The guitar has to be one of the best instruments that ever existed. Well, yeah, this comes down to personal opinions. However, it’s been proven that guitar is one of the most popular instruments for those who are just starting out on their journey into the world of music. Overall, the instrument might be tricky at first, but it won’t take long for anyone to figure out the basic stuff and learn how to strum the basic chords and play their favorite songs. However, troubles might happen when the guitar neck just feels too large for one’s hands. This is why we decided to look more into the matter and bring the list of the best acoustic guitars for small hands.
These guitars will come in handy for all ages and any particular level of playing. Yes, these are usually associated with younger players who are just starting out. But even older players might experience troubles with some conventional guitars. So they might also look more into these smaller guitars with more appropriate necks for their needs. It’s not uncommon. So let us dig in.
Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor
Taylor is, without a doubt, one of the biggest and most respected acoustic guitar manufacturers in the world. But while they’re mostly focused on some professional high-end instruments, there are still some great examples of mid-level acoustic guitars for beginners or those with smaller hands. A great example comes with their specially designed BT2, also known as the Baby Taylor.
This is a fairly simple instrument, but it’s pretty clear that a lot of attention has been put in its design and performance. The body features a mahogany top, which gives more mellow tones, rich and with much-needed low end. For the sides and the back, we have layered Sapele, while the neck is Tropical American Mahogany.
The entire guitar is 3/4 of the size of a regular one. The entire scale length (from the nut to the bridge) is 22 and 3/4 inches, which is noticeably smaller compared to a regular guitar. The neck is pretty comfortable for smaller hands.
Fender FA-115
Fender is an unavoidable brand in every talk about guitars. What’s quite exciting is that they also have some great instruments in the lower price category. Nonetheless, these guitars still deliver quite a punch and outperform their price level. One of the best examples is the company’s FA-115.
The most surprising thins is that we have an acoustic guitar with a body featuring a spruce top. This is something you don’t often see with guitars at this price level. As for back and sides, we have laminated basswood, while the neck is made of nato wood. And for the fretboard, we have the classic rosewood.
Aside from being a good choice for beginners and anyone with small hands, Fender’s FA-115 is also a very versatile guitar. It can serve you well even past the beginner stage.
Oscar Schmidt OG1FYS
There’s also a lot of great stuff to be found in Oscar Schmidt’s array of instruments. But the one we’re interested the most here is their OG1FYS acoustic guitar. First, this is a 3/4-size instrument, very suitable for the category we’re discussing here. Once again we have a guitar with spruce on the top, which provides that sharper high-end tone. Now, what makes the instrument intriguing is the choice of wood for the back and sides. Here we have the catalpa wood, which you don’t often find with any guitar. This results in a great tone that finds use in a lot of different musical styles.
When it comes to the tuners, you can see that a lot of attention has been put into finding proper ones for such an affordable instrument. You don’t need to worry about going out of tune with this one – for sure, one of the best acoustic guitars for smaller hands.
Yamaha APXT2
Present on the guitar market since the 1940s, Yamaha has perfected their craft of instrument building. These days, you can even find some amazing instruments even in the cheaper category. For those looking for acoustic guitars for players with smaller hands, we would recommend their APXT2.
This one is often marketed as a travel guitar, but this is exactly what makes it a perfect choice for anyone who isn’t fond of full-sized guitars. Aside from some basic features, the guitar also has Yamaha’s pickup system and a preamp. Powered by a standard 9-volt battery, you can use this with any appropriate amp or even plug it into a PA system.
As far as the materials go, we have a body with solid spruce on top. The neck is pretty comfortable and the guitar is really easy to play.
Yamaha JR1 FG Junior
Knowing how great they are, it’s impossible not to mention at least another Yamaha’s guitar here. Our second choice is their JR1 acoustic guitar. Featuring the 3/4 size, this is a dreadnaught-shaped instrument. Once again we have a body with a spruce top, and the sides and the back are made from meranti wood. The neck is made from a nato wood, while the fingerboard is the standard rosewood. The scale length is pretty small, 21 and 1/4 inches.
Martin LX1E Little Martin
The body features a solid Sitka spruce top, while the back and sides are made of high-pressure mahogany laminate. It’s intended for younger guitar students and anyone looking for the perfect travel guitar. As far as the neck goes, it’s a mahogany one. The total scale length is 23 inches. In our honest opinion, you just can’t go wrong with Martin’s LX1E.
Among all the smaller-sized guitars, we’d argue that Martin’s LX1E is a champion. Which is not a surprise at all, since Martin is well-known for making some of the best acoustic guitars on the market. It’s not the cheapest one, but its tone and performance are top-notch, so the price is completely justified.
