You’re a beginner when it comes to playing the guitar. You don’t know what to look for when purchasing an acoustic guitar. This guide will help you understand the different features of an acoustic guitar and how to choose the best one for you.
There are different types of acoustic guitars. The most common are steel string acoustic guitars. They are named for the type of strings they use. Steel-string acoustic guitars can be used for a variety of music styles.
When choosing a steel string acoustic guitar, you should consider the following factors:
- The body size and shape. The two most common shapes are dreadnought and concert. Dreadnought guitars are larger and have a fuller sound. Concert guitars are smaller and have a brighter sound.
- The type of wood used for the body. The most common woods are spruce, cedar, and mahogany. Spruce is the lightest wood and produces a brighter sound. Cedar is a bit darker and produces a warmer sound. Mahogany is the darkest wood and produces a full sound.
- The neck. The neck is the part of the guitar that you hold when you play. The most important factor to consider when choosing a neck is the width. Narrower necks are easier to play for beginners. Wider necks are better for advanced players.
- The strings. The most common string types are nylon and steel. Nylon strings are softer and easier on
Best Steel String Acoustic Guitars: Editor Recommended
Our Editor’s Best Steel String Acoustic Guitars Reviews
Bestseller No. 1
D'Addario Silk & Steel Acoustic Guitar Strings - EJ40-6 String - Warm, Mellow Tone - Light, 11-47
- Warm and Mellow: Silk & Steel acoustic guitar strings provide our warmest, mellowest tone with low tension and reduced finger noise that's great for fingerstyle playing
- Vintage Acoustic Vibes: Made with silver-plated copper windings over a combination silk and steel core for a softened tone that's deal for parlor guitars and vintage instruments
- Strings for Every Style: From jazz to metal to rock, bluegrass, blues, folk and more, we make great sounding strings for every genre and level from beginner to pro, including strings for bass, acoustic, classical, and 12-string
- Sound Better, Play Better: Shop our whole collection of guitar accessories including string winders, picks, straps, capos, tuners, cables, gear bags and cases, plus strings for banjo, mandolin, ukelele and more
- Made in the USA: As the world’s largest and most respected maker of musical accessories, D’Addario guitar strings are made to exacting specifications at our cutting edge New York production facility
$9.89
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Bestseller No. 2
Ernie Ball Earthwood Silk and Steel Extra-Soft Acoustic Guitar Strings, 10-50 Gauge (P02047)
- Earthwood Silk and Steel acoustic guitar strings soften tone and touch for a warm sound and comfortable feel
- Discreetly nestled between the tin-plated, high-carbon steel core and the shiny gold wrappings of 80/20 bronze, lies a delicate layer of silk wrap
- The brightness of 80/20 bronze wrap wire is coupled with a soft subtle silk wrap, resulting in a pleasing warm, mellowed tone
- Gauges: 10, 14, 20, 28, 40, 50
- Made in California, USA with the freshest and finest materials
$10.99
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SaleBestseller No. 3
D'Addario Acoustic Guitar Strings - 80/20 Bronze - For 6 String Guitars - Deep, Bright, Projecting Tone - Deep, Bright, Projecting Tone - EJ11-3D - Light, 12-53 - 3-Pack
- PRECISION WOUND - D’Addario 80/20 Bronze acoustic guitar strings are precision wound over a hexagonal high carbon steel core
- BOLD, BRIGHT SOUND - The 80/20 Bronze wrap wire provides bold, bright acoustic sound, with crisp projection that fills the room
- THE ORIGINAL ACOUSTIC STRING - 80/20 Bronze was originally created by John D’Addario Sr. and renowned guitar maker John D’Angelico in the 1930s
- EARN REWARD POINTS - Our 80/20 Bronze acoustic guitar strings come with a code on the recyclable VCI bag, which you can register to earn Players Circle points
- MADE IN THE USA – D’Addario 80/20 Bronze strings are made in the USA—drawn to our exacting specifications at our New York production facility
$20.97
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Bestseller No. 4
Martin Authentic Acoustic® Marquis® Silked Guitar Strings – Silk & Steel, Custom Gauge | Lower Tension, Bridge Protection & Balanced Tone
- Silk & Steel for a Smooth Playing Experience: These strings combine a steel core with silk and metal windings, offering a soft, mellow tone with reduced tension—ideal for fingerstyle and vintage-inspired playing.
- Custom Gauge for Comfort and Balance: Gauged at .0115, .014, .023, .028, .038, .047, this set strikes a balance between light fretting feel and tonal richness.
- Soft Silk Wrap for Bridge Protection: A silk thread wrap around the ball ends protects your bridge and bridge plate from wear, especially helpful on older guitars or delicate builds.
- Secure Fit for Worn Pin Holes: The added thickness of the silk wrap helps keep bridge pins snug and in place, even in worn or oversized bridge holes.
- Built to Martin’s Impeccable Standards: Designed and manufactured in-house to reflect Martin’s legendary tone and craftsmanship—because we believe your strings should be as reliable as your guitar.
$9.99
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Bestseller No. 5
Martin Authentic Acoustic Guitar Strings, Superior Performance Custom 11.5-47, Silk & HT Steel
- BRIGHT TONES: Martin Authentic Acoustic Strings provide excellent tuning stability and playability with bright and rich tones. Discover your guitar's true voice with this professional-grade guitar string pack.
- SUPERIOR STRINGS: These strings are engineered to thrive during rigorous practice and performance schedules. These silk and steel folk strings feature our highest tensile-strength core wire paired with quality wrap wire for corrosion resistance and tuning stability.
- VERSATILE STRING SOUNDS: Designed to bring out a consistent and true tone from your guitar, these guitar strings can be used for fingerpicking, flat picking, and other methods. Use these strings in any genre—country, bluegrass, folk, blues, rock, and more.
- CUSTOM-GAUGE ACOUSTIC STRINGS: Measuring from a 0.0115" high E string to a 0.047" low E string, these are high-quality acoustic guitar strings that brighten the natural tone of your guitar, including tenor, mid-tones, and bass. They feature a tension of 122.2.
- AUTHENTIC ACOUSTIC: With Martin Authentic Acoustic, you get a set of strings designed for performance and playability. Martin guitars and accessories remain the choice for musicians around the world for their unrivaled quality, craftsmanship, and tone.
$8.99
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Bestseller No. 6
Ernie Ball Earthwood Extra Light 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings, 10-50 Gauge (P02006)
- Bright, balanced tone with excellent projection and clarity
- Extra Light gauge is ideal for players who want less string tension for easier play across the fretboard
- Wound Strings are 80% copper, 20% zinc wire wrapped around high-carbon steel core wire
- Element Shield Packaging prolongs string life and keeps strings as fresh as the day they were made
- Made in California, USA with the freshest and finest materials
$6.99
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Bestseller No. 7
Extra Light Acoustic Guitar Strings 09-44 - Easy On Fingers & Excellent Sound - Extra E-1 String & 3 Guitar Picks - Super Light Acoustic Guitar Strings - Steel Guitar Strings Acoustic 6 String Set
- EXTRA LIGHT ACOUSTIC GUITAR STRINGS: are crafted with a core steel containing carbon and coated in noble bronze, delivering exceptional durability and a bright, clear sound ideal for all styles of play.
- VERSATILE AND POPULAR: super light acoustic guitar strings are among the most popular and versatile sets worldwide, known for their tinkling sound, loudness, and clarity of acoustic notes.
- OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE: With a hardness of 09-44 the guitar strings acoustic 6 string set offers excellent volume, sonic flexibility, and durability, ensuring a rich and resonant tone.
- IDEAL FOR SOLO INSTRUMENTS: Henry’s guitar strings acoustic are perfect for beginners and guitarists who use the acoustic guitar as a solo instrument, providing ease of playability and a responsive touch.
- EXTRA E1-STRING & GUARANTEE: the set of steel acoustic guitar strings extra light comes with an extra E1-string. Every guitarist will welcome it. Guaranteed full height refund if the strings do not meet your expectations.
$11.70
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Bestseller No. 8
Elixir Strings, Acoustic Guitar Strings, 80/20 Bronze with NANOWEB Coating, Longest-Lasting Bright and Focused Tone with Comfortable Feel, 6 String Set, Light 12-53
- LEADING GUITAR STRINGS: Made with 80/20 bronze wrap wire and our proprietary featherweight NANOWEB Coating. For a bright, focused and longest-lasting tone along with a comfortable, smooth feel
- BRILLIANT TONE: Elixir Strings are often rated the best acoustic guitar strings, you can trust in our consistently reliable performance. From our light acoustic guitar strings to our heavier gauges
- CORROSION RESISTANT: The NANOWEB Coating protects from tone-deadening sweat, corrosion, humidity and rust. Elixir Strings retain their out-of-the-box tone longer than other coated or uncoated strings
- MADE IN THE USA: Elixir Strings are lab- and field-tested and made to exacting specifications in our state of the art facility. Versatile and durable, they consistently deliver a reliable performance
- CONTENTS: 1x Single Pack of Elixir Acoustic Guitar Strings, 80/20 Bronze with NANOWEB Coating, Longest-Lasting Bright and Focused Tone with Comfortable Feel, 6 String Set, Light 12-16-24-32-42-53
$16.98
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Bestseller No. 9
Fender FA-15 3/4 Scale Steel String Acoustic Guitar, with 2-Year Warranty, Natural, with Gig Bag
- Agathis top
- Sapele back and sides
- 3/4 Scale is perfect for beginners or children
- Includes Gig Bag
- Smaller Body style
$188.99
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Bestseller No. 10
Bememo 2 Sets of 6 Guitar Strings Replacement Steel String for Acoustic Guitar (Yellow and Multicolor)
- Material: steel, with rustproof coating for durable use; Length: each guitar string is approx. 90 cm/ 35.4 inch
- Package includes: 2 sets of acoustic guitar strings, each set has 6 strings in 6 different diameters; Good as spares in your bag
- String diameters: 1: 0.2 mm/ 0.007 inch; 2: 0.3 mm/ 0.01 inch; 3: 0.6 mm/ 0.02 inch; 4: 0.7 mm/ 0.027 inch; 5: 1 mm/ 0.039 inch; 6: 1.2 mm/ 0.047 inch
- Color: 1 set of guitar strings is multicolor (colors have blue, green, rose red, brass and silver); Another set is yellow (colors have yellow and silver)
- Suit for: colored guitar strings are helpful for the guitar beginners to remember and practice; Also fits for guitarist to make their acoustic guitar look beautiful and awesome
$5.49
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What else you should know about best steel string acoustic guitars
1. What are the best steel string acoustic guitars for beginners?
There are many different types of steel string acoustic guitars for beginners. It really depends on what you are looking for in a guitar. If you want a guitar that is easy to play, then you might want to look for a guitar with a narrower neck. If you are looking for a guitar that has a rich, full sound, then you might want to look for a guitar with a larger body.
2. What are the best steel string acoustic guitars for intermediate players?
Some of the best steel string acoustic guitars for intermediate players include the Yamaha FG800, the Fender CD-60S, and the Takamine G Series GD20.
3. What are the best steel string acoustic guitars for advanced players?
There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on personal preference. However, some of the best steel string acoustic guitars for advanced players include the Martin D-28, the Taylor 814ce, and the Gibson J-45.
4. What are the best steel string acoustic guitars for fingerstyle players?
There are many great steel string acoustic guitars for fingerstyle players, but some of our favorites include the Martin D-28, the Taylor 814ce, and the Gibson J-45.
5. What are the best steel string acoustic guitars for strummers?
There are many great steel string acoustic guitars for strummers. Some of our favorites include the Taylor Swift Baby Taylor, the Yamaha FG800, and the Seagull S6.
Conclusion
On the market, there are numerous best steel string acoustic guitars. Hopefully, the list of the top ten best steel string acoustic guitars will save you time researching and deciding on the best one for you.