Finding the perfect guitar can be overwhelming if you’re a female artist or shopping for a guitar for a little girl or loved one.
There are countless models, shapes, sizes, brands, and not to mention the confusing specs sheets accompanying product descriptions!
I’ve been playing guitar for over 25+ years and have taught lessons to those with the same challenges as you. I’ve compiled a list based on this experience and countless hours of research.
In this article, I’ll recommend high-quality models considering all budgets and aesthetics.
Make sure to read to the end, as I’ve also included a handy buyer’s guide to help you learn what features make up the best guitars for female beginners.
Enough small talk; let’s begin!
The Short Answer
If money isn’t an option then the best guitar for female beginners is the Taylor GS Mini. The construction, consistency, and playability of these guitars make them a great purchase for a lifetime of guitar playing (read full review here).
Suppose you’re dipping your toes into the water and want something affordable that plays well and will look good in your next social post; the Gretsch Jim Dandy is fantastic.
For those looking for an electric guitar, the Squier Classic Vibe ’70s Jaguar ticks all the boxes for the best electric guitar for women.
-Brad Johnson (Founder/Writer of Song Production Pros)
Table of Contents
The Best Acoustic Guitar for Female Beginners:
The Best Overall: Taylor GS Mini Mahogany
- Topwood: Solid Mahogany
- Body Wood: Sapele
- Neck Wood: Sapele
- Fingerboard: Ebony
- Frets: 20
- Scale Length: 23.5''
- Nut Width: 1.6875''
- Electronics: ES-B (Paid Upgrade)
- Case: Softshell Case
The Taylor GS Mini Mahogany is one of the best guitars for women who want the best.
Its short-scale length and unique body shape make it comfortable and intimate for players with a more petite frame. At the same time, its resonant and rich tone will satisfy even the most experienced guitarist.
If you're looking for a guitar that sounds great and is easy to play, the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany is a perfect choice.
- One of the best acoustic guitars for female players of any skill level
- Taylor guitars are some of the most consistently high-quality manufactured instruments in the industry
- It comes with a high-quality softshell case, so you can easily take it with you on the go
- It's pricey
- You have to pay extra if you want electronics to plug into a PA or amplifier
Full Review:
Taylor Guitars is famous for making some of the best acoustic guitars globally, and their GS Mini series has become one of the most popular guitars they sell.
This is one of the best guitars for women thanks to its short-scale length (23.5”) and shrunken dreadnought body style, which Taylor calls the Grand Symphony.
The short scale length makes this acoustic guitar rest more comfortable and intimate for players with a more petite frame. It also makes the strings have less tension making it easier to fret.
Most 3/4-sized guitars, often the most commonly recommended guitar for women, lack a certain tonal depth that more experienced guitarists are after. However, the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany has an extraordinarily resonant and rich sound that is as good as full-size guitars.
The scalloped X-bracing and larger soundhole contribute to the acoustic guitar’s louder projection and round tone.
Taylor Guitars is one of the best guitar manufacturers in the industry, and you will rarely purchase a poorly made Taylor. The GS Mini comes in various tonewoods for different sonic characters. Still, if you’re looking for the most bang for your buck, the Mahogany topped GS Mini is the way to go.
Read the Rest of the Review:
Mahogany is a beautiful tonewood with a rich, mid-range presence and a natural sound compression. This gives the guitar a remarkable sustain and helps even out dynamics within your playing. This is a massive benefit if you haven’t yet developed your strumming techniques.
This isn’t the cheapest acoustic guitar on this list; you get what you pay for. While this guitar is an excellent option for female players, it’s also a great travel guitar. It comes with a high-quality softshell case that you won’t find with some other options on this list.
Also, if you want your GS Mini to be an acoustic-electric guitar, you will need to spend a little extra.
The GS Mini is also available as a left-handed guitar, so if you are a southpaw, you won’t be left out 🙂
However, the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany is a great purchase if you’re looking for the easiest acoustic guitar to play, thanks to the fantastic and consistent construction. The GS Mini will last you for years and grow with you as you progress.
Best Acoustic Guitar for Girls: Taylor TS-BT
- Topwood: Solid Sitka Spruce
- Body Wood: Sapele
- Neck Wood: Tropical Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Ebony
- Frets: 19
- Scale Length: 22.75''
- Nut Width: 1.6875''
- Electronics: ES-B (Paid Upgrade)
- Case: Gig Bag
Looking for the perfect acoustic guitar for your daughter or little loved one? Look no further than the Taylor TS-BT!
This guitar is a favorite of none other than Taylor Swift herself, who wrote many of her biggest hits on a Baby Taylor. With this guitar, your loved one can write songs with the same level of inspiration and love.
Plus, this guitar comes with the "love, love, love" expression and Taylor's signature on the top, making it a truly unique and special instrument.
- Very easy to play, especially for girls and adults with smaller hands
- The small size makes this a great travel guitar
- It comes with a gig bag
- You'll have to pay extra for electronics
- Most guitarists will outgrow this guitar
- Expensive
Full Review:
Suppose you’re shopping for your daughter and wonder what the best acoustic guitar for them would be. In that case, the Taylor TS-BT is a winner for multiple reasons.
Taylor Swift wrote many of her hits songs on a Baby Taylor. This collaboration offers a unique “love, love, love” expression and Taylor’s signature on the top of the guitar to inspire a new generation of female songwriters.
“For a beginner, finding the right guitar can be intimidating, but this guitar it’s a perfect size. Even if you’ve been playing for years, it’s a great size to travel with.”
– Taylor Swift
Read the Rest of the Review:
The Baby Taylor is a 3/4 sized acoustic guitar with a solid Sitka spruce top and laminated Sapele back and sides. This classic tonewood combination offers an open and cheerful tone that will help your little songwriter express themselves easily.
The Taylor Swift Baby Taylor also comes with a gig bag that keeps up with its reputation for being the favorite travel guitar of Taylor Swift, as well as Katy Perry, Tim McGraw, and Bono.
One downside of the Taylor TS-BT is that if your little one needs an acoustic-electric guitar with which she can play some shows, you’ll need to spend a little extra.
This guitar isn’t cheap, but if you want your little one to have a guitar that is easy to play, extremely well made, and inspiring, then the Taylor TS-BT is the guitar you should get.
Best for Budget: Gretsch Jim Dandy
- Topwood: Basswood
- Body Wood: Basswood
- Neck Wood: Nato
- Fingerboard: Walnut
- Frets: 18
- Scale Length: 24''
- Nut Width: 1.6875''
- Electronics: N/A
- Case: Sold Separately
The Gretsch Jim Dandy is a perfect guitar for female players looking for a good deal without sacrificing quality and aesthetics.
This guitar has a vintage appeal that will look great in any setting, and it's packed with features that any novice or intermediate player will love. With a short-scale 12-fret design, the Jim Dandy is easy to play and comfortable.
- You'll quickly grasp the basics of playing with this affordable and easy-to-play guitar
- It has a beautiful worn-in and vintage tone, perfect for authentic songwriting
- With its quiet projection, it won't annoy your roommates or neighbors
- If you're looking for a modern pop acoustic guitar, you'll want to look elsewhere
- It doesn't come with electronics for plugging into a PA or amplifier
Full Review:
The Gretsch Jim Dandy parlour guitar is an authentic relic of the past. It owns its vintage aesthetic and has a beautiful, worn-in, woody sound.
However, because parlor guitars are one of the smaller acoustic guitars on the market, they make remarkable instruments for females.
But the Jim Dandy’s appeal extends far beyond its vintage flavor. This instrument has several features that novice or intermediate-level players should focus on.
Read the Rest of the Review:
First, The guitar is easy to play and comfortable for people of all levels, thanks to the short-scale 12-fret design. This means there will be less string tension making the guitar easy and fun to play, especially for people who have not built up their hand strength.
Also, the tiny size of this guitar makes it ideal for small living spaces. Parlor guitars don’t have a loud projection like a traditional acoustic guitar. You won’t annoy your roommates or neighbors while you practice.
Some drawbacks to parlor guitars are that they lack low-end. So the Jim Dandy won’t be the most tonally versatile instrument on the list. If you’re looking for a more modern tone, you’ll be better served with the Taylor GS Mini Mahogany.
The Jim Dandy isn’t an acoustic-electric guitar, so if you want to play coffee shop gigs with this guitar, you’ll have to have a pickup installed.
If you’re looking for a beginner guitar that isn’t going to break the bank, is extremely fun to play, and oozes vintage character, then the Gretsch Jim Dandy is an excellent option!
The 3 Best Electric Guitars for Female Beginners:
Best Overall: Squier CV ’70s Jaguar
- Body Wood: Poplar
- Neck Material: Maple
- Fingerboard: Indian Laurel
- Frets: 22, Narrow Tall
- Scale Length: 24''
- Nut Width: 1.65''
- Neck Pickup: Fender Alnico Single-Coil
- Bridge Pickup: Fender Alnico Single-Coil
- Case: Sold Separately
The Squier '70s Jaguar is a fantastic value-for-money that plays great and has the iconic surf guitar look.
This offset-body guitar is inspired by those sun-soaked days at the beach. It's perfect for women who want a stylish and comfortable guitar to play. The thin C-shaped maple neck feels sleek and easy to hold, while the alnico single-coil pickups provide a clear, punchy sound.
- The shorter-scale length and offset body make for a very comfortable playing experience for more petite players
- For a reasonable price, you can get an outstanding vintage Fender design
- It comes with 3 free months of online lessons from Fender Play
- It doesn't come with a gig bag or amplifier
- You may need a professional setup after purchasing
Full Review:
Squier is considered the budget brand by world-renowned Fender guitars. However, to consider Squier as a discount brand is a huge mistake.
The Squier series has recently outdone itself in guitar manufacturing, and the Classic Vibes series won’t disappoint if you’re a novice or intermediate guitarist.
The Classic Vibe ’70s Jaguar (mrow 😉 ) is a short-scale guitar with an iconic offset body that is effortlessly cool. The guitar has a style that harkens back to those sun-soaked summer days at the beach.
Read the Rest of the Review:
The thin C-shaped maple neck feels sleek and comfortable and is an excellent guitar for women. The offset poplar body is lightweight and feels effortless to hold, making playing this guitar for long periods very enjoyable.
The alnico single-coil pickups in Fender electric guitars are known for their clear, punchy, and vibey sound. This short-scale electric guitar is ideal for indie, rock, and pop music due to its high output gain. This enables you to take the ’70s Jaguar’s tone into more exciting and textured places.
While this is a beautiful electric guitar for female beginners, it is pricey. You must purchase an amplifier and accessories to get the most out of it. Also, you usually have to get a professional setup with overseas manufactured guitars (this one is made in Indonesia). This will ensure the guitar plays as best as possible.
However, suppose you’re looking for a perfect guitar for smaller-bodied players that looks incredible in a photo. In that case, the Squier by Fender Classic Vibe ’70s Jaguar is a great choice!
Best Electric Guitar for Girls: Fender Mini Jazzmaster HH
- Body Wood: Poplar
- Neck Material: Maple
- Fingerboard: Maple
- Frets: 20, Narrow Tall
- Scale Length: 22.75''
- Nut Width: 1.598''
- Neck Pickup: Standard Humbucker
- Bridge Pickup: Standard Humbucker
- Case: Sold Separately
Looking for a girl's electric guitar that is great for beginners and will also last as your daughter, or loved one, gets older and her skills improve? Look no further than the Squier by Fender Mini Jazzmaster HH.
The C-shaped maple neck on this guitar is lightweight and easy to play, making it the perfect choice for girls with smaller hands.
Your little one will love playing this guitar, and you'll love how it looks in pictures. Order the Squier by Fender Mini Jazzmaster HH today and get your daughter started on her rockstar journey.
- An east-to-play guitar that is perfect for a little girl
- It has a jangly sound perfect for pop, indie, and singer/songwriter music
- Get a mini version of one of Fender's most famous guitars
- It doesn't come with an amplifier or any accessories
- Some of the build materials are cheaper than others on this list
Full Review:
Like my Editor’s Choice, the Squier by Fender Mini Jazzmaster HH features that iconic offset body style that defines one of Fender’s most famous guitars.
If your little girl dreams of being a rockstar where all eyes are on them, this contemporary Jazzmaster guitar is the best first step.
Read the Rest of the Review:
The C-shaped maple neck is lightweight, and kids with smaller hands will find it pleasant and easy to play. This is a fantastic choice if you’re buying for a daughter and don’t want them to outgrow their guitar too quickly as they get older.
The Mini Jazzmaster HH is equipped with humbucking pickups, which help to eliminate noise when plugged into a guitar amplifier. Squier by Fender’s guitars has a “jangly” sound perfect for pop, indie, and singer/songwriter music.
The bummer of this electric guitar is that it doesn’t come as a starter kit. You must purchase the amplifier and accessories to get the most out of the guitar.
All in all, if you’re searching for the best electric guitar that will propel your little girl towards their dreams, the Squier by Fender Mini Jazzmaster HH is a fantastic choice.
Best for Budget: Epiphone SG
- Body Wood: Poplar
- Neck Material: Okoume
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Frets: 22, Medium Jumbo
- Scale Length: 24.75''
- Nut Width: 1.6875''
- Neck Pickup: 650R Ceramic-8 Humbucker
- Bridge Pickup: 700T Ceramic-8 Humbucker
- Case: Sold Separately
The Epiphone SG electric guitar is perfect for female players who want to rock out with a distinctive, classic, and stylish instrument.
The SG's sound is just as bold as its appearance. It features humbucking pickups that deliver an articulate and creamy crunch with incredible sustain.
If you're looking for an excellent beginner guitar that will help you stand out from the crowd, the Epiphone SG is a perfect choice.
- This guitar is lightweight and comfortable to play
- It has a slim neck that makes it easy for smaller hands to play
- Get a classic guitar for an affordable price
- It doesn't come with a gig bag
- Rock n' roll body style is something you either love or dislike
- Not sonically diverse
Full Review:
Epiphone makes high-quality acoustic and electric guitars that punch well above their weight.
The SG is a distinctive body type, made famous by Gibson guitars and used by several famous girl guitar players like Carrie Brownstein and Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
The lightweight poplar body and bolt-on slim-tapered Okoume neck of the SG provides a very comfortable playing guitar, especially for those with smaller frames and tiny hands.
The guitar’s sound matches its appearance, which is very rock n’ roll.
Read the Rest of the Review:
This Epiphone SG features humbucking pickups with incredible sustain and an articulate and creamy crunch. This guitar sounds good while playing with a clean tone, but SGs are musical instruments that sound best when pushed into overdrive.
The downfall of the Epiphone SG is that it isn’t a sonically versatile instrument. It does what it does well, but if you’re looking to play funkier, jazzier genres, then you will be better suited with the Squier.
However, suppose you’re looking for an affordable guitar with a comfortable slim neck that will satisfy alternative female guitarists. In that case, the Epiphone SG is a great option.
Buyer’s Guide
Suppose non of the options above really spoke to you, and you want to continue researching to find the best beginner acoustic guitars and electric guitars that you’ll love to learn on.
If that’s the case, the following buyer’s guide should help you learn what makes excellent guitars for women.
Body Type
Grand concert guitars are a great choice to help narrow your search for the best guitar for more petite frames.
Grand Concerts are great acoustic guitar body types for female performers because it’s comfortable for more petite players to hole, and it has a beautiful and intimate tone.
They’re also great guitars for fingerstyle playing and lighter strumming. The smaller, pinch-waist guitar design responds quickly, requiring little effort to make it sound at its best.
Parlors are smaller guitars that are perfect for female beginners. They are smaller in size compared to the grand concert. They have a classic, bluesy tone but often lack the depth of larger-bodied acoustic guitars.
Electric guitar body types are more forgiving. As most are thin and aren’t overly bulky.
Scale Length
You can discover the scale length of a guitar by doubling the distance between the bridge nut and the 12th fret.
A full-size guitar (both electric and acoustic) has a scale length of around 25.5 inches. On the other hand, a shorter-scale instrument has a scale length of roughly 24.7 inches.
Any guitar below a 24” scale length isn’t considered a full-sized guitar. Depending on the length, these will be either 1/4, 1/2, or 3/4 size.
Shorter-scale guitars have less string tension, giving a “slinkier” playing feel. This makes the guitar easier to play, especially for beginning female guitarists.
Neck Radius
Neck radius affects the way a guitar feels within your hand.
A thicker 7″-9″ neck radius will feel round and chunky. In comparison, a larger 16” neck radius will feel flatter and be better for fast finger work.
The radius depends on the music style you want to play. If you are an aspiring metal player, go with a larger radius. If you want a more versatile guitar or “middle of the road” option, go with something around the 9.5” range.
However, the overall neck design can significantly impact how the guitar feels in your hands.
The c-shape neck is often the most comfortable style of guitar neck for smaller hands. The good news is that c-shape necks are one of the most popular neck shapes, and you will find it is used on most beginner-style guitars.
Nut Width
The width of the neck at the headstock is known as the nut width.
Typcal acoustic guitar nut widths are:
- Small: 1.61 inches (1 11/18”)
- Average: 1.73 inches ( 1 3/4”)
- Large: 1.875 inches (1 7/8”)
Typical electric guitar nut widths are:
- Small: 1.65” inches (1 13/20”)
- Average: 1.6875 inches (1 11/16”)
- Large: 1.69+ inches
A female player should look at the small to average number for electric and acoustic guitars. If you are an adult player, then average should be just fine. However, if you have smaller hands or are a little girl, look for a nut width in the small range.
FAQ
What is the best acoustic guitar size for a woman?
A 3/4 acoustic guitar is the best guitar size for a woman. It’s the perfect size for a beginner guitarist with smaller hands and still large enough to produce a rich, full sound, especially if you’re looking at the Taylor GS Mini.
A quality 3/4 size guitar is also less expensive than a full-sized guitar, which can be another consideration if you’re looking for your first acoustic guitar.
Which type of beginner acoustic guitar is best for girls?
If the beginner guitar player is between the ages of 6-9, then the best type of acoustic guitar for you would be a 1/2 size guitar.
If the beginner guitar player is between the ages of 9-15, then a 3/4 size guitar or a full-sized guitar would be the best type, depending on the girl’s size.
1/4 size, 1/2 size, and 3/4 sized are smaller instruments, making them more comfortable for people with smaller hands and bodies to play.
The Bottom Line
So, what is the best guitar for female beginner? The Taylor GS Mini Mahogany if you want an acoustic, and the Squier Classic Vibes ’70s Jaguar if you are looking for an electric.
The GS Mini Mahogany has a great tone, is easy to travel with, wonderfully built, and is incredibly fun to play, so you’ll be inspired to continue learning and growing as a musician.
While the ’70s Jaguar has a short and slim neck and tons of aesthetic attitude that is perfect for a female beginner.
Both guitars are sure to please whether you’re just starting or have been playing for years.
