Thoughts on guitar size

Hi! So, I'm a beginner and, originally, was passed down my Dad's guitar. It's a huge dreadnought and was way too big for me. So, I did, what I thought, was good research and decided on a small body Yamaha. I went and bought it and have been playing it for a few weeks now. As the chords I'm learning are getting more involved, I'm noticing it's EXTREMELY difficult for me to get my fingers on the strings in the right places. I am a super petite girl and so are my hands. In my guitar hunt, no one mentioned to me that I may want to look at the neck size, as well as, the body size. So, now I'm wondering if I should have gotten a parlor guitar. I've checked all the other troubleshooting concepts...my posture, my thumb placement, etc., and I've been doing stretches. I know some of this will come over time and with practice, but I'm truly considering if the neck of mine is still just too large. What are your thoughts on parlor guitars? I've read that, obviously, you may lose a little sound quality, but at this point in my playing, I feel like getting the chords right is more important than the quality of sound coming from the instrument.

Anyway, I appreciate all of your thoughts!

Thanks so much!

Hand size often comes up in discussions. Like many size related issues people often worry they don't measure up, but those fears are usually unfounded. For instance, my legs are quite short for a guy. But whatcha know, they get me from A to B 😄

If you need proof that your hands aren't too wee, there is a plethora of YouTube videos from children under 10 years old with tiny hands playing incredible things. Also, one of my favourite YouTube players, Tina S, has very modestly sized hands, especially in the videos where she's 8!

Whenever I start feeling sorry for myself and my small hands or use them as an excuse for not being able to play something I just tell myself " Tina S can do it, so can you!!! "

As for parlour guitars, from what I've seen, while they have shorter necks and smaller bodies, the neck width appears to be the same. Not sure if that'd help you.

I too am a petite female. I did my research and bought a Yamaha Parlor Guitar. I still had trouble reaching notes and chords in the beginning, but with practice I was able. The sound may not be as rich as a larger guitar, but I'm so glad I bought the parlor size. In another year or so I plan on looking to a larger guitar to see if I can play it and will decide where to go from there, but for now, I love the parlor. Good luck.

Hi Lynette,

It will be easier on you if you have a guitar that feels comfortable to you and you want to play. And there is only one way to do that, you need to try them out. Something that's not possible through a web order. If you are just learning, play something you know when you try them out.

I think any beginner will have an easier time of it with an electric. The strings are lighter and closer to the fretboard and much easier to play than an acoustic.

I do agree that at this stage learning will be more important than the sound.

Originally Posted by: lynette.kliethermes

I am a super petite girl and so are my hands. ...SNIP... What are your thoughts on parlor guitars?

Hand size and finger length count. Larger span, length and their generally accompanying innate ectomorphic flexibility are a [u]huge advantage[/u] when it comes to playing guitar. Don't let anyone spin you anything different.

Guitar is a physical as well as a mental pursuit. It doesn't take the intelligence of Einstein to figure out the pragmatic physics of individual restrictive [u]relative[/u] finger flexibility, reach or maximum hand span.

If you don't have those advantages, then choose your instrument with that in mind. Regardless you'll have to work [u]smarter[/u] and [u]harder[/u] maximising what you do have, accepting those physical limitations [u]which are real[/u], and trying to find ways to work within or around them where possible.

When you have smaller hands, I do, picking the right guitar & neck is paramount.

Weight, balance, body [u]size[/u] including thickness and [u]shape[/u] are important and all count for comfort and controllability, but [u]neck profile[/u] including [u]neck thickness[/u], particularly over the first five frets along its length where beginers will spend much of their time, along with nut width are of primary importance when it comes to fretting.

There are [u]other considerations[/u]. Some are fixed, some variable although with an acoustic some which are adjustable on electric such as e.g.saddle height are fixed so not adjustable on an acoustic without swapping or modifying by a luthier. In those considerations should be [u]string spacing[/u], [u]scale length[/u], [u]fingerboard radius[/u], [u]bridge[/u] (scooped = lower tension for any equivalent scale length), [u]fret profile[/u] and [u]size[/u] along with [u]saddle and nut heights[/u] for overall action -after neck relief has been correctly adjusted. And of course, [u]string gauge[/u], which will also affect fretting tension, relevant to finger strength and length effecting leverage, thus playability. On acoustic string gauge is more critical in this regard than on electric IMV.

Try Yamaha's APX600 and similar. Yamaha tend to build with consideration for those those smaller in stature in mind. I chose an APX600 for me especially, so I can recommend it for smaller hands from personal experience playing mine over the past two and a bit years. [u]Thinline[/u] body, [u]low fast action[/u] (for an acoustic) with a [u]slim fast neck[/u], but be aware it has [u]tight string spacing[/u]. Its overall fit and physical comfort factor is superb for me, although you might wish to look to something physically smaller if you are petite in extreme. Acoustically as it comes out of the box it's tone is bright, but that can be altered to warmer with string selection. It has gobs of projection for use in even the larger sized room in any average home. If one needed more in i.e. an assembly hall or commercial venue, a portable PA or acoustic amplifier is the obvious solution and answer.

Another alternative for you might be this. Here's a video explaining what it is. Edit: found a better URL to that end. In addition to my APX I (also) have Cort's AF510 which isn't in that Easy Play Series (e.g. AF505), but is a more conventionally regularly configured instrument in a non-cutaway smaller body size, and I love it. It has a smaller concert (Cort refer to it as their Folk body (AF prefix stands for Acoustic Folk) with a scooped bridge. Its neck profile is fatter than the APX's, and string spacing wider, but I get along with it fine. From experience with their acoustics and electrics, I have three, Cort make superb guitars with tones belying their price points.

Buying online. In 2020, there's more than sufficient info out there for anyone of reasonable diligence and adequate IQ to make a suitable and smart choice in doing so, though those with vested interest or dated dogmatic belief might suggest otherwise. Case in point. I've bought 10 of my current 12 guitars including my APX600 and most recent, a Revstar, online. My first was the only one I didn't through choice. The other (an electric) was because walk in was its only availability option. Whilst in your situation it may prove emotionally more secure to try hands on first, FMPOV the downside to that is it's restricted to what's available in the shop which [u]they will want to sell you[/u]. Perhaps not the same problem if you live in large population and commerce centre such as LA, NY or Chicago, but that isn't the case in many locales around the world.

[br]Whatever you do and decide upon, GL with your search and future journey.

Originally Posted by: lynette.kliethermes

Hi! So, I'm a beginner and, originally, was passed down my Dad's guitar. It's a huge dreadnought and was way too big for me. So, I did, what I thought, was good research and decided on a small body Yamaha. I went and bought it and have been playing it for a few weeks now. As the chords I'm learning are getting more involved, I'm noticing it's EXTREMELY difficult for me to get my fingers on the strings in the right places. I am a super petite girl and so are my hands. In my guitar hunt, no one mentioned to me that I may want to look at the neck size, as well as, the body size. So, now I'm wondering if I should have gotten a parlor guitar. I've checked all the other troubleshooting concepts...my posture, my thumb placement, etc., and I've been doing stretches. I know some of this will come over time and with practice, but I'm truly considering if the neck of mine is still just too large. What are your thoughts on parlor guitars? I've read that, obviously, you may lose a little sound quality, but at this point in my playing, I feel like getting the chords right is more important than the quality of sound coming from the instrument.

Anyway, I appreciate all of your thoughts!

Thanks so much!

Literally going through this with my wifeat the moment. Literally.

She just started taking lessons a few weeks ago. As a note, even though I've been playing for a good fewdecades, she thought that having an objective teacher aside from me would help her. That way I can be the cheerleader and tutor between lessons.

That aside....

My wife is the same. She's 5'3" and does not have longer hands. Same issues you outlined here. Guitar size and neck size are an issue for her.

About 10 years ago, under the idea that she wanted to learn back then, we'd purchased a Taylor Baby 3/4 sized guitar. It's been sitting on the sidelines for some time. She's always wanted to learn but a little intimidated. Now she wants to.

For guitar and guitar size.

The Taylor Baby ain't all that great. That's not a negative on Taylor's. I have a single cut Dreadnaught sized Taylor and love it. The Taylor Baby? As she's been playing it, not really up to the job. You can never really get the action (string height from the neck) to where any player, much less a beginner, would like it. It's construction. The neck is partially connected to the body by two screws from the top, thtrough the fretboard. Really....

So, we've been looking at other options. We've been looking at the Martin X Mini. Reviews are much better on that. It's still a 3/4 sized guitar so it's helps with the petite player thing.

Basically, I think she should buy it but she wants to hold off.

The benefit of a 3/4 sized guitar is really the neck reach.Youdon't have to stretch your arm out as far and the body is not so cumbersome.

3/4 guitars are not heavily in inventory so if you look at one, search for a Guitar Center or Sam Ash in your area and see if the online store show inventory at your local store.

Just sharing a little of my recent experience.

She's having the same struggles as you and it helps, I think, to know that your experience is not unique. Weall have different paths to playing because we are all built and wired differently. What works for me and my 6 foot tall self is different than my wife at 5'3".

Thanks, everyone, for your thoughts and help! I purchased a Fender parlor just to try for a bit from Guitar Center and will take one of them back once I make a decision. I definitely can hear a difference in the parlor from my concert series. I'm not sure the reach on the neck is helpful enough to make it worth it. It really isn't all that much shorter. So, I'm still up in the air.

I really appreciate all of your advice and to know I'm not alone in this!

Good luck Lynette

The right guitar is out there