Recommended Guitar Gear

Mahogany gives a warm, rounded tone, and the dreadnought body is loud enough to strum with friends. It's the kind of guitar that won't hold a new player back.

A solid top tends to open up and sound better as it's played. If you want one guitar that can carry you from first chords to years of playing, this is a smart pick.

The smaller body is comfortable on the couch or on the road, and it's a real Taylor, not a toy. Great second guitar that tends to get played the most.

Classical guitars are easier on sore fingers and great for fingerpicking and classical pieces. A low-risk way to find out if guitar is for you.

Two single-coils plus a humbucker cover clean, blues and rock. It's a long-running favorite for first electrics for good reason.

If the bell-like Strat sound is what's in your head, this gets you there on a budget, with a feel many players compare to guitars costing much more.

Humbuckers give you a fatter, smoother sound for rock and blues. A great step up once you know you love electric.

High-output pickups and a slim neck make riffs and leads feel easy. A budget-friendly way into heavier music.

When you're ready for a keeper, this is the one-and-done Strat: gig-worthy, endlessly versatile and easy to resell.

Bluetooth lets you jam along with tracks, and the app gives you loads of amp and effect sounds. Very hard to get bored with.

A small modeling amp with easy controls. Plug in, pick a preset and play.

For players who want knobs, not apps. That classic Orange crunch at bedroom volume.

Perfect for late-night practice without bothering anyone. Tiny enough to keep in a gig bag.

Acoustic amps keep your guitar natural and add a mic input for singing. Great for small gigs and open mics.

Pushes a clean amp into smooth, mid-forward drive. A pedalboard classic.

Three knobs and built like a tank. An easy first distortion.

One knob, one switch. Looping is one of the fastest ways to practice rhythm and lead.