Guitar Buying Guide
Acoustic, classical, or electric — how to find the right guitar for every player.
The right guitar depends on three things: the genre you want to play, the player's age and size, and the budget. Brook Mays and H&H Music carry acoustic, classical, and electric guitars and basses across all Texas stores, so you can try before you buy.
Types of guitars
- Classical (nylon-string) — Warm tone, easier on fingertips. Standard for classical and flamenco training. Wider neck suits fingerpicking technique.
- Steel-string acoustic — Bright, projecting sound. Suits folk, country, bluegrass, and singer-songwriter. Narrower neck suits strumming and chord playing.
- Acoustic-electric — A steel-string acoustic with a built-in pickup. Plays like a regular acoustic; plugs in when you need volume. Versatile for gigging.
- Electric guitar — Thin body, low action, and a wide tonal range via effects and amplifier. Requires amp + cable. Great for rock, blues, pop, and jazz.
- Bass guitar — Four (or five) strings; lower pitch range; foundational role in bands. Electric bass requires an amp. Acoustic bass guitar is available but less common.
What to try in store
- Play a few open chords — does the action (string height) feel comfortable?
- Fret a chord high on the neck — do the strings buzz or feel sharp against the frets?
- Check tuning stability — does the guitar stay in tune after bending a string?
- For electric: plug in and listen — every pickup has a distinct voice.
Guitar questions
What type of guitar is best for a beginner?+
Classical (nylon-string) guitars are gentle on fingertips and well-suited for classical and fingerstyle. Steel-string acoustic guitars have a bright sound ideal for folk, country, and singer-songwriter styles. Electric guitars are best for rock and pop — but you will also need an amplifier and cable. If you are unsure, start with acoustic to develop fundamentals; the techniques transfer to electric.
What guitar size should a child start on?+
3/4-size guitars suit ages 8–12 roughly, full-size for 12+. Body length, not age, is the real guide — if the player struggles to reach the frets and strum comfortably, the guitar is too big. Come in and try it.
Do I need an amplifier for an acoustic guitar?+
Traditional acoustic guitars play naturally without amplification. Acoustic-electric guitars add a pickup and preamp so you can plug into an amp or PA system when you need more volume — useful for live performances. Pure acoustic is the right starting point for most beginners.
How much should I spend on a first guitar?+
Entry-level guitars from reputable brands (Yamaha, Fender, Epiphone, Taylor Academy, Seagull) run $150–$350 and are genuinely playable right out of the box. Spending less often means poor action and tuning stability that discourages beginners. A $200–$300 guitar properly set up by a technician is a much better learning experience than a $99 no-name instrument.
What accessories does a new guitarist need?+
A tuner (or tuning app), extra strings, a case or gig bag, picks (multiple thicknesses to try), a strap, and — if electric — a cable and practice amp. A music stand is useful too. Ask our staff about beginner bundles.