start, or go for a Jackson or Epiphone for more metal-focused guitars. You really can’t go wrong with any of these, but always remember that different brands often cater to different players.

Squiers, for example, cater mainly towards those who want to explore rock, blues, and pop – they tend to be really versatile. Ibanezes, on the other hand, are unashamedly geared towards metal, although they do have more versatile models too.

All brands will have their own little stylistic quirks which help them stand out from each other, so look out for these too!

How do I learn guitar?

You can learn guitar in many different ways, and all guitarists follow a different path. Here’s a list of some of the most popular ways to learn.

Private lessons

Private lessons are the most obvious place to start. Finding a guitar teacher who knows what they’re doing is the most effective and fastest way to learn guitar.

They’ll be able to show you exercises and guide you through your journey to masterdom. This personal guidance is incredibly valuable and something the other methods lack, but, of course, this is the most expensive option as well. Remember that you can find guitar tutors online too!

YouTube

Something many guitarists these days say is “I was taught by YouTube” (myself included). YouTube is completely free and there are tonnes of incredible videos from experienced guitarists to help you learn.

Just take a look at Justin Sandercoe’s Finger Gym, an absolutely essential exercise which will help any beginner improve immediately. And there are plenty of videos for intermediate and advanced players too, so you can continue to learn forevermore.

Books/DVDs

Old-fashioned but not irrelevant, guitar books and DVDs can go a long way in helping you master the instrument.

They tend to contain useful practice patterns and licks which are easy to follow, and some will, once again, be geared towards different genres. These will give you more of a roadmap to guide yourself through guitar playing compared to YouTube videos, where you have to find all the materials yourself.

Websites/tabs

There are plenty of websites out there which have tonnes of resources on guitar for beginners, from online causes to sites that offer guitar tabs, which are invaluable to beginners. Tabs, or tablatures, are guitar riffs written down fret-by-fret and are how the majority of beginners learn riffs. Websites like Ultimate Guitar are the go-to (it also provides courses and lessons).

There’s no age limit!

You’re never too old to start learning guitar. Never. Whether you’re starting at nursery or picking it up for the first time in a nursing home – there’s only one thing you need to remember: start slowly.

Don’t rush the lessons, don’t rush your practice. Never try to run before you can walk. Take it one step at a time, set small goals (such as learning a particular part of a song), and focus on learning what you love. This will help you stay motivated and make big steps towards success. Believe in yourself, if others can do it – so can you!

FAQs

What brand of electric guitar is best for beginners?

There are a number of different brands which are suited to beginners:

• Squier: More affordable Fenders
• Ibanez: Guitars for metalheads
• Yamaha: Great all-rounders with superb build qualities
• Epiphone: Gibson’s budget-friendly range which still packs loads of quality

Which electric guitar is easiest to play?

The easiest electric guitar to play is any 3/4 size model. They have a shorter scale length, which makes the spacing between the frets smaller, and thus each fret is easier to reach. They’re also easier to handle due to their smaller size, which makes them well-suited to smaller players and children.

How do I choose an electric guitar for beginners?

There are some key considerations to make when choosing an electric guitar for beginners:

• Genre: Which type of music are you wanting to play with your guitar?
• Pickups: Single coils for a lighter sound, humbuckers for heavy tones.
• Price: What can you feasibly afford.
• Look: Will this guitar inspire you?

Final thoughts

If you’ve made it this far, hopefully you can see why these are some of the best electric guitars for beginners. From elite pickups to additional features (like tremolo systems), each of the 11 models on this list offers something which makes it stand out from the crowd.

Remember that, ultimately, the choice is down to you. Most importantly, you should pick a guitar which inspires you and makes you want to continue learning. Whether this is down to the pickup tone, playability, or aesthetics – there’s no wrong answer when deciding.

Here we are, at the end of the article. I’m not crying, I just chopped some onions. And played a really emotional riff.

Now, go forth into the world of guitar, and melt some faces.