11 Best Beginner Electric Guitars – Start Me Up!

Today we’re going to help you find the best beginner electric guitars, ranging from great all-rounder options, to electric guitars ideal for Blues fans, Metal fans and more. Whatever your style, we’ll have some great beginner electric guitars that’ll help you on your musical journey and provide a comfortable playing experience so you'll want to play more often.

Here’s our top 11 best beginner electric guitars, all of which are budget-friendly, sound great, and offer a great playing experience that beginner guitarists and old-hands alike will appreciate.

Our favourite beginner guitars at PMT come from Antiquity.

Combining effortless playability with a timeless design philosophy that harkens back to the heyday of rock ‘n’ roll, these guitars are built to inspire beginner players.

No matter if you prefer S-style or T-style guitars, double cutaway or single cutaway, offset or semi-hollowbody - there’s something for you in the Antiquity range.

The sound of Antiquity guitars takes things back-to-basics, with an array of core tones that allow you to perfectly emulate your guitar heroes or create your own voice on the instrument.

Each and every model in the range is constructed with new musicians in mind, ensuring that beginner guitarists can flourish and write the next chapter in the history of music!

If you’re looking for the best beginner electric guitar for children or those with smaller frames, then the Squier Mini Strat V2 Torino Red Electric Guitar is a great option. This make a great birthday or Christmas present as it’s just over £100 but still offers a great playing experience.

Don’t let the smaller price tag fool you as this features high quality tonewoods like a Laminated Hardwood body and Maple neck – both tonewoods found on higher-tier guitars.

You also have three single coil pickups which are capable of providing nice clean tones but can also handle heavier styles too – ideal for those just learning what type of sound they might like.

The fretboard is also comfortable to play, which makes all the difference when you’re trying to learn how to play. Finally, the ¾ size makes it easier for little ones to learn on. One of the best children’s guitar in terms of affordability, playability and comfort and easily one of the best electric guitars for beginners who are just starting out.  

The Epiphone Slash AFD Les Paul Special-II Guitar Outfit proves that you can get hold of a beginner’s electric guitar for just over £200 - best of all you won't need to upgrade for quite some time. This is an incredible guitar from one of the worlds leading brands in music and designed in conjunction with one of the best guitarists of all time - Slash!

The Epiphone Slash AFD Les Paul Special-II Guitar Outfit features a cool Appetite for Destruction era Amber finish as well as a Mahogany back for a full, well rounded tone.

You have two Epiphone Ceramic Plus Zebra Coil humbucker pickups that are capable of providing a great sound straight out of the box and the ability to use them in isolation or in unison via the pickup selector ensures you have tonal variety. The slim, lightweight design makes it easy to carry (ideal for little ones) and the neck is comfortable to play, which is perfect for when you’re just starting out. You also have a built-in Shadow pickup ring E-Tuner so you can stay in tune at all times. This is a great way to get hold of a Les Paul guitar without busting the bank - regardless of whether you're a Guns n Roses fan or not!

 If you’re a beginner guitarist or you’ve got a little metal music fan in the family that needs a guitar, then the Jackson JS1X DK Minion is a great option.

This guitar is actually 2/3rd the size of a regular guitar, but is still used by pro level guitarists everywhere as it offers a more comfortable playing experience and easier manipulation of the strings thanks to the looser tension. So, although it’s great for smaller frames, it’s not a child’s guitar by any means.

Again, if you or your loved one is a metal music fan, this is great as it features two High-Output Humbuckers that are just begging to be used with some distortion.

You also have total control over your sound thanks to volume and tone controls as well as a pickup selector. A great beginner electric guitar for the shredders out there.

If you want a complete all-rounder starter guitar package then you’ll love the Yamaha Pacifica 012 Guitar Starter Pack, Black with Amp & Accessories.

This starter guitar features a cool double cutaway design, 2 single-coil pickups and a great sounding humbucker. This combination of pickups is perfect for all genres and allows beginner guitarists to choose from a range of sonic options. At just over £200 it’s not going to bust the bank but it’ll certainly help you bust out some serious riffs.

We think this is one of the best beginner electric guitars thanks to the inclusion of high-quality hardware like a fixed bridge, reliable tuning machines and of course the solid body which allows for a more resonant tone.

This is an ideal guitar for beginners as well as experienced guitarists who need another axe for around the home or on stage. The inclusion of a 20-watt practice amp, strings, guitar lead, strap, plectrums and string winders gives you everything you need to get started in the world of guitar - or just make a racket without taking up too much room!  

Next up we have the Squier Bullet Telecaster pictured here in a Brown Sunburst. A Telecaster guitar is a great all-rounder and can be found in a variety of different musical genres including Blues, Rock and even Metal!

So, you’re off to a good start with a Telecaster guitar and the Squier Bullet version is a budget-friendly option that actually sounds good. These are actually widely known as some of the best electric guitars for beginners as the allow players to get hold of a budget-friendly version of some of Fender's most iconic guitars. The price alone makes it one of the best beginner electric guitars as it’s under £200, but it’s the quality pickups, comfortable neck and solid construction that makes it a great guitar to play. This isn’t just a cheap guitar you’ll want to get rid of after a few years, it’s a quality starter electric guitar that experienced players will love too.

Twangy, responsive pickups, high quality and reliable hardware and a very comfortable neck make it a joy to play. We highly recommend it as a beginner electric guitar or if you need something else to record with or gig with. There are plenty of other affordable Squier Telecaster.  

Next up we have a PMT exclusive guitar, the Ibanez GRGM21M Electric Guitar pictured in a Candy Apple finish.

This is another shorter scale electric guitar which makes it one of the best beginner electric guitars for children, but also those who just want a more comfortable playing experience.

The short scale means less tension on the strings, which makes it one of the easiest electric guitars to learn on and won't make little fingers ache too much. Infinity R Humbucking Pickups provide a great sound and the 5-way pickup switch means you have tonal options.

A great beginner electric guitar that is comfortable, budget friendly and sounds great!  

The Squier affinity series is an upgrade from the Bullet series, and is designed for players who are in need of a high quality first electric guitar that they could eventually gig with. You have upgraded tonewoods and slightly better pickups, so it’ll sound great when you’re playing in a live venue.

You can’t go wrong with a Stratocaster guitar as again, they’re great all-rounder options.

The Squier Affinity Stratocaster pictured here in 2-Tone Sunburst gives you the classic features of a higher-tier Stratocaster at lower prices. For way under £200 you get a gig worthy guitar that includes three high-quality single-coil pickups, Alder body and comfortable “C” Shaped Neck Profile.

We’d recommend this as one of the best beginner electric guitars every day of the week. There’s not a lot this guitar can’t do! 

The Epiphone Limited Edition G-400 Deluxe PRO Translucent Red is a classic guitar from the world class Epiphone brand. Ok, this is a little more pricey at £359, but if you’re serious about continuing your guitar journey and you don’t want to have to upgrade, ever, then this is ideal.

You’ll often see pro-level musicians using these guitars as they have been modelled on a classic 1962 Gibson SG and come loaded with two Epiphone Alnico Classic PRO humbucking pickups that provide a huge sound. Blues, Rock, Metal – this thing can handle it all.

A solid Mahogany wood body and a SlimTaper “D” profile Mahogany neck makes this thing really comfortable to play and encourages a lush response when you’ve plugged it in to an amp.

If you can stretch your budget a little further, this is highly recommended and definitely one of the best electric guitars for beginners who know the type of sound they want - ROCK!

If you’re a Blues, Rock or Country fan and you want to get that classic full, rich sound with some added twang a-lah Brice Springsteen, then we recommend the Eastcoast GT100H Deluxe Electric Guitar.

Pictured here in a cool Butterscotch Blonde, you have a classic T-style shape and iconic Blues and Rock n Roll guitar design that really comes to life when plugged in thanks to the two powerful single coil pickups and lightweight 2-piece Alder body.

If you like the style of Keith Richards, the sound of Springsteen or pretty much any indie rock record of the last 20 years, then this is a great starting point for you and one of the best beginner electric guitars around.

The slim body is comfortable to hold and the ergonomic design of the neck and body shape makes it easy to play even after those 5+ hour practice sessions.

Next up we have a full size monster of metal – the Ibanez RG421 Electric Guitar pictured here in Blackberry Sunburst.

If you have a penchant for heavy metal or your loved one likes the big riffs and heavier side of music, then this is a great option. Easily one of the best beginner guitars for Metal thanks to its low price tag, powerful pickups and reliable construction.

The main reasons this makes our best beginner electric guitars guide (aside from the affordable price) comes down to the fact you get tonewoods and electronics that are usually found on guitars at least twice the price.

You have two Quantum passive ceramic humbucking pickups for tonal variety which when partnered with the quality Mahogany body provides superb resonation and a powerful, warm tone. The 5-way pickup selector allows you to isolate or blend the pickups so you can achieve a variety of sounds.

The Wizard III Maple Neck provides added sustain, reliability and comfort and the addition of a fixed bridge means you can enjoy added resonance and tuning stability.

A fantastic electric guitar for beginners who know exactly how they want to sound - HEAVY!

Shop a full range of electric guitars over at PMT Online today or call in to your local PMT store to speak to our experts about the best electric guitars for beginners. We're here to help you find your perfect beginner electric guitar based on your bespoke needs, style and sound.