Top Guitars For Small Hands - Reviews Of The Models That Are Worth Your Time

Last Updated: November 18, 2019 We gave this article a little shake up and removed two older models in the Fender MA-1 and the Jackson JS 1X Dinky Minion. However, in their place, we reviewed two very popular guitars for smaller-handed players – a handsome acoustic from Oscar Schmidt, the OG1FYS, and the timeless Fender Mustang.

How would you define your perfect guitar? On one hand your personal preferences will heavily influence what you go for – you may prefer certain shapes, styles, genres and sounds. For example, a D’Angelico EX-63 Archtop is a very different guitar to RainSong’s H-WS1000N2! But then there’s the physical factor. Guitar players come in all different shapes and sizes – some are big, some are small, and your height, hands, arms, back and shoulder power will definitely determine your ideal guitar. In this article we’re focusing on demonstrating some of the best guitars for small hands. There’s a variety of factors to consider here, but typically those users with smaller hands tend to be children, teens or ladies (however if you are after a guitar for your child, check out our article on the top rated guitars for kids. With this article our target is to help you find a smaller six-string acoustic that delivers the same quality as a full-size model. Our quest yielded a set of eight champions, all of which patiently await your consideration in the rundown below. Apart from the list, make sure to also check out a few guides we have in store. Here goes! We'll kick things of with the electric bunch. When it comes to the best electric guitars, neck thickness and scale length is an important factor for small-hand players to adapt themselves, but smaller body size can also help. Check out the four champs we singled out and head over to the amplifiers reviews section after that. Up next, we'll delve into the world of best acoustic guitars for smaller hands with another set of four champions. When discussing the given matter in the best acoustic guitars domain, the body size becomes of greater importance due to the instrument's very nature and the fact that bodies are chunkier on acoustics than on electric models. Anyhow, check out our picks in the rundown below!

Top 8 Guitars For Small Hands:

With guitars out of the way, let's dedicate a few lines to things to watch out for when buying a guitar for players with smaller hands, as well as a few frequently asked questions. Here goes…

What To Look For When Buying A Guitar For Smaller Hands

The process itself isn't really all that tricky, and requires taking merely a few logical steps. There are several things to keep your eyes peeled for, let's go ahead and list them first:

1. Shorter fingerboard
2. Smaller body
3. Slim neck
4. Light strings

When it comes to fingerboards, it is ideal for you to get one with a string length between 22 inches and 24.6 inches. This way, it will be significantly easier for you to grab all the chords properly, as the process will require less power and less finger length. Additionally, these types of six-strings also tend to have a slimmer neck, which is one of the requirements we have listed. As for the smaller bodies, this factor particularly applies to acoustic models. As explained, acoustic guitars have bulkier bodies by their very nature, making them more difficult to smaller players to use. With a smaller, or just slimmer body, you will be able to grab a hold of the guitar with more easy and play the instrument without a hassle. As for the slim neck, this factor is essentially an extension of the shorter fingerboard requirement. Slimmer necks allow you to easily grab them, which is great for smaller hands. Slim guitar necks in general are great for fast playing and shred guitarists, but that factor equally applies for players with smaller hands who simply want to play the good ole chords and chops. When it comes to the strings, the first option is to get thinner strings with a smaller gauge. They are easier to press and easier to play in general. Additionally, if you're an acoustic guitar player, replacing your instrument's steel strings with nylon ones will greatly improve the playability factor. Note, however, that each of these factors has an impact on the guitar's very sound. Smaller bodies are less resonant, slim necks produce a less chunky sonic attack, light strings have a completely different sound to heavy-gauge models, and nylon strings are a whole different world to steel strings. So test 'em all out and see what fits your overall needs the best.

Short Fingers And Small Hands Do Not Equal Poor Guitar Playing

Just because you were born with a pack of shorter fingers or smaller hands doesn't mean by any stretch of imagination that you can't be a good guitar player. Never use this as an excuse for not being able to play the instrument, and always keep in mind that developing your technique and musicality is key, and not finger length.

How To Get The Best From Smaller Hands

There's several factors to keep in mind, but you should know right from the get-go that you'll need to work on your stretching more than most players out there. These are actually not difficult exercises, and most of them are super easy to memorize, although they do require constant repetition that can become tedious. Anyhow, the most important point is to be relaxed at all points, and NEVER push your hands beyond the threshold of pain. You should start the exercises on higher positions on the guitar's fingerboard, and proceed to lower positions as you advance. Here's a neat video lesson on how to improve your finger stretching abilities on guitar. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_nHnpVBWCo

How To Shape Your Guitar Playing Style If You Have Smaller Hands

Finally, we'd like to address several things that you can do during your performance to make it easier not only to play, but craft a unique style of your own. Here goes:

1. Make your pinky strong. If you have trouble to stretch your fingers due to their length, make sure that your naturally weaker pinky finger is strong.
2. Play on higher frets, they're easier to press.
3. Use Drop-D tuning. It's easier to produce heavy chugs and rock power chords with this tuning.
4. Use a capo whenever needed
5. Incorporate tapping to your style. It will allow you to reach several tonal registries.
6. Finally, the crucial thing. Everything else is useless without this: Practice, practice, practice!

The Final Word

And this marks the final stop of our journey, ladies and gents! We hope you enjoyed the ride and learned something new about small-scale guitars and six-string that fit smaller hands, and maybe even found your perfect match. Now it just comes down to the matter of jotting down your personal needs and preferences in order to find your ideal fit and make that purchase as early as today. Once you are done, all that is left is the never-ending quest of learning how to play guitar! We've covered a lot of ground with this article, delving deep both into the realms of acoustic and electric guitar, and you can rest assured that each of the listed items is worthy of the title of the best guitar for small hands within its respective price range. Finally, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter and stay in touch with the site to keep track of the best guitar deals on the web. Rock steady, roll easy!