The Best Guitar For Small Hands: Top 7 Options

By Monica | Guitar

May 28
best guitar for small hands

Well, not all of us have been gifted with wide and all-reaching hands. It might become a certain drawback, especially in playing the guitar. After all, the better your reach, the faster you can play all those complex chord progressions. If we were you, we would get the best guitar for small hands.

Of course, not all guitars have the same size and construction. That's why being keen is an important part of your selection process. If you can't get the right guitar for your hand frame, you might get uncomfortable with it. In the end, you will just drop the guitar, which would mean a waste of investment.

Most of the time, male guitar players have hands that are large enough to cater standard-sized instruments. On the other hand, teenagers, children, and some female players don't have this physical advantage. Fortunately, guitar manufacturers adjusted based on the needs of these individuals.

In this article, we will feature some of the ideal guitar models for players that have small hands. Take a look at each of them and see which one can give your hands the leverage that its needs!

Best Guitar for Small Hands

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How to Choose a Guitar for Players with Small Hands

There are some considerations that you have to take whenever you are shopping for small-sized guitars. Fortunately, it is not a baffling process. If you are already quite familiar with the structure of a guitar, things would be a lot easier for you. Specifically, here are they:

Short Fingerboard

short fingerboard

Of course, it is already given that players with small hands can't maximize their skills on guitars that have long fingerboard. But what is long and what is short? Specifically, the string length of a fingerboard that is ideal for small-hand players ranges from 22 inches to 24 inches. With this kind of dimension, you can easily clutch all the chords of the fingerboard.

With this construction, playing the guitar won't be too difficult on your part. You will not pour too much strength and effort just to get through different chords. Moreover, short fingerboards have slim necks as well. It adds to the overall comfort they give to their users.

Small Body

small body

When we are talking about guitars with small bodies, we usually refer to the acoustic units. You should know that acoustic guitars tend to have large bodies, which is natural. This kind of construction is essential for their sound-production. On the other hand, it is noticeable that electric guitars typically come with slim and compact bodies. As a result, handling them is not that difficult.

Despite this default nature of guitars, there are still acoustic units that have small bodies. If you have small hands, you should invest in these models, as they will give you versatility and comfort in playing.

Slim Neck

As we mentioned earlier, a short fingerboard should come with a slim neck. These two components should complement one another. Otherwise, you will experience trouble in playing. Specifically, a guitar with slim neck enables you to grab and clutch them quickly. Of course, such feature is a necessity for players with small hands.

But it is not all about that. In fact, guitars with slim neck are ideal for those who tend to do some shredding and fast-paced playing. Even players that have "regular" hands tend to opt this kind of design, especially if they are playing rock and heavy metal songs.

Thin Strings

Another factor that you should consider is the dimension of the strings. Since small hands usually equate to tiny fingers, it is a prerequisite that the strings of the guitar that you choose should be thin. Moreover, they should come with small gauges. With these specifications, the strings are easier to play and press.

If you are going to choose an acoustic guitar, it is quite beneficial that you replace its steel string with a nylon set. Doing this would improve the overall "playability" of the instrument. However, take note that this kind of augmentations will somehow affect the overall sound production of the guitar. Specifically, guitars with small bodies don't resonate well. Moreover, strings that are too thin will sound different from strings with heavy gauge. Therefore, it is essential that you test things out!

Best Guitar for Small Hands: Full Round-Up

We already listed the important factors in choosing guitars for small hand players. Now, it is time to inspect the qualities and features of the guitars that we presented here. Let's take a look at them now!

The Martin LXK2 Little Martin is a great tool for those players that are not physically equipped to handle large acoustic guitars. This particular model has a construction that is designed to players who don't have robust and broad hand-reach. It is a great tool for practice and travel since it has a compact and portable design.

The sound quality of the Martin LXK2 Little Martin is not that shabby either. In fact, it has a distinct and full sound that can match most standard-size acoustic guitars. It has a well-made body made from beautiful tonewood. The fretboard and bridge of this instrument are made from the reputable Micarta material. Meanwhile, the low-profile neck of this device is derived from Stratabond. Therefore, you can assure that its quality is exceptional.


Pros:

  • Great for practicing players
  • Comes with a padded gig bag
  • Sound production is pretty decent
  • Available in different colors and setups
  • Overall construction is great

Cons:

  • No noticeable drawbacks

Let's take a look at this product...

Martin LXK2 Little Martin Koa Pattern HPL Top with Padded Gigbag
  • "1-style" Sitka spruce bracing
  • Martin's patented neck mortise
  • C.F. Martin script logo on headstock

If you want to get an electric guitar that perfectly fits your small hands, this is the best option. The Ibanez GRGM21BKN is an electric guitar that accommodates the needs of both children and amateur players. It can substantially support practicing individuals without burdening you with its cost. You can just freely shred with this unit without any discomforts and hindrances.

The body of the Ibanez GRGM21BKN is made from mahogany. Therefore, its sound quality will never become bad. On the other hand, the 22-inch neck has a maple construction, which has a rosewood overlay. Despite being an entry-price model, this guitar is brimming with finesses and quality. In fact, the Ibanez signature inlays are present on this unit. It also comes with two humbuckers, which is perfect for wall-shredding solos.


Pros:

  • High-quality construction
  • Compatible for players with small hands
  • Can emit distinct highs, lows, and mids
  • It is not a "weak" electric guitar
  • Perfect for beginners

Cons:

  • The tuners are needed to be upgraded

Let's take a look at this product...

Sale
Ibanez GRGM21BKN 3/4 Size Mikro Electric Guitar - Black Night Finish
  • The first Ibanez compact guitar
  • 22" scale Maple neck offers low tension and small size
  • Perfect for beginners
  • Set-up like the full-size GRG models
  • Left-handed model available model (GRGM21BKNL)

Another impressive electric guitar that you should try is the Epiphone SG Special. Of course, we all know the reputation of Epiphone guitars. They have been in the industry for decades already, and their quality doesn't just fade off. The SG-Special is a six-string guitar that embodies performance and functionality. Specifically, it is made to be light and slim, perfect for small-handed players.

This particular guitar is a combination of maple and alder tonewood. Therefore, it is not surprising anymore if it has a superb sound quality. The maple neck and rosewood fingerboard can easily cater players with small hands. This particular model can produce heavy riffs and shreds. However, you can still modify it to cater other genres like blues and jazz!


Pros:

  • Versatile guitar
  • Sturdy and durable construction
  • Sound quality is impressive
  • Works well with amateurs and practicing players
  • Affordable choice

Cons:

  • Some of the strings are difficult to tune

Let's take a look at this product...

Epiphone SG Special with Chrome Hardware and KillPot, Ebony
  • Classic SG tone and styling
  • KillPot switch
  • LockTone Tune-O-Matic bridge
  • SlimTaper D profile neck
  • Epiphone Humbuckers

Let's us feature another acoustic guitar that can complement small-handed players. The Baby Taylor BT2 is an acoustic model that produces distinct mellow and crisp sounds, which are ideal for those who love country songs. The Taylor series originally consists of standard-sized guitars. But recently, they added the Taylor BT2 to cater the needs of amateurs and players who don't have a good finger reach.

This particular guitar has a solid construction and sounding. Its body is made from the mahogany dreadnought, which is complemented by sapele sides and back. It gives off a warm tonal quality, which is perfect for an acoustic instrument. Its bass is exceptionally designed, too.


Pros:

  • You can play it right from the box
  • Durable and premium construction
  • Fluent sounding
  • Design perfectly suits amateur players
  • The rest of the hardware components are on-point

Cons:

  • Slightly expensive

Let's take a look at this product...

Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar, Mahogany Top
  • 6-string Acoustic Guitar with Mahogany Top
  • Layered Sapele Back
  • Sides - Natural
  • Neck Width 1-11/16 inch

Another guitar that can accommodate your small hands is the Epiphone PR5-E. This unit has an ergonomic construction that gives comfort to its users. It is not bulky and has the size that promotes posture and proper hand positioning. It is a smooth instrument that can really provide a quality performance for a price that won't kill you.

The body of the Epiphone PR5-E sports a Florentine cut through its mahogany body. Meanwhile, the top is made from a fine selection of spruce. The combination of these materials allows this instrument to provide resonating and rich sounds, which is pretty surprising for a small guitar. The sonic presence is not that weak, making it an excellent instrument for live performances. But it remains amateur-friendly.


Pros:

  • It is acoustic electric guitar
  • Frequencies are well-defined and clear
  • Ideal for recording and live applications
  • It doesn't have a weak sounding
  • High-quality construction

Cons:

  • No noticeable drawbacks

Let's take a look at this product...

Epiphone PR5E Cutaway Acoustic Electric Guitar Natural
  • NanoFlex pickup
  • Shadow Performer preamp with built in chromatic tuner, bass, treble and anti-feedback controls
  • External 9V battery compartment
  • Gold diecast machine heads

Kurt Cobain is a legend. So is the Fender brand. When you combine these two names, you will get a guitar that has a pumped-up performance. The Jaguar NOS 3 is the guitar that we are talking about. And fortunately, it perfectly accommodates the gritty needs of every player, even those that have small hands.

Specifically, the Jaguar NOS 3 is ideal for producing psychedelic and grunge sounds. This is a tool that simply veers away from the conventional electric guitar sound. It is so versatile that it can accommodate various genres and sonic properties. You will certainly love that it has ten tone settings that you can control. Therefore, there is a huge world to explore in this device.

The Fender Jaguar NOS 3 allows its user to play big chords. Moreover, with this instrument, you can bend the strings while doing some fast-paced plays. It is really a good electric guitar to try.


Pros:

  • Extremely versatile (adapts various genres)
  • Comes with a plethora of tonal configurations
  • Construction is excellent
  • Durable and well-made
  • Sustains are very impressive

Cons:

  • It is expensive

Let's take a look at this product...

Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar NOS - 3-Tone Sunburst with Rosewood Fingerboard
  • A DiMarzio hum bucking DP103 PAF 36th Anniversary neck pickup and DP100 Super Distortion bridge pickup deliver legendary tone
  • A modern "c" shaped neck and a 24" scale length give you a comfortable feel and smooth playability
  • Accessories include a black textured vinyl hard-shell case and an exclusive Fender Kurt Cobain book with photos and commentary by Charles Peterson and an insightful interview with Nirvana guitar tech Earnie Bailey
  • 3-Color Sunburst

Another Fender guitar that you should try is the Classic Vibe Stratocaster ’50s. Just its name suggests, this device replicates the vintage sounds of classic Fender guitars. But it doesn't mean that it has an outdated quality. In fact, this one can easily topple some of the conventional guitars out there. The sound quality is clear and distinct. You won't hear any latencies or awkward tones.

The Classic Vibe Stratocaster ’50s features a maple neck with a vintage gloss coating. Meanwhile, the fingerboard is made from maple and contains jumbo frets with a 9.5-inch radius. You can easily control its Alnico III single coil pickup. By default, it produces bright sounds. But you can still further modify it if you want some crunch in the mix.


Pros:

  • There is a balance between the strings (staggered pole piece technology)
  • It has a left-handed version
  • Premium construction
  • Sounding is pretty versatile as well
  • Aesthetically appealing

Cons:

  • It is quite difficult to upgrade

Let's take a look at this product...

Fender Classic Vibe 50's Stratocaster - 50's - 2TS
  • Alder body with gloss polyester finish
  • 1-Piece Maple, Modern C Shape neck, 9. 5 in radius maple fingerboard and 21 medium jumbo frets
  • 3 Custom Vintage Style Single-Coil Strat Pickups with Staggered, AlNiCo 3 Magnet Pole Pieces and Aged White Covers
  • Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo
  • Master volume with 2 tone controls with 5 position pickup selector switch

Final Verdict

Having the right guitar to play is essential for your progress. It will certainly improve your playing style, regardless of your pace. After all, comfort and convenience are two important aspects when it comes to learning an instrument.

Of course, having small hands is not a disadvantage. You can still expand your playing spectrum even if you possess such physical trait. With constant practice and ample dedication, you can become an excellent guitar player.

For acoustic guitars, I recommend that you should try the Baby Taylor BT2 first. It has an impressive sounding that proves to be versatile in any types of genres. Of course, the construction of this acoustic guitar is made with quality. From the tonewood down to the cutaway, nothing seems off.

On the other hand, the best electric guitar for small hands would be the Fender Kurt Cobain Jaguar NOS 3. Its performance can simply match standard size guitars. The sound is full but it can also go bright and crunchy. It works for multiple genres like metal, rock, jazz, and blues.

All of these units we featured qualifies for the title of the best guitar for small hands. Just make sure that you pick the one that suits your preferences and needs. In this way, you can play without encountering any trouble with your instrument.

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About the Author

Hi everyone! Im Monica and I am an avid lover of guitars and everything in-between. My current profession is not really music-related. It is quite discouraging but I just don't want to drop my zeal--especially not to guitars! I created GuitarTrance.Com so that I can keep up with my hobby. Of course, I want to engage with the community as well! Hope we can all get along!