Guitars for Small Hands

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Knopfler Fan

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Hi Everyone,

I am interested in purchasing an electric guitar that is suitable for someone with small hands (insert joke here).

With my limited knowledge about guitars, I know that Gibsons generally tend to have a thicker fingerboard, whereas Strats have a narrower neck and thus a smaller fingerboard.

Is this a valid observation? If so, I would probably lean toward buying a Strat.

I just want to be able to buy a guitar where I can learn "all them fancy chords" with relatively ease.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.


KF
 
Originally posted by Knopfler Fan
Hi Everyone,

I am interested in purchasing an electric guitar that is suitable for someone with small hands (insert joke here).

http://milesmaxwell.com/smallhands

sorry, I just had to.

With my limited knowledge about guitars, I know that Gibsons generally tend to have a thicker fingerboard, whereas Strats have a narrower neck and thus a smaller fingerboard.

Is this a valid observation? If so, I would probably lean toward buying a Strat.

I just want to be able to buy a guitar where I can learn "all them fancy chords" with relatively ease.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.
KF

I would agree with your assessment. gibsons generally have big honky necks but some of those strats can too. The thinnest necks I've seen are on shredders like Jackson, LTD, Ibanez and my MIM strat.
So, go to a store and try these out. or you could order a daisy.....:D

stone:cool:
 
Try a Parker P-38 or P-44. These are the import Parkers, the P-38 has 2 sc and a humbucker, the 44 has 2 humbuckers. They are both also equipped with a Fishman powerbridge. I owned a P-38, and it was the smallest neck I have ever felt on a guitar. So small, in fact, that I had to stop playing it because I was all over myself on the fretboard and made mistakes. They are very very nice guitars for the price you can get them for, also.

H2H
 
Ibanez is a good choice. Thier "wizard" neck I believe. Are you just beggining to play the guitar? I have taught some begginers that were totally convinced that thier hands were too small, when in actuallity, they just had to get used to playing. I used to think the same thing when I first started. Or maybe you do have really small hands, I don't know.
 
I don't think anyone has said anything about scale length yet and it' is something you'll want to conceder. Gibson's do have fatter necks, but they also have a shorter scale length (the frets are closer together). than most Fenders. If I had small hands, I'd be a lot more concerned with the scale length than the shape of the neck.
 
Depending on how small your hands are, you can consider a mix of different variables:

Scale length, nut width, neck profile

24" scale is the shortest true guitar length. Mustangs, Duosonics (as mentioned), the old 1 pu silvertone amps in case guitars, I am sure there are lots others. Strats/Teles are usually at the other extreme with 25.5", with some gibsons in the middle at 24.75". Basically what you get is frets that are closer together and reduced string tension. I sometimes have problems fretting 4 or 5 fret spread chords on a 25.5.

Nut width - usually 1 and 5/8 or 1 and 11/16. This impacts string spacing and your ability to reach around with your thumb. 11/16 is more common, but lots available with5/80. I would say it is like a 65/35 split.

Neck profile. Necks can be as fat as old kay guitar (baseball bats!) as thin as Ibanez wizards. Other thin great playing guitars are old hagstroms. Most will be between these extremes. The curvature also impacts playability. Wizards are almost flat, teles and strats are pretty round. I can't tell which is "easier" to play, flat or round. I find round is good for low fret chording.

1, 2 or all 3 of these considerations might solve your problems. I have 7 guitar now. The easiest to play is the short scale silvertone with 5/8 nut and not to much wood in the back. The wizard is about the same b/c the neck is thinner and lighter gauge strings but the scale length is 25.5. I have a thick necked kay that is about as fat as you can get. Can't do much thumb over the neck work, but by adjust my playing style to a "proper" upright (think classical) style it isn't that much harder to play, though my hands to fatigue easier. But they also fatigue on the wizard, b/c it may be not enough wood, and the angular nature of the neck can get uncomfortable for chording.

I would say the most comfortable is a galanti. Like golilocks, it is almost "just right. Enough wood not too little, moderate rounding radius. Shortening the scale to 24.5 or less, or width to 5/8 might make this neck perfect for me.

Bottom line, you should try all different guitars and see what feels best.
 
First off, I agree with SS454 - many beginners think theur hands are too small when in fact they're fine, just need to get used to the stretches. Everyone I know had to physically move their fingers with their right hand to get the full C chord at first (including me, and I'm 6'3" and 'built to scale')

Gibson made a 3/4 size guitar back in the late 50's early 60's, but they are considered vintage with the appropriate increase in price.

Apart from that, all the advice in this thread is good. A shorter scale length does mean the frets are closer togehter and therefore 'all them fancy chords' are easier to play.

How much money do you want to spend?
If you're looking for a jazz guitar to play ATFC, a Byrdland (or an early ES 350) is your best choice. They were deliberately made with smaller necks to make it easier to play those chords - but they are very expensive.

foo
 
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