Best Acoustic Guitars For Under $500

For those on a budget or those that are looking for a fantastic bargain here are the best acoustic guitars that are available for under $500. Gone are the days when you needed to break the bank to be able to afford a great guitar as now you can have both great sound and a well built guitar that will last for years at under $500.

Here then are my recommended best acoustic guitars for under $500 in no particular order.


Washburn D10S Acoustic Guitar

The worlds best selling acoustic guitar and the one that acoustic guitar magazine named the best guitar available for under $500. Although I don't totally agree with that statement it certainly is a fantastic guitar for the money. It is easy to play and sounds fantastic, in fact it sounds better than many acoustic guitars that cost twice the price.
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Seagull S6

This is one of the best acoustic guitars in the world in fact if you didn't know it's price (under $400 ) you would swear it would be a $800 plus guitar. The Seagul S6 sounds almost as good as many top end Martins, Taylors and Gibsons but for a fraction of the price. It may be a little more expensive than the Washburn d10s but for that you will have a guitar that will last you a lifetime.
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Epiphone Hummingbird Acoustic Guitar

It's amazing how close this comes to the Gibson hummingbird when you consider the difference in price but Epiphone have done a fantastic job. It may not be a Gibson but for many it is as close as they will come to owning a hummingbird because of the price. This guitar is fantastic for beginners and even experienced players will find some joy.
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Fender DG100 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

The beautiful DG100 has a fantastic feel to it and is well suited to almost any style of play. The strings that come with the guitar are a little harsh but this is easily fixed with new strings. If your looking for great acoustic guitar from one of the biggest names around then this is definitely worth a look for under $300.
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Takamine G320 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

If your looking for a bargain then this is it. I've played $800 acoustic guitars that don't have the same quality of sound as the G320 Dreadnought, and yet this cost under $150. This is another example of the quality that Takamine guitars provide. It may not last you a lifetime but for value for money this is amazing.
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Yamaha FG730S Solid Top Acoustic Guitar

Whether a complete novice or a veteran player the FG730S offers an amazing playing experience. The feel of it is that of a much more expensive guitar and the sound is also great. It may not be as easy to play as some of the others which is something a complete novice may want to consider but it is a wonderful instrument for the price.
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Alvarez RD8 Regent Series Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

I'd never played an Alvarez guitar before trying the RD8 and to be honest I wasn't expecting much but this is a great guitar for the price ( under $200 ). It has a clear and full sound that not many $200 guitars can match and is a great purchase for any beginner or for someone looking for a solid second guitar.
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Ibanez AEL20E Acoustic-Electric Guitar with Onboard Tuner

This is the best looking guitar you will find for under $500 but it deserves to be in this list of the best acoustic guitars for under $500 for more reasons than that. The Ibanez sounds absolutely beautiful whether plugged in or acoustic and is a match for many higher priced guitars available. If you can afford it this has to be considered.
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Takamine G Series 340C Acoustic-Electric Guitar

In my opinion I have saved the best until last as I believe the 340C to be the best of the best acoustic guitars for under $500, in fact in terms of sound I doubt you will find a guitar for less than a $1000 that sounds better. Takamine have produced, in my opinion the best value for money guitar in the world.
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And there you have my best acoustic guitars for under $500. If you have the complete $500 I'd go with the Takamine 340C but whichever of these guitars you opt for I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Ibanez AEL20E Acoustic Guitar Review

For such a low price is the Ibanez AEL20E actually any good? The good news is that if you are considering purchasing one is that they are very good but are they a better purchase than the likes of the Washburn D10S.

First off let me start by saying that this is a beautiful looking acoustic guitar, certainly the best I've seen in this price range, although it smudges with fingerprints easily but that isn't much of a problem. The build of the guitar in general though is excellent. The model features a mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard and maple back and sides.

The guitar sounds truly amazing for the price with an absolutely beautiful tone especially when plugged in. Just like like the Seagull S6 and Washburn D10S if you didn't know any better you would swear the Ibanez was in the higher price range of guitars.

The action of the guitar is set up relatively well although it can be improved slightly. The bridge pin used is excellent and is made from a high quality material which helps both the general sound of the guitar and the volume of the acoustics.

The guitar stands up well to all types of playing and if looked after will last you as long as you want it to as like most Ibanez guitars the AEL20E is very sturdy and well built. Although I didn't require the need to use it customer service should also be top class as this is usually the case for Ibanez.

The Ibanez AEL20E is certainly a fantastic guitar for the money and is certainly worth serious consideration and in my opinion is a better by than the Washburn D10S. It isn't quite the best acoustic guitar available for under $500 but it certainly isn't far off.
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Alvarez RD8 Acoustic Guitar Review

As a cheap acoustic guitar where does the Alvarez RD8 stand up against its better known rivals such as the Washburn D10S. Is it just an expensive bit of scrap wood or a fantastic bargain?

First off let me start by saying the guitar certainly looks like it has been built with a great deal of care. It certainly isn't the flashiest of guitars but it is certainly more attractive than many acoustics that fall into the same price category.

Of course looks mean nothing to an acoustic guitar if its sound is poor. Thankfully the looks of the Alvarez aren't wasted as the RD8 sounds fantastic and is certainly a match to many of the more higher priced acoustic guitars available. For the price only the Takamine G320 comes anywhere near and there are probably only an handful at double its price that actually better it.

The guitar also has the feel of a much more expensive acoustic guitar with a very impressive playing action and it is certainly built to last for a good while, which cannot be said of many cheap acoustic guitars.. I also found the guitar took to any style of play fairly well although I freely admit I mainly play acoustic rock and little else but a friend played a little country on it and said it was just as good.

Would I recommend buying an Alvarez RD8? Put it this way I certainly couldn't give you a good reason not to. The likes of the Seagull S6 and the Takamine 340C may be slightly better but they are over a $100 more expensive so don't offer the same value for money as the RD8. This would be a great acoustic guitar for $500 but for a little over $200 it is an absolute steal.

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Epiphone Hummingbird Acouctic Guitar Review

If your looking for a cheap acoustic guitar then one option is the Epiphone Hummingbird acoustic guitar. At under $300 there is no doubt that the price is low but does it offer value for money, especially when compared to the likes of the Seagull S6.

Since the Hummingbird comes in at $80 less it is surprising that it doesn't get as much high praise as the Seagull S6. The guitar is beautiful to look at which is usually a sign with lower priced guitars that the money has gone into the looks of the guitar rather than the quality but I can assure you that this isn't the case with the Epiphone Hummingbird.

Of all the cheaper versions based on Gibson's Hummingbird guitar this Epiphone version is without question the best on offer, in fact considering the difference in price it is astonishing how close to the Gibson model this has come. The tones from the guitar offer wonderful value for the price and with a change of strings can be even better.

The size of the neck on the guitar makes it an ideal cheap acoustic guitar for beginners as it is very slimline and comfortable and has a superb playing action, for the price this is hard to find so it shows what a bargain the guitar is.

I've tested several styles of guitar playing on the guitar and found the Epiphone Hummingbird to take to them all without any problems, which is fantastic if you are a play anything kind of person. I found it particularly good with a little acoustic rock.

Would I buy an Epiphone Hummingbird? Maybe there are a few very good cheap acoustic guitars available for a similar price but if I did buy one I would certainly have no complaints and it is definitely in the top ten acoustic guitars in its price range.


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Acoustic Tab Of The Day - Blind Melon/ No Rain

This is a song I absolutely love to bits and it is such a simple song to play that any novice should be able to pick it up fairly easy with a little practice.

E5 E D E D E D E D

E D
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain

A G E E7
I like watchin’ the puddles gather rain

E D
And all I can do is just pour some tea for two

A G E E7
and speak my point of view but it’s not sane, It’s not sane

E D E D
I just want some one to say to me oh,

E D E D
I’ll always be there when you wake yeah...

E D E D
Ya know I’d like to keep my cheeks dry today

E D E D
So stay with me and I’ll have it made

E D
And I don’t understand why I sleep all day

A G E E7
And I start to complain that there’s no rain

E D
And all I can do is read a book to stay awake

A G E
It rips my life away, but it’s a great escape


escape, escape, escape

Play this during guitar solo... E D E D

E D
All I can say is that my life is pretty plain

A
ya don’t like my point of view

G E
ya think that I’m insane


Its not sane, it’s not sane

E D E D
I just want someone to say to me oh,

E D E D
I’ll always be there when you wake yeah,

E D E D
Ya know I’d like to keep my cheeks dry today

E D E D
so stay with me and I’ll have it made

Acoustic Guitar Tab Of The Day - Sweet Child O' Mine

There is nothing better for beginners than to hear a classic song is amazingly simple to play and Sweet Child O' Mine By Guns N Roses is one such song.

The song should pose very few problems with a little practice as the song contains nothing but the basic chords.

D
She's got a smile that it seems to me
C
Reminds me of childhood memories
G
Where everything
D
Was as fresh as a bright blue sky
D
Now and then when I see her face
C
She takes me away to that special place
G
And if I stared to long
D
I'd probably break down and cry

C G D
Whoa Oh, Sweet child o' mine
C G D
Whoa, Oh, Oh, Oh Sweet love o' mine

C G D

D
She's got eyes of the bluest skies
C
As if they thought of rain
G
I hate to look into those eyes
D
And see an ounce of pain
D
Her hair reminds me of a warm safe place
C
Where as a child I'd hide
G
And pray for the thunder

And the rain
D
To quietly pass me by


C G D
Whoa Oh, Sweet child o' mine
C G D
Whoa, Oh, Oh, Oh Sweet love o' mine

C G D x 2

C G D
Whoa Oh, Sweet child o' mine
C G D
Whoa, Oh, Oh, Oh Sweet love o' mine
C G D
Whoa Oh, Oh, Oh Sweet child o' mine
C G D
Oooh Sweet love o' mine

Em C Bm Am x 8

Em G A C D
Where do we go, Where do we go now, Where do we go
Em G A C D
Where do we go, Where do we go now, Where do we go now
Em G A C D
Where do we go, Sweet child, Where do we go now
Em G A C D
Aih, Aih, Aih Aih, where do we go now
Em G A C D
Where do we go , where do we go now
Em G A C D
Where do we go, where do we go now
Em G A C D
Where do we go, Sweet Child, where do we go now Now-now-now-now-now-now
Em G A C D Em
Sweet child, sweet child of mine

Beginner Acoustic Guitar - The Basic Chords

Many new beginner acoustic guitar players get a little carried away with the idea of what they will be able to do when they first pick up their new guitar. They have visions of picking up the guitar and playing their favorite songs note perfect. The reality though is a different story as it takes time to learn even the easiest songs initially.

The first thing any new beginner acoustic guitar player should learn before even considering playing a song should be the basic guitar chords.

Here are the basic guitar chords

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Practice and learn these chords as it is the first step towards becoming a good player of the guitar . Once you've learned the basic chords you will be able to let rip of thousands of popular songs and progress onto more advanced levels of guitar playing but without learning the basics you simply won't progress.

It may look rather daunting but trust me these will soon become second nature with practice and they are nothing that a beginner acoustic guitar player should fret ( sorry for the pun, I just couldn't help myself ) about. If you don't know how to read the chords check out my post Beginner Guitar Chords - How To Read Chord Diagrams