11 Best Left-Handed Guitars For Beginners 2024

Finding a left-handed guitar for a beginner can be somewhat of a challenge due to the fact that the market tends to be dominated by right-handed guitars. Nevertheless, there are some worthwhile guitars that are ideal for beginner lefties. Here is a list of some of the best left-handed guitars available on the market today, categorized in both acoustic and electric groupings.

Best Acoustic Left Hand Guitars

Takamine GD51LH-NAT – Best Overall Acoustic

One of the best left-handed acoustics on the market for a beginner guitarist is the Takamine GD51LH-NAT. This is a guitar that provides a great playing experience while also being relatively affordable.

The body of this guitar is comprised of different woods, with a top made of Spruce and the back and sides of the guitar made of Rosewood. These woods in combination with the dreadnought body style give this guitar a deep and resonant tone.

The neck of the GD51LH-NAT is crafted from Mahogany, with a fretboard made of Rosewood. The neck has a slim construction, with 20 frets and a scale length of 25.35”. Abalone dot inlays are used as fret indicators.

The guitar has a beautiful natural finish, with an Abalone rosette around the soundboard and a black pickguard helping to give the guitar a classic look. The guitar also boasts a nut and split-style saddle made of synthetic bone, with the bridge made of Rosewood. Gold die-cast tuning machines add to the quality build of the guitar.

Overall, the Takamine GD51LH-NAT is a great choice for a serious beginner that is well-inclined to stick with their studies on the instrument. The guitar is priced slightly above the standard beginner’s budget but does allow some growing room for the guitarist.

Item Weight: 6.75 pounds

Package Dimensions: 45 x 20 x 6 inches

Ibanez AE295L – Best Premium Acoustic

The highest budget range for a beginner is usually placed at a median entry point for  intermediate-level guitars. One of the best guitars for beginners that have a bit extra to spend is the Ibanez AE295L.

The Ibanez AE295L is a guitar that is made primarily with Okuome wood, constructed with Ibanez’s standard X-M-bracing architecture. The result is a guitar that can provide a serious resonant tone.

The guitar features a cutaway design along with a dovetail style joint connection between the neck and body, ultimately allowing for extreme accessibility to the entire fretboard. If you frequently play on the higher frets of the guitar, the Ibanez AE295L will comfortably accommodate you.

The neck of the guitar is crafted from Nyatoh with Ibanez’s Comfort Grip neck design. The fretboard of the guitar is made of Katalox, featuring rounded fret edges for increased comfort.

The Ibanez AE295L has 20 jumbo frets, with a neck scale length of 25.6”. The fretboard has a very decorative vine and dot inlay pattern that runs the entire length of the neck. Adding further to the guitar’s aesthetic is an Abalone and wooden rosette and a clear pickguard.

The AE295L also boasts high-quality components used in other parts of the guitar, namely using a nut and string saddle made of real bone. Durable chrome die-cast tuners are also used on this guitar.

Another great feature of the AE295L is the fact that it has acoustic-electric capabilities. The guitar is equipped with Ibanez Custom Electronics, with an AP11 magnetic pickup and a preamp system.

Overall, this is a stunning guitar that produces a deep and rich tone with quite a bit of sustain. It is likely to be overkill for most beginner guitarists. However, this is an excellent choice for the beginner who has performance ambitions, as this guitar will likely be a relevant instrument well into the guitarist’s life.

Item Weight: 8.38 pounds

Package Dimensions: 44.09 x 18.11 x 5.91 inches

Rogue RG-624 – Best Budget Acoustic

One of the best budget acoustics available for left-handed guitarists is the Rogue RG-624. This guitar provides large dreadnought tones at a very affordable price point.

The body of the Rogue RG-624 is comprised of a Spruce top with the back and sides made of Mahogany. The neck is crafted from Nato and has a Rosewood neck to help provide sweet tonal characteristics to the guitar.

This guitar has 20 frets, with dot inlays on the fretboard for easy fret identification.

Additionally, the guitar has a Rosewood bridge, with the saddle, bridge pins, and nut made of plastic. Heavy-duty die-cast chrome tuning machines are also added to the guitar for accurate tuning.

Overall, this is a fairly basic acoustic guitar, which shouldn’t be an issue for most beginner guitarists. The cost of the guitar, in addition to the wood being used, makes this a great value that would make a great first guitar for a left-handed player.

Item Weight: 6 pounds

Package Dimensions: 40.5 x 19.2 x 5.3 inches

Ibanez AEG50L

One of the best guitars available for left-handed guitarists that have ambitions for live performances is the Ibanez AEG50L. This cutaway dreadnought with a sharp-looking high-gloss black color offers accessible playability for both acoustic and acoustic-electric formats.

The body of the AEG50L has a Spruce top, with the back and sides made of Sapele. The build of the guitar provides a well-balanced tone with plenty of attack response.

The neck of the guitar is crafted from Nyatoh with Ibanez’s Comfort Grip design and has a 20-fretted Walnut fretboard. The scale length measures 24.9”, which is slightly smaller than necks found on many other full-sized guitars. White dot fingerboard inlays help easily identify the frets.

The bridge of the AEG50L is made of Walnut, matching the fretboard. The nut, saddle, and bridge pins are made of plastic. The high-quality die-cast chrome tuning machines allow for easy tuning.

The AEG50L is also equipped with an under-saddle Ibanez T-Bar II pickup as well as an AEQ-TTS preamp system, allowing for plug-and-play acoustic-electric capabilities with easy tone control.

Overall the Ibanez AEG50L is a spectacular offering for any beginner guitarist. The body is crafted to have a slightly smaller size than traditional guitars, and because the neck scale is slightly smaller, it makes this guitar very ideal for the young player. Electric capabilities give this guitar quite a bit of value as it means the instrument will likely remain relevant well into the beginner’s musical journey.

Item Weight: 6.42 pounds

Package Dimensions: 43 x 18 x 5 inches

Fender CD-60S

Another great entry-level dreadnought guitar that provides a comfortable playing experience for left-handed guitarists is the Fender CD-60S. This is a guitar that packs in tradition and doesn’t compromise on the materials used to construct the instrument.

The body of the Fender CD-60S is made with a combination of woods, with the sides and back of the guitar made of Mahogany, and the top made of Solid Spruce. The result is a guitar that provides a balanced tone with plenty of response for any playing style.

The neck is also crafted from Mahogany and features a fretboard made of Walnut. One of the most inviting aspects of the guitar is the fact that it has rolled fretboard edges for smoother playability. The neck has a scale length of 25.3”, with 20 frets indicated with dot inlays.

Adding to the aesthetic is a Pearloid-style rosette around the soundhole, as well as a black pickguard.

The bridge of the guitar is made of Walnut, while the saddle, nut, and bridge pins are made of plastic. Die-cast chrome tuners are also provided for accurate tuning.

As this guitar is a package deal, the guitar comes equipped with a Fender gig bag, a pack of picks, and a guitar strap. A 3-month subscription to Fender Play is also included, which gives access to hours of video lessons and articles to help foster the growth of the guitarist’s skills.

For the quality of build in addition to the bundle contents, the Fender CD-60S is a guitar that is hard to beat. The tone and the playing experience are most definitely priced to please.

Item Weight: 8.15 pounds

Package Contents: 45 x 17 x 7.4 inches

Best Electric Left Hand Guitars

Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster (Bundle) – Best Overall Electric

Bundles can be a great value deal for beginner guitarists that are interested in playing the electric guitar. A good example of this, is the Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster Bundle. It features everything you need to get started while still being relatively affordable.

The body of this guitar is crafted from lightweight Poplar and has a classic brown burst. The guitar has a finish of gloss polyurethane for great shine and durability.

The neck and fretboard of the Squier Affinity are made of Maple, featuring a C-shape design, and 21 frets. The scale length of the neck measures 25.5”.

For hardware, the guitar has a 6-saddle vintage-style tremolo system that is similar to those found on Fender guitars.

Electronically, the guitar sports three different single-coil Squier Stratocaster pickups in the bridge, middle, and neck positions of the guitar. The master volume, 5-way switch and two different tone knobs allow for the easy dialing-in of tones.

Also included within the bundle is a 10-watt solid-state Fender Frontman practice amplifier, a 10-ft guitar cable, a guitar strap, a package of picks, a clip-on headstock tuner, and a gig bag for easy travel/storage. Also included is an instructional DVD of guitar lessons to help further the beginner’s guitar skills.

For the price, the Squier Affinity bundle is hard to beat. Quite often, beginners who want to play electric guitar are faced with the necessity of having to search out the essential accessories required to play electric guitar. This process can often cause someone to overspend their budget. With this bundle, everything is included to get started playing immediately.

Item Weight: 26.5 pounds

Package Dimensions: 57 x 15 x 8 inches

Gretsch G5230LH Electromagnetic Jet – Best Premium Electric

For the left-handed beginner that has a little extra to spend on an electric guitar, the Gretsch G5230LH Electromagnetic Jet is worth checking out. This short-scale guitar is sure to comfortably fit in your hands no matter what your age or body size.

The G5230LH has a body crafted of Mahogany with a Maple top. The thin U-shaped neck of the guitar is also crafted of Mahogany, with a Laurel fretboard and 22 frets. It has a scale length of 24.6”. Unique Pearloid thumbnails are used as fret indicating inlays.

This guitar sports high-quality components, with die-cast chrome tuners and a vintage-looking V-shaped bridge. The nut is made of synthetic bone.

For pickups, the G5230LH has a pair of Black Top Filter’Tron Humbuckers. A master volume (and also a tone knob), along with a 3-way selector switch allow the guitarist to find their tone of choice quite easily.

Overall, this is a guitar that does warm and classic archtop tones very well, making it suitable for music genres that frequently make use of a clean electric guitar tone. It is priced towards the upper end of the beginner’s budget range, but if budget is of no concern, this makes quite a valuable guitar. The shortened neck scale is also ideal for those with smaller hands.

Item Weight: 10.3 pounds

Package Dimensions: 47.5 x 19.5 x 5.5 inches

Ibanez Gio GRX70QAL – Best Budget Electric

For left-handed guitarists in pursuit of a budget-friendly electric guitar, it is hard to beat the Ibanez Gio GRX70QAL. This is a fully competent guitar that offers playability often seen on higher-end guitars.

The Gio GRX70QAL is a double-cutaway guitar that sports an attractive transparent blue color. The body of the Ibanez Gio GRX70QAL is made of lightweight Poplar, with a quilted Maple top that gives the guitar its distinct look.

The neck of this guitar has very accessible playability, with a relatively flat radius and a scale length of 25.5”. The neck is made of Maple and has a Bound Purpleheart fretboard with 22 frets. Dot inlays provide for easy fret identification.

Tonally, this guitar has quite a bit to offer, with a pair of Infinity R humbuckers as well as an Infinity RS single-coil pickup. A 5-way switch and dedicated volume and tone knobs allow for the guitarist to dial in a very large range of tones.

Another great feature of the GRX70QAL is the fact that it has a T106 bridge that offers tremolo capabilities. The tremolo system is well-built and stays in tune no matter how much the tremolo is used.

Aside from the bridge, the guitar has a plastic nut and Ibanez tuning machines.

Overall, this is a fast and buttery-smooth playing guitar that is great for any beginner interested in the electric guitar. The pickup selection and the tones available in this guitar makes it a worthwhile purchase.

Item Weight: 8.14 pounds

Package Dimensions: 43 x 12 x 6 inches

Ibanez JEMJR

Whether you’re a fan of guitarist Steve Vai, or just looking for a highly playable electric guitar, the Ibanez JEMJR is a wonderful option to try out. This is essentially an entry-level version of the professional guitarist’s signature model.

This double-cutaway guitar has the same build and layout as Steve Vai’s guitar, right down to the iconic monkey-grip feature in the shoulder of the guitar. It might not suit everyone’s taste, but it has accessible playability and tone that is hard to match.

The Ibanez JEMJR features a mahogany-crafted body, with an ultra-fast Wizard III Maple neck and Jatoba fretboard. The scale length of the neck measures 25.5” and has 24 frets for 2-octave playing capability.

The neck of the guitar also features a beautiful acrylic vine inlay that spans the entire scale of the neck.

Tonally, the Ibanez JEMJR provides a great range of sounds on tap with a combination of a pair of Quantum humbuckers and a Quantum single-coil pickup. A dedicated control knob for both master volume and master tone, as well as a 5-way switch, allows for easy tone control.

The JEMJR also features a double-locking tremolo system that locks the strings in place at both the bridge and the nut. This style of tremolo is specifically designed to provide great tuning stability when using the tremolo, and prevents the guitar from going out of tune should a string happen to break. Stylish black tuners are also equipped on the guitar for accurate tuning.

The Ibanez JEMJR is the perfect electric guitar for the beginner that is inclined to more technical styles of music, with its quality build lending great playing capacities. After all, if this is good enough for the wizard guitarist Steve Vai, it most certainly should be able to meet your needs quite well.

Item Weight: 8 pounds

Package Dimensions: 43 x 12 x 6 inches

Squier Classic Vibe ‘60s Stratocaster

The Squier Classic Vibe ‘60s Stratocaster is an excellent offering that replicates a vintage-style Stratocaster with a modern feel, updated components, and an entry-level price. If you’re looking for an iconic and great-sounding guitar, this guitar will cover your needs.

The guitar features an attractive 3-color sunburst that is a hallmark of the Stratocaster. The body of the Classic Vibe is crafted from Nato. The C-shaped neck is crafted from Maple and features a 21-fretted Indian Laurel fretboard, with a scale length of 25.5”.

Staying true to its origins, the Squier Classic Vibe ‘60s Stratocaster features vintage-style tuners, as well as a vintage-spec synchronized tremolo bridge system. The nut of the guitar is made of real bone.

Despite its affordable price tag, the guitar comes stocked with three Alnico single-coil pickups designed by Fender, which deliver that iconic, spanky Stratocaster tone. Further tone customization is supplied via a 5-way pickup selector switch as well as two tone knobs and a volume knob.

It is hard to go wrong with this guitar, especially if you’re looking for an iconic guitar with a vintage-spec design. The Classic Vibe series has built quite a reputation for being excellent guitars in both feel and sound.

Item Weight: 11 pounds

Package Dimensions: 44.5 x 15 x 4 inches

Yamaha Pacifica PAC112JL

Rounding out our list of the best guitars for left-handed beginners is the Yamaha Pacifica PAC112JL. This is a highly competent guitar for beginners and has received acclaim from well-known famous musicians for being a guitar they wish they had as a beginner.

The body of the PAC112JL is made of Alder, which lends itself to being a fairly lightweight guitar. The C-shaped neck is crafted from Maple and has a Rosewood fretboard with dot inlays. The neck has 22 medium-sized frets, and a scale length of 25.5”.

One of the more attractive features of the PAC112JL is the pickup configuration, which features a pair of Yamaha Ceramic single-coil pickups as well as a Yamaha Ceramic humbucker placed at the bridge. A control knob is provided for both the master volume as well as master tone. A 5-way switch is also provided, which really opens the door to a wide range of tonal combinations not often found on a guitar at this price range.

This guitar also features a vintage-style tremolo bridge system, die-cast tuners, and a nut made of Urea.

Overall, the Yamaha Pacifica PAC112JL is a guitar that packs serious value at a very affordable price. It is rare to find a guitar with the build quality and included features in this price range of guitars.

Item Weight: 7.48 pounds

Package Dimensions: 38.58 x 14.17 x 3.54 inches

What To Look For In A Left-Handed Guitar For Beginners

There are a number of different things to keep in mind when you are looking to buy a left-handed guitar that is appropriate for beginners. By taking heed of these factors, you will likely end up with the best value for your money as well as making the best choice on a guitar that is right for you.

Budget

One’s budget is often the deciding factor in a guitar-buying decision. However, a very competent beginner guitar can be had at a fairly inexpensive price. A good rule of thumb is to avoid having to spend over $500, as this gets into intermediate-level guitars. Keeping the price below this can help protect against a massive loss should the beginner decide they don’t want to stick with playing the guitar.

Acoustic vs Electric?

This is an age-old question that often comes up when buying a beginner their first guitar, and the truth is, there’s no one right answer. Rather, it is important to assess what the beginner’s goals and interests are.

If they are influenced by music that primarily features electric guitars, then an electric guitar may be more appropriate. Similarly, a beginner who is inspired by electric-guitar-driven music may find an acoustic guitar to be a bit uninspiring. Inspiration plays a vital part in aiding the beginner to dedicate themselves to the instrument.

Other Features

Whether you are interested in an acoustic or an electric, it is important to assess what you would like to accomplish with the guitar. For instance, if you want an acoustic but also wish to play in an acoustic-electric scenario, it is essential to have a guitar with an electric pickup and preamp system. Similarly, a bundle package may be ideal for the absolute beginner, as they typically come with all of the needed accessories to get started.

Why Is It So Hard To Find A Left-Handed Guitar?

The simple fact of the matter is that left-handed guitars are scarce due to efficiency measures taken by guitar manufacturers. Approximately 15% or less of the world’s population is left-handed.

It is generally bad practice for a business to sit on a stock of products for any duration of time. This is why right-handed guitars are more prominent because there are quite a bit more right-handed people and a greater chance of those products being sold.

Best Brands For Left Handed Beginner Guitars

The guitar market is over-saturated with a large number of different manufacturers, and it can be a little overwhelming trying to sift through the results to find something worthwhile. Fortunately, there are a few brands that have built time-tested reputations for producing quality instruments for beginners.

Takamine

Takamine is a Japanese company that began producing guitars in 1959, with the company officially launching in 1962. The company is well known for crafting signature-sounding acoustic guitars accessible for every level of musician.

Fender

With over 70 years of road-tested reputation, Fender is one of the most popular name brands in the entire guitar industry. The company’s instruments and amplifiers have been a highly influential aspect of some of the most important music ever created. The company was first founded in 1946 by Leo Fender, and though Leo has long since left the company, Fender continues on with his long-standing tradition of quality craftsmanship.

Squier

Squier is a guitar company, one that is owned by Fender. The company was initially started to help combat the influx of counterfeit guitars that were flooding the market in the 1980s. Today, Squier has an excellent reputation for producing well-crafted guitars suitable for beginners and those that like to customize and make modifications to their guitars.

Ibanez

Ibanez is a Japanese company that gained mainstream attention in the 1970s. However, the company had a humble beginning as an importer of classical guitars during the early 20th century. In the 1930s, Ibanez began to produce their own line of instruments, branching off into electric instruments in the 70s.

Yamaha

Yamaha is a Japanese company that is one of the largest producers of musical instruments. The company was founded in 1887, initially producing reed organs before branching off into pianos around 1900. The company is known for providing quality instruments, with a degree of care taken to provide value in every budget range.

Best Left-Handed Guitars For Beginners, Final Thoughts

Finding a worthwhile left-handed guitar can be frustrating. Fortunately, there are some highly playable offerings available whether you choose to play an acoustic or an electric. Be sure to take some time to try these guitars out firsthand to find the guitar that is best for you. Only by playing and hearing these guitars will you be able to judge whether it suits your taste and musical personality.