Photo by Tim MossholderHeavy metal and worship music seem like at the opposite ends of the musical spectrum. At one end you have metal music, which at some point in history (and maybe even today) has been regarded as “the devil’s music.”
Then you have music for church services and religious occasions. During these times, you want music that’s respectful to God.
So, you may want to be very careful about bringing the right type of guitar to your congregation. You may end up being regarded as a heretic if you bring the wrong type of guitar!
Contents
Top 5 Acoustic Guitars for Worship: Comparison Chart
| Image | Name | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Martin LX1E |
| Check Price |
 | Fender CD-140SCE |
| Check Price |
 | Yamaha AC1M |
| Check Price |
 | Taylor 110ce |
| Check Price |
 | Celebrity Standard Exotic CS24P |
| Check Price |
Best Picks of Acoustic Guitars for Worship
#1. Martin LX1E Little Martin Solid Sitka Spruce
- PROFESSIONAL SOUND: Martin’s Little Martin LX1E acoustic-electric guitar has a Sitka spruce top and high-pressure laminate (HPL) construction. It is Martin’s smallest guitar and while small in size, it is very big on tone, quality, and versatility. It sounds great being played around the campfire or while practicing at home.
- SUPERIOR APPEARANCE: The Little Martin LX1R acoustic-electric guitars are made with a Sitka spruce top and mahogany high-pressure laminate (HPL) back and sides with a warm satin finish. These guitars are built with sustainable wood certified parts and a mortise and tenon neck joint, non-scalloped X-Brace, standard tapered neck, and chrome-enclosed gear tuners, making it look as captivating as it sounds.
- Handmade from the highest-quality wood, Little Martin guitars are built to stand up to late-night jams, long studio sessions, and plenty of strumming or picking. These solid-wood, acoustic-electric guitars deliver classic designs, professional sounds, and enjoyable playing.highest-quality wood, Little Martin guitars are built to stand up to late-night jams, long studio sessions, and plenty of strumming or picking.
- PLAYABILITY ENHANCED: In addition to Martin's iconic tone known worldwide, our guitars deliver enhanced playability that makes playing a pleasure, no matter your experience or skill level. Whether you're playing rock, country, folk, bluegrass, or jazz, these guitars deliver a natural playing experience that you will love.
- PLAYABILITY ENHANCED: In addition to Martin's iconic tone known worldwide, our guitars deliver enhanced playability that makes playing a pleasure, no matter your experience or skill level. Whether you're playing rock, country, folk, bluegrass, or jazz, these guitars deliver a natural playing experience that you will love.
Last update on 2023-12-08 / Affiliate links (#ad) / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you want something easy to carry and easy on your budget, this may well be the best Martin guitar for the money. It even comes with a nice padded guitar box for easy travel.
This Little Martin is well-named, as it’s the smallest guitar in the entire Martin lineup. That makes it very easy to tote around, not just to church but also to various gatherings with friends or around a campfire.
It’s also among the most popular guitars in their lineup, partly because Ed Sheeran likes to play it a lot. Plenty of musicians like it because its small size is easy and comfy to play on stage.
It may be tiny, but its sound is both loud and rich. You’ll appreciate the built-in tuner, and the Fishman Sonitone electronics can really turn that music into pure gold.
- Solid Sitka spruce top
- Mahogany HPL on the back and sides
- 23-inch scale length
- Fishman Sonitone electronics
- Great sound
- Easy to play (even for kids)
- Very portable and comes with a gig bag
- Even pro musicians like it
- Can sound just as loud as full-sized models
- You may not be used to smaller guitars
- It’s a bit handle-heavy
#2. Fender 6 String CD-140SCE Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- Single-cutaway dreadnought body style
- Fishman Presys pickup/preamp
- Solid mahogany top with scalloped "X"-bracing
- Mahogany back and sides
- ‘Easy-to-Play’ neck with rolled fingerboard edges
Last update on 2023-12-07 / Affiliate links (#ad) / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This is one of the guitars you need to look at if you’re still a newbie, and you’re planning to play for church services. It’s very affordable, but it’s not just the price that makes it a good option.
This is easy to play, especially with the design of the neck. The single-cutaway dreadnought body style also allows for easy control and handling.
It doesn’t hurt that it only weighs 10 pounds either. Taking this along with you shouldn’t be a problem, especially as it may come as a package with a hardshell case.
With the premium quality of the materials used for the guitar, you can expect years of use with this guitar.
- 10-pound weight
- Solid spruce top
- Rosewood for the back and sides
- Scalloped X-bracing
- Rolled fingerboard edges
- Comes with electronics and a built-in tuner
- The neck is very easy to play
- It’s not heavy at all
- It comes with a hard case
- The premium wood sounds great and lasts for a long time
- Doesn’t sound as good without the amp
#3. Yamaha 6 String Series AC1M Small Body Cutaway
- Solid Sitka Spruce top with scalloped bracing for a louder, richer acoustic sound
- Yamaha's original SRT piezo pickup provides premium plugged-in performance
- High comfort satin mahogany neck with a slim taper profile
- Concert cutaway body with a gloss finish
- Rosewood bridge and fingerboard, die-cast chrome tuners
Last update on 2023-12-08 / Affiliate links (#ad) / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
It can be confusing to pick a Yamaha acoustic guitar. You have size options, wood choices, and color picks.
To help you out, here’s what we focused on. We went with the concert cutaway size, mahogany style, and the vintage natural color.
At first glance it looks like a simple guitar, and its unassuming aesthetics is ideal for church services. But it’s great for travel, as the SRT2 pickup system is very easy to set up for a performance.
The sound is great, with the mahogany wood giving you a warm tone with a nice midrange and a quick response. The bracing design gives you the loud and strong low to mid-range you want for your music.
With the Elixir strings, you get a lively tone. Its tone is also quite rich, thanks to Yamaha’s unique Acoustic Resonance Enhancement (A.R.E.) treatment for the top so that it sounds broken in already.
Newbies will also appreciate how easy this is to play. The straighter neck taper and the hand-rolled edges of the fretboard makes it comfy to do your chords.
- SRT2 pickup system
- straight taper neck with hand-rolled fretboard edges
- Elixir strings
- Mahogany on the back and sides
- Solid Sitka Spruce for the top wood
- Quick setup for the electronics
- Warm yet lively tone
- Easy to play
- Looks simple and unassuming
- Highs can be tinny if you’re not careful
#4. Taylor 110e 100 Series Acoustic Guitar
- Body Body type: Taylor Dreadnought Cutaway: No Top wood: Solid Sitka Spruce Back & sides: Layered Walnut (Exterior) Bracing pattern: Taylor Standard II Bracing (Forward Shift Pattern) Body finish: Matte 2.0 Varnish Orientation: Right-Handed Neck Neck shape: Standard Taylor Profile Nut width: 1.69 in. (42.8 mm) Fingerboard: Genuine African Ebony Neck wood: Sapele Scale length: 25.5 in. Number of frets: 20
- Taylor's 100 Series makes a great guitar-playing experience accessible to everyone with these real wood instruments
- 100 Series models have layered walnut backs and sides, as well as new architecture for even more volume and dynamics
- For people taking the first or next step in their musical journey, these instruments promise to accelerate players' growth and enhance their enjoyment
- Taylor's famous neck profile combined with a 1-11/16-in
Last update on 2023-12-08 / Affiliate links (#ad) / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you’re looking for the best Taylor guitar for leading worship without spending too much money, you need to look at this model. Plenty of people mention in their acoustic guitars for worship reviews that this sounds great for church services.
This is very easy to play, which makes it great for beginners while worship guitarists won’t have any trouble at all. The neck profile with the nut width makes it easy for you to make even complicated chords.
Like many of the top acoustic guitars for worship (or the best acoustic guitars in general), this comes with a Sitka Spruce top.
The layered walnut back and sides may seem unusual, and you might think it was used mainly to cut down on costs. But this material actually offers a subtle hint of high-end sparkle that goes nicely with its great midrange.
Besides, the layered wood also allows for an arch in the back of the guitar for added strength, and it’s durable enough for extensive travel.
- Sitka Spruce top
- Layered walnut for back and sides
- Slim neck
- Venetian Cutaway shape with soft and round lines
- Expression System 2 electronics
- Plug and play electronics
- Less susceptible to temperature and humidity changes
- Works for flatpickers and strummers
- Tone gets better and richer as time passes
- Layered walnut doesn’t offer complex tones, compared to mahogany
#5. Ovation Celebrity Standard Exotic 6 String
- New for 2017
- Ovation Lyrachord Mid-Depth Cutaway, Ovangkol Fingerboard
- Applause by Ovation CE304T with three band EQ and built in tuner, Ovation Under the Saddle Piezo Pickup
- Spruce top
- Recommended accessories: Ovation 8158-0 hard-shell case or 8358-0 Zero gravity Guitar case
Last update on 2023-12-08 / Affiliate links (#ad) / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This comes with 3 rather eye-catching designs, which may be distracting in a church setting. But we went with the Nutmeg Burled Maple finish because it’s gorgeous even while it’s not flashy.
The Ovation brand is renowned for its innovative approach, and you’ll see that for yourself when you see the Lyrachord synthetic material they used for the body. Together with the top wood, you get the classic Ovation tone that sounds natural, with great power and response.
The neck offers fast play, as it gives you a slim feel. The curved radius also allows for easier chording.
The electronics here are also very reliable, as the preamp is pro-grade while the pickup is high quality. Crunch up the volume, and you can project your sound without feedback.
- Lyrachord body with Nutmeg Burled Maple finish
- Slim neck with curved radius
- Ovation Slimline pickup and OP-4BT preamp
- High quality electronics
- Fast-playing neck
- Great looks
- Some people just object to synthetic materials on principle
What Makes A Good Worship Guitarist?
A “good” worship guitarist is someone who knows that they’re not supposed to be in the spotlight. They’re there to support the choir, or perhaps the entire congregation when they’re singing. They’re there for God, and not for themselves.
Who makes best acoustic guitars?
There are several noted brands that are famous for the high quality of their acoustic guitars:
- Martin: The Martin brand is to acoustic guitars as the Ford brand is to the US automotive industry. They’ve been around since 1833, and their found is reputedly the first ever to build an acoustic guitar in the US.
- Fender: Granted, the Fender brand is more known for its electric guitars thanks to the Telecaster. But they’ve been producing acoustic guitars since 1964, and they offer terrific mid-range and entry-level acoustic guitars.
- Yamaha: The Yamaha brand first developed a reputation for building some of the best acoustic guitars for newbies. But in recent years, they’ve expanded their range to include premium quality acoustic guitars that even well-known musicians use.
- Taylor: Compared to the other brands, Taylor is a relative newcomer to the scene as it was established only in 1974. But they’ve earned lots of kudos because of their high-quality guitars, plus Taylor Swift is known to use a Taylor guitar.
- Ovation: While other brands are proud of sticking to decades and centuries of tradition, Ovation embraces innovation even as they still build traditional acoustic guitars. This is the brand that developed a synthetic material similar to fiberglass for use in acoustic guitars instead of real wood.
How to Choose an Acoustic Guitars for Worship
This is rather complicated, as a lot of it is subjective. Each guitar player has their own set of ideas.
It can depend on how you decide to play. The best acoustic guitar for worship fingerpicking can be a lot different from a guitar just meant for simple strumming.
It’s also dependent on the customs of your church in your area. Among the best acoustic guitars for worship in the world, one that’s favored in Asian countries may be very different from the best acoustic guitar for Delta worship.
If you’re choosing a classical guitar for worship services, however, you may want to think about these guidelines:
- Look for something that looks simple or elegant. Don’t go for something flashy.
- Your budget will be a crucial factor. Very few people can afford to splurge for a guitar, so concentrate on getting the best acoustic guitars for worship for the money.
- It’s best if the guitar is comfortable and easy to play.
- Think about the volume you need. If you’re playing in a loud church, you need a guitar that can project sound properly.
Advantages of owning an Acoustic Guitars for Worship
Here are some reasons why you may find it advantageous to own an acoustic guitar for worship:
- When you play the guitar for the hymns and religious songs, you feel more integral to the gathering. You don’t feel like a bystander.
- You’re able to feel the spiritual nature of the worship services more.
- You can play the guitar when you’re alone while you pray.
- These guitars can be versatile, and can be used for regular get-togethers with friends and family.
Are acoustic pickups necessary for a beginner?
Acoustic pickups amplify the sound of the guitar so that more people can hear the music. Without the pickups, the only people who may hear the music are the ones right beside the guitar player.
Technically, acoustic pickups aren’t necessary for newbies. That’s why lots of entry-level acoustic guitars don’t have them in the first place.
But pickups may be necessary if you intend to play the guitar for worship services. These pickups can allow the entire congregation to hear the music.
FAQs
As an absolute newbie, which chords should I learn first for worship music?
Start with these 4 chords: C, D, Em, and G. With these 4 chords, you can play dozens of Christian worship songs.
Why does my worship leader hate it when I play guitar solos?
That’s because it’s distracting. You don’t make the worship band sound full, and you don’t contribute to the atmosphere of worship.
What’s the proper attitude when you’re playing worship guitar music?
Your goal is to be part of the background, and not to be the center of attention. Basically, you’re there to support the singers.
Final Verdict
Jokes about being burned at the stake aside, it’s really no small matter to make sure you use the right guitar for something as serious as worship services. This isn’t party—it’s a spiritual experience that requires proper decorum and respect.
The best acoustic guitars for worship can provide that tone you’re looking for. Pick one among our recommended options. Most of them are very easy to play, and they’re great for supporting the singers in your church choir.