Guitar for Small Hands?

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rockabilly1955

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i would say i have small hands. Though i can play decent enough to have done some recordings with my band, i do have trouble using my pinky finger on chords. Say i have to do a chord where i have one finger on fret 5 and then my pinky is supposed to be on fret 9........ forget it!! pretty much impossible. I use a Ibanez artcore hollow body that has 22 "large frets". Any tips for small hand players?? or can anybody recommend any similar guitars that might be a bit smaller?? :D
 
This is probably stupidly obvious, but you might change your posture when seated or adjust your strap when standing...I find that if my guitar is too low-slung, my ability to reach is diminished. If it is too high, my lazy-ass arm gets too tired.

If you really are looking for shorter scale length, etc., try a Fender Mustang. They are relatively short, and are cool to boot.
 
If you're looking for a smaller axe, see if you can find a Fender Duo-Sonic, not quite comparable to your Ibanez, but it's a tad bit smaller than a strat.
 
Short scale guitars can be helpful. Not too many of them around however. Mustang, Duosonic, Jaguar, Byrdland and Rickenbacker 325 come to mind for production electrics. Or you can get one custom made. I have a Byrdland which makes playing the weird jazz chords a bit easier (I too have small hands).
 
those are some nice guitars..... too bad they're way out of my budget :( are there any budget guitars like that? I think squier has a version of the old jazzmaster with the small scale. I really would like a hollow or semi hollow though. So is the standard scale 24 3/4?? Im guessing thats what my ibanez artcore is and i can almost stretch out, so maybe like a 23" scale would be ok??
 
small hands ??

i have large hands...... i have a martin e-18 solid body electric the neck is too small for my hands.... if you can check out one of those you might like it and they are still within reason price wise.....and also a great guitar :D :D :D
 
Unless you are Bilbo Baggins I would try looking at the way you hold your guitar. Try putting the strap higher or try sitting down and look at the angle of your wrist to the neck. There are plenty of small shredders out there, look at Frank Gambale, he has small hands with fat fingers - the worst combo BUT he can shred better than Yngwie Malmsteen. When I started out about 15 years ago I used to stretch my fingers by splaying themas wide as I could from little finger to thumb. It really helps but you have to keep at it. Most of the difficulty behind what appear to be big stretches is not tightness or size but weakness in the fingers (muscles, tendons, ligaments etc). The more you practice trying to achieve these patterns and positions the easier it gets - muscle memory also starts to come into play. Just worth bearing in mind before you go looking for a small guitar - you end up limiting yourself in a big way if you cut out standard sizes. But then again, if its the size of your hands and not just a matter of strength and flexibility then a small guitar it will have to be.
 
rockabilly1955 said:
those are some nice guitars..... too bad they're way out of my budget :( are there any budget guitars like that? I think squier has a version of the old jazzmaster with the small scale. I really would like a hollow or semi hollow though. So is the standard scale 24 3/4?? Im guessing thats what my ibanez artcore is and i can almost stretch out, so maybe like a 23" scale would be ok??
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I just picked up a Mexican Duo-Sonic for 130 bucks + shipping off teh eBay.
 
1960's Gibson Les Paul Jr. or Gibson Melody Maker
 
Ibanez shredder guitars have ridiculously skinny necks(for my taste!). Most of them come in cheap versions..... find a local Ibanez dealer and check out how they feel!
 
rockabilly1955 said:
those are some nice guitars..... too bad they're way out of my budget :( are there any budget guitars like that? I think squier has a version of the old jazzmaster with the small scale. I really would like a hollow or semi hollow though. So is the standard scale 24 3/4?? Im guessing thats what my ibanez artcore is and i can almost stretch out, so maybe like a 23" scale would be ok??
Click to expand...


You might laugh, but check out www.daisyrock.com, they have some nice hollow models, are really good value, and they play and sound excellent.
 
32-20-Blues said:
You might laugh, but check out www.daisyrock.com, they have some nice hollow models, are really good value, and they play and sound excellent.
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I was going to say the same thing. Rondo Music has some cheap short scales, but nothing hollow.

I too, have short fingers, and even though they aren't short scale, I've found certain Telecasters to be easier to play. Something about the shape of the neck.
 
I had the same question about basses a few months ago....I have super teeny hands, and wound up getting a short scale Cort Action Jr, and have been having a blast ever since....
...I haven't had experience with the short scale guitars, but if it works the same way as it did for me with the bass, it's easier to have fun playing when you're more comfortable.... :cool:
 
I would recommend this one.
 

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rockabilly1955 said:
i would say i have small hands. Though i can play decent enough to have done some recordings with my band, i do have trouble using my pinky finger on chords. Say i have to do a chord where i have one finger on fret 5 and then my pinky is supposed to be on fret 9........ forget it!! pretty much impossible. I use a Ibanez artcore hollow body that has 22 "large frets". Any tips for small hand players?? or can anybody recommend any similar guitars that might be a bit smaller?? :D
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Rockabilly on an Ibanez? Blasphemy! :eek:
 
I like SG's for small hands...you can probably grab an Epi used for under $300. New faded SG's for $600. Rickenbacker too if you've got the scratch :D
 
32-20-Blues said:
Hell yes, or a duosonic, musicmaster or bronco. Great little guitars, not too pricey.
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Or along those lines, a Cyclone is very similar. There are both Fender and Squier versions.
 
This guy plays rockabilly though. For sound and image purposes, he's not gonna want a mustang or SG.


Save your money, buy a Gretsch, learn how to deal with it, and rock on. :)
 
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