The Acoustic Guitar Forum - Classical Guitar/Small Hands (2023)

FAQs

What size acoustic guitar for small hands? ›

Consider buying a ¾ size guitar

There are a ton of ¾ or “travel” sized guitars currently on the market and they are perfect for people with smaller hands. Popular models include the Little Martin, Ed Sheeran's signature Martin, the Baby and Big Baby Taylor, and Fender's Travel acoustic guitars.

This is a question we get asked a lot. I've taught dozens of people with small hands and they tend to be very aware and conscious of their hand size and it worries them. Relax, there is no such thing as having 'too small' hands to play guitar. Everyone can learn to play the guitar.

So, do you need long fingers to play guitar? No, absolutely not. There are thousands of great guitarists with normal or short fingers. Whilst having smaller hands and fingers may make some big stretches and certain chords a bit harder you can still play virtually everything without any issues whatsoever.

For classical guitar-related purposes, the pinky has the potential of slowing us down by causing excess tension and pain. And the excess tension could increase the potential for repetitive stress injuries. Like Coleridge's fabled “albatross around the neck”, the little finger can make it more difficult to move freely.

In classical guitar music, we do occasionally use the little finger. Not often, but sometimes. And it's more likely in advanced music. Using the right-hand little finger generally falls into the category of “special effects”, or special techniques.

People with small hands tend to have an easier time playing on flatter, thinner necks, which means that they will often benefit from a fretboard radius that is 12“ or above. This is why shred guitars like the John Petrucci Signature series for example, have a fretboard radius of 16".

The Quick Answer. Most guitar players with smaller hands will prefer C and D shape necks with narrower fretboards and a shallow width. Necks with a larger fingerboard radius have a flatter fretboard and are often preferred by guitarists with smaller hands and fingers.

Classical guitars are traditionally played with nylon strings, which are by far the easiest type of string material on your fingers. Even still, nylon strings come in different gauges (a fancy term for thickness).

Using a pick gives you a brighter and more consistent tone than using your fingers, because the pick is made of the same material throughout, while plucking strings with different parts of your fingers produces different sounds.

Both electric and acoustic guitars are available in half-size. Unlike the guitarlele, a half-size guitar will tune into concert pitch (standard guitar tuning). Half-size guitars are ideal for smaller children, but as they grow older and bigger, they'll need a bigger guitar.

What is the easiest guitar to play? ›

Solidbody Guitars are the Easiest to Play

Electric guitars are considered by most experts in the guitar community to be the easiest type of guitars to play compared to all the others that exist today. There are three types of electric guitars—hollow body, semi-hollow body, and solid body.

On a classical guitar, the fretboard is very flat. This often makes it difficult to play chords as it goes against the natural curvature of your hand.

A classical guitar will likely feel a bit easier to play than an acoustic. The strings aren't as hard to push down, and they are designed to be played with the fingers rather than a plectrum.

A common question among many prospective guitarists is “can a classical guitar be used to play 'acoustic guitar' songs?”. The short answer is YES! A classical guitar is an acoustic guitar. Any instrument that is not played by electric means can broadly be considered 'acoustic'.

Classical guitar players need to play multiple strings separately, so they normally use their thumb through ring fingers to play. A pick is generally not used.

While removable nails are more commonly used on steel string guitars, they can also be used on classical guitars and are worth experimenting with for those who would prefer not to have long nails – either natural or fake.

Chords are a key feature of classical guitar music, but they are often disguised. Instead of being strummed in the way you would might when playing a pop/rock song, classical guitarists often pick out individual notes of a chord and play them in a sequence.

A question I get asked a lot from students is whether or not you need long nails to play the classical guitar. The short answer is no (no pun intended), you do not need to use nails to play the classical guitar, you can use your flesh/the pads of your fingers.

The fact that Eric Clapton almost never uses his pinky doesn't seem to have hindered his career.

What is considered a small hand size? ›

A 'small hand' is defined as one with a thumb to fifth finger span of less than 8.5 inches (21.6 cm) and/or a second to fifth finger span of less than 6 inches (16.2 cm).

Small hands: C or flat C shaped necks

Generally the shallower the profile the better e.g. C or flat C, provided it is in combination with a thin fretboard. One of the challenges of playing guitar with small hands is the ability to span frets.

If you're somebody that's only looking to play fingerstyle, I would highly recommend that you choose the Dreadnought body style. This is because it's going to be a lot easier for you to handle and manipulate the guitar.

Answer: There is no certain answer, but the most common one or generally considered the easiest to play is the C shape guitar neck, found on many Fender Stratocaster type guitars.

The Quick Answer. Guitar necks with a 9.5″ fingerboard radius make it easier for most players to hold chords compared to necks with a 12″ radius. However, a 12″ radius will make it easier to bend the strings and means the guitar can have a lower action without causing fret buzz compared to a 9.5″ radius.

If you are looking for an ELECTRIC guitar for small hands, go with the Cobain Jaguar Special here. The Baby Taylor is my top pick for small hands. It's also cross-marketed as a travel guitar, making it ideal for on-the-go easy playing.

Our number one choice for an easy to play guitar with low action is the Fender CD-60SCE. It's a well made, beautiful guitar with low action, it sounds fantastic and it's available for under $500.

Chet Atkins

Chet was put on the planet to bring humility to all of us guitar players, and he didn't need no stinkin' plectrum to do it!

Strumming with your thumb gives you a rounder sound, and strumming with a pick gives you a brighter sound. Things to keep in mind when learning how to strum the guitar with your thumb: With the down strums, use the fleshier part of your thumb. On the up strums, your nail may catch the string.

That said, strumming is easier for beginners because you don't need to be precise with your fingers. The important part is keeping the rhythm solid and moving your hand in the right direction. But fingerstyle is quite fiddly.

What is the most popular acoustic guitar size? ›

Dreadnought (D) – Buy a dreadnought if: You want the most standard and popular acoustic guitar size, with more projection, bass and wider range than smaller sizes (1).

Is It Worth Getting A Cheap Guitar? Cheap guitars don't have a decent setup, which affects the sound and playability – the two most important things for a player. Low-quality control standards are why they have so many drawbacks, such as the high action or the problems with the truss rod or intonation.

Adults are generally comfortable with full-size guitars (40″ Concert size and 41″ in acoustic guitars). If you are small in stature, a 40″ Concert size guitar or a smaller guitar would be best. If you're a tall person, choose a 41″ Dreadnought guitar.

In many cases, the traditional steel-string Acoustic guitar can be the hardest to play. The strings tend to have a heavier gauge which makes things harder when first learning. The metal strings also means that your fingers will ache after playing while new to the instrument.

So though you may be tempted by the soft nylon strings of a classical guitar or the energy and excitement of an electric guitar, the acoustic guitar is the best choice for the beginner guitarist who aims to nail those scales, chords, chord changes, and guitar techniques right from the beginning – a decision that will ...

The easiest guitar chords for beginners are the Em, C, G and D chord.

Can someone be “too old” for guitar? Short answer: No. Classical guitar is a wonderful pursuit at any age. In fact, most people starting classical guitar are well into the second half of life.

Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Francisco Tárrega

Many consider Recuerdos to be the hardest piece ever written for the guitar. It contains an almost continuous tremolo, a technique that requires a guitarist to repeatedly and rapidly pluck the same note.

It takes an average of 7-10 years of dedicated study to master the instrument.

Why do people like classical guitar? ›

Many people enjoy playing classical guitars because they offer a unique sound and a different playing experience than other types of guitars. However, there are also some possible drawbacks to playing classical guitars that you should be aware of before you make a purchase.

Classical guitar is one of the most challenging instruments to play and master. There is no short cut. You have to dedicate yourself and practice consistently day after day. Expert classical guitarists practice, on average, four hours per day.

NEVER PUT STEEL STRINGS ON A CLASSICAL GUITAR. Most nylon-strung guitars do not have truss-rods to protect their necks from the increased tension of steel strings, which means the neck on your guitar could warp.

The most important thing is that you use classical guitar strings (most commonly made with nylon strings), not steel strings (or regular acoustic guitar strings). String tension on steel-string guitars is much higher, and classical guitars are not built to handle that much tension.

If you are happy with a slightly steeper learning curve but have your heart set on the acoustic, then an acoustic would be perfect. If you want the reduced tension and softer tone of a classical, or if you are buying for a younger player, a classical guitar would be a great choice.

Does hand size matter? Yes, having a smaller than average hand size does make some chord grips tougher. For example, the C major chord was a real issue for me when i was first learning, and it can give many people trouble.

The ukulele is similar to the guitar, but it's much easier to learn because of its small size and fewer strings. The frets are much closer together than a guitar, so it can be a better stringed instrument for little hands. It's also pretty easy to learn the most common basic chords.

People with small hands tend to have an easier time playing on flatter, thinner necks, which means that they will often benefit from a fretboard radius that is 12“ or above.

The Quick Answer

Most guitar players with smaller hands will prefer C and D shape necks with narrower fretboards and a shallow width. Necks with a larger fingerboard radius have a flatter fretboard and are often preferred by guitarists with smaller hands and fingers.

If the guitar is too big, it can be difficult to reach the strings. If the guitar is too small, it can be difficult to hold the chords. Finger size is also a important factor to consider when choosing the right guitar size. If the guitar is too big, the strings may be too far apart for smaller fingers.

How do I know if my hands are small? ›

A 'small hand' is defined as one with a thumb to fifth finger span of less than 8.5 inches (21.6 cm) and/or a second to fifth finger span of less than 6 inches (16.2 cm).

A genetic mutation causes brachydactyly. Different genes cause different types of brachydactyly. Medications a parent takes during pregnancy, including antiepileptic medicines to treat epilepsy, could cause brachydactyly. Low blood flow to your hands and feet during infancy could affect how your bones grow.

Our number one choice for an easy to play guitar with low action is the Fender CD-60SCE.

It's therefore important to find a guitar with a scale length that'll suit the size of your hands. If you have small hands, a short-scale guitar like a Fender Mustang (24″) will feel more comfortable to play than a hefty baritone!

If you really want to go for instruments that don't care how short your fingers are, try hammered dulcimer, marimba and xylophone, autoharp, Irish whistle, recorders, fifes, bell ringing, psaltery, etc.