It can be very frustrating as a guitar player to find an instrument to play if you have small hands. Many guitar necks are just too big for many players with small hands and they tend to struggle with those guitars. You don’t have to suffer because you have a lot of options in guitars from the top manufacturers.
I know how hard it can be to play regular guitars as I have small hands. I’ve played many guitars in my life and had some that were a chore to play because I didn’t know much about guitars designed for me. The guitars in this list are designed for players that have smaller hands and are all great choices to make playing the guitar more comfortable for you. Let’s have a look at some best electric guitars for those that have smaller hands.
For those who can't wait, here is my list:
Guitar | My opinion |
|---|---|
If you struggle with small hands, give this guitar a try as it really can’t be beat in terms of playability. | |
the ideal option for anyone that has small hands and wants a very comfortable to play guitar | |
Designed for a student that has small hands, but it would also be the ideal choice for any beginner that just wants to learn | |
A great shred guitar even for short fingers | |
A metal style guitar for small hands | |
A great shred guitar, one of the easiest guitars to play | |
A quality guitar for small hands | |
A very comfortable guitar to play for your small hands | |
The ideal choice if you want a comfortable guitar to play that you’re not going to have to fight | |
A student style guitar, but they decided it would be perfect for the average player |
How to find a best electric guitar for small hands
Scale Length
For those with small hands, many guitar manufacturers feature guitars with a shorter scale length, this can make playing the guitar easier for small hands, but not necessarily the case. The fretboard and how it feels can be a big factor. For example, I have small hands, but love to play a full-sized Fender Stratocaster because the neck just feels right for me. The scale length can be a factor, but since everyone has different sized hands, its not the number one factor in determining if the guitar will feel right to you or not. It’s important to try the guitar out if you can to determine if the neck feels right for your fingers.
¾ Sized Guitars
These guitars re essentially “student or child sized guitars and they can be ideal for small hands or younger players as they are more comfortable. Adults that are just learning may also find them easier to play. One thing to note as most ¾ sized guitars don’t have as many features as full sixed guitars so the sound may not be what you’re looking for. A smaller guitar body can be more comfortable to hold, and this reduces strain on your arm, shoulder, and hands which can make playing a lot easier.
The Cutaway
The cutaway on a guitar should be quite deep. This makes it much easier to hit the higher notes and get your smaller fingers to reach the notes you want to play. I find deep cutaways on guitars make playing a lot of fun for me as I can hit all those notes I just can’t reach on other guitars. For example, a shred guitar like an Ibanez is much easier to play than say a full-sized jazz style guitar where the cutaway isn’t very deep, if there even is one at all. If the cutaway is deep, it’s just going to be more comfortable for your hands, especially when you’re soloing
Light Strings
You will find string easier light strings either 008s or 009s. I use 009s most of the time, as I find 008s are too light. You can also customize the gauge as long as the G, B, ad E strings are thin, playing is easier. Don’t use 010s with smaller hands unless you have been playing for a long time as they are very hard on your fingers. You should experiment with strings till you find a brand that you like. You want strings that will be very comfortable for your smaller fingers. If you’re new, there will be some discomfort until your hands are used to playing. Make sure you change strings often as fresher ones are easier to bend and play.
List of 10 Electric Guitars for Small Hands
1. Epiphone G-400 Pro Electric Guitar
The Gibson SG is the perfect guitar for small hands. Players like AC/DCs Angus Young uses one and he’s quite small. Gibson SGs can cost a lot of money, so I would go with an Epiphone SG such as the Epiphone G-400 Pro which is the right choice for a smaller hand size.
This guitar is smaller than a regular guitar and fits easily in your hands. The neck is very easy to play and features 22 frets on a rosewood fingerboard. The neck profile is a D shape, so it’s perfect for those with less chord reach from their fingers. You’ll get that SG sound with the two humbucking pickups. There’s a Tune-O Matic bridge to help keep the tuning of this guitar stable. There’s two tone, two volume, and a pickup selector switch to round out the hardware on this guitar. The tuning pegs are also solid which adds to the tuning stability of the instrument.
Pros
- Looks great
- Nice cutaway for easy reach of higher frets
Cons
- No locking nut
- A bit small for larger hands
Final Verdict
I love the Gibson SG shape and for me, it’s perfect. I have small hands and know how hard it can be to find a comfortable guitar. I find the SH model to be one of the easiest guitars to play because it just feels comfortable. The instrument is also lightweight so there’s less strain on your back, arms and wrist which means your hand won’t tire out as much when you play. I think the SG sounds amazing and you will too as there’s great versatility with this guitar. You’ll find it ideal for blues, metal, rock, country and many other guitar styles. If you struggle with small hands, give this guitar a try as it really can’t be beat in terms of playability.
2. Squier by Fender Vintage Modified Stratocaster Beginner Electric Guitar
Fender makes some great guitar and their lower cost model is the Squier. The Vintage Modified Stratocaster is the perfect choice for those that have smaller hands as its smaller than a regular Telecaster. There’s a tone, volume, and a selector switch for the pickups.
There’s a 9.5 fretboard radius and 21 jumbo frets so its very comfortable to play and the entire neck is maple. This guitar gives you great tones and has humbucking pickups and not single coils which normal Telecasters have so the guitar is perfect for rock, blues, and even metal sounds. You also get an F-hole, so the guitar can make both electric and acoustic sounds. The bridge is a hardtail which makes string changing easy on this instrument.
Pros
- Easy to play
- Very comfortable neck
Cons
- Lacks traditional Tele sound
- Could use another tone control
Final Verdict
This is an excellent Telecaster for those that have small hands. I find the Vintage Modified to be very easy to play and to fret chords on which can be difficult to do with larger sized guitars. The guitar also sounds amazing and you will be very pleased with all the great tones you’ll be able to get out of it. The Squier has come a long way in recent years and they are great beginner or intermediate instruments. This is the ideal option for anyone that has small hands and wants a very comfortable to play guitar.
3. Squier by Fender Mini Strat Beginner Electric Guitar
Fender has some smaller sized ¾ guitars which are perfect for those with small hands or are just students starting out and naturally have smaller hands than adults. The Fender Mini Strat is the ideal choice in these circumstances.
The string scale of this instrument is 22.75 so the neck is smaller which makes it easy to play. The neck is also C shaped so it’s easier on the fingers than other guitars necks. The body is ¾ size so it’s the perfect shape for smaller players. The fretboard is rosewood with 21 frets. You get a volume, tone, and a pickup switch. The pickups are three standard Fender style single coil pickups. The bridge is a hardtail bridge for easy string changing and to keep the tuning of the guitar stable.
Pros
- Easy for beginners to play
- Comfortable body design
Cons
- No tremolo system
- Too small for larger players
Final Verdict
This Squier guitar is designed for a student that has small hands, but it would also be the ideal choice for any beginner that just wants to learn. The ¾ size is very comfortable to play and the neck is smooth for easy fretting of chords and scales. I wish I had a student sized guitar when I was first learning as I would have had a lot less frustration. If you struggle with a full-sized guitar, try this Squier as it has a lot going for it and will be the ideal fit for your small hands.4. Schecter S-II CUSTOM STCB Solid-Body Electric Guitar
Schecter produces amazing guitars and they do have models which would be well suited to those that have smaller hands and needs something comfortable to play. One such model is the Schecter S-II Custom TCB.
This guitar has a flamed maple top and a mahogany body. You get 22 jumbo frets on a rosewood fingerboard, so the neck is very comfortable to play. The neck is 3-piece mahogany which is more stable than other guitars necks. It features an ‘SG” style shape to it so it’s very comfortable to hold. You get Schecter USA Pasadena Plus/Pasadena humbucking pick-ups which sound very good and are better than regular pickups. The bridge is a Tune-O Matic which helps the guitar stay in tune for longer and gives the strings stability. There’s a volume, tone, and a selector switch for the guitars pickups. You get great rock, metal, and even shred tones out of this instrument.
Pros
- Sounds great
- Nice easy to play design
Cons
- Lacks extra tone and volume control
Final Verdict
The Gibson SG shape is perfect for small hands and Schecter takes this shape further with their Schecter S-II Custom TCB. The cutaway is the best feature as its very deep, so you’ll find it easy to play those harder to reach notes which can be a problem for shorter fingers. I found this guitar confrontable for my short fingers which tend to struggle on larger sized guitars or those with bigger necks and a lack of cutaway. If you want a great shred guitar even for short fingers, this one is it.
5. Jackson JS32 Dinky DKA-M
Jackson makes a great line for those with smaller hands called the Dinky. This guitar has a lot going for it and it’s the perfect choice for those that struggle with other guitars.
The Jackson Dinky features a nice double cutaway which makes it very easy for small hands to hit the higher frets on this guitar. This is ideal for those that struggle to play guitars that don’t feature double cutaways. The neck is reinforced with graphite and made with maple which makes it even easier to play. The pickups are new high-output ceramic-magnet humbucking pickups made by Jackson. To help the guitar stay in tune there’s a Floyd Rose tremolo. There’s a tone control, volume knob, and a selector switch for the pickups.
Pros
- Nice design
- Solid black hardware
Cons
- Tremolo system can be hard to tune
Final Verdict
For those that need a metal style guitar for small hands, the Jackson Dinky is the ideal choice. I find this guitar very easy to play and it’s comfortable for smaller fingers that might struggle to play scales and chords. Your fingers are going to play up and down the neck of this guitar. I love the shark inlay design for the fretboard markers as this is a nice added touch to this instrument. The Jackson Dinky is an excellent choice for anyone that needs a comfortable guitar to play what offers good sound.
6. Ibanez S Series S520 Electric Guitar
One of the easiest guitars to play is the Ibanez. These guitars are also well suited to those with small hands as they have many features which make them comfortable. One recommended model is the Ibanez S Series S520 as it has many features and qualities that you’re going to love.
This guitar has conformable wizard neck, so it fits comfortably in your hand. The neck is maple with a rosewood fingerboard, it has 24 frets, and body of the guitar is made from mahogany. This is the ideal guitar for rock, metal, shred, and similar guitar styles. The guitar has two humbucking pickups, tone control, volume, knob, and a pickup selector switch. To help stabilize the tuning, there’s Edge-Zero II bridge and locking nut system installed so you can do a lot of dive bombs and other tricks with this instrument.
Pros
- Solid professional design
- Sounds amazing
Cons
- Tremolo can be hard to tune
- Could use another tone control
Final Verdict
The Ibanez S Series S520 is a great shred guitar, and well suited to those with smaller hands as the notes are all easy to access on the comfortable neck. I find Ibanez guitars easy to play in my smaller hands and you will, too. Th is a top pick for anyone that wants to play advanced guitar styles but has a small hand size than the regular player.7. Jackson JS32T King V
For anyone looking for a quality guitar for small hands, you might want to look at a Jackson Flying V. This guitar is a perfect option for many reasons.
This guitar features two humbucking pickups so you have a wide range of tones for rock, metal, shred and other guitar styles. The pickups are quality Jackson pickups, so they have more range than standard humbuckers. The bridge is a hardtail through the body, so string changing is easy. You get a rosewood fretboard with 24 frets and the notes are easy to reach with the V shape of the body. There’s a tone, volume, and a selector switch to round out the hardware on the guitar.
Pros
- Great look
- Solid hardware
Cons
- No locking nut
- Need another tone control
Final Verdict
This Flying V by Jackson is perfect for those that have small hands as all the notes are easy to hit on the instrument and it’s very comfortable in your hands. The shark inlay on the fretboard is an added touch that I like with this guitar. This instrument is a good option for those that want a comfortable guitar to play, but don’t want to spend a whole lot of money.
8. Traveler Guitar SPD HRB V2 Speedster Hot Rod Electric Travel Guitar
If you’re looking for a very comfortable guitar to play for your small hands, Traveler guitars are one of the top picks. This guitar may look different, but their smaller size makes them perfect for smaller hands for several reasons.
This guitar is a ¾ scale guitar so its smaller than a regular guitar, but still sounds great. The neck still gives you a full 22 frets, so you can play rock, blues, metal and other guitar styles with ease. The body and neck are made out of maple and you get a rosewood fingerboard. The tuning pegs are in th middle of the body and help keep this guitar is tune. You get a dual rail humbucker, a volume and a tone control. The Tune-O Matic bridge helps keep the tuning stable on the instrument. It has a built-in headphone amp with four tones to jam along with or use a regular amplifier.
Pros
- Unique design
- Easy playing
Cons
- Lacks feature of full sized guitars
- Could use another pickup
Final Verdict
I love the Traveler Guitar SPD HRB because it’s so easy to play. The small size makes it ideal for younger player sand small hands. It’s also portable so that is a handy feature. This guitar looks different, but it plays well and its well suited for small hands so it’s a great pick for those that want a comfortable guitar to play.
9. Fender American Special Stratocaster
Fender guitars sound great, but some of the models are every cumbersome for smaller hands. Fender makes a newer version called the American Special Stratocaster which has a lot of features for smaller players and their needs.
This guitar has an alder body with a maple neck, the fretboard is rosewood and there’s 22 frets. The neck is a C radius, and this is very easy to play. The pickups are Texas Special single-coil pickups which sound better than regular Strat single coils as there’s more output. You get a volume, two tone controls, and a pickup selector switch. The tremolo is a standard Fender tremolo, so it keeps the guitar in tune for longer.
Pros
- Solid Design
- Nice chrome hardware
Cons
- Headstock a bit big
Final Verdict
I have small hands and I play Fender Stratocasters. The America Special is a very nice guitar which you’re going to find quite comfortable to play. It fits may hands well and I can get tons of great rock, blue, country, and similar sounds out of this instrument without any problems whatsoever. This is the ideal choice if you want a comfortable guitar to play that you’re not going to have to fight. One nice added feature is a “Greasebucket” tone circuit which gives the pickups more tonal variations, and this is wonderful added touch that I like.10. Fender Duo-Sonic HS
Fender makes another great guitar for small hand sin the Duo Sonic. This guitar was once a student style guitar, but they decided it would be perfect for the average player. This guitar has many features that you’ll love.
The body is made with alder wood and it has a 22-fret rosewood fingerboard. The double cutaway makes playing the high notes very easy, even if your hands are quite small. This guitar has a compact size, but a very big sound as it features both a single coli and a humbucking pickup. There’s a tine, volume, and a selector switch for the pickups. The bridge is a hardtail which keeps the strings in tune for longer and makes changing strings easy.
Pros
- Unique look
- Easy playing
Cons
- No standard Fender tremolo
Final Verdict
The scale length is shorter than normal, so this means for comfort for your small hands. I like the shape of this guitar and it just feels right in your hands. You’ll get very good tones out of the pickups which both sound good. I like the fact it has a single coil and a humbucker as this opens up so many more sound options than just straight humbuckers or single coils.I Have A Best Guitar for Small Hands, What Now?
As a guitar player with small hands there’s a few things you can do to make playing easier for you. These tips helped me become a good guitar player even though I have very small hands.
Don’t Get Frustrated
Like anything I life, it takes practice to get better. You don’t learn to ride a bike on day one and you won’t play guitar well on day one. Take your time learning the guitar and make sure you get a good teacher that can show you what you may be doing wrong. When you have small hands it can be frustrating, but you’ll be able to play like anyone else if you just give your hands time to adjust to the guitar. The main thing is to maintain a positive attitude as this is what is going to help you become a better guitar player. I stayed positive and now my playing is good, despite my small hands. You can succeed on guitar, so stick with it.
Guitar Setup
Have a tech set up your guitar. They can make changes which can make it easier for you to ply. For example, they may adjust the action which will make it easier for you to fret complicated chords which reduces strain on your fingers as you play. If the guitar plays too stiff, the neck may be adjusted to help ease the stress on your fingers as you bend notes. Even small changes to the guitar can help ease the stress your fingers face as you play. The tech can also adjust how the tremolo system sits on the guitar which can also make playing easier for your small hands.
Warm Up First
Before you play, warmup on simple things you already know. This could be a song, scale, exercise or anything else. Your hands need 10-15 minutes of warmup before you start anything strenuous on guitar. This will help you a great deal if you have smaller hands.
Play Scales Often
You should practice scales as often as you can. Scale will help develop your finger strength and this can be easier on your fingers than straight chords are. Make sure you do scale exercises for all of your fingers. As you play, make sure you go very slowly so you don’t miss notes. Keep the wrist relaxed and the thumb behind the neck as you run up and down the scales. Incorporate scale exercises for all fingers just not the string ones so the entire hand is developed. I became much better at guitar by playing scales all the time even though I have shorter than normal fingers.
Chords (Barre Chords)
One of the most difficult chords to play with small hands are barre chords. These chords use all four fingers and for those with small hands, they can hurt a great deal. The trick is to just take your time with them and allow the hand to relax before you even attempt them. Give the chords a few minutes each day and over time, you’ll be able to play them. I find barre chords much easier after a full warmup session to loosen up my hands.
Alternate Tunings
Another way to play guitar which is easy on smaller hands is to use alternate tuning. These tunings release a lot of the tension on the strings which makes it easier for you to play. In fact, many chords will only take one or two fingers to play in alternate tunings. If you’re struggling playing regular chords, try alternate tunings like drop D, G, E, A and DADGAD, as they are easy on your fingers, but sound amazing. In these alternate tuning you can even play many of your favorite songs and they sounds just as good as the originals do in standard tunings. Another trick is to tune to Eb, which is a half step down from standard and even this slight tuning change can make the guitar much easier to play for those with small hands.
Gear for Small hands
In terms of gear there’s a lot of options. Try to use picks that feel comfortable in your fingers. I like smaller picks as they seem to work better with my smaller hands. Experiment a bit with picks until you find one that works the best for you. There’s also smaller sized slides you can buy which will fit your smaller fingers so that’s another option of you play slide guitar. You should also get a ball or a similar device as you can squeeze this which will help develop your fingers when you’re not playing. Any finger exercise device will help develop your shorter fingers more so playing guitar is more comfortable for you.
Conclusion
As a guitar player with smaller hands, you have a lot more choice in the market than ever before. Take your time learning the guitar and make sure the guitar you play is comfortable for you. Just remember, everyone is different and out hands can be too. Find a guitar that matches the size of your hands and is comfortable for your needs.
You may need to try out several guitars before you find one that works for you, so don’t get discouraged. If you practice a lot, you can make most guitars works for you even if you have smaller than normal hands. There’s plenty of guitar players that had smaller hand sizes such as Angus Young and Randy Rhoads, so anyone can learn to play the guitar well, regardless of your hand size.
Hey thx for that info, I think I have normal sized hands, but I find the smaller guitars more fun to play, you didn’t mention weight, on any of these guitars….some if these guitars are a pain to play, or get comfortable too…
Oh well…..thx again