Seeing as guitars come in so many types, shapes, and sizes, selecting the ideal guitar for a beginner can seem like a daunting task. There are three main types of guitars: nylon string acoustic, steel-string acoustic, and steel-string electric.
For young students, nylon string instruments are almost always preferred given their soft, gentle feel on the fingertips. Nylon string guitars can also be excellent choices for adolescent and adult students that are looking for a softer touch. Steel-string acoustics and electrics are a little harder on the fingers but do offer a more appropriate tone for genres like rock, pop, and country and, as such, for students with the strength and dexterity to establish a clear sound on these instruments, can be a more inspiring experience dependent on their musical preferences.
The other big consideration is size. Guitars are offered in four main sizes: 1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and full size. Here is a general breakdown of recommended size based on age range (*note: this can also vary based on the individual height of a student):
FULL
In terms of specific manufacturers, established brands like Fender, Epiphone and Yamaha are always safe bets. Their great reputations as guitar manufacturers are merited given the quality they provide throughout their entire product lines. This is particularly true when it comes to the factory setups these brands offer even in their entry level models.