3 Guitar Buying Mistakes (And What To Do Instead)

The Biggest Myth About Learning Guitar

The first big mistake people make is believing the myth that you have to start on an acoustic guitar.

Acoustic guitars are super common, and they do work really well for a lot of people:

• They’re great for chords and strumming
• Perfect for campfire singalongs
• Awesome for fingerstyle
• You can even play leads on them

So there is nothing wrong with learning on an acoustic. But here’s the key point:

If you’re not inspired by the sound and look of an acoustic guitar, it might not be the right first guitar for you.

If the music you love is mostly played on electric guitar, then an electric might be the better option. On an electric guitar, you can:

• Strum chords
• Fingerpick
• Play leads more easily (especially higher up the neck)
• Experiment with sounds and effects through an amp – which is a ton of fun on its own

At the end of the day, the right guitar is the one that makes you want to pick it up and play.

My Story (Why I Started On Electric)

I didn’t start on acoustic. I started on electric.

I was a depressed, overweight 17-year-old kid who played video games all the time. No talent, no girlfriend, no real direction. Then I picked up an electric guitar, and it completely changed my life. Guitar-wise, I learned everything I needed on that instrument.

Later, when I finally got an acoustic, I could play it right away because the skills transfer between electric and acoustic.

So don’t get caught in the “supposed to” trap. You don’t have to start on acoustic. You should start on the guitar that inspires you.

Guitar Buying Mistake #1: Choosing The “Wrong” Type Of Guitar

So the first big mistake is this:

Believing that acoustic guitars are always the best choice for beginners.

Instead, ask yourself:

1. What kind of music do I actually listen to?
2. When I imagine my favorite band playing live, what kind of guitars are they using?
3. Which one makes me excited to play – acoustic or electric?

That’s probably the instrument that will keep you coming back day after day.

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Guitar Buying Mistake #2: Going Too Cheap

The second big mistake is buying a guitar that’s a little too cheap.

You don’t have to spend a fortune, but you do need to spend enough to get a guitar that:

• Feels comfortable
• Stays in tune
• Doesn’t fight you every time you press a chord

One of the biggest red flags is when the strings are really high off the fretboard. If the “action” is too high, the guitar will be much harder to play. Yes, the person at the shop might tell you they can adjust that – and often they can – but you have to ask yourself:

Do I want the guitar that needs a bunch of fixing, or the one that came from the factory already good to go?

The Secret Of Modern Budget Guitars

Modern manufacturing has made low-end guitars surprisingly good.

Sometimes a $300 guitar rolls off the same line as the $1,000+ instruments, and it just happens to be set up really nicely. The trick is: you have to try a bunch of guitars.

Here’s what I recommend when you go to the music store:

• Pick up an expensive guitar (even if you don’t know how to play yet)
• Feel how easy it is to press the strings
• Strum the open strings and notice how it responds
• Then try some more affordable guitars and compare

You’re not trying to become a guitar expert on the spot. You’re just paying attention to what feels comfortable in your hands.

Remember – you’ll be living with this guitar for a while. Take the time to choose the right tool for the job.

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The “Invisible” Mistake: No Plan For Learning

This one isn’t technically a buying mistake, but I see it ruin people’s guitar journeys all the time.

Here’s what usually happens:

1. You buy a guitar
2. You get excited, go on YouTube, and start bouncing from video to video
3. You dabble in chords here, a riff there, maybe a song intro
4. After a while, you lose your sense of direction
5. The guitar slowly migrates into the closet

I’ve been teaching for over 15 years, and I’ve seen this pattern so many times. People buy a guitar, mess around for a bit, then walk away because they never had a simple, step-by-step path to follow. Years later they try again, but they have to start from scratch.

It’s just like building something: if you do it in the right order with the right tools, you don’t have to tear it down and rebuild it later.

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How I Can Help You Get Started The Right Way

If you want to learn guitar in a way that actually sticks, I have two resources for you:

1. My Free Crash Course

I put together a free crash course that shows you:

• How to go from knowing nothing to playing your first real songs
• The right steps in the right order
• How to build guitar into your life so it doesn’t end up back in the closet

You can sign up for the free Crash Course here.

2. The All-Access Pass (For When You’re Ready To Go Deeper)

If you decide you want more help beyond the crash course, you can try The All-Access Pass – my membership that includes all of my step-by-step courses, bonuses, and our private community.

Your All-Access Pass to Mastering Guitar!
No more random YouTube rabbit holes. No more wasted time. Whether you’re just starting or looking to level up, my step-by-step courses, exclusive bonuses, and private community are here to guide you every step of the way.

• On-demand access to my ever-growing library of guitar lessons
• Enhance your YouTube lesson experience with exclusive bonuses
• Join a private community where you can connect and get feedback

You can check it out here:
The All-Access Pass: https://goodguitarist.com/premium-courses/

You’ll have everything you need to build real guitar skills – and actually enjoy the process.

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Guitar Buying Mistake #3: Forgetting The “Extras” That Keep You Playing

The third big mistake is forgetting about the simple extras that make learning guitar smoother and more enjoyable.

These are not fancy, expensive gadgets. They’re just the basic tools that almost every guitarist I know keeps in their case:

• Guitar picks
• A clip-on tuner
• A music stand

Picks

Picks are cheap – often around 25–50 cents each. Get a small handful in different:

• Thicknesses
• Shapes
• Sizes

Try them out and see what feels best. Or you might decide you prefer using your fingers, and that’s totally fine too. But it’s nice to have options, and you don’t want to be stuck hunting for a single lost pick under the couch when you finally have 10 minutes to practice.

Clip-On Tuner

A good clip-on tuner:

• Clips to the headstock of your guitar
• Lets you tune quickly and accurately
• Is way more reliable than most free phone apps

Even though apps don’t cost anything, it’s worth spending a bit of money on a proper tuner. It makes tuning less of a chore, which means you’ll sound better and start practicing faster.

Even the best player sounds bad on an out-of-tune guitar. A good tuner helps you avoid that.

Music Stand

This one might surprise you, but I really believe in it:

Music stand = guitar zone.

When your sheets, notes, or chord charts are piled onto a table, they get buried under other stuff. When they’re on a stand, it signals to your brain, “This is where the guitar stuff happens.”

It also saves time. Instead of digging around for papers, you just walk up, grab your guitar, and start playing. The goal is to remove as many tiny obstacles as possible between you and actually making music.

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Quick Recap

When you’re buying your first (or next) guitar, remember:

1. Get a guitar you love.
   • Acoustic and electric can both work.
   • Choose the one that matches the music you love and makes you excited to play.
2. Don’t go too cheap.
   • Try a bunch of guitars at the store.
   • Pay attention to string height and how it feels in your hands.
   • Don’t be afraid to try expensive guitars just to feel what “good” is like.
3. Remember the extras.
   • Picks, a clip-on tuner, and a music stand seem simple, but they make a huge difference in how easy and enjoyable practice feels.

And finally, don’t forget:

• Have a clear path for learning so your guitar doesn’t end up in the closet.
• Grab my free crash course to get started the right way.
• When you’re ready for more, check out The All-Access Pass for structured, step-by-step learning and support.

Have a fun time practicing and I’ll see you soon!
-James