The 10 Best Electric Guitar Brands, Compared And Explained

At BeginnerGuitarHQ, we want you to have the biggest grasp over the guitar as you possibly can. This includes everything from crafting the tone perfect for your needs, to learning to become a virtuosic performer. One of the most important things about learning guitar, is choosing your instruments. As such, we’ve provided you with a

Fender FA-135ce Guitar Review

Today’s guide is reviewing the Fender FA-135ce. It’s an entry-level dreadnought electro-acoustic guitar with a body and sound large enough for live presentations. Built with a concert-style modern design, the FA-135ce model is lovely for solo performances and lead guitar players. It packs its own electronic system, and it’s decent enough. That means you could

Best Electric Guitar Under $1,000 

The $1,000 price mark is the perfect spot. Is where you’d find most top-tier options from most brands. These are the things you would never think to exist if you’ve always been a low and mid-level instrument user. That’s why I’m helping you find the best electric guitars under 1000 dollars. Overall, we’re searching for

A Pain-Free Guide to Playing Guitar with Small Hands

Ever feel like your hands are too small for playing guitar? I feel you. As an average size woman, my hands are a far cry from the giant paws of Jimi Hendrix, George Harrison and Stevie Ray Vaughan. But with a few minor adjustments, I’ve managed to keep up with my big-handed counterparts. It’s all

The Best Cheap Acoustic Guitar

We at Beginner Guitar HQ have created many lists detailing top value acoustic guitars. We’ve also listed a couple of premium classical models if money is not a problem. Today’s article is putting everything in perspective with the top 6 best cheap acoustic guitars. Before we move forward to the actual list, though, we’ll need

JamPlay vs. GuitarTricks – Which One Is Better?

When it comes to online guitar lessons, it’s hard to find two platforms more popular than JamPlay and GuitarTricks. GuitarTricks (GT) is the veteran website, with 11 000+ lessons and 3 million users. JamPlay (JP) is newer, established in 2007 vs. 1998. But it’s still experienced in delivering 7500+ lessons to 500,000 players across the

JustinGuitar Review – Free Online Guitar Lessons

Whenever I ask new guitarists which online lessons they use and/or recommend, the one that comes up the most is JustinGuitar. Since 2003, Justin Sandercoe has been teaching guitarists of all levels on his website and YouTube channel. As of 2020, JustinGuitar has 1000+ lessons, 350,000+ users and 1.14 million+ subscribers. Not to mention endorsements

The Different Types Of Acoustic Guitars, Explained

At BeginnerGuitarHQ, we want to keep you on top of everything available to you in the world of guitars, and music in general. You might think of acoustic guitars as a singular entity, but we want to be able to take you through all of the different types of acoustic guitars out there. Maybe you

Guitar Tricks Review – The Original Online Guitar Teacher

As the first mainstream website for online lessons, Guitar Tricks has its share of bragging rights. 3 million+ users. 11000+ lessons. 1000+ songs. 33 instructors. All wrapped up in one platform. But it’s not 1998 anymore and there’s lots of newer sites to choose from. So, what sets Guitar Tricks apart? Let’s take a closer

The Best Parlor Guitar

While dreadnoughts and orchestra acoustic guitars might be more popular nowadays, parlor guitars have produced some of the most famous acoustic guitar tones ever. They’re extremely popular among 12 bar blues, country, and folk artists — and their small size makes them great picks for musicians who want a guitar for recording, songwriting, and taking

Best Electric Guitar Strings

We’ve all been there before. You start to notice that your faithful old ax isn’t quite as bright and cheerful as she usually is, and you’re finding it harder to slide up and down the neck. Sounds like you need a new set of electric guitar strings. Now, hopefully, yours aren’t to the point of

10 Best Expensive Electric Guitars

We’ve reviewed many instruments here at Beginner Guitar HQ. Yet, we’ve never listed the best expensive electric guitars before. Making justice to our name, most of our listings include budget options and amateur alternatives. Beginner and intermediate musicians are not looking to waste their savings on a single piece of gear. It’s what we do.

Guitar Drop D Tuning Guide: How To Tune Your Guitar To Drop D

At BeginnerGuitarHQ, we’re constantly trying to figure out ways to teach our readers how to play guitar at the next level. Whether it’s through your guitar tone and timbre, your dexterity or the notes you have access too. Drop D is a common tuning system that many players will be familiar with, and it gives

Taylor 114e Acoustic Guitar Review

Today, we’re reviewing the Taylor 114e electro-acoustic guitar. We’ve discussed many acoustic guitars before here on Beginner Guitar HQ, but we’ve never reviewed a Taylor model. Taylor is highly considered as the best acoustic guitar manufacturer in the world, and its reputation is as reliable as the brand’s consistent quality. The Taylor 114e is an

How to Use the Tritone On Guitar

At BeginnerGuitarHQ, we make sure you get a detailed and accurate grasp over every element of guitar playing. This includes some of the more complex, dissonant aspects of music theory which will enhance the way you play, write and improvise with your guitar. In this important guide, we’ll guide you through the use of the

The Best Guitar Brands

The world of guitars is vast, and there are a lot of amazing brands out there! Whether you’re a new player or a seasoned pro, sometimes it can be difficult to evaluate which of the best guitar brands are great for your style, and which aren’t suited as well to your playing.  While many brands

How to Play Guitar With Long Nails

When you first start learning how to play guitar, you’re usually told to keep your nails short. For many players, this isn’t a big deal. But what if you work as a manicurist? Or what if having nice hands is essential for your look? Does this mean that you should give up? Of course not!

The Best Guitar Strings for Metal

Changing the guitar strings is like putting oil on your car’s engine or like putting air on your tires. It brings back your guitar to life with the crispness and brightness a new set of guitar strings delivers. And when going live, even slight improvements will yield good results. Besides, I’m not even counting how

Cordoba C7 Acoustic Guitar

It’s a shame that Cordoba Guitars doesn’t have a bigger reputation. This is a brand that puts great passion into each of their classical guitars. So, whenever you see a Cordoba-branded model, you’re in the presence of a rarity: affordable, handmade, and quality are not often combined. We’re reviewing the Cordoba C7 classical acoustic guitar, a

The Slash Guitar Technique

At BeginnerGuitarHQ, we want to make sure you have the best grasp over the guitar from every possible angle. This includes getting you the right guitar gear and the best playing style to suit your needs. However, sometimes, we just want to imitate our heroes. As such, every now and again, we put together a

Can You Play An Electric Guitar Without an Amp? 

Traditionally, amplifiers were a must-have accessory. They were invented in the 1930s to help electric guitarists play as loudly as other musicians in big band orchestras. Even today, they’re an inescapable feature at jam sessions and gigs. But with a heavy build (and an even heavier price tag), many players are questioning whether or not

Types of Electric Guitars – Definitive Guide

Beginner Guitar HQ is helping you understand everything you need to know about the different types of electric guitars there are. We’re going to keep this as simple as possible: instead of deep and theoretical stuff, we’re going to explain everything we say with guitar examples and additional guitar reviews. Stay with us if you’re

How to Play Bass Guitar like Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney might just be the most famous bass player of all time. Beginning with his career in the Beatles and continuing through his careers with Wings and as a solo artist, McCartney has revolutionized the role of the bass in popular music, and changed the image of the bass guitar overall. Bassists today, in

How to Play Double Stops on Guitar

So you’ve perfected the pentatonic scale, mastered the melodic minor, and can blast out blues licks like Hendrix. Hopefully, you’ve got a few tools under your belt. From string-breaking bends to face-melting legato passages, all of these techniques add a huge amount of depth and nuance to your lead playing, beyond simply rehearsing scales, shapes,

Best Guitar Accessories for Beginners 

When you buy your first guitar, you’ll soon realize that the instrument itself is just the tip of the iceberg. Whether it’s extra strings, fretboard conditioner or audio interface equipment, there’s a never-ending pile of accessories you can add to your purchase. How can you tell the difference between what accessories you really need vs.

Yamaha FG800 Acoustic Guitar Review

The Japanese music industry has plenty of recognition thanks to names like Ibanez and Yamaha. Both brands have a similar philosophy regarding their musical gear as they consistently add advanced electronics and hardware to deliver top-value instruments that honestly compete with Fender, Gibson, Epiphone, and Squier. We’ve already reviewed the Yamaha NTX700 and found an

Best 5 String Bass Guitars

Today’s article is guiding you towards the top 10 best 5 string bass guitars you can buy right now. Our selection is about the best 5 string basses you can buy for the money: they all offer top value for its price.  This is not a beginner’s guide. If you’re looking for a 5-string bass

BC Rich Warlock Metal Guitar Review

A couple of years ago, Praxis Musical Instruments signed a worldwide contract with Hanser Music Group to own the B.C. Rich brand. And perhaps you’ve never heard of B.C. Rich, but I can assure you that you’ve seen one at least once in your life. And it caught your eyes. Hanser has owned B.C. Rich

Guitar Music Theory Guide

At BeginnerGuitarHQ, we want to keep you at the top of your musical game in every way possible. Sure, we can teach you how to play the guitar really well, but you’re also going to need to gain a certain level of theoretical understanding to take your playing to the next level. As such, we’ve

Fender Mexican Stratocaster Review – A Popular Mid-Level Electric Guitar

Aside from the Gibson Les Paul and Fender Telecaster, there’s no electric guitar quite as iconic as the Fender Stratocaster. Ask your non-musical friends what image comes to mind when they picture an electric guitar––chances are, they’ll describe the solid-bodied, double cutaway-shaped and white pickguard-ed image of a Strat. Since 1954, the Stratocaster has been

How To Play The Harmonic Minor Scale on Guitar

At BeginnerGuitarHQ, it’s our mission to teach you how to play the guitar as well as possible. One of the most important parts of a guitarist’s toolbox is the humble scale. You’ve probably become rather used to standard major and minor scales, but were you aware of the different types of minor scales that can

Yamaha NTX700 Acoustic-Electric Guitar Review

Yamaha is a Japanese super corporation. They are widely known all over the world because of their musical instruments. Most of their guitars and bass guitars are suited for advanced musicians and players looking for the most professional features they can find. Many elite bass and guitar players have taken the Yamaha name high into

Best Rock Guitars

Today’s guide reviews the 10 best rock guitars you can buy right now. These are the options you need to try if you’re on a rock guitar hero path, and I’ll be sure to list models suiting all budgets. Likewise, we’re covering as much ground as we can in our best rock guitars selection. Some

Vox AC4 Electric Guitar Amp Review

Today, we’re looking at one of the only modern amps capable of delivering the same Top Boost and British Drive tone musicians loved so much about the AC30. We’re reviewing the AC4 Classic Limited Edition, also known as the Vox AC4C1-12. The Vox AC4 family of tubular electric guitar amps are the compact, available, and

Dean Vendetta Electric Guitar Review 

Dean Guitars dukes it out against the likes of Squier, Epiphone, Peavey, Ibanez, and Washburn in the entry-level instruments branch. But there’s something truly special about what they sell: their guitars and basses are not Fender copies, they are original designs packing Dean’s DMG pickups. Its lineup of products includes acoustic guitars, solid-body electric guitars,

Peavey Milestone Bass Guitar Review

Peavey is one of the world’s largest music instrument manufacturers and suppliers. Hartley Peavey founded the company in 1965. The company now owns over 180 patents for their original designs and reaches over 130 countries. The company tackles the beginner and young musician looking for budget, reliable choices. They pride themselves in creating affordable instruments

Ibanez GRX20 Electric Guitar Review

A no-regrets budget metal guitar Common knowledge says Ibanez guitars are built for metal. Some models, like our recently reviewed Ibanez SR250 bass guitar, have an expanded versatility that goes beyond what the bell tolls. The Ibanez GRX20 electric guitar follows the same path but stays within reach of Hangar 666. The GRX20 is a

Epiphone Pro 1 Acoustic Guitar Review

Playing acoustic guitar is supposed to be a fun experience. That’s why it’s called “playing” guitar, not “working” guitar,  and definitely not “learning” guitar. No wonder why so many kids ditch the instrument after their first tries. For many, there’s no meaning to the word “playing” as it becomes but a grind, a hassle, a

Gretsch Jim Dandy Acoustic Guitar Review

It’s good news that reputed music instruments brand Gretsch also has some quality items on the budget side of the market. And that’s exactly what the Jim Dandy Flat Top Acoustic Guitar is: an ax that squeezes as much quality as possible into an entry-level budget. And when you put it through a careful test,

Best Acoustic Guitar Pedals

Guitar pedals are essential for acoustic guitar players performing live. The best acoustic guitar pedals can add a solid foundation to your tone and fix every issue you could ever imagine. This guide by Beginner Guitar HQ is showing you the top 12 acoustic guitar pedals and preamps. We’re discussing how these pedals can add

Maestro by Gibson Guitar Review

It might be obvious to experienced players, but beginners must understand that the Maestro by Gibson acoustic guitar is not a real Gibson instrument. Even so, Beginner Guitar HQ has decided to review this particular guitar because it’s a very commendable guitar for amateur guitar players.  What this is, then, is a Chinese-made acoustic guitar

10 Best Jazz Guitar Amplifiers

At BeginnerGuitarHQ, we’re just as keen on helping you craft your tone as we are your playing style. Some guitarists want to learn how to shred through a speedy metal solo, while some want to strum some chords gently on an acoustic guitar, but there are some that want to fill their repertoire with extended

Schecter Omen 6 Electric Guitar Review

Beginner Guitar HQ is reviewing the Schecter Omen 6 electric guitar. Schecter Guitar Research is a musical company that has exploded in popularity since the last decade. Their reputation is well earned, and I can say that from experience. They put out quality instruments for reasonable prices. Furthermore, their alternative represents powerful tonalities and looks

How to Choose Guitar String Gauges

Strings are one of the most important pieces of gear for your guitar — while they might be small, they play a big role in determining your axe’s tone, feel, and playability. Because they’re so important, many players spend a long time trying strings from different manufacturers and finding the ones that feel best to

Best Jazz Guitar

Jazz is considered by many to be the epitome of guitar musicianship, the skill and commitment required to be a true student of the genre is both commendable and impressive. But the saying goes that a guitarist is only as good as his guitar, and while the genre of Jazz does not necessarily require a

The Best 7 String Guitars

At BeginnerGuitarHQ, we’re just as used to guiding you through equipment as we are actually teaching you the guitar. Once you’ve picked up some basic skills on a six-string guitar, you might find that what you want to be playing actually requires you to have a seventh string available to you. In this important guide,

Jackson JS22 Review – The Budget-Friendly Metal Guitar

Everything about Jackson guitars is aggressive. The tone is as dark as their colors, and the price is good enough for regular musicians. The JS22 Dinky is the electric guitar that made Jackson popular for the common musician. Even though the company’s influence has slowly faded over the years, their guitars evenly compete against top

Silvertone Bass Guitar Review

Silvertone is an almost forgotten brand. But know-it-all musicians have heard the name once or twice. And back in the ‘50s, this was a popular, beloved brand that revolutionized the bass and guitar world with a couple of amazing affordable instruments. But their time is almost gone, and their instruments are often a thing for

Seagull S6 Review – The Best Mid-Level Acoustic Guitar

Calling the Seagull S6 a beginner acoustic guitar is a disservice. What I hope to do in this article is to convince you that this Canadian guitar is so much more than an entry-level classical guitar. If you’ve gone through online forums looking for acoustic guitars, you’ve probably seen the Seagull S6 Original is a

How to Play Arpeggios on Guitar

An arpeggio is the playing of the tones of a chord in succession (and not at the same time). There are many different ways to play arpeggios. At their most basic (as with chords) they are only played on a few strings, but they can also be played on all 6 strings with multiple hammer