When the body of a guitar is too large, it forces you to reach around awkwardly to pick or strum the strings, putting your fret hand in an even mor… Seagull S-6 Original. The scale length of a guitar is measured from the nut of the guitar to the center of the … If you have very small hands, getting a guitar with a smaller nut width will make the instrument easier to play. Read more about: Acoustic Guitars, Gear Tips. You’ll definitely feel the difference. Nut width. Whether you’re flatpicking or fingerpicking, both of these measurements affect how comfortable your guitar is in your hands. The size of the guitar reduces the scale length, which means the neck is shorter, and your fingers can stretch across more frets. The Seagull Coastline S6 Cedar folk is pretty similar to the Seagull … It’s important to keep in mind that there’s no set pairing of nut width and string spacing. A guitar is a stringed instrument, available in both electric and acoustic varieties. So again, like with guitar shapes and sizes, we often think of or look at the human image as a repetitive set of forms that when approached in mass is faceless, featureless and devoid of detail like identical yet shapeless silhouettes. For a 3/4 guitar, the neck width at the nut is small at 1.5 in. The radius of your fingerboard can have a huge impact on how you play your guitar and how it responds to different playing styles. http://musictheoryforguitar.com Are your hands too small to play guitar? The nut width is the width of the fretboard at the zero position. Smaller hands will find this very comfortable as do players who mostly play rhythm. Neck-thickness is measured as a radius, as if the curve on the back of the neck continued around to form a circle. The first thing that always draws me in … 🥈 Runner Up. Your hands can be too small to play a full-sized guitar. The best profile for people with small hands is the “C” profile, found on many guitars that usually have thinner necks, such as the Fender Stratocaster and the Gibson Les Paul and Les Paul Junior. The radius of that imaginary circle is the neck radius. The neck of the instrument is the long, thin portion that houses the fret-board. Also, keep in mind that we can order guitars with custom measurements from our manufacturers, so you can find a guitar that fits just right. The narrowest can go down to about 41mm or 1 5/8 inches. Again, play a normal guitar and see if you think the neck is too thick. Guitars can be bought with thicker or thinner necks, meaning thickness from the fret-board to the back of the neck. Lightening fast fret-hand playing will enjoy a smaller nut width. To finish off our list containing the best electric guitars for small hands, we’ve chosen this outstanding yet highly affordable electric guitar that’s perfect for beginners and professional musicians while priding itself on that ¾ size that makes it ideal for everybody. Another is a “Parlor Guitar”. If you’d like to learn more about nut width and string spacing, feel free to contact an acoustics specialist! In this video I discuss the specifications used to describe the shape, dimensions and feel of a guitar neck. I’d say that the best guitar for small hands would be a short scale model that also has a thin neck (around 43mm nut width). It’s important to keep in mind that there’s no set pairing of nut width … Necks come in many different shapes, and these are defined by the particular “profile” of the neck. Picking the best acoustic guitar for small hands, we narrow it down to two choices, one from Taylor and another from Martin. 1. Same with … ​Our Top 5 ​Picks​ 🔥 Top Pick! Martin. Most full-sized guitars are around 1.75 in. Go to a guitar shop and try a Fender Strat, then a Gibson Les Paul. Some small hands will certainly find this nut width very nice and comfortable. The bridge is constructed of rosewood (though this may change with new restrictions on the use of rosewood) but left with no finish for a very natural look and feel. Nut width refers to the width of the guitar’s neck at the nut. Barrett suggests that when you’re picking out a guitar, make sure you’re aware of the affects these measurements have on how a guitar feels. As a general rule, anyone over 5 feet tall should be able to play a full-sized instrument. On acoustic guitars, there’s a spectrum of nut widths. Learning the guitar is a difficult process in the best of times, but choosing the right guitar for someone with small hands will make it easier for them. You can by smaller guitars for people with smaller hands or children, if you wish: one-quarter-size, half-size and three-quarter-size guitars are all available, and these may be more suitable for small-handed or child players. This allows for the strings to be close together, but can make fretting one individual string more difficult. On acoustic guitars, there’s a spectrum of nut widths. He studies physics at the Open University, with a particular interest in quantum physics and cosmology. measure? Easiest way to know is to get your hands on as many guitars as you can. Most guitars have a neck radius of between 10 and 16 inches. Either way, you could check out a short-scale guitar and see if it feels better. For acoustic guitars nut widths tend to fit somewhere in between the 41mm (1.6”) and 47mm (1.85”) mark. It comes down to the player’s hands and what you find comfortable. Anybody between 3 feet, 10 inches and 4 1/2 feet tall should get a half-size guitar. More experienced guitar players might point out that there are some differences in tone and volume between standard acoustic guitars and short scale ones. © Sound Pure LLC 2018. That said 43mm (1 11/16”) is almost just as common and you will find plenty of options with this slightly slimmer neck. The Eastman E10P Parlor Acoustic Guitar has a pack of six chrome vintage open-gear tuners, a two-way adjustable truss road, a hand-fitted dovetail neck joint, an ebony pyramid bridge, a nut width of 1 13/16 inches, and strung with a pack of 012-054 Martin SP Phosphor Bronze guitar strings. Acoustic guitars typically have a nut width between 41mm (1.61”) and 47mm (1.85”). describe? Seagull Coastline S6 Cedar Folk. There is occasional confusion about C, U and V neck profile designations and A, B, C and D neck width designations. Give it a try! This is really smallest neck width and it is in other words called “Vintage”since many of today guitar creators used that size during the 1950s or 60’s. (These guitars are beautiful, and unique. 1-1/2" (38mm) 🏅 Budget Option. Some people find that narrow nut and narrow string spacing is more comfortable for flatpicking, but other’s want a narrow nut and wider string spacing. Nut width: 1.88” Style: ¾ … Play a standard guitar and see if you can comfortably reach the top and bottom strings. The most common or the standard neck width on acoustic guitars is 44mm (1.73” or more commonly referred to as 1 ¾ inches). Hemera Technologies/PhotoObjects.net/Getty Images. The new Fender Mustang has a scale of 24" and nut width of 1.625" compared to a Strat that has a scale of 25.5" and nut width of 1.685". We’ll start off this list with a real classic, Squier by Fender. Around 1.7 inches is the standard width at the nut. A thicker neck will be difficult to play for somebody with small hands. * A full-size classical guitar has a wider neck than other guitars. They typically go between 1 11/16” to 1 3/4”, but some go to 1 7/8” and 1 23/32”. A normal guitar is full-sized. He's based in the UK and drinks too much tea. Lee Johnson has written for various publications and websites since 2005, covering science, music and a wide range of topics. What Is the Difference Between Classical and Folk Guitars? Differences Between 38'' & 41'' Acoustic Guitars, Copyright 2020 Leaf Group Ltd. All Rights Reserved. There are also 3/4 size guitars if you have very small hands. Wider necks around the 45 – 47mm mark are usually seen on 12 String Guitars and Gypsy Jazz guitars. One smaller acoustic guitar body style is called a “Concert” size. Different guitars have different neck widths, which is measured as the width at the nut. This may be the best guitar for 8 to 11 year olds. … Sure, if the shoes are too large you can get your feet in them, and you may even be able to walk around, but soon you’ll have blisters and all kinds of other problems. I knew it was a no starter going into it because I have played them and always found the nut width too skimpy. Eastman. Other possible profiles include the “U” profile, virtually rectangular in shape, and the “V” profile, which has a groove running down the center. If you are between 4 1/2 and 5 feet tall, a three-quarter-size guitar may easier to play. Specifying a nut-width dimension is only part of the equation, since it interacts with the positioning of the strings as determined by the bridge. String spacing is the distance from the low E string to the high E string and how they spread out as they get closer to the saddle. They typically go between 1 11/16” to 1 3/4”, but some go to 1 7/8” and 1 23/32”. … If your child has small hands we recommend the CL44S slim neck classical guitar. Choose a thinner-necked model if possible. Even though the differences between these nut widths are incredibly small, your hands can still feel it. #4 – Stagg S300 3/4 -Size NS Standard 6-String Electric Guitar. The resulting path is referred to as “string taper.” The pain you may be feeling from playing is what any beginner experiences, regardless of the size of their hands. Finding out about the correct neck size for someone with small hands means understanding overall guitar size and neck width, thickness and profile. Pick the size that suits your hands and playing style! Apart from the overall size of the guitar the nut width and scale length are the most important in their effect on the playability of the guitar, especially for small hands. Good for classical, flamenco, Spanish music. All Rights Reserved. This allows for the strings to be close together, but can make fretting one individual string more difficult. Different Neck Widths for Acoustic Guitars. I recently walked away from a 1930s Epiphone flattop. Scale Length. Is the neck width (from high E to low E) your problem or is the scale (from fret 1 to fret 2, etc)? This is the smallest nut width and considered "Vintage" since most of the guitar makers in the 1950s and 60s used this size. The nut width should fit the size of the hand and fingers of the player. The Ultimate 2019 List Of Top Small Hand Guitars. Any smaller children should get a one-quarter-size guitar. But, there are some drawbacks. in neck width. Let's think about how we look at height and hand size. In fact most people discuss this as the nut width because at the end of the day whatever the size of neck/fingerboard width it can usually accommodate noticeable variations in the spacing of the string slots. Unless your hands are unusually small, it’s often simply not the case that you will not be able to play a full-sized guitar. Most electric guitars are usually 1 5/8″ to 1 15/16″ at the nut; acoustic guitars are 1 11/16″ or 1 3/4″ Classical guitar nut width is normally 2 1/16″ Your preference is dependent on the style you are choosing to first start with and classical excepted, the size of your hands and fingers. If you are looking for a concert-level workhorse classical guitar that plays like a parlor guitar then check out the Cordoba C9. Like some flowers, animals, bugs, clouds, trees, (and musical instruments)… very easy to recognise, but to draw? A dreadnought guitar that comes with a little bit of everything as far as tone is … Large hands love a wider nut width as it feels more comfortable. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, Michael Murray Guitar: Size, Weight and Playability of the Guitar. From the early ’60s to the early ’70s, Fender referred specifically to the nut width of its instrument necks using the letters A (1 ½â€), B (1 5/8″), C (1 ¾â€) and D (1 7/8″). You could have a 1 11/16” nut width with a 2 1/4” string spacing, or you could have the same nut width with a 2 3/16” string spacing. It’s something to experiment with. The nut width refers to the width of the fingerboard where the nut is. Nut width, scale length, neck angle, string spacing, fret wire… but today we’re going to talk about one spec I get a lot of questions on – fingerboard radius. ... Also plastic are the bridge pins, nut, and saddle. Some intricate playing styles such as "slap-bass" are best served on a wider nut width for room to groove! This is generally suitable for children between five and eight years old. The body size of a guitar can make or break your guitar playing experience. Playing a guitar that is too large for your hand size can be just as daunting. Taylor. This makes the OG1FYS easier to hold, but you may have some problems playing some of the trickier chords. Nut width impacts how your left hand feels, while string spacing has an impact on your right hand. Thankfully, Cordoba was able to keep the price reasonable, although some beginners and students will find this guitar to be out of their budget range. If you have a guitar you’re comfortable with, take that guitar’s measurements and use them as a point of reference. If you have very small hands, getting a guitar with a smaller nut width will make the instrument easier to play. Nut width is narrower but still close to standard specs at 1.97". Available in the smallest size – 1/4 size. "It’s like spilling … Fretboard width is the primary factor in how open or closed your hand is while playing. Seagull S-6 Original. Yamaha. Ribbon Mic Drum Overhead Shootout: Royer R121 vs. Coles 4038 vs. Shure KSM 313 vs. AEA R84, SDC Drum Overhead Shootout: Miktek C5 vs. Schoeps CMC6 vs. Neumann KM184 vs. Peluso P84. There’s no set of measurements that’s more well-suited to one style than another. Brand. Guitar Advice | Acoustic Guitars, Gear Tips. Some manufacturers take this measurement at the 14th fret, while others take it right at the saddle. Even though the differences between these nut widths are incredibly small, your hands can still feel it. Scale length: 24.2” Neck shape: C shape. Electric and acoustic guitars are pretty much the same (usually 1 11/16" width at the nut), but slight differences can definitely count. Many times acoustic electric guitars with a cutaway body are smaller and easier to handle for small handed guitar players. Gentle on fingertips - perfect for young children; Nut width is still not wide enough (I've only seen nut widths up to about 48mm, whereas a standard classical guitar nut width is 52mm ~ 2") Overall build quality leaves much to be desired (less than $350 for a brand new guitar can only get you so much) Playing the wrong size guitar is like wearing the wrong size shoes. Larger numbers mean a thinner neck. Around 1.7 inches is the standard width at the nut. In this installment of Sound Pure Gear Tips, acoustics specialist Barrett Brooks runs us through the basics of nut width and string spacing. Squier Classic Vibe 50's Stratocaster. The nut is the small, white rectangle that separates the neck of the guitar from the headstock, which houses the tuning heads. The width of the neck at the “nut” is another factor that can be looked at to understand neck sizes. Cordoba Cadete – Best Classical. Also, some players who like to play some rhythm.