If you’re starting your musical journey and want a guitar that’s easy to play, sounds great, and doesn’t break the bank, you’re in the right place.
To help you choose, we’ve rounded up the best beginner guitars available on Amazon right now. We evaluated each model based on comfort, build quality, tone, user reviews, and overall value. Whether you’re buying for yourself, your child, or a friend, these guitars are solid first steps into the world of music.
Why Trust This Guide?
We researched dozens of models, read hundreds of customer reviews, and analyzed specs from top brands like Yamaha, Fender, Donner, and Ibanez. Our list is focused on guitars that offer:
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Great sound quality for the price
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Solid build and playability
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Beginner-friendly features
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High ratings from verified Amazon buyers
What’s The Best Beginner Electric Guitar
| Image | Guitar Model | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Yamaha Pacifica 112V |  (4.9 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Squier Stratocaster Starter Pack |  (4.7 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Donner DST-100T Bundle |  (4.6 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Ibanez GIO Series GRX20Z | (4.6 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Epiphone Les Paul Special | (4.6 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | LyxPro 39" Electric Guitar Kit |  (4.5 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Jackson Dinky JS22 | (4.5 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
1. Yamaha Pacifica 112V
Best overall beginner electric guitar
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The Yamaha Pacifica 112V consistently ranks as one of the best beginner electric guitars due to its exceptional tone, versatility, and build quality. Featuring an HSS pickup configuration, this guitar can handle clean tones, bluesy overdrive, or heavier distortion with ease.
The smooth maple neck, comfortable body shape, and responsive hardware make it a joy to play for beginners and intermediate players alike. Its tuning stability and solid alder body give it a premium feel without the premium price tag.
Ideal for students who want a guitar that’s easy to grow with and won’t need replacing too soon.
Pros:
✅ Excellent build quality and tone
✅ Versatile pickup configuration
✅ Comfortable neck and lightweight
Cons:
❌ Slightly more expensive than budget bundles
2. Squier Stratocaster Starter Pack
Best Fender-Style Bundle for Beginners
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The Squier Stratocaster Starter Pack offers everything a beginner needs in one box. It includes a full-size Strat-style guitar, Fender Frontman 10G amp, strap, picks, gig bag, and cable. The guitar features three single-coil pickups for classic Strat tones—bright, expressive, and articulate.
The neck is comfortable, and the amp has enough power for bedroom practice. With the backing of Fender’s quality and design, it’s a fantastic all-in-one package to begin your musical journey, especially if you want that iconic Fender sound and feel without the higher price tag.
Pros:
✅ Complete bundle with amp and accessories
✅ Classic Strat tone and feel
✅ Includes free Fender Play lessons
Cons:
❌ Basic amp may be outgrown quickly
3. Donner DST-400 Electric Guitar Kit
Best Budget All-in-One Bundle
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The Donner DST-400 offers surprising quality at an affordable price. With a coil-splitting HSS pickup setup, players can switch between humbucker and single-coil tones easily. It comes bundled with a practice amp, gig bag, strap, tuner, capo, and more—making it a great choice for new players who want everything in one box. The guitar itself feels sturdy, and the pickups deliver a solid range of tones. While Donner is a newer brand, they’ve built a reputation for budget-friendly instruments that don’t feel “cheap.” This kit is ideal for beginners seeking value without sacrificing tone or playability.
Pros:
✅ Great bundle value under $200
✅ Coil-split feature for tone versatility
✅ Quality feel for the price
Cons:
❌ Amp and gig bag are basic
4. Ibanez GRX20Z
Best for Fast Playing and Rock
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Built for speed and precision, the Ibanez GRX20Z is ideal for rock and metal-loving beginners. With two powerful humbuckers and a slim maple neck, this guitar delivers crunchy tones and smooth playability.
The body contours and fast neck make it very comfortable for both rhythm and lead playing. Although it doesn’t include a beginner pack or amp, the guitar’s quality makes up for it. Ibanez’s attention to detail at this price point is impressive.
It’s a solid platform for fast learners and anyone serious about diving into aggressive styles of music.
Pros:
✅ Fast-playing neck great for rock/metal
✅ Powerful dual humbuckers
✅ Excellent value for quality
Cons:
❌ No accessories included
5. Epiphone Les Paul Special VE
Best Beginner Les Paul-Style Guitar
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The Epiphone Les Paul Special VE offers the feel and look of a classic Les Paul at an entry-level price. With its dual humbuckers, it produces warm, punchy tones that are perfect for classic rock and blues. The vintage-worn finish gives it a cool, retro aesthetic, and the bolt-on neck makes it lighter and more comfortable than standard Les Pauls.
While it lacks a bundled amp or case, its solid electronics and heritage design make it a worthy pick for those who love the Les Paul vibe.
It’s a great option for stylish beginners who want to sound and look the part.
Pros:
✅ Classic Les Paul tone and look
✅ Comfortable for beginners
✅ Reliable build from Epiphone
Cons:
❌ No amp or accessories included
6. LyxPro 39″ Electric Guitar Kit
Best Value Kit for Kids or Absolute Beginners
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For under $170, the LyxPro 39″ Electric Guitar Kit provides a full beginner bundle that includes a Strat-style guitar, amp, picks, strap, tuner, and gig bag. It’s ideal for kids, teens, or adults who want to test the waters without a big financial commitment.
The guitar is basic but playable, and the 20W amp is decent for practice. While not professional-grade, it’s good enough to start learning basic skills.
It’s also one of the most giftable options for birthdays or holidays due to the complete setup and low price.
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✅ Affordable full bundle
✅ Great for kids or casual players
✅ All accessories included
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❌ Lower hardware quality
❌ May need upgrading over time
7. Jackson JS22 Dinky
Best for Shredders and Metal Beginners
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The Jackson JS22 Dinky is designed for speed, power, and precision—perfect for beginners drawn to metal or shred guitar. It features high-output humbuckers that handle distortion beautifully, a compound-radius fretboard for easier soloing, and an eye-catching, aggressive design. The fast-action neck makes it a joy to play fast riffs and leads. While it doesn’t come in a bundle, the guitar itself punches well above its price point. If you’re into thrash, djent, or hard rock, this is the beginner guitar to get your fingers flying.
Pros:
✅ Built for metal and fast playing
✅ High-output pickups
✅ Excellent fretboard feel
Cons:
❌ Most expensive on test
❌ Neck can be more challenging for beginners
When it comes to choosing your very first guitar, there are several things you need to think about really carefully before making a purchase to get your hands on the best electric guitar for beginners:
- Know it all – First of all, you need to know your budget, as there are unlimited options. If you are looking for best starter electric guitar, you can find pretty good options, however, you might want to consider changing it sometime as you will gradually learn more and the instrument should grow together with you. You need to learn more about how the guitar is constructed; which part is responsible for making sound the way it is and some other stuff beforehand.
- Do not buy cheap – Keep in mind that there is a big difference between cheap and affordable products. You need to find an affordable but not cheap and crappy one.
- Have a vision – You need to see very clearly what are you going to use this guitar for, is it just for fun? Are you planning to use it for Garageband? Maybe concerts? The purpose of the guitar plays significant role in choosing it. For example, the 10 G amplifier that comes with most of the all-inclusive guitar packages is considered a bedroom amp, therefore it will not do good job for concerts, however, it definitely is enough to annoy your parents and neighbors as well.
- Should you upgrade? – Another important thing about purchasing guitar is that you need to make up your mind about whether you plan to change and upgrade it in the nearest future or not, because once again, as you develop your skills and learn how to play better and better, your need to have an instrument that will give you the opportunity to grow will grow as well. It is always a better idea to find something a bit over your budget, because the change in price can be very slight, but the product itself can have some pretty good upgrades.
For parents
If you are a parent, trying to get your child interested into music, we advise you to purchase guitar of the size that suits your child. We reviewed above one of the guitars that you might want to check out – SX RST 3/4 CAR Short Scale Red Electric Guitar Package. The standard measurements are:
- 30-inch guitar length for ages 4-6
- 34-inch guitar length for ages 6-9
- 36-inch guitar length for ages 9-12
- Standard size for ages 12 and up
So, you bought a guitar, then what?
Well congratulations, you did almost half of the job as it is tough to choose a suitable instrument. It is like when Harry Potter was unable to find the perfect wand, but once he did he connected with it in the best way possible.
- There are a lots of tutorials on the internet that can guide you through your learning process and give you the idea of guitar itself, basic chords, strumming patterns, etc. You are able to purchase a specialized DVD as well which has guitar lessons from a professional musician. Such kind of DVD is included in the all-inclusive packages of some instruments from the list above, so that makes the job even easier. But in any case, you can always find a tutor and learn everything from the primary source, but you should not forget that at the end how well you do absolutely depends on you, your persistence, and your motivation to learn.
- There is a debatable rule of 10.000 hours needed to learn to play on a new instrument. One thing is 100% true – the learning process is really tough and takes a long time. You need to be patient and give yourself some time. Don’t have an expectation that you will be a rock star right away; start with something simple and you will slowly get better. There are many simple chords, so start with them instead of struggling with barre chords right away. Some of your favorite songs that are too complicated are simplified for beginners and there are tons of tutorials on YouTube and other websites. You should find patience and strength to struggle with fear of failing and make sure you don’t give up. If you practice day by day you will improve and rock out.
As far as children are concerned, there is a lot more work to do. As a parent, you would really love to see your child perform, express their emotions, developing musical skills. That is why we would advise you to ask your child which guitar does he want more -classical or electric? What color does he want it to be? That will get him even more interested, excited and eager to learn. This motivation is extremely important because learning process is long and difficult, especially for children. It takes a lot of practice and time, so your child should be prepared for it mentally in the first place.
Do keep in mind that if you are not purchasing an all-inclusive guitar pack, you will need to purchase amplifier and cable separately. You might also need picks, a strap and a bag for carrying the instrument safely.
When looking for the best electric guitar for beginners, you should pay attention to the technical details of it:
- Body style defines how the guitar is constructed and determines the resonance it has. There are three types of bodies: Hollow, Semi-hollow and solid. The hollow body is perfect if you plan to play jazz, soft rock, blues, country as it has a very resonant and rich sound. Solid-body fits more hard rock, heavy metal, punk as they do not resonate but give you harsh notes.
- Body wood: If you plan to have your very first guitar for a long time, you better pay attention to this feature as well. Most of the beginner guitars are made of cheap wood, it is good but when you are experienced you need to have more exquisite instrument. Going from cheaper to more expensive are: Basswood, poplar, alder, paulownia jumping to pine, mahogany, swamp ash, etc.
- Neck: It is very important to have a comfortable neck. It needs to be smooth and silky to let your hand easily glide.
- Pickups: There are two kinds of pickups – Single coil or Humbucker. Single coil pickups tend to have brighter, crisper tone, they are more likely to have sort of “biting sound”, whilst Humbuckers have “thicker” and warmer sound.
- Bridge: Electric guitars have two sorts of bridge-tremolo and fixed. Tremolo bridge can be dunked, and crazy sounds made etc. but maintenance is harder and more fiddly. A fixed bridge is not ‘floating’, and cannot be dunked as far and this allows for very quick easy string changes, and easy allowance for drop tuning, together with higher grade tuning stability.
- Frets: Usually electric guitars have anywhere from 21 to 24 frets. They need to be extremely comfortable. When you play guitar on regular basis frets eventually wear down, especially those that are not the best quality. In that case you will hear a fret buzz, so be aware.
Conclusion
To sum up this article, we have given you the list of the best beginner electric guitars. If you would like to start playing an instrument the minute you get it, we would advise you to purchase all-inclusive packages and jump right into it. Alternatively, amplifier and other accessories are always sold apart. As far as the instrument is concerned, you can choose any from the list that fits your needs and expectations. Choosing your very first beginner electric guitar can be tough, but with the right instrument you will be able to rock out very shortly.
Why not check out some of our other articles…
- Best Guitar Amps for Beginners
- Best Guitar Practice Amps
- Best Acoustic Guitar for Beginners
- Complete Guitar Pedals Guide
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best electric guitar for a complete beginner?
The Yamaha Pacifica 112V is often considered the best electric guitar for beginners thanks to its build quality, playability, and versatile tone. It’s great for various music styles and comfortable for new players to learn on.
Are electric guitars harder to learn than acoustic guitars?
Not necessarily. Electric guitars are often easier for beginners because of their lighter strings, slimmer necks, and lower action. This makes pressing down strings and changing chords easier, especially for young learners.
What should I look for in a beginner electric guitar?
Key things to consider include:
- Playability (comfortable neck and body)
- Pickup configuration (HSS, HH, or SSS)
- Included accessories (amp, tuner, strap, etc.)
- Build quality and brand reliability
Look for a guitar that suits your music taste, has solid tuning stability, and feels good in your hands.
How much should a beginner spend on an electric guitar?
Most beginners can expect to spend $150–$350 for a quality electric guitar or starter kit. Spending in this range ensures better hardware, more consistent sound, and improved learning experience without breaking the bank.
Do beginner electric guitars come with an amp?
Many beginner bundles, like the Squier Strat Pack or Donner DST-400 Kit, come with a small practice amp. These are great for getting started but may need upgrading later as your skills progress.
What’s the difference between HSS and SSS pickups?
- HSS (Humbucker–Single–Single) gives you a heavier tone in the bridge and cleaner tones in middle and neck positions—perfect for versatile players.
- SSS (Single–Single–Single) provides a brighter, classic tone ideal for blues, funk, and indie.
Choosing between them depends on your preferred music style.
Is it better to buy a guitar bundle or individual gear?
For most beginners, a bundle is better. Starter packs provide all the basics—guitar, amp, strap, cable, and picks—at a lower cost. Later, you can upgrade individual gear as needed.
