Best Left Handed Electric Guitar for Beginners

For almost a century, the electric guitar has been a cornerstone of popular music, and it is still one of the coolest instruments to play today. Whether you like a Les Paul, a Yamaha, or any other brand, there is an electric guitar model for you out there. Left-handed guitar players are an interesting bunch. Sure, they’re a tiny minority, but they aren’t to be underestimated. There are some really great left-handed guitars out there and this article will help you pick the best left handed electric guitar for beginners to suit your specific needs.

You must have heard of the famous guitarists Elvis Costello, Joe Perry, and Mark Knopfler. Do you know what they all have in common? All of them are left-handed people who are right-handed guitarists. Jimi Hendrix was a left-handed guitarist famous for playing a restrung a right handed guitar. A major reason behind this could be the unavailability of left-handed guitars at the time they started learning or because they were just taught that way and it never occurred to them to change.

There are more differences between left and right handed guitars than just having strings in the reverse order. And you have a choice in this modern world where you can not only choose between right and left-handed guitars but also have a variety of options available within them. Rather than struggling to grasp a right-handed guitar or going through the difficult process of converting a right handed guitar to a left handed one, why not learn on a left-handed guitar right from the beginning?

There is a lot of advice out there that might tell you to play an acoustic guitar before moving to an electric one but you really don’t have to follow it. You should choose the type of guitar according to the type of music you want to play. It is crucial to choose a type that suits you and not what most people are buying. In fact, it’s a great idea to start with an electric one as it can be easier to play.

There are a lot of misconceptions about the price of electric guitars. They don’t have to necessarily be expensive and any beginner guitar will cost you somewhere around $100-$400. However, the market is flooded with a range of them so you should be careful when choosing one.

Related article: Best Left handed Bass Guitar for Beginners.

In a Hurry? Here are Our Picks for Best Left Handed Electric Guitars for Beginners…

TOP PICK

Squier by Fender Classic Vibe 70’s Stratocaster

• HSS pickups with 5-way selector
• 2 tone knobs and 1 volume knob
• Tremolo

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RUNNER UP

Yamaha Pacifica PAC112JL BL

• HSS pickups with 5-way selector
• 1 tone knob and 1 volume knob
• Tremolo

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BUDGET PICK

LyxPro Electric Guitar and Starter Kit

• SSS pickups with selector
• 2 tone knobs and 1 volume knob
• Tremolo

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Advantages and Disadvantages of an Electric Guitar

Acoustic guitars have a hollow body so that the air inside them vibrates with the string to amplify sound, but electric guitars have mostly a solid body since they require electric amplification of sound.

Because the neck of an electric guitar is slimmer than that of an acoustic, it is considerably simpler to grasp. Electric guitars are ideal for beginners since the strings are thinner, lighter, and softer than acoustic guitars. They also make barre chords simpler to play, and you can put in headphones or speakers whenever you want.

There are two sides to every coin, and the electric guitar has certain drawbacks, such as the need to purchase an amplifier alongside it. Because electric guitars offer a variety of tone knobs, some people struggle to get the appropriate tone. Acoustic guitars feature a single tone that can’t be changed. It is also important to understand that just because you can play the electric guitar does not mean you can also play the acoustic. If you’ve decided to go acoustic, we have some recommendations for best left handed acoustic guitar for beginners.

How to Choose a Beginner Electric Guitar

Before deciding on which electric guitar to buy it is important to understand that the type of guitar should primarily be dependent on the type of music you play or the music artist that inspires you. The guitar tones should stand out to you more than anything else.

The body style of the guitar also matters when you’re choosing. You can go for a solid body because they are specially designed for beginners and are priced lower than other types. They are usually made of teak or maple wood. There are hollow or semi-hollow body guitars that are usually designed to resemble acoustic ones. These have some hollow space within them that allows the air inside to resonate and thus amplify sound. You can choose this if you are into jazz or rock music.

After the body, another important feature to consider is the neck of the guitar because that will decide how you grip it. Three types of necks are ‘C’, ‘V’ and ‘U’, The “C” types are the most popular ones as they give the player a perfect hold over the guitar. The drawback of buying this type is that they require regular maintenance. The “U” shape ones fit those whose hands are small or average-sized and the “V” ones are suited for ones who like to hang their fingers over the fingerboard.

You can also consider the tonewood and maybe consider buying tonewoods made of mahogany and basswood over maple. But as a beginner, you need not worry too much about this if the guitar suits you and stays in tune.

Most of the guitars these days come with a lot of accessories like an amp, cable, picks, tuner, guitar strap, extra strings, guitar case, etc. You can also take into account these accessories while buying a guitar. All of these will play a secondary role while your comfort level in playing the guitar matters most.

Finally, if you’re getting one for your child, you may want to consider a left handed electric guitar for kids instead of a full-size one. These are easier to learn on because of more compact bodies, slim necks and simpler controls, and are more pocket-friendly so you won’t feel too bad if they lose interest in learning after a while.

Best Budget Left Handed Electric Guitar

Squier by Fender Affinity Series Stratocaster and Telecaster Beginner Electric Guitars

The Squier by Fender Affinity Series Stratocaster Electric Guitar and Telecaster Beginner Electric Guitar are very similar to each other. Both of them are ideal for starting your music journey but there are a few differences between the two which will be highlighted here.

The Stratocaster is perfect if you want to try your hands at rock and metal while the Telecaster is ideal for indie and country music.

The Telecaster’s body is made of alder while the Stratocaster has a body of poplar, which makes the former slightly lighter. The Stratocaster also has some more hardware on it. Both have “C”-shaped neck profile and are made of Maple, which is a good choice by the brand. When the neck is made of hardwood, it helps in running your fingers across it and that’s the area the most amount of work is done. The Stratocaster has a laurel-made fretboard while the latter has a maple one. You can completely rely on the strength of both of the materials.

The Stratocaster has a 3 single-coil pickup while the Telecaster offers a combination of two single-coil pickups. You can choose the Stratocaster one if you are new to music but if you want to have options then go for the Telecaster one, as that has a 3-way pickup selection switch that offers a great variety of tones. The bridging system is also different for these two, the Stratocaster has a tremolo bridge that gives you more control over the strings while the hardtail that is there on the Telecaster limits your control to an extent. However, most beginners rarely use a tremolo so it’s actually easier when tuning to NOT have it if you’re a beginner.

As mentioned earlier, the Telecaster is a touch lighter than the Stratocaster. Both of them are easy to play and handle, so you can choose between the two according to your music preferences.

Yamaha Pacifica PAC112JL BL Left-Handed Electric Guitar

While the Squier Affinity guitars are very good for most beginners, if you want to be able to rock out, you’ll need a humbucker pickup. That’s where the Yamaha Pacifica PAC112JL BL Left-Handed Electric Guitar shines. It is a double-cutaway left-handed guitar that allows your fingers to move past the neck-body join easily. The body is made up of alder while the slightly thicker neck is constructed of Maple. You can choose from two finishes – a beautiful natural yellow satin and a glossy black. The Rosewood fingerboard has 22 frets that allow you to raise and lower the pitch easily.

The pickup configuration of this guitar is H-S-S (2 single-coil and a bridge humbucker) which, along with the tremolo bar, can be used to play a variety of song tones while practicing your whammy bar technique. It is also equipped with one volume and tone control and a 5-way pickup selector that makes it easier for beginners. Guitars with more than one tone control can be difficult for learning as you have to keep adjusting the tone.

It is a semi-light quality guitar that makes it more suitable for beginners to play standing up or sitting down. The strings are made of steel and the guitar is equipped with high-quality attachments. The knobs used in this model are made of plastic. All these features make this guitar our pick for best left handed beginner electric guitar for rockers.

Jackson JS32 Dinky Arch Top Left Handed Electric Guitar

If you are into hard rock and metal, the Jackson JS32 Dinky Arch guitar is for you. It is best suited for this type of music not just by its looks but also by the high output pickup that will give you higher gain tones you need for playing metal. This is provided by the double humbucker pickup. The double-locking synchronized tremolo bridge helps you get direct control over the strings while getting some good action and being able to bend notes. So you can create as many diverse sounds as you want.

Beginners will find it easy to use as it has single volume control, single tone control, and a lever for a three-way pickup selection.

The bright blue body is inspired by the Strat design and is as attractive as its music. The body and neck are made of Poplar while the fretboard with 24 frets is made of Amaranth. You will also find it light and easy to play for beginners.

Ibanez GRX70 6 String Solid-Body Electric Guitar

The Ibanez GRX70QAL 6 String Solid-Body Electric Guitar is another perfect buy for people who love to play the metal genre, although you can use this guitar to play any type of music. This guitar has the best quality hardware and electronics.

The body of this guitar is made of poplar, which makes it light. The sharp pointy horns with a deep cut near the bottom horn will encourage beginners to practice the high frets a lot. The neck, which is made of maple, has a nice thin and modern shape for your fingers to move over. The fretboard is made of pine from New Zealand with 22 frets. There are 6 strings made of nickel that are not very harsh on your hands and therefore well suited for beginners.

The best part about the guitar is its configuration, which is double humbuckers at the neck and bridge and a single coil in the middle. It features a 5-way selector switch. The guitar will stay in tune even with the tremolo in use. Although some customers feel that the tone is a bit lackluster, it is well balanced. You can go right up there for high gain but you’ll get a little fret buzz with lower tunings.

Best Value Left Handed Electric Guitar

These two are based on the original Fender Stratocaster and Gibson Les Paul guitars so they’re closest in style and sound without breaking the bank.

Squier by Fender Classic Vibe 70’s Stratocaster

Looking for a versatile guitar and a vintage look within a mid-range budget of under $500? Here’s what you should go for. The Fender Squier Classic Vibe 70’s Stratocaster is perfect for any type of music including hard rock and metal. Its poplar-made body makes it just the right weight for a start. The neck is made of maple, which is known for its strength and durability. Its classic, rich looks come from nickel-plated hardware, tall and narrow frets, and vintage-style tuning machines. It also has a large headstock.

The HSS combination alnico pickups are ideal for a diverse taste in music and it gives you full control over bending the strings with its tremolo bridge system. The humbucker bridge won’t roar as much as on a top-shelf Fender, but the middle and neck pickups will deliver a really smooth tone. Think of it as a budget alternative to a Gibson Les Paul rather than typical Strats where the star is the neck single coil. On the Classic Vibe, you can select the humbucker using the five-way pickup selector setup and play heavy rock, punk, and metal. It also has the classic setup of two tone control knobs and one volume control.

It stays in tune surprisingly well and provides stability and smooth action in spite of the bridge design and whammy bar. It features a classic large headstock that may contribute to the resonance and sustain. Expect the Classic Vibe to have a wonderful playing feel too.

You should get this electric guitar for left handers professionally set up to get the most out of it.

Harley Benton SC-550LH II Paradise Amber Flame

You will be mesmerized by the look of the Harley Benton SC-550LH II PAF. It has a perfect finish to its single cut Mahogany body and neck. You should consider it to be the best inexpensive version of Les Paul, especially since the more known Epiphones are getting harder and harder to find, especially left-handed versions. The cutaway is different from a Les Paul and the contoured neck heel looks more modern. The headstock and inlays are completely different too.

The SC-550LH II PAF does not come with a tremolo but it is a great buy in this price range if you are into blues and classic rock music. The Jatoba-made fretboard has 22 frets and feels soft and smooth. The two humbucker pickups are tuned halfway between mid and high-output, and vintage-tone lovers won’t be turned off by them, as they take gain well without being too hot. You get a 3-way selector here.

The guitar has a Tune-O-Matic bridge which helps guitarists to choose the perfect distance from the saddle to the nut for every single string. It has two tone knobs and two volume knobs as well. This guitar gives you a lot of options and lets you decide what is best for your type of music.

Best Beginner Left Handed Electric Guitar Packages

LyxPro Left Hand 39 Inch Electric Guitar and Starter Kit

Here’s a budget electric guitar starter kit for those who want the Stratocaster look. The LyxPro Left Hand Electric Guitar and Starter Kit allows you to play anything with this except Hard rock and metal. The body is made of a combination of Canadian maple and Phoenix wood, which is known for its stability and durability. The neck is also made of maple and it has a rosewood fretboard. You can buy this 39″ full size guitar for yourself or for teens who have just started learning guitar and might not handle it carefully.

The guitar has triple Single coil pickups that are connected to a volume control, two tone controls, and a pickup selector switch. It has a tremolo bridge that gives you full control over the strings.

You get a choice of either red or blue finishes and the guitar comes along with a 20-WATT Amplifier to match. The other accessories include cable, digital tuner, two picks, spare strings, a shoulder strap, user manual, and a soft case. Everything works great and the set is of amazing value if you’re looking for something under $200.

Rise by Sawtooth Left Handed Beginner Electric Guitar Kit

The Rise by Sawtooth Left Handed Electric Guitar Kit is for you if you are into heavier rock and metal and have just started playing. However, you can play all other styles of music on this too. You can choose from a full size or 3/4. This guitar comes with all the necessary accessories so that you can start as soon as it arrives.

The body of this starter left handed electric guitar is made of basswood, while the neck and fretboard are made of maple. You can easily play rock music, as the guitar has a single humbucker pickup that gives you perfect thick sounds. You can also have full control over the six strings with the adjustable bridge. You may not even miss a neck pickup if you primarily play heavy rock. You get a single volume and tone control.

The black finish on the guitar is so well color-coordinated with the accessories that you will fall for the set at the first sight. Additionally, you get a complete package of a 5-watt amplifier, a strap, cable, pitch pipe, and 3 pick samplers and the best part is all this at an even lower price than the Lyxpro package. You will need your own power adaptor. It also comes with free online lessons.

Donner DST-1SL 39 Inch Left Handed Electric Guitar

The Donner DST-1SL 39 Inch Left-Handed Electric Guitar is best suited for you if you love rock or blues music. It looks like a Strat but includes a humbucker along with a tremolo. The body is made of a combination of mahogany and basswood that makes it durable. The mahogany used in the body and neck makes it a little heavier than guitars made of pure basswood. The neck is made of Mahogany wood while the fretboard is made of ebony wood and has 22 frets. It also has fret position markers that are helpful when you are a newcomer.

You can enjoy various combinations of pickups with the two single and one humbucker pickup in the S-S-H configuration and a 5-way selector switch.

There is one volume and two tone controls for you to try out different styles. This is not just a guitar but your beginner kit to start learning, as it comes with all you need, a 3-watt Amplifier, Bag, Capo, Strap, String, Digital Tuner, Cable, Picks, and Allen Wrenches.