• Choosing the right first guitar can be difficult. One must first consider the style of music he wishes to pursue. Much of folk, country and blues were played originally on acoustic guitars. Rock, modern country and several other styles are most commonly played on electric guitars. The snag of beginning with an electric guitar is that it requires more equipment than just the guitar itself to be heard. You need an amplifier and 1/4-inch instrument cables. All the same, many companies have the beginner in mind and have cost-effective models for both electric and acoustic players.
  
  

Fender Squier Stratocaster

• This popular electric guitar is the most basic of the Fender family. Made of cheaper materials and electronics than the Stratocaster, this guitar still has a humbucker and two single pick-ups that give this instrument a wide range of tones. Its electronics can be easily upgraded if a player decides to move to the next level and has the same classic stylings as the more expensive Stratocaster. The Squier Stratocaster is a good trade for the low price it carries.
  
  

Yamaha FX 335

• The Yamaha FX 335 is an acoustic guitar that embodies a lot of the classic elements of an acoustic guitar but still has built-in electronic elements that can allow for amplification. It is made with a spruce top and a rosewood fingerboard. It is a basic acoustic guitar but delivers for the price--another good first step guitar.
  
  

Epiphone Les Paul Special II

• The Les Paul Special II is the most basic of the iconic Les Paul line of guitars. This solid body electric guitar has two humbuckers that give the guitar a thicker sound than that of the Stratocaster. It is made of materials cheaper than the higher lines of Les Pauls but still maintains a decent appearance and sound suitable for a beginner.