If you are searching for the best left handed guitars for beginners, the short answer is this: the Fender CD-60S LH is the safest all-round acoustic, and the Squier Sonic Stratocaster LH bundle is the electric most beginners can grow into. Both are true left-handed builds, not right-handed instruments flipped over, and both arrive playable without a shop visit.
Yes, lefties need a real left-handed guitar. A lefty is manufactured right to left, with the bridge, nut, string path and control layout mirrored, so the low E string sits closest to the ceiling and the neck joins the body on the right side. Restringing a right-handed guitar backward to save money usually brings intonation problems and stress on the neck, which is the opposite of what a beginner needs.
It is not harder for lefties to learn guitar. Players on r/Leftyguitarists describe progress that sounds exactly like any other beginner: chords hurt, strings go out of tune, and it takes months. What makes left-handed buying genuinely harder is selection. Left-handed players are roughly 10% of the market, so the lefty wall at any shop is a short, fixed list, and the models you want are the ones most often missing from it. Our broader guides to left-handed acoustics and left-handed electrics go deeper on the gear itself; this one is built around your first six months of playing.
One piece of history worth knowing: Jimi Hendrix famously strung a right-handed Strat right side up, turned it over, and played it upside down. It worked for him. It is a fun anecdote and a terrible plan for someone learning their first three chords.
Below, I have narrowed the field to ten instruments, grouped by what they actually solve: full-size steel-string acoustics, budget and bundle electrics, acoustic-electrics you can plug in, and two smaller instruments built for kids and short arms. Every pick is a genuine left-handed build, every rating and review count is copied from the listing, and I have flagged honestly where you should expect to book a setup after delivery.
Top 3 Best Left Handed Guitars For Beginners (October 2026)
Pyle 36-Inch Lefty Classical Kit
- 36-inch 3/4 size body
- Soft nylon strings
- Gig bag strap tuner and spare strings included
Donner DAG-1CL 41-Inch Lefty Dreadnought
- Full-size 41-inch cutaway body
- Spruce top with mahogany back and sides
- Clip-on tuner and capo included
LyxPro 39-Inch Lefty Electric With 20W Amp
- Full-size lefty electric with S-S-S pickups
- 20W amp with headphone jack
- Maple neck with rosewood fingerboard
All 10 Left-Handed Guitar Picks at a Glance
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Pyle 36-Inch Left-Handed Classical Kit |
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| Donner DAG-1CL Lefty Dreadnought |
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| LyxPro 39-Inch Lefty Electric Kit |
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 Donner DST-100S Lefty Electric Bundle |
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 Fender CD-60S Left-Handed Dreadnought |
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 Ashthorpe 41-Inch Lefty Acoustic-Electric |
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 Ibanez GRX70QAL Left-Handed |
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Check Latest Price |
 Pyle 39-Inch Lefty Electric Kit |
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Check Latest Price |
 Squier Sonic Stratocaster LH Bundle |
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Check Latest Price |
 Master Play 30-Inch Lefty Classical |
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Check Latest Price |
1. Pyle 36-Inch Left-Handed Classical Guitar Kit – The Easiest First Guitar to Play
Pros
- Soft nylon strings that do not fight new fingertips
- Compact 3/4 body suits kids and short arms
- Gig bag strap spare strings picks and tuner app in the box
- Warm and clear tone for the money
Cons
- Nylon strings need days of stretching and frequent early retuning
- Gig bag zipper fails quickly on some units
- Gloss finish and fretboard coating scratch and flake
With close to 8,000 ratings at a 4.3 average, this is the most reviewed left-handed beginner guitar in our list, and the reason is simple: almost nothing else gets a child or a brand-new adult playing chords the same day it arrives. The body is 36 inches, roughly three-quarter scale, which makes it the easiest of everything here to hold against a small chest or lap.
I like it for the strings more than the body. Nylon has very little tension compared to steel, so your fretting fingers press with a fraction of the force. That matters enormously in month one, when sore fingertips are the number one reason beginners put a guitar down.
The construction is honest entry-level stuff: linden wood top and body, maple neck, an engineered wood fingerboard, chrome 3-in-line tuners, 18 frets, and a 22.8-inch scale. The kit ships with a zip gig bag, adjustable strap, spare strings, picks, a cleaning cloth and a tuner app, plus a 1 year warranty.
The two things reviewers mention most are both about setup. Nylon strings take days to stretch and need retuning often at the start, and the guitar does not leave the factory fully set up, so a first-time player may want help from a shop. Some owners also report the gloss finish and fingerboard coating showing scratches, flaking or small cracks over time.
Who this guitar suits best?
This is the pick for a child between about seven and twelve, or any adult with short arms who wants zero friction on the fretting hand. Parents on r/Leftyguitarists consistently point out how rare a true lefty is at this size, and this is one, so the frustration of handing a right-handed guitar to a left-handed kid simply disappears.
It is also a decent travel and practice instrument. At 4.7 pounds it disappears into a car boot, and nylon strings are far more forgiving on a guitar that gets moved around between rooms rather than left on a stand.
Who should skip it?
Skip it if you want to gig, record, or play with other people. The tone owners describe is warm and clear, which is right for practice and casual playing, but it is not a stage instrument and the finish will not survive a hard life.
If you are an adult with full-size hands who plans to move straight to steel-string folk, the Donner dreadnought below is the better use of your money. You will outgrow this one in a year.
2. Donner DAG-1CL 41-Inch Left-Handed Dreadnought – Best Full-Size Lefty Acoustic
Pros
- Full-size cutaway reaches the upper frets easily
- Warm and loud strumming voice
- Spruce top with scalloped X bracing
- Huge accessory bundle including tuner capo and gig bag
Cons
- Supplied strings described as tinny and harsh
- Sharp fret ends may need filing on arrival
- Stick-on pickguard does not match the soundhole cut
- No onboard pickup
If you want a real guitar rather than a starter toy, this is the value pick in the whole guide. A 41-inch cutaway dreadnought is the standard adult acoustic size, and a cutaway body means your fretting hand can reach the higher notes without sliding off the end of the neck, which is a genuine advantage for left-handed players used to slightly different ergonomics.
The tone woods are the honest version of the spec sheet: a spruce top with laminated mahogany back and sides, scalloped X bracing, a mahogany neck, and an artificial ebony fingerboard. Reviewers describe it as warm, bright and loud, with enough volume to cut through a room of strumming.
The kit is unusually generous. You get the guitar, a padded gig bag, strap, digital clip-on tuner, capo, pickguard, an extra pack of strings, four picks and a cleaning cloth, all under a 2 year manufacturer warranty. Position markers sit at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th and 17th frets, which matters more than people think for a first instrument.
The most repeated advice in reviews is not about the guitar at all: replace the supplied strings and file the fret ends. Buyers consistently call the factory strings tinny and uncomfortable, and a few report sharp fret edges on arrival. Both are twenty-minute fixes at any music shop.
What you get right out of the box?
For a first full-size instrument, the accessory list here removes almost every reason to put off buying one. A tuner and capo alone are things most beginners end up buying in the first fortnight anyway, and having them in the box means you can start the day the guitar arrives.
The C-shaped neck profile is another quiet win. It is a shallow, rounded profile that new hands can wrap around without the sore wrist that a deeper V shape can cause in the early months.
Where it falls short?
There is no onboard pickup or electronics, so playing it through a PA or a laptop for recording means adding a soundhole pickup separately. That is a real gap if your plan involves open mic nights or recording your first songs.
Also expect no onboard electronics-grade hardware and a pickguard that reviewers say does not line up perfectly with the soundhole. If you are after a lefty you can plug straight in, the Ashthorpe below is the same price class with a 4-band EQ built in.
3. LyxPro 39-Inch Left-Handed Electric Guitar Kit – Cheapest Route Into Electric
Pros
- Full-size lefty electric that sidesteps the usual price penalty
- Very light body and neck suit long practice sessions
- Bundled 20W amp with headphone jack for silent practice
- Flat neck needs no truss rod adjustment
Cons
- Frets and nut often need dressing before it plays well
- Cheap plastic nut tremolo and tuners
- Supplied clip-on tuner is basic and not chromatic
- Amplifier suits home practice only
Full-size left-handed electric guitars are where the price penalty usually bites hardest, and this is the pick that mostly avoids it. You get a 39-inch lefty with S-S-S single-coil pickups, a maple neck, a rosewood fingerboard, a tremolo bridge and a 25.5-inch scale, plus a 20W amplifier in the same box.
That amplifier matters more than it looks. It has a built-in speaker, a headphone jack and an AUX input, with gain, bass, treble, volume and grind controls. The headphone output means you can practise with the guitar at full volume in a flat or at midnight without disturbing anyone, which is exactly what a beginner in a shared flat needs.
Reviewers single out the weight. At a light 7.34 kg for the whole kit, this is one of the most comfortable instruments here for long practice sessions, and the flat neck means no truss rod adjustment before you start. The S-S-S layout gives you clean, bright Strat-style tones and a bridge pickup for the hotter sounds as you progress.
The honest caveat is the finish quality. Experienced reviewers consistently report that the instrument arrives unfinished, with frets and nut that need dressing, and plastic hardware that feels slippery. Budget a setup before your first lesson rather than after.
Why this beats a righty and a flip?
You would need a full-size right-handed electric plus a separate amplifier to match this, and lefty shoppers regularly notice they are quoted more for the same spec. This kit is one of the few places where the left-handed version is simply the cheap version.
For a beginner, that trade is worth taking. The S-S-S configuration is forgiving, the amp covers practice and small jams, and the cable, strap, picks, strings, clip-on tuner and soft case are all included.
Where the money was saved?
The nut, tremolo and tuners are the cheap parts, and reviewers also note the hardware colours do not always match between the knobs, bridge and tuners. None of that stops you playing, but it is why experienced players suggest a setup rather than a first impression of quality.
The 20W amp is a practice amp. If you plan to jam in a room with a drummer in the first year, look at the Squier bundle further down with its Frontman 10G instead.
4. Donner DST-100S 39-Inch Left-Handed Electric – Most Versatile Budget Electric
Pros
- H-S-S layout covers clean and overdriven sounds
- Bundle includes amp gig bag strap tuner cable capo and picks
- Simple sturdy single swing bridge is beginner friendly
- Left-handed build is genuinely offered in several colours
Cons
- Poplar body means tone and sustain change with humidity
- Entry-level hardware limits response to gain and effects
- Lightweight body feels less solid than a heavier set
- Not a long-term instrument
Where the LyxPro gives you three single-coils, the Donner DST-100S gives you H-S-S: a humbucker in the bridge, single-coils in the middle and neck. For a beginner who already knows they want rock or blues, that is a much wider tonal range from one guitar, and the same 39-inch lefty format.
The body is poplar with a maple neck and purpleheart fingerboard, finished in sunburst, with a single swing bridge. That bridge is deliberately simple, and for someone six weeks into playing it is a bridge that does not fight your strumming hand or your tuning.
The bundle is generous in the same way the Donner acoustic is: amplifier, gig bag, strap, digital tuner, capo, cable, strings and picks. Buyers consistently treat that as the reason to buy it, because the accessory cost of a first electric is what usually pushes a starter kit over a budget.
Reviewers also note the lefty is offered in multiple colourways, which matters for a brand new player who is motivated partly by how the instrument looks. A guitar you like the look of is a guitar you pick up.
Why H-S-H beats S-S-S for a rock beginner?
Single-coil pickups are bright, chimey and noisy in the best way. Humbuckers are thicker and handle distortion better. Giving a beginner both means they can go from clean practice tones to lead tones on the same instrument without buying a pedal, which is what makes this the more musically flexible of the two budget electrics here.
The bridge humbucker also tolerates a heavier bridge pickup setting if you ever move to a bigger amplifier, so the guitar grows with you for a couple of years.
Where it falls short?
A poplar solid body is light and lively when it is clean, and reviewers are candid that the tone and sustain shift with humidity. Entry-level hardware also means the guitar responds less well to gain and effects than a heavier, better-fitted instrument would.
It is a first electric, not a forever guitar. If you want something that stays with you past the beginner stage, the Squier Sonic Stratocaster bundle is the more sensible place to spend.
5. Fender CD-60S Left-Handed Dreadnought – Best Sound for a Serious Beginner
Pros
- Solid spruce top sounds fuller and more resonant than laminate starters
- Chrome die-cast tuners hold tuning reliably
- Mahogany back and sides give a warm balanced voice
- Recognisable brand makes resale and upgrades easier
Cons
- Dreadnought body is large for children or short arms
- Listing is guitar only so case and accessories are extra
- Supplied phosphor bronze strings need days to settle
- No pickup or electronics for stage use
This is the one we would buy with our own money. The CD-60S is Fender’s long-running left-handed dreadnought, and the difference from every laminate-topped starter guitar in this guide is the solid spruce top with scalloped X bracing. Spruce responds faster and keeps projecting as you play harder, so the guitar improves with you instead of hitting a ceiling.
Everything else is deliberately traditional. Mahogany back, sides and neck, a rounded walnut fingerboard, a hard tail bridge, chrome die-cast tuners and a 25.3-inch scale, in a glossed natural finish at 8.2 pounds. Fender describes the voice as bold and rich in the bass, which suits country, folk and bluegrass strumming.
The chrome die-cast tuners are the underrated part. Sealed-gear machine heads resist dust and grime and hold pitch better than open-gear budget machines, and for a beginner the difference between a guitar that stays in tune between practice sessions and one that does not is the difference between playing daily and giving up.
Owners also mention the 2 year limited warranty, which is longer than most of the budget instruments here, and the practical benefit of a famous brand: when you eventually outgrow it, resale and part matching are simpler.
What a solid top actually buys you?
A laminate top is two thin layers of wood glued together. It is fine for the first month and progressively less responsive as you push it. Solid spruce breathes with the room and the humidity, and it is the reason this guitar sounds noticeably fuller and more resonant than the entry-level kits further down the list.
For a player who will practise daily, that difference shows up as motivation. Players on r/LearnGuitar repeatedly describe the moment a guitar stopped sounding like a toy as the moment they kept playing.
Where it falls short?
It is a guitar only in this listing, so a case, tuner and strap are all extra, and that pushes the real cost above the headline figure. It also has no pickup or electronics, so stage use means adding a soundhole pickup later.
The dreadnought body is genuinely large. For a child or anyone with short arms it will be uncomfortable, and for that case the Donner cutaway or the Ashthorpe below are better fits. Expect the supplied phosphor bronze strings to take a few days to settle before you judge the tuning.
6. Ashthorpe 41-Inch Left-Handed Acoustic-Electric – Best for Plugged-In Playing
Ashthorpe Full-Size Left-Handed Dreadnought Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Guitar Bundle – Premium Tonewoods – Natural
Pros
- Built-in 4-band EQ and pickup need no extra hardware
- Cutaway body reaches the upper frets easily
- Strong projection and resonance for the price
- Bundled gig bag strap cable picks and extra strings
Cons
- Tuners feel rough and need occasional retuning
- Deep dreadnought body is bulky for smaller players
- Nylon gig bag is thin rather than padded
- Only a 90 day warranty
Most left-handed acoustic-electric guitars at this price either do not exist or need a clip-on or soundhole pickup fitted before you can use them. The Ashthorpe has it built in: an on-board 4-band pickup and EQ with bass, mid, treble and presence controls, mounted in a 41-inch cutaway dreadnought body.
That means you can plug straight into a small amplifier, a PA system, a laptop interface or a mixing desk, which covers a lot of ground. Busking, recording at home, playing along to a backing track through a speaker, or rehearsing with a band where an acoustic is the only instrument you own all become possible with the guitar as it arrives.
The tonewoods are a step above the cheapest kits: an X-braced A-grade spruce top over basswood for warmth, an okoume neck, a basswood fingerboard, an adjustable bridge and chrome tuning pegs, with two sets of upgraded phosphor bronze strings in the bundle. Reviewers single out the projection and resonance as the standout feature for a guitar at this level.
The 41-inch cutaway is worth a second look for lefties specifically, because it opens up the body on the side your fretting arm has to reach across. Access to the upper frets is a common complaint among left-handed players moving from a right-handed instrument, and the cutaway removes it.
When built-in electronics actually help?
Built-in electronics matter when you play somewhere other than your bedroom. A soundhole pickup has to be fitted correctly to avoid feedback and a dead spot under the strings, and a fitted 4-band EQ gives you control over exactly the frequencies that feedback when you play loudly.
The soft bundle also includes a nylon gig bag, three picks, a cable, a strap, extra strings and an instruction sheet, so you can go from box to stage-ready with a single cable.
Where it falls short?
Reviewers are candid that the tuners feel rough and the guitar needs more frequent retuning than a die-cast set, and the body is a deep dreadnought at 4.5 inches, which is a lot of guitar for a smaller player to sit with.
The 90 day manufacturer warranty is the shortest in this guide, the bundled nylon gig bag is thin rather than padded, and it is not built for loud amplified performance. For a beginner, though, the electronics are the reason to pick it over the plain acoustic.
7. Ibanez GRX70QAL Left-Handed – Best Versatility Under a Few Hundred
Pros
- H-S-H covers clean crunch and lead from one guitar
- Floating T106 tremolo adds expressive vibrato
- Looks far more expensive than it is
- Thin light body suits smaller players
Cons
- Poplar body lacks some sustain and low-end weight
- Budget hardware can need a setup
- Entry frets are not the most forgiving for very new players
The GRX70QAL is the highest-rated instrument in this guide at 4.6, and it is also the one that most rewards a beginner who plans to keep playing. The H-S-H configuration with high output Infinity R pickups gives you clean neck and middle positions and a hot bridge position for lead work, which is the widest range of usable sounds of any electric here.
The build is a quilted maple art grain top over a poplar body, a maple neck with a jatoba wood fingerboard, 22 frets, a 1.65-inch nut width and a synchronized T106 tremolo with chrome hardware. It weighs 3.7 kg, which is light in the hand and comfortable for players with smaller frames.
Owners call it the best-looking and most versatile lefty at this price level, and reviewers report consistent Ibanez quality control with only minor setup tweaks needed. The floating tremolo is the feature that gets beginners excited, because vibrato and dive-bomb effects are visible and audible progress within a week of owning it.
It is also a recognised brand on the wall of every music shop, and reviews mention that as a real benefit when you later want to talk to staff about an upgrade or find parts.
What the tremolo gives a beginner?
A synchronized tremolo is a spring-and-block system that changes the pitch of all six strings together. Beginners rarely need it, but it is the fastest visible improvement in tone you can make in your first year, and reviewers credit it as the reason this guitar motivates people to keep practising.
The high output pickups also mean this guitar gets more from a modest amplifier than a single-coil starter would, so you are not forced to buy a bigger amp to hear it properly.
Where it falls short?
The poplar body is light, which reviewers note costs some sustain and low-end weight compared with an alder or heavier set. The fixed-radius-style fretboard and entry-level frets are not the most forgiving surfaces for fingers that have never fretted before, and the budget hardware may need a setup to feel its best.
If you are buying for a child under about 12, the body and neck are a better fit than the full dreadnoughts, but the instrument is still a step above entry level. Pair it with the Pyle 3/4 classical instead if size is the deciding factor.
8. Pyle 39-Inch Left-Handed Electric Kit – Best for Quiet Practice
Pyle Left Handed Electric Guitar and Amp Kit – Full Size 39″ Starter Kit with Wearable Bluetooth Amplifier, 1/4” Cable, Zip Case, Strap, Strings, Picks, Cleaning Cloth, ST-Style (Natural Lefty)
Pros
- Everything needed to start playing in one box
- Headphone output allows silent practice at any hour
- Paulownia body keeps the weight low for kids
- Die-cast machine heads tune smoothly
Cons
- 5W amplifier is quiet and thin for anything but home practice
- Some units arrive needing a restring or setup
- Single-coil pickup gives less tonal range than H-S-H
- Support reported as unresponsive on accessories
This kit is built around one specific problem: practising electric guitar without becoming the most annoying person in the household. The included 5W amplifier has a headphone output, a drive switch, and volume, treble and bass controls, so you can run the guitar at full volume into headphones and hear the difference your fingers are making while making almost no noise at all.
The guitar itself is a 39-inch lefty ST-style solid body in paulownia with a birch neck and a tech wood fingerboard, 22 frets, die-cast chrome machine heads and rotary volume and tone controls. The paulownia body is notably light at a 4.01 kg for the whole kit, which makes it easy for a younger player to lift and hold.
The bundle covers the full first session: guitar, amplifier, gig bag, spare strings, shoulder strap, six picks, a quarter-inch cable and a cleaning cloth. Owners highlight the chrome machine heads, which tune smoothly and precisely compared with the open-gear machines on cheaper kits, and the gloss ST-style finish that looks sharp out of the case.
Reviews recommend it for children and for returning players picking the instrument back up after years. At 4.5 across 188 ratings, the feedback is consistent rather than wildly varied, which is a good sign for a straightforward instrument.
Why the headphone output changes practice habits?
Beginners quit mostly because practice is unpleasant. A thin practice amp at normal volume gives you tone feedback, but the headphone output gives you the same clean signal at zero volume, so a twenty-minute session at 11pm in a flat becomes realistic. Several owners mention this as the specific reason they kept playing.
It also works for recording, since the headphone jack can feed a computer interface without a microphone being anywhere near the room.
Where it falls short?
Five watts is five watts. It is a practice amplifier, not a rehearsal or performance one, and owners are clear about the thin, quiet output. The single-coil pickup also gives you less range than the H-S-H instruments in this guide, so you will need an overdrive pedal earlier if you want thicker sounds.
A few buyers needed a restring or full setup before it played well, and there are reports of customer support being unresponsive on accessories, so check the warranty route before you rely on it. For a bigger amplifier in the box, the Squier bundle further down is the step up.
9. Squier Sonic Stratocaster Left-Handed Bundle – Best All-In-One Electric
Fender Squier Sonic Stratocaster Left-Handed – Black Bundle with Frontman 10G Amp, Cable,Tuner, Strap, Picks, and Austin Bazaar Guitar DVD
Pros
- Squier build quality at the top of this range for a lefty
- Three single-coils give the classic clear Strat tones
- C-shaped neck and thin body are very beginner friendly
- Frontman 10G is far more capable than a mini practice amp
Cons
- Bundle costs noticeably more than entry-level kits
- Included tuner and DVD add less value than the guitar and amp
- Single-coils need an overdrive pedal for thicker sounds
This bundle earns the strongest ratings in the group at 4.6, and the reason is that it is the one lefty on this list that reviewers describe as the guitar they did not need to replace after a year. It is a genuine Squier Sonic Stratocaster in black, left-handed, with a thin poplar body, a C-shaped maple neck, a maple fingerboard and three single-coil pickups.
The hardware is what separates it from the budget kits. You get a 6-saddle vintage-style synchronized tremolo with block saddles and sealed-gear tuning machines. Block saddles hold intonation far better across the neck than the pressed-in saddles found on entry-level bridges, and sealed-gear tuners are the same family of part you find on guitars costing several times more.
The bundled Frontman 10G amplifier is the other half of the value argument. It is meaningfully more capable than a 5W or 20W practice amp, with enough clean and overdrive range to rehearse with a band or to move to a bigger amplifier later. The bundle also includes a cable, a tuner, a strap, picks and an Austin Bazaar instructional DVD.
Many left-handed beginners on forums describe this as the first lefty they owned that did not need an immediate upgrade, which is the clearest endorsement a first guitar can get.
Why the C-shaped neck matters for a first guitar?
A C-shaped neck is the shallowest of the three common profiles, roughly matching the gentle curve of your relaxed hand. Beginners who start on a deep V or a chunky U shape often blame themselves for wrist and hand ache that is actually the neck shape.
Combined with a thin poplar body, this is the most physically comfortable electric in the guide for a player who has never held a guitar before, and it is also light enough for a younger player to manage.
Where it falls short?
The bundle costs noticeably more than the entry-level kits, and buyers point out that the included tuner and DVD add far less value than the guitar and amplifier do. You could buy the same components separately for less if you shop carefully.
Single-coil pickups also need an overdrive pedal for thicker sounds, and the sealed-gear tuners, while a genuine upgrade, are not locking machines. If you want maximum tonal range from one guitar instead of the clearest clean tones, the Ibanez H-S-H is the alternative at a lower price.
10. Master Play 30-Inch Left-Handed Classical – Best for Young Children
30″ Left Handed Wood Guitar with Case and Accessories for Kids/Girls/Boys/Teens/Beginners (Purple Gradient)
Pros
- True left-handed build
- which is rare at this child size
- 30 inch scale is ideal for small hands
- Linden construction sounds like a real instrument not a toy
- Package includes case strap tuner capo picks and spare strings
Cons
- Supplied strings sit closer to A tuning and will not reach standard E
- No manual explaining the intended tuning
- Some units arrive with cracks or missing parts
- Thin low quality storage bag
This is the smallest instrument in the guide and the right answer for a young child who is left-handed. A 30-inch scale length is roughly three-quarters of a full-size classical, which means a six-year-old can reach the first-position frets without the guitar being physically too long for their arm.
The unusual detail is the string set: half steel, half nylon, described by the manufacturer as sized for small fingers just starting out. That is a genuinely thoughtful design choice for a first instrument, because the tension on the treble strings is what usually stops small hands progressing.
The construction is linden wood top with a basswood back, neck and fingerboard, a fixed bridge and six tuning machines, and owners consistently say it sounds and feels more like a real instrument than a plastic toy. Parents also like that the package includes a case, strap, tuner, capo, picks and an extra set of strings, plus a wide range of colour options.
At 4.2 across 1,148 ratings, it is the lowest-rated instrument here, and the reason is almost always the same issue rather than the guitar itself. More on that below.
The tuning problem you need to know about
The supplied strings are set closer to A tuning, so they will not comfortably reach the standard E at the low end without being tightened beyond their comfort zone. Many owners ended up buying replacement guilele strings, and there is no manual in the box explaining what the intended tuning is, which confuses first-time buyers.
The practical advice is to either restring with guilele strings early or ask a shop to set it up and explain the tuning to the child. The guitar will not hold a stable tune with the supplied strings, and that is a setup issue, not a defect.
Who should skip it?
Skip it if your child is under about five or is moving quickly, because the very small scale becomes a limitation fast. A minority of buyers also report cracked bodies or missing accessories on arrival, so check the contents of the box immediately.
The thin storage bag will not survive being left in a car, and there is no warranty listed, so treat this as a starter instrument for the first year of lessons rather than a long-term purchase. When your child outgrows it, the Pyle 36-inch classical at the top of this guide is the natural upgrade.
How to Choose a Left-Handed Guitar as a Beginner?
Left-handed players are a small share of the market, which is why selection feels narrow and why lefty models can cost more or take longer to arrive than the right-handed equivalent of the same guitar. Everything below is aimed at removing the guesswork from a choice you may only get one or two chances to make.
Acoustic vs Electric: Which One First?
Start with an acoustic if you want to play straight away with no extra purchases, if you are learning in a flat where an amplifier is not practical, or if your music is folk, country, singer-songwriter or bluegrass. An acoustic is self-contained: the box is the instrument. The catch is that steel strings are physically harder on new fingers than the nylon set on a classical.
Start with an electric if your music is rock, blues, indie or anything amplified, or if you want a quiet instrument you can practise on through headphones. An electric is easier on the fingers, and low action on a decent electric is very forgiving. The catch is that the guitar alone is silent, so budget for an amplifier, a cable and eventually effects. Our beginner electric guitar guide covers that side in more detail.
A third option is an acoustic-electric like the Ashthorpe above: onboard electronics, one instrument, both worlds. It is the most flexible answer and the least common in the left-handed budget range.
Action, Neck Profile and Why Both Matter
Action is the distance between the strings and the fretboard, and it is the single biggest factor in whether a beginner enjoys playing in month one. High action means you press much harder for every note, which makes new fingertips sore faster and discourages practice. Low, even action means you press lightly, which is what the whole method depends on.
You rarely see action listed on a retail page, so this is where reviews matter. A guitar that reviewers repeatedly describe as needing a setup will often arrive with high action and rough frets. Budgeting for a professional setup is not a failure of the purchase; on a low-cost instrument it is part of the purchase.
Neck profile is the second thing. C-shaped is the shallowest and the most beginner-friendly, U-shaped sits in the middle, and a V-shaped neck has deeper sides that some small hands find uncomfortable. Two of the guitars in this guide, the Donner acoustic and the Squier Stratocaster, have C-shaped profiles, and that is one of the easiest ways to spot a beginner-friendly neck from a spec sheet.
Body Size and Scale Length for Small Hands
Scale length is the distance from the nut to the bridge and it determines how far your hand has to stretch. A 30-inch scale fits small children, 22.8 to 25 inches suits most beginners, and a full 25.4 to 25.5 inch scale suits adults with average reach. Longer scales also feel tighter and louder; shorter scales feel warmer and easier to bend.
Body size follows the same logic. A dreadnought is large and loud, an OM or concert body is smaller and more balanced, and a 3/4 body is for kids and short arms. If you are buying for a child, get the size right first, because a guitar that is too big is a guitar that gets left in the case.
String Gauge and the Restrung-Righty Trap
String gauge is how thick the strings are, and thicker strings sound fuller and are easier to play for someone with strong fingers, while thinner strings are quieter and much easier on new fingertips. For a left-handed beginner, lighter gauges are worth asking about specifically, because the fretting hand on a lefty is the right hand, and most players report more fatigue on that side.
Never buy a right-handed guitar and restring it backward. The nut slots, the bridge and the string path are not mirrored, so intonation drifts as you go up the neck, the neck takes stress in the wrong direction, and the setup will never sit right. The money you save is spent on a setup that cannot fix it. This is the single most common mistake left-handed buyers make, and the reason to buy a genuine lefty from the start.
Guitars to Avoid When You Are Left-Handed
Avoid no-name instruments with no listed brand, no warranty and no named model number. The tell is simple: if the listing does not name the manufacturer, the scale length, the neck material and the warranty, there is nobody to contact when the frets are rough or the tuning will not hold. These are the instruments that make beginners blame their own hands.
Avoid high-action instruments regardless of brand. If reviews mention the guitar needs a setup, or if the strings sit visibly far above the fretboard in photos, the instrument is actively working against you.
Avoid right-handed guitars intended to be restrung left-handed, and avoid buying a cheap righty to save money on the theory that you will grow into a lefty later. On the question of whether a lefty should just learn right-handed, the consensus in r/Leftyguitarists is consistent: air-guitar direction wins every time, because you will know immediately which way feels right. Some left-dominant players on squier-talk.com report adapting fine to a right-handed guitar, and others report being unable to adjust and switching to a lefty. It is a personal decision, not a rule.
Finally, ask about left-handed community support and check the fit in person if you can. Our guides to beginner classical guitars and left-handed bass guitars cover the neighbouring choices, including the 3/4 sizes that matter most for younger players.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do lefties need a special guitar?
Yes. A left-handed guitar is built as a mirror image, with the bridge, nut, string path and controls reversed so the low E string sits closest to the ceiling. Restringing a right-handed guitar backward causes intonation drift and neck stress that a setup cannot fix, so buy a genuine lefty from the start.
What is a good left-handed acoustic guitar for a beginner?
The Fender CD-60S LH is the safest all-round answer, with a solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides and a two year warranty. For a lower-cost full-size option, the Donner DAG-1CL gives you a 41-inch cutaway dreadnought with a clip-on tuner and capo in the box. Smaller players should look at the 36-inch Pyle 3/4 classical instead.
Is it harder for lefties to learn guitar?
No. Left-handed players report the same early challenges as everyone else: sore fingertips, strings going out of tune and slow chord changes in the first few months. What is harder is buying, because the lefty range is short and the models you want are the ones most often missing.
Should a left-handed beginner learn on a right-handed guitar?
It works for some left-dominant players, and a few report adapting comfortably. But most lefties find the reversed orientation immediately uncomfortable and say air-guitar direction settles the question in seconds. If in doubt, try the orientation that does not require flipping the instrument over.
What size left-handed guitar is right for a child?
Look at scale length rather than total length. Around 22 to 23 inches suits small hands, 25.3 to 25.5 inches suits most adults, and anything near 30 inches is built for young children. A 3/4 size lefty such as the Pyle 36-inch classical or the Master Play 30-inch is the usual starting point for kids.
Which Left-Handed Guitar Should You Buy First?
The best left handed guitars for beginners in 2026 come down to three clear answers. For a child or a brand-new adult who wants zero friction, the Pyle 36-inch left-handed classical kit is the pick, with soft nylon strings and a body that is easy to hold from day one. For a full-size acoustic, the Donner DAG-1CL gives you the most instrument for the money, while the Fender CD-60S LH is the one to buy if you want the sound to improve as you do.
On the electric side, the LyxPro kit is the cheapest honest route into a full-size lefty with an amplifier in the box, the Donner DST-100S adds an H-S-S layout for rock and blues, and the Squier Sonic Stratocaster bundle with the Frontman 10G is the one most beginners do not outgrow. The Ibanez GRX70QAL is the pick if you want the widest range of tones from a single guitar.
Whatever you choose, buy a true left-handed instrument rather than flipping a righty, choose a body size that fits your reach, and factor a setup into the cost of any budget model. Pick the instrument that makes you want to practise on day one, and leave the rest to the practice.
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