Instrument condition affects early progress more than families often expect. Acoustic guitars may require more finger pressure than some electric guitars, although the individual instrument and its setup matter. Action describes the distance between the strings and the fretboard.
High action can make fretting tiring, while very low action can contribute to buzzing. A teacher may not perform repairs, but should be able to notice whether worn strings, poor tuning, or an uncomfortable setup is interfering with the lesson.
Before replacing an instrument, have the teacher check its condition and write down the concern. That simple record prevents a family from blaming the student for a mechanical problem.