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Step 1
Determine which type of guitar to buy; Electric or acoustic? The generally accepted logic says that a starter guitar should be an acoustic guitar. However this is not a must and is up to the individual.
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Step 2
Set a budget. Guitars can cost thousands of dollars. Good starter guitars can be bought for well under $500 (see resources for pricing info).
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Step 3
Decide if the starter guitar is going to be used or new. Often a person can find good deals on used guitars at their local pawn shop. However with these guitars, the buyer should beware of faulty guitars.
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Step 4
Select the guitar with the size and age of the user in mind. If the user is under 10 or is small in stature, then a starter guitar must be able to be handled by younger and smaller hands.
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Step 5
Test a friends or relatives guitar if possible. Most everyone knows a person that has a guitar. Ask this person if you can borrow the guitar, or just stop by and test it out. Some people do not have the manual dexterity to play the guitar.
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Step 6
Go to a local music store and try as many models as possible. This will give the player a better idea of how the starter guitar fits his body type and hands and, more importantly, if he likes the sound of the given model.
