Whether you’re transitioning to electric guitar from acoustic or starting your guitar-playing journey anew, having the right equipment is essential.
That means the guitar itself (of course) but also an amp that ramps up smoothly, so that you can properly rock out. Before getting your kit, have a good hunt around on YouTube.
Listen to music being performed by professional guitarists - Jimi Hendrix on his Fender and St Vincent’s Annie Clark on a Hagstrom - and note the sound their guitars give out, as well as how they play them. Also check out their set-up, because while sound is most important, aesthetics matter too.
For instance, you might be drawn to more modern pastel hues, a bright yellow body or to a classic red and white.
There are also considerations in terms of what the strings are made from, the materials and colour of the fret, as well as the main body of the guitar. And beyond the electric guitar itself, there’s the option to have an external amp, or one that’s in-built.
If you’re left-handed, you’ll need a guitar strung to suit lefties, as they’re less common, while right-handed players can assume the majority of guitars are designed for their needs. To get yourself in the mood for investing in a guitar, have a think about what music you’ll be playing, as this will influence the type of guitar you are best suited to.
Are you drawn to the blues, à la B. B. King, Chuck Berry’s jazz, the rock music of legends like the Rolling Stone’s Keith Richards or Jimi Hendrix who made music spanning all three?
Whatever it is, we’ve got you covered. Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page said “I believe every guitar player inherently has something unique about their playing. They just have to identify what makes them different and develop it.”
Best electric guitars for beginners, at a glance
- Best overall: Epiphone, £569, Gear 4 Music
- Best for small budget: Harley Benton, £99, Thomann
- Best for children: Loog Guitars, £149, Gear4Music
- Best for lefties: Yamaha Pacifica 112J Left Handed, £219, Gear 4 Music
- Best for feeling like a rock star: Squire Telecaster, £215, Gear4Music
- Best for exploring different techniques: Ibanez AZES40 AZ Essential, £229, Gear4Music
- Best for easy set-up: Donner ST, £135.99, Amazon
- Best for strumming distinctive sounds: Johnny Marr Jaguar, £2559, Fender
- Best for mini rock ‘n’ rollers: Fender Mini Stratocaster, £149, Fender
The best place to start is with your instrument, so let’s look at the best beginners’ guitars on the market.
Best computer speakers for video calls and streaming
Best Alexa-enabled smart speakers for 2023: Amazon Echo, Sonos One and more
Best AirPod alternatives: Top wireless earbuds to suit your budget tried and tested
Best turntables: Record players to get your vinyl sounding great
Best karaoke machines to belt out your favourite tunes at home
Best wired headphones for 2023: Over-ear cans with crystal clear sound
Epiphone Les Paul Custom Alpine White
Best: overall
Inspired by the classic Gibson - but just a quarter of the price - the Epiphone range have a slim tapered neck, rather fancy gold-plated details and a mahogany body.
It might be the cheaper version, but it retains the quality and plays really well. This Les Paul Custom Alpine White looks slick and has a hint of luxury, without compromising the rock-n-roll aesthetic.
Epiphone has been the favoured guitar brand of legends like Noel Gallagher, Bob Dylan and the Beatles, so you’ll be in good company.
Buy now £569.00, Gear 4 Music
Harley Benton
Best for: small budget
“I’ve started recommending Harley Benton guitars,” says The Indie Killer guitarist Luke Spurrell. “They have every price point covered and different styles.” But the amp isn’t great, he says, so steer clear of the starter packs and instead, invest in a Roland Micro Cube amp, or similar.
The all-black ST-20HSS model with a satin finish looks pretty sharp and lets you play any popular style. Plus it’s a steal at just £99.
Buy now £99.00, Thomann
Loog Guitars
Best for: children
These groovy kids’ guitars come in a pleasing array of hues - mint green, ice-cream pink and buttercup lemon - as well as the classic black and white. Loog Guitars are designed for children aged 3+ and the models suited to older children - aged 8+ - are 3/4 size, so can be used by smaller adults too. The built-in speaker and amp mean it’s all in the one unit but it’s possible to add an external amp at a later date, if the practice is evolving.
Buy now £149.00, Gear4Music
Yamaha Pacifica 112J Left Handed
Best for: lefties
Some left-handed guitar players will learn to play on right-handed guitars and get on just fine. Others prefer one designed specifically suited to left-handedness. And then you have Jimi Hendrix who played a right-handed guitar upside down. Assuming you’d like one designed specifically for your needs, this Yamaha Pacifica is a great option. The sleek maple neck provides maximum comfort for hours of practice and performance and you can inject your own sound and expression with the classic tremolo bridge.
Buy now £225.00, Gear4Music
Squier Telecaster
Best for: feeling like a rock star
Jeff Beck explored blues, rock, metal, jazz and even electronica on his Fender Stratocaster, which remains one of the most popular guitars of all-time. That might be something to work towards but while starting out, the less-expensive Squier Telecaster is a great alternative.
If you’re keen to pluck and strum like a true electric guitar legend, this might just be your best option. The three-tone sunburst colours are pretty iconic but there’s also an option for plain back or natural wood.
Buy now £215.00, Gear4Music
Ibanez AZES40 AZ Essential
Best for: exploring different techniques
The Ibanez guitar range is vast and whether it’s the higher price point (£3000) or at the lower end of the scale (£179), quality is guaranteed. The AZES40 AZ Essential comes in a rather dashing mint green and is suitable for playing across genres, thanks to its versatile pickups. The T106 tremolo bridge allows for exciting exploration of different guitar-playing techniques like pitch bends and chordal shimmers.
Buy now £299.00, Gear4Music
Donner ST
Best for: easy set-up
This Donner 39-inch electric guitar comes in a vibrant sunburst and has all the bits you need to get started in its beginner kit. It comes with a neat little amp, guitar case, a strap to keep the guitar close to your body, an extra set of strings and a capo. The strings are nickel-plated, there’s a smart black fretboard and you can get this one designed for both left and right-handed players. Plus you get free access to online courses to teach you the basics. Importantly, it’s easy to set up at home.
Buy now £135.99, Amazon
Fender Johnny Marr Jaguar
Best for: strumming distinctive sounds
The Jaguar is one of the Fender models favoured by rockstars because it’s shorter, which also makes playing easier for beginners. The Johnny Marr is named after guitarist and songwriter behind the Smiths, who rose to fame in the 80s. This non-standard model is ideal for creating distinctive sounds, like those Marr creates himself. But it’s a pricier model so this one might be for the more committed guitar-players.
Buy now £2559.00, Fender
Fender Mini Stratocaster
Best for: mini rock ‘n’ rollers
For mini guitar-players with big rockstar dreams, this small model made by the legendary Fender will be ideal. The thin, lightweight body makes it easy to move around so you get it into the right position, it’s easy to tune and the single-coil pickups provide a crisp, rich tone. It comes in black and white, dakota red and shell pink. All rather dashing.
Buy now £149.00, Fender
Verdict
The Epiphone Les Paul Custom Alpine White is widely recommended for beginners and has the aesthetic of the classic Gibson but a more palatable price point.
