What to Buy First for Beginner Guitar (In Order, By Budget Tier)
The rule: buy in the order things stop you playing. A guitar you cannot tune or have nowhere to put gets abandoned; a second pedal never saved a beginner. Editorial priority list from our verified catalogue - prices shown only where verified on manufacturer/retailer pages (2026-10-17); everything else is deliberately unpriced, so budget a modest amount and check current retailer prices.
Buy in this order
| Order | Item | Why it ranks here | Verified anchor / status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The guitar (right size, right type) | Everything depends on it - use the gear-fit quiz | Acoustic from $229.99 verified (CD-60S); electric from $219.99 verified (PAC012) - see guitar pages |
| 2 | Tuner | You cannot practise what you cannot tune; start with our free mic tuner | Free tool today; clip-on prices on the tuners shortlist (one verified at $22.99) |
| 3 | Picks + spare strings | Picks vanish; a broken string ends practice for days | Unpriced here - small money at any retailer; see strings shortlist |
| 4 | Stand | A guitar out of its case gets played - see stands page nitro warning | Unpriced here - stands & hangers |
| 5 (electric only) | Amp + cable | An electric without an amp is a quiet practice tool only | Katana Mini $99.99 verified in our amps data; PAC012 + amp = $319.98 worked example |
| 6 | Capo | Opens hundreds of beginner songs in easy keys; worship/singer-songwriter essential | One verified at $35.95 (Shubb, its store) - capo shortlist |
| 7 | Lessons or a method book | Gear without a plan stalls; trial a platform free or start a book | Method book $10.99 verified at publisher; platforms $99-179.99/yr verified - roundup |
| Later | Case/humidity (solid-top acoustics), metronome hardware, pedals | Protection and polish, not day-one blockers | Free metronome first; care on our care page |
Total picture: how much it costs to learn guitar and the calculator. Checklist form: accessories checklist (what each item does); this page is the order to buy them in.
FAQ
What if my budget only covers the guitar?
Buy the guitar, use our free tuner/metronome/chord tools, and add the stand and spare strings within the first month - in that order.
Gift version?
See the gift guide and the seasonal gift pages linked from the blog hub.