Cost

How much does playing guitar cost?

$262 buys all 4 essentials. $37 of that is the half that has to fit you, and the rest can wait.

4 priced items · checked 10 Sept 2026 · retailer prices, we earn a commission

Everything essential, cheapest sensible pick

$262

4 items, nothing rented

$37 to fit you, buy now$225 that can wait

Cheapest real way in

$37

The half that has to fit you. Borrow or rent the rest.

Against 247 hobbies

Above median

Dearer than 84% of them. Median hobby: $84.

What each thing costs

Every essential item, cheapest sensible option first. Mid-range and top picks alongside.

Acoustic Guitar essential

mid $260top $499

$225

Guitar Tuner essential

mid $36top $60

$23

Guitar Strings essential

top $19

$8

Guitar Picks essential

top $10

$6

All 4 essentials

$262

Buy this first

$37

The cheap half of the kit, and the half that has to fit you. You keep all of it whatever you decide about the rest, so this is where the first money should go.

Guitar Picks

$6

Different gauges feel different. Buy a variety pack and figure out what you like.

Dunlop Tortex Standard .73mm (12-Pack)

top $10

Guitar Tuner

$23

An out-of-tune guitar sounds bad no matter how well you play. Tune every time you pick it up.

Snark SN-8 Clip-On Tuner

mid $36top $60

Guitar Strings

$8

Strings degrade by feel and tone after 10-20 hours of playing. Change them.

Martin Authentic SP Phosphor Bronze (Light)

top $19

The main buy

$225

The expensive part, and the part worth deferring. Rent, borrow or buy used until you have done playing guitar enough times to know you are staying.

Acoustic Guitar

$225

The first guitar matters more than people think — a hard-to-play guitar is the #1 reason beginners quit.

Fender CD-60S Dreadnought Acoustic

mid $260top $499

Later, if you stay

Not needed to start. These are the upgrades that matter once the habit has stuck.

Electric Guitar

$280

Either get a starter pack (Squier or Epiphone) or step up to a real Mexican Fender / Korean Epiphone if budget allows.

Yamaha Pacifica PAC012

mid $380top $460

Guitar Amplifier

$90

Practice amps for home: Fender, Boss, or Positive Grid. Modeling amps give you many sounds in one box.

Fender Frontman 10G

mid $350top $299

Guitar Strap

$7

Distributes weight, lets you stand. Even practicing sitting down, a strap stops the guitar from sliding off your knee.

Levy's M8POLY Polyester Strap

mid $50top $30

Guitar Cable

$27

Cable noise is the #1 amateur recording mistake. Cheap cables crackle, hum, and break.

D'Addario Custom Series Cable (10 ft)

mid $85top $175

Capo

$23

Lets you change keys without changing your chord shapes. Essential for singing along.

Shubb C1 Capo

top $70

Startup cost · all 247 hobbieslog scale
$1
$84
$1245
$261

Playing Guitar costs more to start than 84% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median is $84.

Cost questions

How much does Playing Guitar cost to start?

About $262 for the 4 essential items, taking the cheapest sensible option for each. $37 of that is the cheap half, and the remaining $225 can wait until you know you are staying.

What does each thing cost for Playing Guitar?

Acoustic Guitar: from $225. Guitar Tuner: from $23. Guitar Strings: from $8. Guitar Picks: from $6.

Is Playing Guitar an expensive hobby?

Playing Guitar costs about $261 to start, dearer than 84% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median hobby costs $84, so this is one of the pricier ones to get into.

What should I buy first for Playing Guitar?

guitar picks, guitar tuner, guitar strings — $37 together. They are the cheap half of the kit and the half you keep whatever you decide about the rest.

Hobbies that cost about the same

The 6 nearest to playing guitar by startup cost, out of 247.