Best Steel-String Acoustic Guitars for Beginners of 2025

Nicole Kim Avatar
Nicole Kim
Last Updated: Jan 4, 2025

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Steel-string acoustic guitars are a great option for beginners who are looking to learn how to play the guitar. These guitars are known for their bright and clear sound, making them ideal for a wide range of musical styles. They are also durable and easy to maintain, making them a practical choice for beginners who are just starting out. With a variety of sizes and shapes available, beginners can choose a guitar that fits their body type and playing style. Some great options for beginners include the Yamaha FG800, the Fender CD-60S, and the Epiphone DR-100.

At a Glance: Our Top Picks

Donner Acoustic Guitar Kit for Beginner Cover #TOP 1
Donner Acoustic Guitar Kit for Beginner
ftb score rating icon 9.9
Donner 3/4 Acoustic Guitar Kit Cover #TOP 2
Donner 3/4 Acoustic Guitar Kit
ftb score rating icon 9.8
Pyle 3/4 Junior Acoustic Guitar Kit Cover #TOP 3
Pyle 3/4 Junior Acoustic Guitar Kit
ftb score rating icon 9.6

Top 10 Steel-String Acoustic Guitars for Beginners

Donner Acoustic Guitar Kit for Beginner

DAG-1C
Natural
41'' DAG-1C
Donner Acoustic Guitar Kit for Beginner Cover
Donner 41” Acoustic Guitar Bundle for Beginners Adults with Online Lesson, 4/4 Full Size Steel Acustica Guitarra with Gig Bag, Tuner, Strap, Strings, Picks, Capos, Cutaway, Natural, DAG-1C/DAD-110C

If you're a beginner looking for a complete guitar set, the Donner Acoustic Guitar Kit is an excellent choice. The kit includes everything you need to start playing right away, including a padded gig bag, strap, digital clip-on tuner, capo, pickguard, extra pack of strings, four picks, clean cloth, and Allen wrench. The craftsmanship is solid, with a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and X bracing. The phosphor bronze strings with High Carbon Steel Hex Core and high hardness bridge saddle and plastic steel nut make tuning easy and help the guitar stay in tune. Additionally, the full size 41 inch cutaway body produces a rich, warm, and clear sound that is well balanced and perfect for all styles of music.

What We Like
Complete set for beginners
Well-made craftsmanship
Rich, warm, and clear sound
Easy to tune and hold tune
Perfect playability and tone for starters
#TOP 2

Donner 3/4 Acoustic Guitar Kit

1092-DAG
Natural
Donner 3/4 Acoustic Guitar Kit Cover
Donner 3/4 Acoustic Guitar Kit 36 Inch Dreadnought Acustica Guitarra Bundle for Beginner Adult Youth Travel With Steel String Spruce Wood Gig Bag Tuner Pickguard Right Hand

The Donner Acoustic Guitar Kit is an excellent choice for beginners of all ages. It includes everything you need to get started, such as a padded gig bag, tuner, strap, and extra strings, saving you the hassle of purchasing accessories separately. The 36-inch dreadnought body is designed for easy fretting, making it ideal for those with smaller hands and perfect for travel. With its spruce top and laminated mahogany back, this guitar delivers a rich and warm sound, ensuring you enjoy every strum. The smooth fingerboard and durable design offer a comfortable playing experience, allowing you to focus on mastering your skills.

What We Like
Complete beginner kit
Portable 36-inch size
Rich, warm sound
Durable and comfortable design

Pyle 3/4 Junior Acoustic Guitar Kit

PGA550CAB.6
Dusk Gray Matte
Pyle 3/4 Junior Acoustic Guitar Kit Cover
Pyle Acoustic Guitar Kit, 3/4 Junior Size All Wood Steel String Instrument for Beginner Kids, Adults, 36" Dusk Gray Matte

The Pyle Junior Guitar Kit is an ideal choice for beginners and children eager to learn guitar. This 36-inch instrument features a cutaway design that enhances playability, making it easier for you to access higher frets. Crafted from quality linden wood, it boasts a stylish hand-rubbed matte black finish that not only looks great but also feels comfortable. With this all-in-one set, you will receive everything needed to start playing immediately, including a gig bag, spare strings, picks, and more, ensuring you have all the essentials at your fingertips.

What We Like
Beginner-friendly design
All-in-one starter kit
Stylish matte finish
Accessible cutaway body
FG800J NT
Natural
Dreadnought
Yamaha FG800J NT Cover
Yamaha 6 String Beginner Solid Spruce Top Traditional Western Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar With Rosewood FIngerboard, Natural Finish, Right, (FG800J NT)

The Yamaha FG800J NT, also known as the Yamaha 6 String Acoustic Guitar, is a high-quality instrument designed for acoustic guitar enthusiasts. With its solid Sitka spruce top, this guitar produces rich and vibrant tones, making it perfect for both beginners and experienced players. The nato and mahogany back & sides provide excellent resonance and projection, ensuring that every note rings out with clarity. The rosewood fingerboard offers smooth playability, allowing you to effortlessly navigate the fretboard. The rosewood bridge enhances sustain and adds warmth to the sound. Additionally, the diecast chrome tuners ensure accurate and stable tuning, so you can focus on playing without worrying about constantly retuning. Overall, the Yamaha FG800J NT is a reliable and versatile instrument that delivers exceptional sound quality and playability.

What We Like
Great value
Durable and reliable
Easy to play
Beautiful tone
#TOP 5

Fender FA-25 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

0971910021
Natural
Full
Fender FA-25 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Cover
Fender FA-25 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Beginner Guitar, with 2-Year Warranty, Includes Free Lessons, Natural

The Fender FA-25 Guitar is an excellent choice for beginners, whether young or old. Its dreadnought shape provides a rich, bold bass tone, making it perfect for genres like country, folk, and bluegrass. The guitar features an easy-to-hold "C" shaped neck and a walnut fingerboard, allowing for comfortable playing. With a lightweight all-laminate body, you can easily handle it during practice or performances. Plus, it comes with a free subscription to Fender Play, offering thousands of instructional videos to help you learn your favorite songs and enhance your skills.

What We Like
Ideal for beginners
Rich bass tone
Comfortable playing experience
Free lessons included
#TOP 6

Vangoa 41 Inch Steel-String Acoustic Guitar Kit

steel-string-acoustic-guitars
natural
Vangoa 41 Inch Steel-String Acoustic Guitar Kit Cover
Vangoa 3/4 Steel-String Acoustic Guitar, 36 Inch Acustica Guitarra Starter Bundle with Gig Bag Tuner Capo for Beginner Adult Teen, Natural

The Vangoa 41 Inch Acoustic Guitar Kit features a bright, metallic sound with a full-size cutaway body, perfect for all music styles. It has a 1:18 ratio gears for precision tuning, phosphor bronze strings, and a bone nut and saddle. The bundle kit includes a guitar gig bag case, picks, capo, strings, shoulder strap, and an owner's manual. The guitar is designed for players with lighter touch and fingerstyle players. This timeless present is perfect for beginners and experienced players alike.

What We Like
Bright, metallic sound
Full-size cutaway body
Precision tuning
Complete beginner kit
Perfect gift for beginners and experienced players
#TOP 7

Fender FA-15 Kids Acoustic Guitar Bundle

AUS-0971170103-COMBO-DLX
Sunburst
Sunburst
Fender FA-15 Kids Acoustic Guitar Bundle Cover
Fender FA-15 3/4-Scale Kids Steel String Acoustic Guitar - Sunburst Learn-to-Play Bundle with Gig Bag, Tuner, Strap, Picks, Fender Play Online Lessons, and Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD

The Fender FA-15 Acoustic Bundle is a 3/4-size steel-string guitar designed specifically for children aged 6 to 12. Its smaller size makes it easier for young players to handle, promoting a comfortable learning experience. The guitar features a nato neck that enhances its lively tone, perfect for budding musicians. With a modern 3+3 headstock and walnut bridge, it not only looks stylish but also provides great playability. This bundle comes complete with essential accessories like a gig bag, tuner, strap, picks, and even online lessons, making it an excellent choice for beginners.

What We Like
Perfect size for children
Enhanced tone and playability
Complete learning bundle included
Stylish design
#TOP 8

Fender FA-15 3/4 Scale Steel String Acoustic Guitar

0971170121
Natural
Fender FA-15 3/4 Scale Steel String Acoustic Guitar Cover
Fender FA-15 3/4 Scale Steel String Acoustic Guitar, with 2-Year Warranty, Natural, with Gig Bag

The Fender FA-15 3/4 Scale Steel String Acoustic Guitar features agathis top, sapele back and sides, and a smaller body style making it perfect for beginners or children. It comes with a gig bag, providing convenience for storage and transportation.

What We Like
Perfect for beginners or children
Includes gig bag for storage and transportation
Smaller body style
#TOP 9

Donner Rising-G1 Acoustic Guitar Kit

RISING-G1
Black
Donner Rising-G1 Acoustic Guitar Kit Cover
Donner Carbon X Wood Acoustic Guitar Beginner & Intermediate Learner Kits - Carbon Fiber Top, Wooden Bowl, 38" Durable Solid Guitar with Case, Strap, Steel-String RISING-G1 (Gloss, Black)

The Donner Rising-G1 Guitar is designed for both beginners and intermediate players, combining modern materials with traditional sound. Its carbon fiber top and wooden bowl create a guitar that is not only durable but also produces a warm, natural tone. You will appreciate the exceptional stability and strength from its layered carbon fiber soundboard, ensuring a reliable playing experience. The African mahogany back and sides enhance acoustic warmth and resonance, giving you a beautifully crafted instrument. Plus, the anti-oxidation rounded frets and high-density fretboard provide a smooth, comfortable touch, making your practice and performances enjoyable.

What We Like
Durable carbon fiber construction
Warm acoustic tone
Comfortable playing experience
Travel-ready with accessories
#TOP 10

Fender Squier SA-150 Acoustic Guitar Bundle

AUS-0961090006-COMBO-PLAY
Black
Bundle w/ Gig Bag
Fender Squier SA-150 Acoustic Guitar Bundle Cover
Fender Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar - Black Bundle with Gig Bag, Strap, Strings, String Winder, Picks, Fender Play Online Lessons, and Austin Bazaar Instructional DVD

The Fender SA-150 is a full-size steel-string acoustic guitar that offers big sound at an affordable price. Its all-laminate construction with lindenwood top and mahogany back and sides make it strong enough to endure everyday use and abuse. The scalloped "X"-bracing, mahogany neck, and dark-stained maple fingerboard provide an instrument that looks as good as it sounds. With its slim and easy-to-play neck and full-bodied dreadnought tone, the SA-150 is an ideal choice for beginner strummers. The bundle includes a gig bag, clip-on tuner, guitar strap, extra strings, string winder, picks and instructional DVD, providing everything you need to start playing immediately.

What We Like
Affordable
Full-size
Durable construction
Buying Guide Image

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Is steel-string guitar good for beginners?

These sound much better for strumming chords compared to a classical guitar, so are very popular for beginners over a certain age. The reason for this is that the steel strings can be sharp on untrained fingers.

2. Is Steel String good for acoustic guitar?

Genre Matters The nylon strings on classical guitars contribute to a warmer, mellower sound, which is well-suited for classical, flamenco, and folk music. An acoustic guitar with steel strings would be more well-suited for playing country, rock, bluegrass, or just about any other type of music.

3. Which acoustic guitar strings are best for beginners?

Elixir Coated Light Acoustic Strings Our first choice is the Elixir acoustic string sets with a NANOWEB coating. For beginners, we'd recommend the "light" set, which is easier to play and gentler on fingers. They're more expensive than non-coated strings, but they last a lot longer and sound significantly better.

4. What is the easiest acoustic guitar to play?

For us, the overall best beginner acoustic guitar has to be the Fender CD-60S. This ace beginner acoustic delivers everything you could possibly need when starting out, and all at a delicious entry-level price. This guitar offers great sound, is easy to play and sports a rugged construction.

Editor's Notes

During our steel-string acoustic guitar for beginners research, we found 24 steel-string acoustic guitar for beginners products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 58,529 customer reviews through our big data system to write the steel-string acoustic guitars for beginners list. We found that most customers choose steel-string acoustic guitars for beginners with an average price of $152.19.

The steel-string acoustic guitars for beginners are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of steel-string acoustic guitars for beginners, including Donner, Pyle, Yamaha, Fender, Vangoa. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 1,485 consumers with an average rating of 4.9.

Written by
Nicole Kim Avatar

Nicole Kim has been a music teacher and a private piano instructor for six years now. She is a very talented musician who plays piano to a high standard and won several awards in international piano competitions. Lately, she has been sharing her music expertise online, giving incredible tips on how to select the right musical instruments.