Best Guitars for Fingerstyle
Are you looking forward to buying your first fingerstyle guitar? Whether you are a beginner or a pro, a good fingerstyle guitar is essential when you need to produce the right sound. It is a little challenging to produce a full ringing sound with your fingers as compared to using a pick. Granted, when shopping for the best guitars for fingerstyle, consider not only your comfort when playing but also the ability of the guitar to offer full vibration you pluck the strings with your fingers.
With so many fingerstyle guitars on the market, how do you pick the best?
Buyer’s Guide
What is Fingerpicking?
Fingerpicking, or fingerstyle guitar, involves playing your guitar by plucking the guitar strings using your fingertips or your fingernails as opposed to using a plectrum (also known as a pick) to pluck the strings. The latter technique is known as flatpicking. However, if you use a pick attached to your fingers, that is still fingerpicking.
How to Play a Fingerstyle Guitar
Learning to play a fingerstyle guitar takes longer than it does flatpicking a guitar. However, do not worry because once you learn how to coordinate your fingers, you are good to go.
Unlike flatpicking a single unit plectrum, fingerstyle guitar involves individual digits playing the notes. It is easier to play if the whole hand was a single unit and not four different digits. However, it is also possible for you to play several musical elements concurrently when you fingerpick.
The fingerstyle technique involves using each of the fingers of the right hand independently to play different parts of an arrangement of music that would otherwise be played by different band members. This means that you can play with fingerpicking what a group of guitarists can play with flatpicking.
When you fingerpick, you can play deep bass notes, melody, percussion, and harmonic accompaniment or chord progression at the same time. If you play often, you might need to have acrylic nails or a thumb pick to enhance the quality of tine produced and to protect your nails from chipping or breaking. There are many guitarists who fingerpick including Ani DiFranco, Don Ross, Doyle Dykes, and Richard Smith.
Why Choose Fingerstyle Guitar Over Regular Acoustic Guitar?
You do not have to carry a plectrum around when you need to play. However, this also means that you need to maintain your fingers at the right length if you prefer to use your fingers and not your skin.
You can pluck multiple non-adjacent strings simultaneously. This way, you can play a high treble note and a low bass note at the same time. You can also play double stops including octave, fifth, sixth, or different other intervals to suit the harmony.
You can play more than one music notes simultaneously with independent musical lines or playing the melody, harmony, and bass parts at the same time. If you are playing as you sing, fingerstyle might be the best technique. It is also great for duos where a guitar accompanies a singer.
Although you will have four fingers plucking the strings independently, fingerpicking is not the same as playing with four picks. A pick can pluck the strings up and down with much ease but alternation with hands takes hard practice.
It is easy to play arpeggios, one note after another with fingerpicking. However, if you prefer to play tremolo (rapid repeated notes), and melody, plectrum playing is better. However, it is also possible for you to play notes without arpeggiation seeing that you can pluck up to five strings simultaneously.
You do not need fretting hand damping as you only pluck the strings you need when playing chords. Better yet, you can vary your strokes for a greater expressiveness of timber. There is also a wide variety of strums possible with fingerpicking.
When fingerpicking, you will use less energy than you would if you used a plectrum. This leads a low volume when you are playing acoustically.
One disadvantage of fingerpicking is that heavier gauge guitar strings will damage your nails. Fingerstyle comes in handy with lighter gauge steel strings or nylon strings. If you choose to use your fingers, instead of nails, you might want to attach picks on the fingers to protect them.
Shopping for the Best Fingerstyle Guitar
There are several considerations to make when shopping for the best fingerpicking guitar. For starters, you need to consider resonance. Is the guitar able to produce a full ringing sound when you pluck the strings with your fingers? A guitar that makes the most out of the slightest vibrations is the best for fingerstyle. It is possible to find a guitar that makes great sounds with a pick but the sounds are dull when you play with your fingers.
You also need to consider the string material. Nylon is the perfect material for fingerstyle but you can also use light-gauge steel strings. Nylon strings are easy on your fingers and you only need a little pressure to create a melody. Steel and bronze strings are ideal when you need the heavy ringing and resonance of a classic guitar.
The body of a fingerstyle guitar is wider. This is what gives the guitar the resonance need when you play, the neck of the guitar sports a slimmer profile allowing you to play with so much comfort.
Check the Straightness of the Neck
A good guitar neck shouldn’t curve or bend. It seems like a no-brainer that the guitar should have a straight neck but there are so many cheaply constructed guitars with necks that curve. With a straight neck, the strings do not hit the frets as you play.
A guitar with a bow is challenging to play, especially if you are a beginner. You can see the straightness of the neck of a guitar by looking at photos of the guitar from different angles. Note that, if you pick a neck that is bowed or one with problems, it is almost impossible to correct.
How Far are the Guitar Strings from the Fretboard?
The way the guitar strings related to the fretboard determines the action or bass of a guitar. While you can adjust the action of the guitar, it might be challenging or even impossible if the strings are far from the neck on the intersection between the neck and the body. This happens if the neck of the guitar is noticeably curved. Note that, a curved guitar does not mean that the brand is flawed; it only means that the individual guitar has flaws and you should order or pick another guitar.
Is the Side of the Neck Smooth?
When you look at a guitar neck from all angles, you shouldn’t see any metal frets that stick out. A smooth construction makes it easy for you to play. However, it doesn’t mean that because the frets stick out you should throw away the guitar. It is easy to correct frets that stick out. However, why deal with a flawed guitar when you can order one with no flaws?
Select the Right Guitar Size
When shopping for the best guitars for fingerstyle, you need to consider size very keenly. Guitars comes are available in various shapes and sizes. It is therefore important that you pick a guitar that feels very comfortable. Whether you are a beginner or a pro, finding the right size will improve your playing.
The wrong guitar size will affect your ability to play. This is especially true for young guitar students who might struggle with a full size guitar. If the width of the guitar neck is too big for your hands, the guitar is heavy, or the distance between frets is wide, you may not play all the notes as you wish.
While you might want to buy a guitar that you can grow into, you will most likely become frustrated from playing an instrument that doesn’t fit you. If the instrument is too big or too small for your hands, you are in for a lot of frustration. For a young guitar player, consider small scale guitars designed for young hands. If you have large hands, go for a large scale guitar.
You can consider your age when shopping for the right guitar size. I remember you buy a half size guitar for children ages five to seven, a three-quarter guitar for children between seven and ten, and a full-size guitar for children ages eleven or higher. If you at least 18 years, go for a full size guitar. Note that, my recommendations are based on the average heights of children in these age groups. If a child is taller, you might need a bigger sized guitar.
Total Length vs. Scale Length
Three-quarter and half sized guitars are ideal for young guitar players whose hands are still small. If you are shopping for a guitar for your student or your child, you need to consider the overall length of the guitar in relation to the scale length. You might have two short scale guitars considered as three-quarters but one might have a longer overall length with a different shape and thickness. As such, it is always advisable that you consider how much length the student can hold and then check that against the overall length of the guitar.
A good length should be one where you can reach the entire neck of the guitar. A scaled down guitar model is ideal for young players thanks to the shorter neck and the shorter scale. Scale length refers to the length of the string between the nut and the saddle. Basically, the part of the string that vibrates when you play determines the scale of a guitar.
Long scales range between 25 and 25.5 inches; these are standard on full-size guitars. A short scale ranges between 21 and 24.5 inches. Regardless of the scale lengths, the guitar strings are the same. Granted, a short scale guitar has less tension when you tune it. The less tension makes the guitar easier to play for younger students.
While you can calibrate a guitar to the comfort and playability that feels good to you, it is crucial that you get a guitar that feels comfortable out of the box. Ensure the neck is not too wide or too slim, the guitar is not so heavy, the body is not so wide and the strings are not heavy-gauge. With a comfortable guitar, you can play for hours and not feel tired.
Affordability
Your budget determines the guitar you go for. As with any other musical instrument, high-quality materials mean a higher price. Again, if the design you need is complex, the price will be higher. Even as you consider the price, do not compromise on sound. There is no money worth spending in a guitar that does not produce the sound you need.
Product Reviews
The Martin’s Road Series GPC-13E delivers a classic Martin sound but with a modern touch. This full-sized guitar offers great playability, tone, and performance, all at an affordable price. The Martin Grand Performance guitar debuted a decade ago as the first guitar with a unique body size for a flat top model.
Body and Neck
The dimensions of GPC-13E fall between those of the Martin’s larger Dreadnought sizes and the smaller sizes. However, the width of the body is bigger than a Martin Dreadnought. This bigger body size allows the guitar to offer the resonance you need with each string pluck. Its curvaceous design, inspired boutique luthiers, makes it an aesthetically appealing music equipment that you would want to carry everywhere. It is an ideal guitar when you need modern tonal character.
Each unit sports a solid wood construction with a Sitka spruce top, a mutenye back and sides. The neck sports high-quality hardwood (in most cases Spanish cedar or mahogany). It also features a scalloped X-bracing to enhance the tone and the responsive dynamics of the guitar.
The neck of the GPC-13E delivers great playability for beginners as well as pros. It packs a 25.3-inch scale length with a hand-rubbed finish so it looks and feels good. The fingerboard sit is only once and three-quarters inches, which is slim enough for comfortable playing. On the neck are 20 medium frets which are high accessible thanks to the cutaway design of the body. If you love supporting sustainable products, this might be one of them. Its fingerboard and bridge sport sustainable Richlite so you never have to deal with export/import issues seen with ebony or rosewood. The neck is Pleked so you can play with much ease.
Hardware
The new GPC-13E comes with a few cosmetic changes that make it look better. Alongside these changes, the unit features Fishman’s MX-T electronics package. This new electronics package replaces the Fishman Sonitone and it comes to make the guitar more gig-friendly. When playing with the new electronics package, the natural tone of the GPC-13E remains.
The new Fishman’s MX-T electronics sit inside the guitar without any holes on the guitar which makes your guitar full acoustic and maintains its look and tone. A knob to control volume and tone and a 180-degree phase switch sit along the edge of the soundhole just above the low E string where you can access them with much ease. There is a chromatic tuner below the high E string and inside the soundhole with the mute/activation switch within easy reach and the display pointing you for comfort of use.
Sound
The Grand Performance delivers the classic sound of an acoustic guitar. Its tone offers a uniform balance and a wide frequency range of a modern guitar while still offering a percussive attack and the sweet overtones that are the emblem of Martin guitars. The GPC-13E has a powerful and commanding bass and loud volume that mirrors a Dreadnought. However, it still maintains its rich and full midrange and treble and does not sound harsh.
Conclusion
The natural acoustic tone of this guitar is impressive. The attention to detail of the neck and body make this guitar aesthetically appealing and playable. It is a great guitar if you are always performing on gigs.
Review Summary for the Martin’s Road Series GPC-13E
The GPC-13E sports a wider body and a slimmer neck; two qualities that make it an ideal fingerstyle guitar. Its larger body makes the most of the smallest vibrations when you pluck the strings with your fingers while the slimmer neck makes it very playable. The Fishman MX-T electronics further enhances the playability of the guitar when you go for gigs. The hardware, body, and neck are ergonically placed to make it comfortable for you when you play. Even with the Fishman MX-T electronics, you still enjoy a range of flat settings that preserve the acoustic feel of the GPC-13E. The tuner and preamp power through a 9-volt battery that you can change very fast.
Pros
- Wider body that amplifies even small vibrations
- Slimmer neck to enhance playability
- New Fishman MX-T electronics making the guitar great for gigs
Cons
- The hardware makes the guitar relatively heavy for small bodied users
Description: A modern guitar for those who love classic tones with a modern balanced sound.
Ratings
Body and Neck – 5 stars
Hardware – 4 stars
Sound – 4.5 stars
Value – 4.5 stars
Total Score – 4.5 Stars
The Taylor Big Baby is the perfect guitar if you are looking for a basic and simple acoustic guitar that will not break your bank. Nevertheless, it still delivers a rich sound that makes it ideal when you need a unit that beginner or pro fingerstyle guitar.
Body and Neck
The Big Baby sports solid Sitka aback construction that makes it sturdy and aesthetically appealing. Its sides and back are laminate which further enhance the sturdiness of the guitar. Although the body is not bound, the guitar still packs decent edge joints.
Its neck features a solid mahogany wood build with a satin finish making the neck look good and feel good to your hands. This neck sports a slimmer profile making it highly playable for people with average sized and large sized hands. Since the neck bolts to the body with screws, it is easy to adjust the neck without popping it off like you would with a fixed neck.
The frets on the Big Baby come with end-crowning making it comfortable for you to play this instrument. Its fingerboard is ebony which means that the board doesn’t get black when you sweat. The system offers easy-to-use tuning machines. Better yet, the guitar stays in tune even after so many hours of playing.
The guitar has no heels which makes it easier to play the upper frets compared to a full-body dreadnought acoustic.
Hardware
You will need a microphone to play this guitar in gigs as it is fully acoustic. The 20-frets guitar still offers a high volume sound when you are playing without a mic. With its die-cast chrome-plated tuning machines, Lexan headstock overlay, 1 11/16-inch nut width, and X-Brace bracing, the guitar is ergonomic enough for beginners and pros alike.
Sound
The Taylor Big Baby is ideal as a lead acoustic guitar thanks to its bright sound. It delivers a deep bass while still maintaining the midrange and treble. It is, therefore, a great choice for a live performance, people recording, or anyone who wants to play for alone in the house. The guitar was popular among small jazz players but thanks to its versatility, anyone who wants to play music can use it to create distinct sounds.
Conclusion
The Taylor Big Baby is ideal for professional players as well as beginners. Taylor has produced some of the highest quality guitars on the market and the Big Baby is one of them. It delivers bright, warm sounds and is comfortable enough if you will be playing for hours.
Review Summary for the Taylor Big Baby
If you are looking for a simple acoustic guitar to fingerpick at home or during live performances, this might be a great budget choice. The ergonomic design of the Taylor Big Baby makes it comfortable to hold on and play for hours. As a fingerstyle guitar, it sports a relatively slim neck and a relatively large body for playability and resonance. The body and the neck of the guitar have a smooth finish not to irritate your hand. If you need a guitar with strong mid tones to carry out your harmony, this might be your right choice. The only drawback is that it is acoustic only so you need a mic for live performances.
Pros
- Ergonomic build for playability
- Arched back for additional sturdiness
- Strong mid-tones to carry out your harmony
Cons
- It is acoustic only so playing live requires a mic
Description: This is an acoustic-only guitar for guitarists who need rich classic sounds.
Ratings
- Body and Neck – 5 stars
- Hardware – 3 stars
- Sound – 5 stars
- Value – 5 stars
- Total Score – 4.5 Stars
The Fender CD-60 might be the best acoustic guitar for fingerstyle for beginners. It sports a simple but innovative construction that makes it comfortable to hold on to and play for hours. It is also an ideal guitar if you plan to travel with your guitar and play to small audiences.
Body and Neck
The CD-60 comes with a laminated mahogany top, sides, and back. This construction enhances the tonality of the guitar with a warm and rich voice. Its fingerboard has a rosewood construction with vintage style open-gear tuners for fast and easy tuning.
With a maple neck and advanced scalloped bracing, this guitar offers great resonance, with a high volume and rich tone. The laminated mahogany construction on the top, sides, and back give the guitar a professional look while enriching its sound. Better yet, the laminated mahogany and not real mahogany ensures that the guitar is lightweight for the comfort of beginners.
The neck of this guitar has a real mahogany construction to enhance support and strength for the rest of the guitar. The head of the guitar packs die-cast tuners that ensure the guitar is in tune for hours as well as ensuring that the strings produce great intonation.
Hardware
The CD-60 comes with a synthetic bone-compensated saddle for more comfort when you play. It also features the Fishman ISYS III System that lets you play without the needs of a mic during gigs. For better tuning, the unit sports Active Onboard Preamp and tuner to facilitate easy tuning with the guitar plugged in.
The unit has a 43mm nut width and a scale length of 64.3 cm, a perfect length for an ergonomic dreadnought guitar.
Sound
The tine produced by the CD-60 is consistent. With its rosewood fretboard, the tiny sound in higher tones absorbs into the board minimizing noise and ensuring that a rich sound comes out. Its larger body and its scalloped bracing amplify its resonance and volume so you can play the guitar during a gig. The sounds are warm and rich.
Conclusion
The Fender CD-60 is a great guitar if you are looking for a professional-quality guitar at a bargain. It sports a great design for playability and comfort and also it produces a rich and warm sound.
Review Summary for the Fender CD-60
The Fender CD-60 acoustic guitar might be a great choice for you if you need a quality guitar without breaking your bank. It is also a great travel guitar thanks to its lightweight. The unit sports a laminated mahogany construction for its top, sides, and back. This construction is great for two reasons; one, it enhances the quality of the sound, and two, it keeps the guitar lightweight. The fretboard sports a rosewood construction to further enhance the resonance and quality of the sound. You can play this guitar in gigs thanks to the fact that it sports the Fishman ISYS III System that amplifies the sound. Every button and every control, including the built-in chromic tuner and die-cast heads, is ergonomically placed for accessibility.
Pros
- Comes with a hardshell case making it an ideal guitar for travel
- Fretboard minimizes tint sound to give out crisp and defined sounds
- Offer consistent tones and stays ion tune for hours
- Comes in a variety of body types and colors
Cons
- The rounded fretboard makes it more challenging to play as a fingerstyle guitar
Description: This is a professional-quality guitar that comes at an affordable price.
Ratings
- Body and Neck – 4 stars
- Hardware – 5 stars
- Sound – 4.5 stars
- Value – 5 stars
- Total Score – 4.5 Stars
The Yamaha FG800 sports the design of a traditional dreadnought guitar. You can therefore use it when you need a perfect blend of classic and modern sounds. It is a guitar for beginner guitarists as well professional players.
Body and Neck
One of the things that stand out in this guitar is solid Sitka spruce construction at the top. Guitars with Sitka spruce construction fall on the higher price range but this guitar is very affordable. Again, Sitka spruce offers a richer sound than so many other materials available on the market. The sound from the guitar is warmer and fuller.
The sides and the back feature laminated nato wood construction to offer sturdiness and further enhance the quality of the sound. The look completes with a rosewood fretboard that not only gives the guitar a classic look and feel but also makes it easy to play.
An innovative scalloped bracing pattern enhances the strength of the top and improves sound projection and bass frequencies. Granted, you will be able to do live performance with this guitar as sound travels far.
The neck is slim and with a sleek look to enhance playability. This neck has a solid wood construction that strengthens the entire guitar. It has a 43mm nut width which means you do not have to stretch much to achieve complicated chords. This is a great advantage for young guitarists and women playing guitars.
The Yamaha FG800 sports a sleek natural look with a glossy finish and a dark pickguard to complete the look. Some older models have different finishes such as sunburst.
Hardware
The Yamaha FG800 is acoustic-only with no hardware attached. However, the design of the unit allows it to project sound to a large audience even when you do not have a mic. The tuners on the guitar are easy to use and you can adjust fast as you play – the guitar stays in tune for hours.
This guitar comes with a high string action making it a little challenging for beginners to play smoothly. Again, you cannot access the truss rod without a special tool. Therefore, you need to let a professional adjust the guitar for you to improve its playability. Whether you need a guitar for simple strumming or one for advanced fingerstyle, this unit might be ideal for you.
Sound
For its price, the Yamaha FG800 delivers a pretty impressive rich tone. It is an ideal unit for fingerpicking thanks to the rich sounds facilitated the Sitka spruce top. The sound is loud and consistent and the tone is thick. The sound is not too bright and neither is it booming. If you need a guitar for a gig, this will deliver only for small audiences.
Conclusion
The Yamaha FG800 is the right fingerstyle guitar for you if you need an affordable guitar to play alone or in gigs with small audiences. This being an upgrade of a guitar that has been on the market for decades, you can expect fine-tuned quality.
Review Summary for the Yamaha FG800
If you need an affordable acoustic-only guitar to learn to play, play at home, or perform to a small audience, the Yamaha FG800 might be right for you. It sports a decent construction with Sitka spruce top and nato wood sides and back. While the Sitka spruce top enhances the quality of the sound, the nato wood enhances the strength of the unit. However, the nato wood might slightly dull the resonance of the guitar as it does not resonate like real wood. Its slim neck and ergonomic tuners improve the guitar’s playability. Although it is an acoustic-only guitar, it still produces high volume sounds to entertain your audience.
Pros
- Sitka spruce top to produce high-quality sounds
- Slim neck enhances playability
- Scalloped bracing improves sound projection
Cons
- Nato laminates do not resonate as well as real wood
Description: The Yamaha FG800 is a traditional dreadnought guitar offering rich classic and modern sounds.
Ratings
- Body and Neck – 5 stars
- Hardware – 3 stars
- Sound – 5 stars
- Value – 4.5 stars
- Total Score – 4.5 Stars
Takamine Guitars were the first electric acoustic guitars on the market. Today, Takamine is one of the leading manufacturers of electric acoustic guitars. With a Takamine guitar, you can expect premium quality construction at an affordable price. Although this guitar comes at an affordable price, it sports the same high-end materials used to construct high-end guitars.
Body and Neck
The Takamine Pro Series 3 sports a solid cedar top that not only makes the guitar sturdy but also improves the quality of the sound produced. The sides and the back sport a solid sapele construction that further enhances the sturdiness and the quality of sound of the guitar.
It has a mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard with wood-dot inlays to offer both comfort and durability. Better, the solid wood construction of the fingerboard and neck gives the guitar rich sounds.
If you need an ergonomic design, the gold tuners, amber buttons, and the natural satin finish of the guitar enhance its playability and its looks. The body is relatively heavy thanks to the electric functionality and the added hardware. Although this makes it less of a travel guitar, it is one of the best performance guitars on the market.
Hardware
The guitar comes with a CT4B II preamp system with three-band equalizer, which is the sound amplification system. This system further features volume control and a built-in tuner to give you the control you need when you are on stage.
Sound
The Takamine Pro Series 3 produces a rich sound when played by a beginner or a pro. The solid wood construction enhances the quality of the tones. This being an electric guitar, it is ideal when you need a guitar to perform to a large audience as the voice is well projected. However, the voice projection does not affect the acoustic sound quality.
Conclusion
The Takamine Pro Series 3 is one of the best electric acoustic guitars for fingerpicking. It sports a comfortable construction for great playability and comes at an affordable price.
Review Summary for Takamine Pro Series 3
If you need an electric acoustic guitar for fingerpicking, this might be a great choice. It sports a solid wood top, sides, and back to enrich the sound it produces. The neck and the fingerboard also sport solid wood that further enhances the resonance and voice projection of the unit. It is made even better by the preamp system which is highly customizable to suit the needs of your audience. For a fingerstyle guitar, it has a wide body and slim neck to offer the rich sound you need.
Pros
- Solid wood construction for rich sounds
- High quality preamp system for gig performances
- Ergonomic build for playability
Cons
- Relatively heavy to use for many hours
Description: This is an electric acoustic guitar with rich sounds for beginners and professionals alike.
Ratings
- Body and Neck – 4 stars
- Hardware – 5 stars
- Sound – 4.5 stars
- Value – 5 stars
- Total Score – 4.5 Stars
Conclusion
If you need a guitar that balances quality construction, richness of sound, playability, and cost, the Martin’s Road Series GPC-13E is one of the best guitars for fingerstyle. I love its design that enhances its playability and its rich tones. It is also a great guitar for gig performances.