Whether you're searching for a new sound or beginning your musical journey, a classical guitar might be the answer. For beginners struggling with barre chords, these nylon-stringed instruments are easier on your fingertips. More advanced players can explore a rich history of music that goes back centuries. This guide will help you find a new guitar that fits your price range and style. And if you're interested in learning to play or level up your skills, check out our one-on-one lessons online or at your local Guitar Center.

Table of Contents

The Differences Between Classical and Flamenco Guitars
Our Top Classical and Flamenco Guitar Picks
   Córdoba Fusion Orchestra CE Crossover
   Yamaha CGS Student Classical Guitar
   Lucero LC150S Classical Guitar
   Alhambra 4F Flamenco
   Kremona Solea
   Córdoba Protégé C1 Matiz
   Yamaha CG-TA TransAcoustic
   Córdoba C5 Cedar
   Ibanez GA35 Thinline Acoustic-Electric
   Yamaha NTX1 Acoustic-Electric
   Córdoba GK Studio Negra
   Yamaha GC42
   Córdoba Stage Nylon-String Electric Guitar
   Kremona 100th Anniversary Cedar Classical Acoustic
   Ibanez FRH10N Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric
   Taylor 214ce-N Nylon-String Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric
Eager to Play? The Best Nylon-String Acoustics Are Ready Today

The Differences Between Classical and Flamenco Guitars

To some, any nylon-stringed guitar is "classical," but that's not accurate. Flamenco and classical guitars are different beasts with different builds.

Soundboards for classical guitars are most commonly spruce or cedar and are paired with rosewood back and sides. They're cut slightly thicker to accommodate the deeper body and poly-timbral range.

If classical guitars are made to sustain, flamenco models are made to project. To be heard over the din of the dancers' foot stomping, hand clapping and shouts of encouragement, a flamenco guitar has to be loud. The solid snap of a spruce top with cypress back and sides does just that. Flamenco guitars have thinner, lighter tops, too. It might sound counterintuitive, but lighter equals louder.

The string height on a flamenco guitar is lower than on a classical. To keep up with breakneck speeds, players need a guitar with low action, which can lead to fret buzz. Fortunately, that raspy sound is accepted (and demanded) in flamenco.

This music style is also rhythm-rich, and the guitarist has to play percussively. Flamenco guitars have golpeadors to protect the top from taps. Functioning as pickguards, most of these tap plates are thin and see-through, almost like a screen protector on a cellphone.

Our Top Classical and Flamenco Guitar Picks

Córdoba Fusion Orchestra CE Crossover

Why You Want to Buy It: The Córdoba Fusion Orchestra CE bridges the gap between steel- and nylon-string acoustics, giving players new to classical instruments a comfortable, familiar foundation to springboard from.

Things to Consider:

• Single-cutaway body with access up to the 19th fret
• C-shape neck and Crossover profile offers cozy, modern in-hand feel
• Onboard electronics for live amplification or direct recording

Pictured: Cordoba Fusion Orchestra CE Crossover Classical Acoustic-Electric Guitar

The Córdoba Fusion Orchestra CE Crossover is appropriately named, as it fuses the playability of a steel-string acoustic with the sound of a nylon-string guitar. The cedar top and rosewood back and sides are hallmarks of a traditional classical guitar. But the nut width is slightly smaller at 1-7/8", making it easier for acoustic players to cross over to the CE. The ebony fingerboard has a 16" radius to follow the contours of your fretting hand and the neck joins the body at the 12th fret, allowing for ease of playing in the higher registers.

Amplifying the Córdoba CE Crossover is easy with the Fishman Presys Blend. It combines a piezo undersaddle pickup with an internal microphone; adjust both to eliminate feedback and tune the sound to the room. A case is available separately.

Yamaha CGS Student Classical Guitar

Why You Want to Buy It: The short-scale Yamaha CGS Student nylon string is an ideal starter guitar for those who’re wrapping their hands (and head) around the instrument for the first time.

Things to Consider:

• 3/4- or 1/2-size models available, with respective 22-13/16" and 21-1/16" scale lengths
• Meranti body is a popular mahogany alternative
• Optimized for younger musicians or those with smaller hands

Pictured: Yamaha CGS Student Classical Guitar

Beginners will feel right at home with the Yamaha CGS Student Classical Guitar. It's available in two sizes: 3/4 and 1/2. Younger players should find this more comfortable to manage than a standard full-size instrument. The CGS sports a spruce top; back and sides are made from meranti, an affordable tonewood known for its strength. A case is available separately, which is highly recommended if the player plans to tote the guitar to school and back.

Lucero LC150S Classical Guitar

Why You Want to Buy It: Experience authentic nylon-string sound and feel with the Lucero LC150S, all at a price perfect for beginners or veterans looking to dabble in classical.   

Things to Consider:

• Impressive construction and choice tonewoods
• Traditional, wide-feeling classical neck with 1-15/16" nut
• Budget-conscious model with stellar price-to-quality ratio

Pictured: Lucero LC150S Classical Guitar

Those with a slightly bigger budget will find the Lucero LC150S to be a capable classical. The solid spruce top adds extra snap to each note. Its striped sapele back and sides have a similar sound and appearance to genuine mahogany. The LC150S is dressed up with multi-ply wood binding and gold tuners with white ivoroid buttons.

Alhambra 4F Flamenco

Why You Want to Buy It: Alhambra guitars have been lovingly handcrafted in Spain since 1965, and the flagship 4F Flamenco nylon string embodies timeless tradition and playability.

Things to Consider:

• Sonically powerful and percussive, with ample projection
• Wide, flat U-shape mahogany neck and ebony fretboard
• Includes extra saddle for customizable action

Pictured: Alhambra 4F Flamenco Guitar

The great guitarist Mario Escudero gets credit for introducing flamenco to the wider world in the 1950s. He was born in the Province of Alicante in southeast Spain, which is also the home of Alhambra guitars. Made in a small town of 9,000, the Alhambra 4F Flamenco is traditional in every sense. If you plan to grow your fingernails for percussive taps, the clear golpeador will protect the spruce top. Its sycamore back and sides are a more affordable and pleasing alternative to cypress. The 4F has a bold look—the striking orange hue matches the color of a Spanish sunrise. Gold-plated machine heads add a regal touch. The Alhambra 4F Flamenco comes with a gig bag.

Kremona Solea

Why You Want to Buy It: Top-tier craftsmanship is a hallmark of Kremona classical guitars, and the Solea is a choice instrument for unbridled expression in studios and concert halls the world over.  

Things to Consider:

• Handmade in Bulgaria by expert luthiers
• Premium playability and sound quality
• Heirloom quality lasts a lifetime when cared for properly   

Pictured: Kremona Solea Classical Guitar

Andrés Segovia succumbed to the sounds of red cedar in the mid-’60s and never looked back.

The handcrafted Kremona Solea Classical shares the same tonewood for its top. The cocobolo back and sides are so striking, you'll be tempted to store the guitar backwards on the stand to highlight the rich, undulating grain. Kremona has been in business since 1924, so it's no surprise that the Solea is truly a heritage guitar. The fingerboard and headstock overlay are ebony; brass tuning machines and an abalone rosette further elevate the instrument. It comes with a deluxe hardshell case.

Córdoba Protégé C1 Matiz

Why You Want to Buy It: A contemporary aesthetic riff on time-honored classical design, Córdoba’s Prótegé C1 Matiz comes in three bold finishes, attracting a broad range of guitarists to its looks and playability.   

Things to Consider:

• Conventional nylon-string tone and feel
• Snappy maple fretboard for articulate, punctuated note attack
• Includes gig bag produced from sustainable recycled nylon

Pictured: Cordoba Protege C1 Matiz Classical Guitar

Most classical guitars feature clear finishes to reveal the wood underneath. Córdoba goes the opposite way with the Protégé C1 Matiz. It's available in Aqua, Classic Blue and Pale Sky, and includes a color-matched gig bag, making the C1 a great gift for beginners. A spruce top and laminated mahogany body provide warm, traditional tones. Córdoba specs this classical guitar with a dual-action truss rod, so you'll be able to adjust the action for a perfect feel.

Yamaha CG-TA TransAcoustic

Why You Want to Buy It: The revolutionary Yamaha CG-TA nylon-string acoustic-electric utilizes proprietary TransAcoustic technology—consisting of built-in spatial effects—for wildly rich, immersive sound.   

Things to Consider:

• Mechanically actuated reverb and chorus add dimension to unplugged sound
• Onboard electronics amplify signals for performance and recording
• Protective case sold separately

Pictured: Yamaha CG-TA TransAcoustic Nylon-String Guitar

If you've ever played a gig in an acoustically dead room, the Yamaha CG-TA TransAcoustic provides a solution. It offers real reverb and chorus—without amplification. The CG-TA has an actuator on the interior, which mechanically flexes the back of the guitar as you play. The effect is mesmerizing. Select "Hall" reverb for a concert hall sound, "Room" reverb for the ambience of a more intimate space, or "Chorus" to thicken your tone with a slight delay. The TransAcoustic can be amplified using the onboard SYSTEM70 preamp and piezo pickup; a midrange EQ control shapes your sound and prevents feedback. In all other aspects, the nylon-stringed Yamaha is a traditional classical guitar, with 12 frets to the body and a flat fingerboard radius. The spruce top pairs with ovangkol back and sides, an African tonewood that is a sustainable alternative to rosewood. A case is sold separately.

Córdoba C5 Cedar

Why You Want to Buy It: Entry-level pricing is phenomenal for fresh-fingered players seeking the eternal tone of a classical nylon string as they begin their musical journey, while quality workmanship ensures the Córdoba C5 appeals to seasoned guitarists all the same.    

Things to Consider:

• Warm, balanced timbre from traditional tonewood selection
• Visual appointments add flourishes of premium, Spanish-inspired class
• Traditional classical C-shape neck

Pictured: Cordoba C5 Classical Guitar

The Córdoba C5 Cedar is a first guitar made to last. A lightweight truss rod adds stability to the mahogany neck. With a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides, the C5 has a clear, powerful tone. You'll appreciate the sustain while playing Bach's “Minuet in G,” a classical guitar piece basic enough for beginners. The carved headstock, hand-inlaid wood rosette and pau ferro binding make the C5 stand out from the rest of the classical pack at this price range. A case is available separately.

Ibanez GA35 Thinline Acoustic-Electric

Why You Want to Buy It: The Ibanez GA35 is a workhorse classical acoustic-electric for the stage and studio, combining coveted nylon-string tone with ergonomic qualities borrowed from the brand’s faster-playing steel strings and lightning-quick electrics.  

Things to Consider:

• Spruce and mahogany tonewoods create full-spectrum acoustic voice
• Ibanez electronics include built-in tuner
• Thinline body moderately reduces unplugged resonance and projection

Pictured: Ibanez GA35 Thinline Classical Guitar

The Ibanez GA35 Thinline Acoustic-Electric is sleeker than most classical guitars. The mahogany body is just 2-3/4" deep, making that mid-set transition from electric to acoustic a more comfortable jump. Geared for performance, the GA35 has a 14-fret neck joint for a tighter, brighter sound; the mahogany neck is also narrower for playing ease. Ibanez installs a preamp and undersaddle piezo pickup for live situations. Plug into an amp with the standard instrument jack, or directly to the board with the balanced XLR output. A case is available separately.

Yamaha NTX1 Acoustic-Electric

Why You Want to Buy It: The Yamaha NTX1 classical acoustic-electric is an approachable, stage-worthy companion, designed with key comfort considerations appealing to electric and steel-string players who crave inimitable nylon-string sound.     

Things to Consider:

• Single-cutaway APX shape, 14th-fret neck joint and 22 total frets
• Slim body, slinky neck and performance-ready strap buttons
• Smaller size moderately reduces unplugged resonance and projection

Pictured: Yamaha NTX1 Acoustic-Electric Classical Guitar

Another affordable option that marries modern playability with classic nylon sounds is Yamaha's NTX1 Acoustic-Electric. The thinline body is less bulky than a traditional acoustic and offers the feel of an electric guitar; the nato neck has a slim profile and a radiused walnut fingerboard for faster fretting. Yamaha installs a three-band EQ, onboard tuner, preamp and piezo undersaddle pickup, making the NTX1 suitable for the studio or stage. A case is available separately.

Córdoba GK Studio Negra

Why You Want to Buy It: Take the stage with the Córdoba GK Studio Negra—a flamenco-style acoustic-electric melding age-old Spanish construction and updates for the modern performer.

Things to Consider:

• Slimmer take on a traditional flamenco guitar, with a soft cutaway to higher frets
• Rosewood body offers fuller low end and rounder overall timbre
• Includes clear protective tap plate for impassioned, percussive playing

Pictured: Cordoba GK Studio Negra Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Guitars with rosewood back and sides are referred to as negra models. Known for their robust tone and low-end clarity, they are preferred by artists like Paco de Lucía, who sought to bridge the gap between classical and flamenco. You'll hear it on the Córdoba GK Studio Negra, which pairs a rosewood body with a spruce top. The GK Studio Negra has modern touches like a slightly thinner body, neck and nut width. Designed to be played with little or no neck relief, you won't develop hand fatigue during long sets and practice sessions. The Fishman Presys system lets you blend the piezo pickup with the internal microphone to dial in your sound in any venue. A case is available separately.

Yamaha GC42

Why You Want to Buy It: The meticulously handcrafted GC42 nylon string represents over 80 years of classical acoustic stewardship in the Spanish tradition—an integral piece of Yamaha’s ongoing musical instrument manufacturing legacy that began over 130 years ago.      

Things to Consider:

• 11.8 mm string spacing accommodates intricate fingerstyle technique
• Prominent acoustic voice inherited from flagship, museum-grade GC82
• Includes reinforced gig bag, though proper hardcase is recommended

Pictured: Yamaha GC42 Classical Guitar

The king of the classical line at Guitar Center is the Yamaha GC42. Masterfully handbuilt at Yamaha’s custom shop—originally established with the company’s founding in Hamamatsu, Japan, in 1887—the GC42 is a pro-level instrument ready for the concert hall. The back and sides are made of solid Madagascar rosewood; choose solid cedar or an American cedar top. Spruce is generally brighter and louder than cedar, while cedar tops are warmer and fuller. Yamaha spec'd mahogany for the neck, ebony for the fingerboard and rosewood for the bridge. It comes with a reinforced carry bag.

Córdoba Stage Nylon-String Electric Guitar

Why You Want to Buy It: A first for Córdoba and a recent addition to the brand’s estimable lineup, the Stage is an imaginative, fully chambered solidbody electric guitar with the heart and soul of a classical nylon string.

Things to Consider:

• Custom Fusion Neck profile boasts slimmer, steel-string shape and feel
• Impressively resonant electric-style mahogany body
• Includes gig bag produced from sustainable recycled nylon

Pictured: Yamaha GC42 Classical Guitar

Breaking innovative new ground for the renowned maker of traditional and flamenco acoustic guitars is the Córdoba Stage nylon-string electric. Recipient of a Best in Show award during the 2022 NAMM convention, this hybrid nylon string features a svelte, fully chambered mahogany body measuring just 1.5" thick, with an ergonomic belly contour for unparalleled comfort on stage or in the studio. Its solid spruce top is capped with an alluring flame maple veneer that looks the part of a high-end electric, and functionally includes three upper bout soundholes enhancing natural resonance.

The Córdoba Stage’s Fusion Neck is immediately recognizable to steel-string guitarists making the switch to nylon, sporting a more modest 48 mm nut and 16" fretboard radius. Authentic amplified nylon-string tone comes courtesy of a specialized Stage Pickup System codesigned with Fishman, including an undersaddle pickup and internal body sensor. Dial in your desired sound with the help of Body Blend and EQ tone controls, as well as adjust your overall output with the Volume knob. The Córdoba Stage nylon-string electric accomplishes the monumental task of seamlessly blending tradition and innovation. 

Kremona 100th Anniversary Cedar Classical Acoustic

Why You Want to Buy It: Kremona’s 100th Anniversary Cedar classical acoustic encapsulates a century of traditional guitar-making mastery, crafted from the finest woods by the brand’s most skilled luthiers.

Things to Consider:

• Proprietary bracing pattern marries old- and new-school technique
• Player-facing side sound monitor creates immersive experience
• Includes a deluxe hardshell case

Pictured: Kremona 100th Anniversary Cedar Nylon-String Classical Acoustic Guitar

A true gem of Guitar Center’s Platinum Collection, the Kremona 100th Anniversary Cedar classical acoustic is nothing short of a handmade masterwork, uniquely showcasing the Bulgarian brand’s heritage and legacy that began in 1924. Rooted in tradition while leveraging contemporary advancements in construction, the 100th Anniversary model’s trailblazing internal architecture combines the warmth of classical fan bracing with the strength and resonance of lattice. Paired with the absolute finest thermally treated red cedar top, and gorgeously figured ziricote back and sides, the Kremona 100th Anniversary classical acoustic sings and shines like no other.

Considering the dynamic nature of classical performance, this guitar features an adjustable side sound monitor angled toward the player, promoting precise response directly from the instrument—hear every nuanced intricacy of your playing with absolute clarity. The beautifully crafted body also includes an arm bevel for enhanced comfort during long concerts or sessions, and the traditional D-shape classical neck facilitates expert fretting hand technique. Kremona’s centennial classical acoustic is additionally available with an Alpine spruce top.

Ibanez FRH10N Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric

Why You Want to Buy It: The Ibanez FRH10N nylon-string acoustic-electric sounds the part of a classical guitar, but it plays more like their ultraslinky, high-performance electrics.

Things to Consider:

• FR body shape taken directly from electric series
• Soundport located on upper bout for personal monitoring
• Gig bag or case sold separately

Pictured: Ibanez FRH10N Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar

The Ibanez FRH10N nylon-string acoustic-electric is a bleeding-edge amalgamation of 19th-century Spanish guitar conventions and the premium unleaded playability of hot-rodded, current-day offerings. The FRH10N boasts a hollow, streamlined body, in addition to one of the fastest nylon-string necks on the list, at just 46 mm wide near the nut. Its C-shape profile and 16" fretboard radius isn’t too thin, nor is it too flat, so players coming from electric and/or steel-string acoustic guitar backgrounds will feel right at home from the first chord strummed.

Electronics include an Ibanez T-bar undersaddle pickup and preamp with a simple output mute button as the only control. This no-frills system is plug and play—just pull up to FOH or the studio with your Ibanez FRH10N acoustic-electric, and translate inspiring, full-spectrum nylon-string sound. Players of diverse taste and skillsets can appreciate how authentically the FRH10N captures timeless classical timbre, while simultaneously pushing customary boundaries with elite playability rivaled only by the shreddiest electrics.

Taylor 214ce-N Nylon-String Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric

Why You Want to Buy It: Signature Taylor playability meets iconic sonics in the 214ce-N nylon-string acoustic-electric.   

Things to Consider:

• Venetian cutaway reveals access to upper frets
• Solid torrefied spruce top offers played-in sound
• Includes a rugged, structured gig bag

Pictured: Taylor 214ce-N Nylon-String Grand Auditorium Acoustic-Electric Guitar

The Taylor 214ce-N nylon-string acoustic-electric equips guitarists with timeless tone and an effortless modern feel. Taylor’s all-purpose Grand Auditorium body style is as versatile as they come, in terms of projection and resonance, as well as ergonomics and handling. Tonally, the spruce top’s punch is tempered by the rosewood body’s balance and warmth, for a traditional-sounding nylon string that still plays like a cutting-edge Taylor steel string. The 214ce-N’s Standard Carve neck profile additionally brokers a smooth transition from other acoustic or electric guitars—the adjustment period is next to nil. Plus, when you’re ready to hit the stage or record direct, the Taylor 214ce-N contains custom ES-N electronics with 2-band EQ and volume knobs for fast, intuitive tone shaping.              

Eager to Play? The Best Nylon-String Acoustics Are Ready Today

This sundry selection of nylon-string guitars includes everything from ultratraditional classical and flamenco acoustics to pioneering instruments with onboard electronics and electric-inspired playability. Time-honored sound is the common denominator, and guitarists of all styles are tapping into the distinctive tonal characteristics nylon strings offer.

We encourage you to check out your nearby in-store selection to get hands-on with your next new acoustic, or browse Guitar Center’s nationwide used collection online to find the classical, flamenco or nylon-string hybrid guitar of your dreams. Remember, you can always reach out to our Call Center and speak with a Gear Adviser to narrow the choices, too. Whichever route you take, the perfect nylon-string guitar awaits—we’ll let you take it from here.