If you are somebody with small hands, you know how much of a hassle it can be to play the guitar comfortably. You try and wrap your hands around complicated chords, which ends up feeling like a futile mission.
It’s an issue that plagues guitarists all over the world, which is why we are here to help.
We’ve found some great guitars, perfect for players with small hands. If you want to play with more ease and functionality, stick around and check out our list below.
What Makes a Guitar Good for Small Hands?
Neck Size
The neck thickness is easily one of the most important things to consider when looking for a small-handed electric guitar. A neck that is too thick will make it hard to play chords and will make you sore faster. Look for keywords like “slim neck profile” or “flat neck”, both of which will make shredding much easier and far more comfortable.
Scale Length
Scale length is the next most crucial factor to consider when looking for your small-handed electric. Your average Fender guitar sits around 25.5” in scale length, which may be too large and require too much of a stretch for the small-handed. We recommend looking for scale lengths anywhere between 22-24.6”.
Body Size
Body size is more important when you’re considering an acoustic guitar, though some electric guitar bodies are a bit bulky too, giving small-handed guitarists something extra to deal with while trying to shred.
All in all, the bulkier the body, the harder it will be to hold and play.
You’ll want an electric guitar with a slender body that allows you to grab and adjust it with ease.
When you begin to play live, you’ll notice the added freedom that allows you to play expressively without feeling weighed down.
Top 8 Electric Guitars for Small Hands
Fender Kurt Cobain
Top Pick!
Though his presence was larger than life onstage, Kurt Cobain was fairly small. His famous Fender Mustang was the perfect size for his small hands, allowing him to chug away with power chords for hours on end without feeling pain.
What we love so much about this particular guitar is that just because it’s small does not mean that it is lower quality. When you buy this guitar, you’ll know you’ve purchased something high-quality and professional.
At 24” in scale length with a modern c-shaped neck, it’s incredibly easy to play overall.
The Alder body, maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard, all work together to create the iconic sounds of 90’s grunge rock. Just like Cobain’s famous axe, this one has been modified with a vintage tremolo and an Adjustomatic bridge.
The three-stage control chrome setup allows you to meticulously adjust the tone to your liking and it comes complete with a black textured vinyl hard case so that you can get to gigging and touring right away!
Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a professional electric guitar that is built for small hands, there is no question that the Kurt Cobain Mustang is one of the best around. From the sophisticated look to the authentic rock sounds, it’s a force to be reckoned with.
Epiphone Les Paul Special VE
Best Budget Option
If you’re looking for the classic Epiphone sound in a more compact and lightweight form, the Epiphone Les Paul Special VE should be on your radar. This bad boy provides that rock and roll, open-coil humbucker tone in a lightweight, Poplar body design.
The 24.75” scale length makes it just a bit smaller than standard, and the slim taper D profile neck allows small-handed players to reach around and play complex chords without feeling uncomfortable.
The Les Paul Special VE is just as much about aesthetic as they are sound. The Vintage Worn finish looks gorgeous, giving you the same classic look that you would expect from a 60’s-style Les Paul. The 650R humbucker in the neck position gives you warmth and roundness while the 700T humbucker in the bridge section gives you solid leads.
The three-way pickup switch and speed knobs allow you to easily adjust and control your tone on the fly.
Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a guitar that is lightweight and easy to play, yet still provides the authentic sound of rock and roll, look no further than the Epiphone Les Paul Special VE. It’s a one-of-a-kind reproduction of a vintage guitar with top-tier sound.
Daisy Rock Guitars was founded on the idea that small-handed guitarists did not have representation in the guitar manufacturing market.
They make some of the best guitars in the world that are specifically for people with small hands, mostly women and girls. With that said, many boys and men can enjoy playing Daisy Rock guitars too, as many of them have a neutral look.
The Daisy Rock Venus, in particular, has a gorgeous Ivory pearl finish with one-of-a-kind vine and flower inlays that run up the neck.
Don’t let the beauty fool you though, this guitar is a tank. The set-neck construction adds to the overall durability and sustain, especially when paired with the Mahogany body.
The narrow thin neck design gives those players with small hands the ability to play with freedom and ease. The body is also relatively slim and very lightweight, allowing you to travel with ease too.
The fixed bridge design and humbucker pickups give you that classic rock and roll sound while the tune-o-matic bridge provides solid intonation for reliable playing.
Bottom Line: For a company that prides themselves on their small-handed guitars, they stand up well to the big players in the industry too. The Daisy Rock Venus is a small-sized guitar with a big sound and professional features.
Squier has always been one of our favorites, as these guitars allow players to have a pro sound at a much lower price. The Vibe Stratocaster, in particular, provides that classic 50’s-style sound with incredible playability.
While it doesn’t necessarily have a shorter scale length, it does have a nice, thin neck, making it easy to wrap your hands around complex chords and play for hours without pain. With the c-shaped design and 9.5” radius, it’ll feel like butter.
At first glance, you’ll be enamored by the glossy, traditional design. It’s much like a pair of Ray Bans, as it’ll truly never go out of style.
The vintage synchronized tremolo provides a bit more versatility in playing while the single-coil strat pickups give you that twangy Fender sound that we all know and love.
It’s great for almost any style of playing as well and will suit just about any genre, making it a well-rounded workhorse for the modern guitarist.
Bottom Line: A Fender guitar is a Fender guitar. There is a build and sound quality that you can’t get anywhere else. This is a guitar that is not only great for the small-handed but one that will always work with you and never go out of style.
If you can’t afford to blow a whole paycheck on that Kurt Cobain Mustang, we recommend checking out Fender’s less expensive version, the classic Fender Mustang.
With a compact, 24” scale length, it is much easier for small-handed guitarists to play with ease. Pair that with the comfortable c-shaped neck and 9.5” radius and you have a guitar that is easy to wrap your hands around.
In terms of sound, the dual single-coil pickups give you that unmistakable alternative rock tone that will transport you back to the days of grunge and 90s rock.
There is a six-saddle string-through hardtail bridge that gives you stability and reliability in your tuning and intonation while also providing an interesting resonance thanks to the metal build.
The classic three-way Mustang pickup switch gives you total control over your guitar’s sound while the tone control allows you to dial in the perfect amount of treble for those dirty power chords.
Bottom Line: If you’re looking for a solid, mid-priced electric guitar to rock your socks off, the Mustang is undeniably one of the best. It’s easy to play and provides a versatile, one-of-a-kind sound that alternative rock lovers of all kinds know and love.
The Epiphone SG Special VE Electric is truly one of the most iconic rock and roll guitars in design. It pretty much became a staple of rock and roll during the 1960s and is still one of the most popular guitars in the genre today.
Several features make it perfect for players with small hands as well. You have a 24.75” scale length and a slim taper D profile neck for smooth playability. There are 22 frets, though they sit close together, making it easy to stretch those chords and play scales without feeling uncomfortable.
The guitar features open-coil humbuckers and ceramic magnets that give you that classic rock sound from the second you plug it in.
The ceramic pickups give you an incredibly high output when compared to Alnico pickups and give you a tight low-end response, smooth mid-range, and present top end, perfect for those loud and in-your-face guitar solos.
The 3-way pickup selector is great for dialing in your ideal tone while the black speed-knobs allow you to adjust volume and tone on the fly. Ready to make some gorgeous swells?
Bottom Line: Epiphone has been top-of-the-line for over 100 years now, and their SG Special is one of the best guitars in rock and roll.
If you’re a shredder with small hands, the Ibanez Mikro ¾ might be one of your best options on the market. Not only do you get that classic Ibanez sound that is perfect for metal, hard rock, and avant-garde guitarists of all kinds, but you also get solid playability and functionality for your small hands.
It might be small, but the sound is mighty. Somehow Ibanez was able to pack everything that you would find in one of their full-sized guitars into this little monster of a guitar.
It’s actually the very first short-scale guitar that Ibanez ever built and rests at a ¾ size with a 22” long neck. There are 24 frets packed onto this small neck too, making it easier to stretch and play more complex chords.
The body is a beautiful mahogany, and the neck is made of maple, meaning you get quality materials that add to the tone, durability, and sustain of this guitar. Even with these pro materials, it’s priced quite fairly.
Bottom Line: Just looking at the size, this is one of the best electric guitars for small hands. It’s priced reasonably for the quality you get and has miniature features that provide easy playability with a big sound.
If you’re a Fender fan, yet want something that is a little bit off-the-cusp, we recommend checking out Stagg. This small instrument company was established in Belgium during the mid-1990s and has been manufacturing more accessible instruments ever since.
The Stagg S300 ¾ provides the sounds of a Fender Stratocaster without the higher price tag for a brand name. At a ¾ scale length, it is far easier to play for those with small hands.
When it comes to sound, they’ve done an excellent job at replicating the twang and bite of the classic Stratocaster. The three single-coil pickup design and 5-way switch offer maximum adjustability for a variety of tones and playing styles.
The body is made with a solid Alder, giving you added durability and sustain that can’t be beat. The Classic “S” style tremolo gives that added functionality too. While this particular S300 comes in a natural finish, you can purchase it in an array of colors!
Bottom Line: If you’re looking for the sound of a Fender Strat with the playability of a ¾ guitar and the price tag of an off-brand instrument, the Stagg S300 ¾ is a solid choice.
Time to Put Those Small Hands To Work!
Just because you have smaller hands than the average person does not mean you should be limited in playing. Some of the best guitarists of the last few decades had small hands.
Just check out Andy Summers, Nancy Wilson, Paul Simon, Angus Young, or Randy Rhoads. All of these guitarists made successful careers of playing and never used their small hands as an excuse to stop shredding.
We hope that our list helped you to find the small electric guitar of your dreams.
If we had to pick one, it would be the Fender Kurt Cobain. Not many smaller-scale guitars provide the same quality and sound as standard guitars, so the fact that you can get a pro sound with easy playability makes it a winner in our books.
Keep on shredding our small-handed friends!
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