Published on this page in the GuitarFella archive — what our editors chose at the time, not a lab test.
Last Updated: February 20, 2019
In our latest look at this chart on the best small guitars we were satisfied with our existing model recommendations. However, we decided to add a bit of a wildcard in the Yamaha GL1 – a fun little guitalele!
While we can all appreciate the complex tone of a Dreadnought or the booming resonance of a Jumbo guitar, sometimes a small guitar is what’s needed.
Perhaps you are hitting the road and need a lightweight companion. Maybe you find a smaller guitar easier to hold. Whatever the reason – we hear you.
This is exactly why we have put together this article, which highlights the best small acoustic guitars on the market, spanning several different styles and price ranges.
Note that these are small guitars – we aren’t highlighting dedicated travel guitars or parlor guitars (although there may be some crossover). If you want more detailed looks at both those styles, check out our dedicated
article on parlor guitars or our
article on travel guitars.
Without further ado, let’s jump straight into the chart!
Top 8 Best Small Body Guitars:
What is a Small/Mini Guitar?
It sounds like there is an obvious answer to this – but with other similar markets such as travel guitars and parlor guitars, as well as plenty of crossover, the phrase ‘small guitars’ suddenly seems a bit vague.
To clarify, we would class a small guitar as a compact guitar that you could travel around with, although that is not its primary use. So, a 3/4 or 1/2-sized acoustic which is noticeably smaller than a regular Dreadnought, Concert or even a Parlor guitar.
It could be something you leave around the house for playing when inspiration strikes – a small guitar takes up less room in the corner of the bedroom than a Jumbo!
Who Would Want a Small Guitar?
Just like guitars, guitar players come in all shapes and sizes. So, a small guitar would probably be handy for a smaller player – perhaps somebody with small hands or a small body, or somebody with an injury that impedes their movement on a regular guitar.
Ultimately, a small guitar will be useful for anyone who may find a regular guitar too awkward and cumbersome to hold and play. This is also the reason why small guitars are useful for children.
Beginners are another group of players that may find small guitars very useful, as the reduced scale lengths and narrower necks makes fretting chords a little easier. After all, it works for guitarists like Ed Sheeran, who famously uses a Little Martin for pretty much everything he does.
We’ve mentioned the travel aspect too, which is still valid. Although there are many dedicated travel guitars, if your main guitar is a small guitar, you can easily take it with you whenever you are off on the road.
The Final Word
For those who find regular guitars too big, small guitars are a godsend – now there is no excuse to play badly if you have small hands!
There are loads of small guitars on the market – some great, some not so good. However, we hope this article has shown you what a good small guitar can offer and that it has inspired you to find a compact instrument with which to learn or progress.
Good luck!