Best fingerstyle guitar for beginners. It’s not always easy to get exactly the kind of acoustic guitar you need while shopping online. By individually picking each string with their fingertips, finger-style guitarists can construct stunning multi-musical compositions that would otherwise be impossible. Some instruments will work better with your fingerstyle than others since it is more challenging to pick with your fingers than with a real guitar.
These days, the appropriate fingerstyle guitar might be difficult to locate in your neighborhood music shop, and you may need to turn to online retailers instead. That’s a lot of pressure to put on someone. To fill this need, I offer my services. I’ve already done the legwork by reviewing all the popular acoustic guitars on the market. I then distill the data to make it simple for you to zero down on the best fingerstyle for you.
The Taylor 322ce 12-fret V-Class, in my opinion, is the ideal guitar for fingerstyle playing. It’s really simple to pick up and play because of the short-scale all-mahogany top and back and black mahogany back. This guitar sings, and the bass doesn’t get in the way of the trebles at all. But it doesn’t mean you can’t find more excellent examples of fingerstyle guitar.
Best Fingerstyle Guitar for Beginners 2024
Below you will find a comprehensive selection of the finest fingerstyle guitars available with various pricing points. Aiming to help you locate a suitable companion, check out our guide at the bottom of the page.
1. Seagull S6 Original Acoustic Guitar Limited Edition Tennessee Red
Brief description of the item:
This stunning Seagull S6 Original has a one-of-a-kind sound thanks to the wild cherry tree used for the back and sides, which combines the best qualities of mahogany and maple. The 24.84″ scale and rosewood neck provide it with a comfortable playing experience, while the precisely positioned locomotives ensure rapid and consistent tuning.
Semigloss lacquer finish, offset nut, and saddle made of us. The S6 has garnered several accolades and is often regarded as the instrument that best represents the Seagull ethos. The S6 is a terrific option for intermediate and advanced players since it allows them to enjoy superb handling and sound quality.
SIZE & SPECIFICATIONS:
- Body depth 4.9 inches
- Body length 19.8 inches
- 15.87 inches under circumference
- Belt Width 1.72 inches
- Scale 25.5 inches
- Over 11.38 inches
- Waistline 10.54 inches
Product details:
- Brand Seagull
- Color Tennessee Red
- Top Material Type Maple, Rose Wood, Mahogany, Cedar
- Body Material Rosewood, Mahogany
- Back Material Type Cherry Wood
- Neck Material Type Maple
- Made in Canada
- Select Pressure Tested Top
- Item Weight 13.42 pounds
- Product Dimensions 46 x 18.5 x 7.5 inches
- ASIN B077ZB6785
Pros
- Head headband tuning stability and intonation
- Wide nut width allows for accurate, effortless fingering
- Gives us a little string spacing than the typical sound (more room for fingers)
Cons
- Cedar is not as sharp as spruce at high volume (not a difficult thing for everyone)
2. YAMAHA FS800 Small Body Solid Top Acoustic Guitar, Natural
Brief description of the item:
Yamaha acoustic guitar, with a classic design, and high quality at a reasonable price. This solid-head guitar’s newly created scalloped bracing system delivers a well-balanced authentic tone without compromising on the solidity of the instrument. It’s safe to say that all guitar beginners should start with this. Every detail is carefully considered in the process of perfecting the guitar. Each FG is built to last a lifetime with careful attention to the selection of sustainable materials, curing and drying processes, and application of a beautiful hand-sprayed finish.
Brand new clamshell bracelet. The innovative scalloped bracing design used in the 800 series is a perfect tonal construction that prevents the top board from wearing out too quickly and allows the instrument’s natural timbre to emerge more clearly. There are two basic body styles, acoustic and electro-acoustic, and the all-new FS concert size. There are also five grades with different tone options, a wide range of color options, and a variety of price points. There is an FG to match the characteristics of your song.
Features
- Solid Top-grade Sitka spruce
- N.A.T.O. flanks and rear
- Rosewood fretboard
- We used rosewood for the bridge.
- Cast-iron tuning devices
- The truss rod on this guitar may be adjusted for better intonation.
Product details:
- Brand Yamaha
- Color Natural
- Top Material Type Spruce
- Body Material Mahogany
- Back Material Type Nato
- Neck Material Type Nato Wood
- Item Weight 5.84 pounds
- Product Dimensions 41.6 x 19.1 x 6 inches
- ASIN B01C931H4S
Pros
- with classic design,
- High-quality construction at a low cost
- The clamshell bracing system, for authentic tonality
- Comfortable body for fingerstyle
Cons
- An input-level model plagued by input-level issues
- There is a little lowering of the bass.
3. Gretsch Guitars 6 String Acoustic Guitar, Right, 2 Color Sunburst
Brief description of the item:
True to the Gretsch “Rex” living room guitars of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, the G9500 Jim Dandy, Flat Top embraces all that is great about the Gretsch Guitars 6 String Acoustic Guitar, Right, 2-Color Sunburst. The G9500 has all the makings of a great first guitar: it’s made from premium guitar woods, is completely lined and fitted, and has a 24″ scale, all of which contribute to its warm and appealing tone. You can relax and enjoy your game for long periods.
The Jim Dandy has a solid basswood body with an X-brace for a loud and resonant sound and a top-loading walnut bridge with a synthetic saddle that adjusts for speech, making it suitable for both pick and finger play. steady beat down the spine of the neck. The wood with traditional style keys and inlaid pearls has a “C” shaped neck that joins the body at the 12th fret, making for a smooth and pleasant playing experience.
The outside of the G9500 is done in the traditional Frontier Stain, and it comes equipped with open gear shifters, nickel trim, and a white “G”-decorated single-layer shield. This small miracle is great for novices and seasoned experts alike, and it may serve as a guitar for composition, practice, or even touring.
Product details:
- Brand Gretsch Guitars
- Color 2 Color Sunburst
- Top Material Type Agathis
- Body Material Basswood
- Back Material Type Agathis
- Neck Material Type Nato Wood
- Item Weight 3 pounds
- Product Dimensions 14.96 x 3 x 35.43 inches
- ASIN B00BEYDFA8
Pros
- Great tone and quality for the price
- Impressive mass for the size
- Crisp and clear mid and high frequencies
- Easy to play
Cons
- Lack of deep bass
4. Taylor GS Mini Mahogany GS Mini Acoustic Guitar
Brief description of the item:
Taylor GS Mini Mahogany Sapele Mahogany Top Mini Acoustic Guitar Taylor Grand Symphony Miniature Diagonal View: Negative Mahogany, the finest solid wood Sapele (in layers) is used for the back and sides. GS Mini With Relief Rout, a Bracing Pattern Matte 2.0 coating on the outside. A right-handed orientation Neck Taylor GS Mini Profile Neck The width of a nut is 1 and 11/16 inches (42.8mm) Genuine Ebony from Africa is used for the fingerboard. Sapele, the tropical hardwood, is used for neck furniture. The guitar has 20 frets and a 23-and-a-half-inch scale. Matte 2.0 Electronics” on the neck.
“The Taylor GS Mini’s little frame is irresistibly alluring, and yet a single pluck exposes the tremendous sound of a full-size guitar.” The ability to take great music wherever, from the living room to the campsite to the performance arena, is a winning combination. It is neither too large nor too rare nor too costly, Thanks to its wide availability, it has attracted the attention of people all around the world and has a built-in entertaining quality.
SIZE & SPECIFICATIONS:
- GS Mini, Sapele, Mahogany Top.
- Scale Length: 23-1/2 Inches;
- Body Length: 17 5/8 Inches;
- Body Width: 14 3/8 Inches;
- Body Depth: 4 7/16 Inches;
- Neck Width: 1-11/16 Inches;
- Heel Length: 3 Inches.
Product details:
- Brand Taylor Guitars
- Color Natural
- Top Material Type Mahogany
- Body Material Mahogany; Sapele
- Back Material Type Sapele
- Neck Material Type Sapele Wood
- Item Weight 4.4 pounds
- Product Dimensions 18 x 42 x 8 inches
- ASIN B007IVUOXM
Pros
- Compact design
- Great tone and quality for the price
- Impressive mass for the size
- a fun element built-in
Cons
- Usually not the best choice for large hands
5. YAMAHA FG800 Solid Top Acoustic Guitar, Natural, Guitar Only
Brief description of the item:
The YAMAHA FG800 Solid Top Acoustic Guitar, Natural, Guitar Only is Yamaha’s entry-level acoustic model. It has a classic design and Yamaha’s legendary craftsmanship, yet it won’t break the bank. The newly designed scalloped bracing system allows for a solid-top guitar to produce a natural, balanced tone without compromising the instrument’s robustness. Can, without reservation, be recommended to any novice guitarist.
A wide variety of body shapes and sizes (including a brand new FS concert) are available, as are a variety of colors and acoustic or electric-acoustic versions. There’s an FG that’ll fit the vibe of your tunes, no matter what they are.
The innovative scalloped bracing design used in the 800 Series is a perfect acoustic structure that keeps the top board from wearing out too quickly while bringing out more of the instrument’s natural tone. It’s a guitar that’s been improved upon in every way possible. Carefully selected, seasoned, and cured timbers, exquisite hand-sprayed finishes, and stringent quality assurance procedures all contribute to a product of exceptional craftsmanship.
Features
- Solid Capped with Sitka spruce
- NATO flanks and rear
- Fingerboard made of rosewood
- This bridge’s bridge is made of rosewood.
- Tuning devices made of die-cast metal
- A truss rod allows you to fine-tune the neck alignment of this guitar.
Product details:
- Brand Yamaha
- Color Natural
- Top Material Type Spruce
- Body Material Mahogany
- Back Material Type Nato Wood
- Neck Material Type Nato Wood
- Item Weight 6.44 pounds
- Product Dimensions 42.5 x 20.7 x 6.1 inches
- ASIN B01C92QHLC
Pros
- Classic standard design
- with balanced realistic sound
- Exceptional quality, affordable price
- The 800 series features a new scalloped brace style
Cons
- Usually not the best choice for large hands
How do you define a quality Fingerstyle guitar?
What characteristics of various guitars make some more suited to finger styles than others? It boils down to how well the piece plays and how far it projects. Since there is no neck involved, fingerstyle guitars are often made to be played with larger, stout fingers and a lighter touch. Remember that your fingers are far broader than a hard plastic pick, and so cannot “pick” as effectively.
An excellent fingerstyle guitar should have these qualities:
- Smaller Size – Size Matters The smaller the instrument, the less effort you’ll need to use your fingers to write.
- Wide Keyboard – The bolts on the broader keyboard further isolate the cables. Then you may pluck individual strings with your fingers with more ease.
- Superior Sensitivity – A pair of plastic tongs will create less noise than your fingers would. A fingerstyle guitar needs to be loud and articulate without being too challenging to pluck.
- Balanced Tone – While a dominant bass works well with chords, it should be avoided while playing fingerstyle. Since you don’t use chords, each note must be distinct and well-balanced.
- Clarity with individual notes – Like a well-balanced tone, the notes on each string should be crystal clear. Doing so will allow each note to reverberate cleanly and clearly, rather than blending.
We evaluate your game’s fun factor, quality, and overall worth using the following criteria:
- Mobility
- Considerations about the guitar
- The guitar’s mechanical components.
- Bracing is the substance used to make the nut and bridge.
- Tweak the catch.
- Physical Makeup and Composition
- Play the guitar loud and clear.
- What other guitars of similar quality can be purchased for that price range?
Buyers Guide best fingerstyle guitar for beginners
Perhaps the instrument you’re seeking wasn’t included in this collection. Here is a brief breakdown of what you should be on the lookout for when deciding on the finest acoustic guitars for fingerstyle are for you.
Budget
To begin, choose a budget for your fingerstyle acoustic guitar purchase. Using this method, you may determine which choices are most viable. In this post, I highlight guitars that may meet a variety of budgets and musical preferences, from about $500 up to $3,000.
But even novices should give $500 or less guitars serious thought. As a result of their awkward shape and sometimes painfully high action (the distance of the string from the fingerboard), they are not ideal for most guitarists.
They’re also seriously lacking in quality. I realize that $500 might be a lot to spend on an instrument, particularly for beginners. You may get more money back if you buy something like the Taylor Academy Series and then decide that the instrument isn’t for you.
The scale of the Guitar (Scale Length)
The majority of these guitars do not have 14 frets, but rather 12 frets, as seen by the list. This is because the string tension on a 12-fret guitar is lower. Less string travel is required since the saddle is closer to the neck on 12-fret guitars. Some guitarists claim that the guitar’s tone is warmer and more intimate with this kind of construction since the saddle is farther back on the body.
This is due to the shorter scale length of the neck (from the front of the saddle to the edge of the fingerboard). Playing a shorter-scale guitar might seem more “slinky,” making it simpler to push down on the neck and pluck the notes. These instruments are ideal for guitarists with joint pain, such as arthritis or tendonitis since they are well-suited to fingerstyle playing. The scale length of a standard guitar is around 25.5″, whereas that of a fantastic fingerstyle guitar is about 24.75″.
Nut Diameter
To determine the nut width, measure the distance between the headstock and the neck of the instrument.
In open chord positions and when plucking a single note, the fretting hand needs extra string distance due to a bigger nut width. This provides your fretting hand with extra “breathing space,” which might reduce accidental note-hitting.
- However, players with smaller hands or who have not yet developed sufficient strength in their fretting hands may find bigger nut widths difficult to work with.
- Some of the fingerstyle guitars on this list have nut widths of 45 millimeters, although the standard nut width for an acoustic is 43 millimeters.
- As with the other considerations, this is important to keep in mind while selecting the right instrument for your needs.
Construction
To play fingerstyle, you’ll need an acoustic guitar, and there’s a wide range of options in terms of build quality. There are typically three distinct building styles to be wary of.
Sturdy, all-wood construction
That’s how a high-end guitar should be built. The advantages of a solid wood build are that it was probably made by a skilled luthier. Furthermore, as the tonewood ages, the guitar’s sound will grow more even and full.
When shopping for an acoustic guitar to use for fingerstyle, look for one that is made of solid wood. The greatest guitars, the ones you’ll want to keep for the rest of your life, are made using this method of manufacture. A humidifier is a worthwhile investment if you choose a solid wood guitar to prevent it from cracking or warping.
The sides and back are made of laminated wood
- Manufacturers will use a layered wood structure on the guitar’s sides and back to save expenses and make a more reasonably priced instrument.
- Laminate quality is quite variable. Some firms employ a variety of woods in their products, while others use plastics, Formica, or something else entirely.
- The quality of laminated-back and side acoustic guitars varies widely across manufacturers.
- When compared to solid wood guitars, laminated ones have the advantage of being more long-lasting and resistant to warping due to humidity.
Tonewood Classification
Certain tonewoods and tonewood combinations tend to dominate the market for acoustic guitars designed for fingerstyle playing. Cedar’s reputation as a top wood for fingerstyle guitars stems from the fact that it is a mellower, less brilliant wood that produces a warm, personal sound. The combination of mahogany and cedar is common because of mahogany’s mellower warmth and Cedar’s increased durability.
Due to its earthy overtones and exceptional midrange clarity, mahogany is another excellent top wood for the fingerstyle approach. Compared to other top woods, mahogany’s dynamic range is narrower, which may be a huge help when trying to achieve a uniform tone while playing fingerstyle.
It’s common for dreadnought acoustic guitars to have a solid spruce top, which allows for more projection and tonal variety. While this makes for a more adaptable guitar, it might be challenging for a beginner to maintain a consistent volume while fingerpicking. Koa wood, like mahogany, is a trendy tonewood on the rise.
Mode of Dress
You want a guitar with a superb tone response and sustain if you’re playing fingerstyle on an acoustic. The greatest body types, in my opinion, have a cutaway. Because of how simple it is to reach all areas of the neck, that’s why. Still, many claim that a cutaway makes for a shriller and more trebly-sounding guitar. This, however, should be taken with a grain of salt, since others could claim that this results in a more well-rounded guitar tone.
The majority of the guitars I’ve recommended have compact bodies. The sound of a smaller body is often more concentrated and clear. This quality is especially important with a fingerstyle acoustic guitar since you’ll want to hear every note played. Further, a rounded body enhances the sound’s clarity and the instrument’s ability to articulate each note. Dreadnought guitars and other large-bodied instruments have great projection but suffer from a lack of articulation while playing arpeggios.
Sustainability
- Since acoustic guitars are crafted from wood, we must avoid promoting excessive logging practices.
- If you want to support an ethical and environmentally friendly business, you need to look into which acoustic guitar manufacturers use solely recycled or salvaged wood in their products.
- To show your support for the manufacturer’s attempts to make a good change in the wood sector, it is worth paying a little extra for your guitar.
- It’s worth noting that the greatest guitars you can buy that can last a lifetime are often produced by firms with excellent ethical standards.
FAQs
The following section will answer common questions asked about the best fingerstyle guitar for beginners
Q. Can a beginner learn fingerstyle guitar first?
You can learn fingerstyle guitar first, but it’s more difficult than strumming. If you’re learning fingerstyle but find it too difficult, switching to strumming may eventually make learning fingerstyle easier for you. Guitar instructors often advise students to learn strumming first.
Q. Can I start guitar with fingerstyle?
Most definitely! I began learning guitar with fingerstyle methods. The techniques are a bit harder to get fluent in than using the pick.
Q. Do you need a special guitar for fingerstyle?
If we look at the word “fingerstyle”, it means that we pluck the strings with our fingers, instead of a pick (plectrum). We can use a classical or acoustic guitar for fingerstyle playing. By this definition, classical guitar is included within “fingerstyle”.
Q. Why is fingerstyle so hard?
The quick answer is that, as you probably guessed, playing that material is difficult! They’re playing incredibly complex arrangements that combine a variety of guitar styles, as well as right-hand and left-hand techniques. And they’ve been refining their chops for a long time, so they play fast and with fluidity.
Q. Is fingerstyle harder than pick?
Generally, it’s easier to play faster with a pick than with a fingerstyle. However, many guitarists can play extremely fast with their fingers, so it may be a matter of putting in more practice to build up your speed.
Conclusion
Both your taste and your wallet will play a role in determining which fingerstyle is ideal for you. There’s a steel-string finger-playing machine here for everyone, from those who have never picked up a guitar before to virtuosos with years of practice under their belt.
Finding the finest fingerstyle guitar for beginners will let you dive headfirst into a world of musical possibility, where you may experiment with a wide variety of chords and licks. Time to lay down the violin and let your fingers do the talking.
It is hoped that there is something for everyone on the above List. Please leave a remark if you’re still having trouble tracking down a fully functional guitar, or if you have any questions, observations, or experiences to contribute. Good luck, and keep it up!
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