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Best Classical Guitars for Beginners 2024

Without breaking the bank, the best beginner classical guitars may assist introduce both adults and children to the exciting world of Spanish guitar playing. Nylon string strummers, as well as the best classical guitars, can draw a lot of ire from some members of the guitar community. Some guitarists link them with the fragile, inexpensive axes on which they took their first tentative steps and couldn’t get away from fast enough. However, this does not have to be the case for music gear.

We’ll show you examples of outstanding quality instruments that will get you started on the right foot, whether you’re taking your first guitar lessons at school or looking to expand your existing guitar collection, in our guide to the finest beginning classical guitars. There are a variety of reasons why beginners like classical guitars, which we’ll go into later. However, regardless of the guitar kind, you must be certain that you are studying on an instrument that you can trust, that plays well, and that sounds fantastic. Every instrument in our beginner’s classical guitars guide meets that description while buying a classical guitar.

Yamaha C40II Classical Guitar

Yamaha C40II Classical Guitar, Full Size, Natural
  • Spruce top
  • Meranti back & sides
  • Rosewood fingerboard & bridge

Choosing the best beginning classical guitars can be difficult, especially understanding how to get the most bang for your buck if you’re not sure how much time you’ll be able to devote to studying. The Yamaha C40II is Best Classical Guitars For Beginners and practically ideal for anyone wishing to invest in a good beginner’s classic guitar without going broke on a nyatoh fingerboard or nylon string guitars.

The Yamaha C40II is light, comfortable to play, and sounds amazing with classical guitar strings, making it an excellent choice for anyone wishing to learn the guitar without going into debt. It rewards consistent playing and ensures that your guitar adventure gets off to a good start. Yamaha guitars are popular among new players, and the C40II beginner’s classical guitar is an excellent example of why as a nylon string player.

This guitar is normally sold as part of a package, which includes a gig bag, tuner, and instructional DVD. Basically, everything you’ll need to start playing. Although Meranti is not a commonly used wood for guitars, it is a very sturdy wood that makes this guitar ideal for transport. This classical guitar, like the majority of classical guitars, is fairly simple to play. Because the nylon strings aren’t particularly tight, you can play it very lightly. It is not necessary to press the strings too hard (string tension), which is ideal for the fingertips of a beginner price range.

The sound quality is adequate and will more than enough. It appears to be a little muffled and lacks a strong projection. However, keep in mind that this is a $140 guitar, and you should be more than happy with it for that price point. This is the Best Classical Guitar for Beginners in 2023.

Epiphone Pro-1 “Classic” Nylon String Acoustic Classical Guitar System for Beginners

Epiphone Pro-1 "Classic" Nylon String Acoustic...
  • Epiphone PRO-1 Classic (Nylon; 1.75" nut) in Antique Natural
  • The PRO-1 Classic has a gloss finish with a Proprietary bracing pattern...
  • The fingerboard is Rosewwod with PRO-EASE F-board coating and jumbo frets....

Think you can’t afford an inventive beginner’s model? Reconsider your position! The PRO-1 Classic is part of Epiphone’s acclaimed PRO-1 series, which delivers a slew of high-quality components to the field of classical guitar string action.

The PRO-1 Classic’s highlights include a slightly reduced scale length body shape (while it remains full-size, it’s about an inch shorter), a slim EZ-Profile neck, and a PRO-Ease coated rosewood fretboard, all of which combine to provide a much easier playing experience for beginners, as we mention in our full review.

Epiphone has dipped its toe into the classical waters with the PRO-1, despite being more known for its famed electric and steel-string acoustics. The Epiphone PRO-1 Classic is meant to be exceedingly simple to play and is clearly geared at getting younger players hooked on the Epiphone brand.

This is one of the best beginner’s classical guitars for smaller hands in particular. You won’t find fancy fixtures and fittings here, but as an economical first step on the ladder, this is one of the best beginner’s classical guitars. Don’t hesitate to get it and don’t look back. Thanks to the thick cedar top and mahogany back and sides, the tone is very excellent. Overall, the PRO-1 Classic is a nice-looking and quick-playing guitar designed for beginners. This is the Best Classical Guitars for Beginners in 2023.

Cordoba C5 Acoustic Nylon String Classical Guitar with Gig Bag

Cordoba C5 Acoustic Nylon String Classical Guitar...
  • Solid Canadian cedar top
  • Mahogany back and sides
  • Lightweight, full-size classical with 52mm nut width

Let’s start with a lovely model from Cordoba’s Iberia series for the best classical guitars. The C5 is a full-sized nylon-string guitar that looks and sounds fantastic. It is handcrafted in the classic Spanish style. The top is made of solid Canadian cedar, and the back and sides are made of laminated mahogany woods with a natural high gloss finish. The slim and comfy mahogany neck construction features a rosewood fretboard and is a joy to play.

The C5 has excellent projection, thanks to the tonewoods and fan bracing, and a warm, well-rounded tone that works well with anything from classical to jazz, as we discuss in detail in our comprehensive review. This Portuguese-made gem is incredibly inexpensive and provides excellent sound to both beginners and advanced musicians.

Not every nylon-stringed acoustic guitar is made to play wistful medieval songs. The Cordoba C5 is totally dedicated to Spanish forms such as flamenco and gipsy jazz, with a few nice design accents to back it up. Fan-bracing inside the guitar not only adds strength, but it can also provide a brighter, more attack-heavy tone, which is ideal for percussive playing styles.

The Cordoba C5 also has some appealing aesthetic features, such as gold tuners, which, when paired with the guitar’s excellent build and intonation, make for a pretty strong case for one of the best beginner’s classical guitars. Instead of the typical cedar top, the C5 is also available with a solid spruce top. This adds a smidgeon of brightness, allowing the instrument’s sharp treble to come through.

Takamine GC5CE-NAT Acoustic Electric Classical Cutaway Guitar

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Takamine GC5CE-NAT Acoustic Electric Classical...
  • With deluxe appointments, solid-top construction and great performance...
  • Ready for the demands of any performance situation, the GC5CE features a...
  • The slim mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard provide great feel and...

The Takamine GC1CE might just be the best beginner’s classical guitar out of all the instruments shown here for those of you who have progressed beyond the level of ‘complete beginner’ and want something a little more fully featured to aid your advancement. This high-end electric acoustic classical guitar has a tone and build quality that far exceeds that of entry-level versions.

You may also play plugged in with the Takamine GC1CE, making it suitable for gigs and performances. The GC1CE is a touch more expensive than the majority of the other guitars on this list, but the improvement in quality and dependability makes it a guitar you won’t outgrow anytime soon. This is a guitar that is also on the more expensive side. However, keep in mind that this is still a low-cost category, as classical guitars can readily be found for a few thousand dollars. There are good reasons for the higher price of this instrument.

First and foremost, it is composed of genuine wood rather than laminate. As previously said, this function is critical since it has a significant impact on the guitar sound. This is why the tone of this instrument is so rich and full. It has a bright, powerful tone with a lot of snap. If you want to play on higher frets, this model features a cutaway, making it simpler to reach the higher tones.

The electrical part of this instrument is also a cool feature. That’s correct, exactly like certain acoustic guitars, this one can be connected to the amplifier! If you want to perform with a band or in huge venues, this is a fantastic option.

Washburn C5CE Classical Acoustic Electric Guitar

Washburn is a well-known brand, especially in the acoustics industry, therefore the Washburn C5CE comes with a guarantee of quality. The C5CE is a robust, entry-level electro-acoustic with all of the features you’d expect from a beginner’s classical guitar, such as a wide nut and a spruce top that produces a mellow, pleasant sound for a student guitar.

The plugged-in sound has been reported to be slightly harsh and toppy, so performance at high volumes may not be recommended, but the Washburn C5CE is one of the best beginner’s classical guitars around for recording and practice.

Ibanez AEG50N Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Ibanez AEG50N-BKH Classical Guitar Nut Width 46 mm...
  • Balanced Acoustic Sound: The Ibanez AEG50N Acoustic-Electric Guitar...
  • Features: This guitar combines easy playability, black gloss finish, AEG...
  • High-quality: The high-quality Ibanez T-bar II Undersaddle pickup and...

The conventional shape and finish seen on practically every nylon string guitar in the category isn’t for everyone. The Ibanez AEG50N appeals to this demographic by combining everything nylon players enjoy – wide fingerboards, pure tones – with a more contemporary visual appearance.

The body form of the Ibanez AEG is slightly shallower than that of a conventional beginner’s classical guitar, it may appeal more to electric musicians as a second guitar. The quality and style that has become synonymous with Ibanez may also be found here. The classical guitar has a slim body that makes it easy to grip, and a deep cutaway provides for easy access to the highest frets. The satin-finished mahogany neck is also a nice touch and a lot of fun to play. The tonewoods are also excellent, with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides producing a well-balanced tone.

This is an electro-acoustic classical guitar, so it has electronics — an Ibanez AEQ-SP1 preamp with a Fishman Sonicore pickup, robust controls, and a built-in tuner. Excellent.

Yamaha C40 Classical Guitar Bundle with Gig Bag

Yamaha C40 Classical Guitar Bundle with Gig Bag,...
  • 25 9/16" scale length
  • Spruce top; Mahogany back and sides
  • Rosewood fretboard

This is another beginner-friendly deal from Yamaha. More than just one acoustic classical guitar is included in this deal. It’s a comprehensive package that includes everything a novice needs to get started. But first, let’s take a look at the guitar.

The Yamaha C40 Nylon String Acoustic Guitar that comes with this bundle is a Yamaha C40 Nylon String Acoustic Guitar. This guitar has a well-balanced tone, as you’d expect from a high-quality brand. The nylon strings, tonewoods, and, of course, the build quality have all contributed to this.

Spruce and Mahogany make up the body, while Nato makes up the neck, which has a Rosewood fretboard. A gig bag for easy storage and transportation, a clip-on tuner for easy tuning, a string winder to make stringing the guitar much easier, an instructional DVD from Austin Bazaar with learning tips for accelerated progress, and a cleaning cloth for easy cleaning of the guitar are all included in the package.

This package is extremely cost-effective. The guitar is a wonderful investment for a novice on its own, but the accessories make it even more worthwhile. If you’re on a budget, this is a wonderful option.

Cordoba C7 SP Classical Acoustic Nylon String Guitar

Cordoba C7 SP Classical Acoustic Nylon String...
  • Traditional fan bracing
  • Rosewood back and sides
  • Full size

The Cordoba C7 is the guitar of your dreams for musicians who want a louder and more genuine sounding classical guitar. The guitar does a good job of providing the player with those fantastic tones that each guitarist can identify to.

This guitar has a spruce body, mahogany back and sides, rosewood bridge and ebony fingerboard, and a truss rod, much like any other good classical guitar. Savarez Cristal Corum strings are also available from the manufacturer, which provide the high tension required when playing the instrument. A cushioned gig bag is included with to keep the guitar safe when traveling.

If you’re wondering what type of sound this guitar will make, rest assured that it will be of good quality. From our perspective, it also sounds professional. The fretboard on the guitar is free of buzz and dead frets. We also noted that the tone is more punchy, which is a feature that you don’t often encounter in a classical guitar. Overall, the tone is well-balanced, and the tension produced by each string ensures that this instrument will last a lifetime.

The Cordoba C7, which is part of the brand’s C series, is a high-quality guitar that will appeal to a wide range of players. This guitar is appropriate for both beginning and intermediate guitarists. This guitar also adapts to any playing style, whether classical, fingerstyle, or Spanish guitar, thanks to the high quality of sound it produces for the best classical guitar under 2000.

Fender Beginner Acoustic Guitar MC-1 ¾ Nylon String – Natural

Fender Beginner Acoustic Guitar MC-1 ¾ Nylon...
  • Benefit from an easy playing guitar via the shorter 23.3 string scale...
  • Grab chords with comfort from the smooth satin finished ‘C’ shape neck...
  • Time tested fan bracing under the top provides the player with a full tone...

The most significant feature to note is that this guitar is smaller than a standard classical guitar. It’s a 3/4-size guitar, which means it has a shorter scale (23, 3″) than a full-size guitar. Aside from that, it’s also quite light. All of these features combine to make it the ideal introductory classical guitar for children aged 8 to 12.

This guitar is absolutely stunning, with a natural finish and a nice wood hue. A mosaic is also present around the sound hole, which is a great touch. Although it may appear repetitive, I do not evaluate its visual element for no reason. Kids, in my experience, pay significant attention to the appearance of the guitar; it’s perhaps the most important component! As a result, if the child like the appearance of his guitar, he is more inclined to play it frequently.

The sound quality is adequate. It’s important to remember that this is a tiny guitar with a laminate body! However, it appears to be adequate for practicing purposes with the best classical guitars for the money.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to choose a Beginner Classical Guitar?

First and foremost, there’s the issue of playability. Normally, we’d say it depends on your preferred tone and style, but when it comes to a beginner model, playability is key. You want something that will play smoothly and easily, not anything that will make it difficult to play a note.

Of course, having a good sound will be vital as well. Unlike an electric guitar, where the tone is mostly determined by the pickups and amplifiers used, the tone of a classical guitar is primarily determined by the woods used and the construction. Spruce, for example, has a bright and vivid tone; cedar has a sweet and warm tone; and mahogany has a warm yet woody tone. As previously stated, it’s not worth getting too caught up in tone details at this point — as long as the guitar is articulate and projects well, you’ll be fine.

The hardware is something to keep an eye on. Classical guitars are quite simple in terms of hardware when compared to electric or electro-acoustic guitars. Simple, however, does not have to imply low quality. The nuts and saddle should be bone or synthetic material, not plastic, and the bridge should be rosewood (the nut material will usually differ with the amount of cash you spend).

Although, in general, the more expensive the guitar, the higher the grade of hardware, and you should start seeing better components like more precise tuners and even hard-shell cases as standard equipment.

What is the easiest type of Classical Guitar to play?

Traditional classical guitars and flamenco guitars are the two most common types of classical guitars. Both are simple to learn for beginners, but which one you choose depends depend on the sort of music you wish to study. For the record, a flamenco guitar has a lower action (meaning the strings are closer to the fretboard) than a standard classical guitar, but unless you plan to learn flamenco, you should remain with a traditional classical guitar.

This isn’t a disadvantage for beginners because classical guitars have nylon strings, which are softer on starting fingers, and the neck is slightly shorter than an electric or steel-string acoustic guitar. In the end, the quality of the guitar determines how easy it is to play. A more expensive guitar will typically be better built, with a smoother neck and nicer dressed frets. All of this contributes to a more enjoyable gaming experience.

What do I need to play Classical Guitar?

You won’t need any more equipment to play a classical guitar once you’ve purchased one. There are, however, several tools that can make it easier and more enjoyable.

To begin, a case or gig bag to store and transport your guitar is an essential accessory to get right away. You don’t have to spend a lot of money on this cover, but something with some cushioning will help protect your phone from bumps and scrapes while you’re on the go. A digital tuner is also a good investment, as nylon-stringed classical guitars have a tendency to get out of tune frequently.

If you purchase an electro-classical guitar with a pickup/preamp system, you will also require a cable and an amplifier to fully utilize the guitar’s capabilities. However, as a beginner, we recommend avoiding these guitars because adding electronics adds additional costs, and amplifying yourself when learning chords and notes for the first time isn’t necessary. Save the amplification for when you’ve reached a level that’s worthy of a performance.