With those who lack an average finger spread, finding the best guitar for small hands is often critical for true playing enjoyment. It may also be necessary when forming better finger positioning on many chords. Musicians come in all sizes, and finding your optimal instrument can be difficult. This research will provide you with useful information you can use to make your shopping experience go smoothly.
Our research indicates that those products found in the table offer easier play with smaller hands. Each one is further reviewed, providing their key features that are discussed in more detail below. This actionable information will match your next purchase with your playing ability and needs.
| Product | Features | Rating | Checkout | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Davison Electric Bass GuitarCheck price |
Type: Electric bass Neck type: Maple Body size: 45 inches String length: 25.5 inches |
5 of 5 | Check price |
| 2 |  Jameson Full Size Thinline GuitarCheck price |
Type: Acoustic-electric Neck type: Nato Body size: 41 inches String length: 25.5 inches |
4.9 of 5 | Check price |
| 3 |  Fender Solid-Body Electric GuitarCheck price |
Type: Electric Neck type: Maple Body size: 44.5 inches String length: 25.5 inches |
4.8 of 5 | Check price |
| 4 |  Yamaha APXT2 3/4Check price |
Type: Acoustic-electric Neck type: Nato or Mahogany Body size: 36.2 inches String length: 22.8 inches |
4.8 of 5 | Check price |
Davison Electric Bass Guitar - Best Bass Guitar for Small Hands
Jameson Full Size Thinline Guitar - Best Acoustic-Electric Guitar for Small Hands
Fender Solid-Body Electric Guitar - Best Electric Guitar for Small Hands
Yamaha APXT2 3/4 - Best Acoustic Guitar for Small Hands
Useful Information When Buying A Guitar For Small Hands
So, what actually makes a good small hands guitar? There is more than one thing you’ll consider when looking at potential instruments.
First off, you must think about what type of product you will be using. Do you prefer acoustic or electrical sounds? Will a classical-style be necessary? Are you into bass playing? Figuring this out can get you started in the right direction.
One of the major concerns users with shorter digits or spreads have is the neck size and width. Matching your hands with product neck designs provides comfort and chord accessibility. Body shapes and sizes should also be considered.
Even your length of scales plays into proper selections.
Common Features Of A Small Guitar
Guitar Types
Best electric guitar for small hands:
In the decades since these devices have been massed produced in the market, electrics have come in builds that offer access for musicians with smaller statures.
- Body thickness shouldn’t be an issue, but potential playing device shapes must provide you proper finger access
- Its neck needs to be shorter and thinner then those found on many standard electric builds
Best acoustic guitar for small hands:
If you have been shopping, you will have noticed that acoustic instruments have larger body sizes than those used for electric instruments. This is because electrical designs do not require hollow bodies to generate sounds.
- A body design with a smaller “parlor” shape should be sought out. Avoid “dreadnought” and “Jumbo” sizes
- Avoid thicker necks, like those found on classical instruments
Best bass guitar for small hands:
Bass equipment does offer body designs found on six or twelve string instruments. Major differences are often located in their length of the neck on an acoustic or electric bass product’s build.
- Shop for a bass that uses a shorter neck design for easier finger spread
- Another thing you’ll look at will be smaller fret sizes that prevent over-stretching
Classical guitar small hands:
These designs are often more compact than standard acoustics, which will favor smaller fingers and spreads, to begin with. Your major concern for this type of item will be their neck designs.
- Classical instruments often have a wider neck. When shopping, locate a product that use as thin of a neck as possible so that you can position your fingers without over stretching them when forming chords
Guitar neck
Thin neck guitar: Full-sized instruments may provide you with a neck that is too wide to play comfortably. Electric models often have thinner necks, to begin with, making these preferable for many musicians who struggle with smaller digits or hands.
- Thinner builds will present a thinner fretboard that will make structuring chords easier for you
- They will allow you to position your fingertips properly so that sounds are clear
- It can also help when preventing hand fatigue, allowing you to play longer without needing to take breaks
Thinner builds are also a plus when playing faster, something that many shredders appreciate.
Narrow neck guitar: Narrow designs also condense the frets into a smaller area. More condensed fretboards allow users with smaller hands to play comfortably.
- A narrow neck provides a more natural feel for smaller digits allowing you to play with fewer errors
- These layouts also allow teens and smaller women to concentrate less on their fingers and more on the music they are playing
- Condensed layouts make it easier for smaller users to move up and down the neck as they play
Slim neck guitar: Musicians with smaller digits also have shorter finger spreads as well as palm sizes. A design that is more narrow allows them to reach around the back of the neck without shortening their finger reach.
This can be an important consideration when shopping for an instrument for children and young teenagers. By creating a thinner neck, manufacturers allow younger players to reach the strings in the middle of the fretboard much easier.
This design may provide users with better contact with thicker strings, like those found on bass guitars.
Guitar body size
Before shopping for a small size guitar you need to consider its body is shaped like it is. This is especially true for acoustic models.
Traditional acoustical products require a hollowed-out body to generate the sounds that they give off. Its lower bout, especially on designs such as the “Dreadnought,” can be difficult to reach around. A smaller bout, such as those found on many “parlor” designs will allow you to position your strumming hand comfortably.
Classical designs are often smaller by nature, making these a good choice for small-fingered players.
Electrics have more compact shapes because they do not require a hollow body to generate sound. It is often easier to find a proper body size with these types of products.
Instruments designed for young musicians are often less than full-sized. The best 3/4 size electric guitar designs provide children complete access to their instrument.
String length
String length is another way to shop for instruments for musicians with small hands and digits. Scale size will determine the length of the devices’ fingerboard. With short scale length guitars, you will have shorter neck lengths. Longer scales will need longer necks to fit them.
Decent fingerboard radius for small hands is crucial for comfortable playing. Your shorter fingerboards will range between 22 and 24-inches. This will allow you to position your fingertips properly on the frets to produce a clean sound.
Shorter fretboards will not necessarily mean sacrificing frets. Musicians with smaller hands and fingers can have the advantage when playing higher positions. They will have a less condensed finger grouping when touching the thinner frets found near the base on guitar necks!
Top Guitars for Small Hands
When you are learning how to play the guitar, there comes a time when you realize that hand size does matter. Certain guitars just don’t feel right for little-handed people, as the frets are too far apart and require a lot of uncomfortable stretching to hit the right notes. On the other hand, some other guitars are smaller and stubbier, making them unsuited for large-handed people. In general, most guitars are made for larger-handed people, making it harder for little-handers to select the right instrument. With this in mind, we present our reviews of the four best guitars for people with small hands.
Popular Questions About the Best Guitar for Small Hands
What electric guitar is best for small hands?
Overall, your best bet is likely to be the Squier Stratocaster. It’s hard to beat the king, and it’s hard to top the classics. While these may not be particularly small, they are very sleek and lightweight, lending them well to the rapid movements that a slight-handed player must make. Electric guitars with thin necks are preferable if you can’t find one with a short enough neck.
What is the best acoustic guitar for small hands?
In our opinion, the Jameson Thinline is likely to be your best option. It offers everything you need in a cheap, compact package. While the neck may be a little long, a thin neck acoustic guitar for small hands (like this one) will give you just what you want at a reasonable price.
The Best Guitar for Small Hands – Conclusion
In our opinion, the best guitar for small hands is the Jameson Thinline. While it may not be considered as a “high-end” option, it should be remembered that manufacturing techniques have changed. It is now possible to produce quality guitars with a fraction of the cost and effort that it once required. As such, the bargain models are now some of the best. We couldn’t believe the rich tonal qualities that we observed from the Jameson, and that’s why it blows away the competition. The Squier would perhaps be a better option, except for its slightly thicker neck and greater cost. Therefore, the Jameson Thinline is our winner!