Classical Guitars and Accessories for Beginners

Written By Yenne Lee

So, you’ve finally decided to start learning the classical guitar — congratulations!
The next step is to find your first guitar and a few essential accessories to get started.

(Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)

(See this post if you’re still deciding between a classical guitar and an acoustic guitar.)

What to Consider When Buying Your First Classical Guitar

1. Budget

For beginners, a good price range is $150–$500.

There are guitars around $100 on Amazon, but most are cheap for a reason. They often have very high or very low string action (making them hard to play), poor tone, or structural issues that affect tuning stability and sound.

If possible, go with a trusted brand like Yamaha or Cordoba. These companies have long-standing reputations for quality, even at beginner levels, and offer warranty protection.

Avoid investing in a guitar over $500 if you’re a complete beginner. In the early stages, accidents happen — bumping into furniture, dropping your guitar, or scratching it unintentionally. It’s better to start with a reliable, modest instrument while you’re still learning proper handling and care.

Unlike the piano, every guitar is slightly different in size. As you develop your skills, you’ll gain a sense of what body size, neck width, and action height suit you best.
👉 Start with a moderately priced, well-made instrument and upgrade once you’ve learned what you value in a guitar.

2. Top Wood Material

The top wood (soundboard) greatly influences tone. Classical guitars typically use either cedar or spruce.

  • Cedar tops — darker in color, warmer and rounder tone.

  • Spruce tops — lighter in color, brighter and more focused tone.

At the beginner level, the difference is subtle — so choose whichever tone or appearance appeals to you most. (If you’re unsure, cedar is often more forgiving for beginners.)

3. Scale Length (Guitar Size)

The standard scale length for classical guitars is 650 mm.

Most adult players will be comfortable with this full-size model.

However, if you have smaller hands, consider a 7/8-size guitar.
For children:

  • Ages 7 or younger → ½-size guitar

  • Ages 8–12 → ¾-size guitar

If you’re very tall or have large hands, you can still start with the standard 650 mm size — it’s better to begin with something slightly small and manageable rather than oversized.

Recommended Beginner Classical Guitars

(Prices are listed as of November 2025.)

1. Yamaha C40II Classical Guitar

  • Affordable and reliable starter option

  • Price: 179.99 USD (as of February 2025)

  • Top wood: Spruce

  • Size: Full

2. Cordoba C3M Classical Guitar

  • Price: 299.99 USD (as of March 2025)

  • Top wood: Cedar

  • Size: Full

3. Cordoba C5 Classical Guitar

  • Balanced tone and quality for long-term use

  • Price: 449.99 USD (as of March 2025)

  • Top wood: Cedar

  • Size: Full

4. Cordoba Dolce 7/8-Size Classical Guitar

  • Ideal for smaller hands

  • Price: 399.99 USD (as of March 2025)

  • Top wood: Cedar

  • Size: 7/8

6. Yamaha CGS102A Half-Size Classical Guitar

  • Perfect for kids 7 or younger

  • Price: 159.99 USD (as of March 2025)

  • Top wood: Spruce

  • Size: 1/2

7. Yamaha CGS103A 3/4-Size Classical Guitar

  • Great for kids ages 8–12

  • Price: 169.99 USD (as of March 2025)

  • Top wood: Spruce

  • Size: 3/4

Essential Classical Guitar Accessories

In addition to your guitar, a few accessories will make practice easier and safer.

The most essential are:

  • A guitar bag or case

  • A guitar stand

  • A footrest or guitar support

(For a complete list, see this post on essential accessories for classical guitarists.)

1. Guitar Bag

A gig bag protects your instrument during travel or when stored away.
Recommended options:

2. Guitar Stand

A stand keeps your guitar safe and visible — and you’ll be more likely to practice when it’s easily accessible.

Recommended:

3. Guitar Footrest

Classical technique requires a specific sitting posture, and a footrest helps you maintain it comfortably.

Try:

4. Guitar Tuner

While free apps exist, a physical tuner is more accurate and convenient.
D’Addario tuners are especially well-suited for classical players.

Final Thoughts

Buying your first classical guitar can feel overwhelming — there are countless options out there, especially online.
If you’d like to skip the decision process, here’s a simple setup I recommend:


Once you’re comfortable, you can explore other helpful accessories such as a metronome, music stand, extra strings, or a practice journal.

👉 Check out the full accessories list here.

If you have any questions or want personalized guidance, feel free to reach out via the contact form.

Happy playing — and welcome to the world of classical guitar!

Yenne Lee
Previous

Essential Accessories and Gears for the Classical Guitarist
Next

Classical Guitar vs. Acoustic Guitar: Which One Should You Buy?