Recently, many international guitar companies have competed to manufacture the best entry-level classical guitars in terms of quality and price. If you are still a beginner in the world of guitar, it will be difficult for you to choose the best guitar for you, especially if there are many choices and they all sound good.
So I made a search, and here is a list of the 10 best classical guitars for beginners as well as professionals and evaluated each one of them in this article.

Classical Guitars for Beginners

The classical guitar is initially suitable for beginners because its strings are made of nylon, so they are easy on the fingers, unlike the acoustic guitars, where the strings are made of metal.

Also, there are not many extra gadgets in the classic guitar to confuse the novice, there is no pickup, many buttons, or multiple electronics, just the guitar body and 6 strings and off you go!

I learned to play classical guitar first on an acoustic guitar! Yes, you read that sentence correctly. I didn’t know the difference between the two and bought a used guitar for $50 and one of the tuning keys was broken, and I had to use pliers every time I wanted to tune it.
And here we are in the year 2022 and you can choose the guitar that is right for you, click on a button and buy it online, how much we have evolved in the past twenty years!

#1 Yamaha C40 Classical Guitar Bundle

This is a special offer from Yamaha that includes a classic Yamaha C40 guitar, guitar case, classic strings, tuner, tuning tool, guitar learning DVD, and guitar polishing cloth. In short, everything you need to start your guitar journey, but let’s look at the guitar itself.

It is considered one of the best guitars that you can start with due to its reasonable price and balanced sound. The guitar body is made of spruce and mahogany, and the neck is made of natto and rosewood.

PROS

• The sound – Balanced
• Accessories – A bunch that will help you along the way
• Price – Very reasonable for starters

CONS

• Guitar Case – Low quality, it helps just for keeping your guitar from dust.

EVALUATION

This offer is excellent for a beginner, as it contains many accessories that will help you in the beginning and you will not need anything else. The guitar alone is worth the price and purchase, if your budget is limited I advise you to buy this offer.

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#2 Cordoba C3M

The Cordoba C3M guitar is made of cedarwood, which is the upper part of the guitar, while the guitar is made of mahogany wood. This wood mix makes the sound naturally continuous and gives a great bass reverberation.

As for the guitar sound, it gives a rich sound, whether it is in the treble or mid-range, which makes it produce a very beautiful sound and tones. What makes it more beautiful is the decoration around the soundhole, or the so-called Rosette, which is designed by hand and adds an aesthetic touch to the entire guitar.

This guitar comes with the Savarez Cristal Corum high tension strings, which are some of the best strings you can use. If you want to know more about guitar strings, I advise you to read this article: All you need to know about guitar strings.

PROS

• Sound – deep and wide
• Price – within reach
• The strings hold their tune for a long time
• All Cordoba guitars have a Truss Rod to adjust the action if needed
• The front is made of cedar wood

EVALUATION

The Cordoba C3M guitar is the epitome of a classical guitar that blends high quality at an affordable price, making it one of the top 10 classical guitars for beginners.

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#3 Yamaha CGS104A Full-Size

This guitar is considered a turning point in Yamaha guitars because it comes in both full size and the small size 3/4 that fits children from 8 to 12 years old.

The design of the guitar and its color attract you at first sight. In terms of design, the guitar is made of spruce (pine) wood for the top of the guitar, and natto (eastern mahogany wood) for the guitar neck.

This wood gives a soft and strong sound at the same time. The fingerboard is made of rosewood and is about 23 inches long, which makes it ideal for playing, especially for scales. The color of the guitar is a natural wood finish.

The tone is deep and attractive for its price, and the tuning keys are carefully designed.

The CGS is a step forward from the Yamaha C series (like the C40), so the guitar’s components and materials are much better, and the price is affordable for the quality.

PROS

• Comes in full size and small size
• Beautiful sound for it’s price
• Better components overall than other Yamaha models

EVALUATION

There is no doubt that Yamaha is a well-established company in the world of guitars, and it has outdone itself in this guitar due to its low price and attractive sound. This guitar is a Yamaha bestseller, and many music schools use it to teach guitar, making it in the top 10 classical guitars for beginners.

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#4 Alhambra 2C-US

They call it “Student Guitar” but don’t let this name fool you, the sounds that come out of it don’t usually come out of a guitar at this price. It is also suitable for playing flamenco style, as the tones of its sound allow it.

The neck is made of mahogany, and the fingerboard is made of rosewood (as are most respectable guitars). The sides and back of the guitar are also made of mahogany, which gives it an aesthetic look and a soft feel. The face of the guitar is made of solid Canadian Cedarwood.

PROS

• You won’t need another guitar for a very long time!
• The sound is very clear and you can play classical or flamenco on it

EVALUATION

The sound that comes out of this guitar you don’t usually hear on guitars under $1,500. Its tone varies greatly. If you planning to perform in the near future, I advise you to buy this guitar immediately without hesitation, it is ideal for playing romantic pieces.

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#5 Antonio Giuliani CL-6 Rosewood Classical Guitar

One of the features of this guitar is that it contains dual action Truss Rods, which are a hole inside the guitar under the sound hole that enables you to adjust the guitar according to the frequency of the strings you use, such as low, medium or high frequency.

Each guitar is tested by a professional guitarist, with Savarez strings installed on the guitar.

PROS

• Handmade guitar
• The fretboard is more professionally tuned than most guitars
• Lifetime Warranty
• Other accessories such as a case, a tuner and string set
• High craftsmanship in guitar manufacturing

EVALUATION

How I wish I had read about this guitar before I bought my current one, but what’s the problem? I will look for it and buy it without hesitation as soon as I find it, and I advise you dear reader to buy it if you are lucky enough to come across it.

Enjoy his sound by watching this video of Leo Brower’s timeless piece Un Dia de November:

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#6 La Patrie Guitar, Etude

It is considered a contemporary guitar that has only been on the scene for 10 years, yet it has gained the admiration of many musicians.

It is a simple guitar with simple design and pure sound. If you have been looking for a guitar for a while without any add-ons that don’t make sense, I offer this guitar for you.

One of the most important features of this guitar is that the fingerboard has a simple curved fingerboard, and this will help your fingers to find the places of the frets easily. This feature is not found in any other guitar, which makes it an exceptional guitar.

The ability for your fingers to easily find the frets will enable you to play difficult pieces in less time, and will make playing more comfortable overall.

If you are looking for an attractive sound and a luxurious design, then I recommend the La Patrie guitar etude. The sides of this guitar are made of polished wood and painted in an elegant cherry color. The surface of the guitar is also made of cedar wood, which helps the guitar to produce different and varied tones, whatever style you will play.

PROS

• Simple and elegant design
• Various tonality
• Fingerboard makes playing easier

EVALUATION

This guitar is contemporary and has been tested with many recent tests, including the guitar’s cedar deck, which was stress-tested and found to be strong and consistent, even after an intense playing session. It’s hard to find a guitar that plays like this at such a price!

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#7 Yamaha CG172SF Flamenco Guitar

Another guitar from Yamaha, the leader in affordable guitars. The Yamaha CG172SF guitar is one of these guitars, which is designed specifically for flamenco music and is considered one of the best guitars on the market currently under the list of guitars under $500.

As for the guitar’s tone, this guitar was designed to play flamenco rather than classical music. Not only is the flamenco guitar’s trademark Scratch Guard plastic, but its sound tone is what any flamenco player is looking for, featuring rich, high notes and an abundance of warmth.

As for the guitar itself, one of the most important things to consider when choosing a guitar is the components or materials. If it is not of high quality, then the guitar is a decorative piece, not a musical instrument. Parts such as the bridge, the saddle (the plastic piece on the bridge), the nut (which holds the strings on the other side), the tuning keys, or what they call hardware.

Fortunately, you don’t have to worry about that with Yamaha guitars, especially the one we have here. The Yamaha CG172SF guitar comes with a bridge made of rosewood with a heavy-duty synthetic saddle on it.
The surface of the guitar is made of pine wood (spruce), and the sides and back are made of cypress wood. The color of the guitar is natural wood color with a slight sparkle. As for the neck of the guitar, it is made of rosewood.

PROS

• Specially made for the flamenco style
• Scratch Guard
• High quality components and materials
• Great potential for a guitar at this price

EVALUATION

As a classical guitarist and lover of flamenco music, this guitar I consider to be a “catch”! If you play flamenco then you know you have to protect the body of the guitar from scratches, and this guitar comes ready with that protection.
It was also designed specifically for this type of music (the letter F means Flamenco), so don’t hesitate if you want to buy it.

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#8 Ibanez GA35TCEDVS Acoustic/Electric Guitar – Dark Violin Burst

The Ibanez GA35TCEDVS guitar is an excellent example of an early-stage instrument that someone can start with. The guitar is really affordable and yet gives a sound that rivals guitars that cost twice as much.

The body of the guitar is made of Strauss wood, the sides and back are made of catalpa wood with an elegant glossy finish. The guitar neck is made of mahogany, and the fingerboard is rosewood made of 19 frets. The whole guitar exhibits superior craftsmanship and attention to detail.

The materials that the guitar is made of are very good and ensure that the tuning of the strings is maintained for a long time, all you have to do is hold the guitar and play it.

We come to the sound of the guitar, you will hear a sound you would never expect from a guitar at this price, and really I am not saying this because I write about this guitar, but because it is the truth. All the tunes related to classical guitars are here, whether you’re playing melodic phrases, solos, or finger styles.

Even the action (the distance between the strings and the fingerboard) is very precise, the strings are neither far nor near, but the exact amount makes the playing process very smooth.

PROS

• Suitable for both beginners and professionals
• Great sound for the price
• Contains a cutaway that facilitates access to the upper frets
• Classy design
• Can be plugged or unplugged

EVALUATION

Sometimes looks are needed to grab people’s attention, and there’s nothing more than this guitar to grab attention. If this is what you want, feel free to buy this elegant guitar.

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#9 Cort AC120CE-OP Semi Acoustic Classic Guitar

The geometry of this guitar has been modified to improve its sound and make the tunes suitable for classical guitar music. This guitar has a traditional deep and warm sound at the same time.

The word Semi-Acoustic means that it contains a pickup, or in other words, it can connect to an amplifier to amplify the sound, which makes it the most suitable choice if you are playing with a band or at school parties.

Do not underestimate this feature, as it can eliminate many sound problems caused by placing a microphone in front of the guitar on the stage. We’ve all encountered this problem at some point, and believe me, you don’t want to hear the feedback (repeated sound from the guitar soundhole in front of the mic).

The guitar itself is elegant, the back and sides are made of dark mahogany, and the surface of the guitar is made of light spruce wood, which makes the guitar sound balanced and suitable for many musical styles.

What makes this guitar on the list of the top 10 classical guitars for beginners, is that the pickup includes a tuner, so you can tune the strings on the stage without affecting the rest of the instruments. A red light acts as a guide in case it is time to change the battery.
You can also control the high or low volume of the sound through the volume button, as well as the rest of the sound features in the EQ, such as treble, bass, and mid-range.

The guitar tuning keys are very elegant and they chose the color that matches the color of the guitar wood.

PROS

• Contains a cutaway that facilitates access to the upper frets
• It has a pickup to amplify the sound
• Contains a tuner and EQ
• Stylish and attractive design

EVALUATION

With all the features that this guitar offers, if you want to play in front of an audience or with a band or even connect the guitar to a computer to record your songs, I recommend you choose this guitar.

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#10 Cordoba C1 Classical Acoustic Nylon String Guitar, Protégé Series

If you have wanted a classical guitar for a very long time but found the prices to be high for your wallet, then I can finally say you have found the perfect guitar, Cordoba C1!

The Protégé by Cordoba C1 is a full-sized nylon string guitar with a spruce top, mahogany back and sides and high gloss PU finish. This guitar is perfect for a beginner who is just breaking into the nylon-string world. A lightweight truss-rod is included in the neck for easy neck-angle adjustment.

Not only it is affordable (under $250), but it’s beautiful to look at and sounds very full. The wood and hardware are stunning and made of high-quality materials.

PROS

• Spruce top/Mahogany back and sides
• High-quality materials
• Very affordable
• High gloss PU finish
• Full sound

EVALUATION

If your budget does not allow buying an expensive guitar and at the same time you want a guitar that sounds more than wonderful, then I advise you to buy this guitar. In my opinion, this is my pick to be on the top 10 classical guitars for beginners, and the perfect end to this list.

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FAQ About Buying Your Guitar

Should I buy new or used guitar?

My advice always is to buy a new guitar. Even if you buy used for other aspects of your life, when it comes to buying a guitar, the new guitar has its advantages. For example, you will be sure that you are the first one to play it and that the guitar has no flaws.
Also, some music stores sell guitars with a warranty of one year or more. If you discover a manufacturing defect, it will be easy to get your money back or replace it with another guitar. If you want to know more about this, you can read my article “Should you buy a new or used guitar?”.

How do I choose a new guitar?

There are several important factors in choosing a new guitar, including the age factor. If you want a guitar for your son or daughter, do not buy the full-size guitar, but rather choose the 3/4 or 1/2 guitar, and this is because the full guitar will be an obstacle because of its large size.

The second factor is the brand of the guitar. Well-known brands manufacture classic guitars for beginners with high craftsmanship and high-quality materials. The type of wood used, the paint, the action, and the tuning keys all affect the sound of the guitar and the tonality it produces.

Although all guitars share woods such as cedar, spruce, rosewood, and mahogany, their quality varies depending on the manufacturer and the price of the guitar. But when the price increases to $1,000 or more, the workmanship and attention to detail will definitely change for the better, which is why I made sure that all the guitars here in this article do not exceed $500.

EQ and tuner guitars perform better when connected to headphones or amplifiers because their acoustic engineering is designed to sound better using electronics. But this does not mean that the guitar sounds bad when played alone or when a microphone is placed in front of it.

In Summary

The most important thing when you choose a classic guitar to buy is your level of playing, the brand of the guitar, and the budget you set for the guitar. And never forget to buy excellent guitar strings for your guitar, this is a very important factor and can improve the guitar’s sound dramatically.

All the factors mentioned in the top 10 classical guitars for beginners were to help you decide which guitar is right for you, there are people who want to play flamenco, and there are other people who want to appear with a special guitar on the stage.

The last thing I want to say is that this is NOT the last guitar you will buy. Who knows, this could be the first guitar from a series of guitars that you will buy in the future, the most important thing is that you buy a guitar and start playing and learning on it, and believe me, whatever guitar you chose, you will love it, especially if it is the first guitar you own in your life.

Did You Know?

The most expensive classic guitar ever sold at auction was by a guitar maker named (Robert Bouquet), and it was made for the famous classical guitarist (Julian Bream) in Paris. The guitar sold for $122,500.

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