Does The Guitar Size Matter? Some of the Aspects You Should Know About Guitar Size

There are many guitar players: international artists, local performers, friends, colleagues, cousins, brothers-in-law, big guys, petite girls, young people, older adults…

Would they stop playing guitar if only one guitar model were used? I don’t think so. Indeed, a “regular” guitar can be played by a large variety of people, with many different physical characteristics, including the size and shape of fingers, hands, and bodies.

But there is also a vast array of guitar shapes and sizes designed to fit every physical singularity of the player.

What’s the best choice of guitar size?

There are all sorts of opinions, but they can be divided into two main trends:

Those who think the standard guitar is the best.
And those who claim it is better to adapt the guitar to its player.

They both have outstanding arguments to defend their postures. Here are some of the aspects you should know about the guitar size.

My fingers are too big or too fat.

Starting to play guitar can be difficult if the guitar neck is too narrow and your fingers are big. Acoustic guitars have slightly narrower necks than classical guitars. As a result, touching only one string with each finger can be challenging.

If this is the case, you should start a classical guitar, even if you intend to play an acoustic one.

My hand is too small.

We all think our hand is too small when we start playing, and therefore we won’t be able to achieve the hand posture the guitar teacher or the guitar manual is displaying.

It is just a matter of developing hand elasticity and strength. But, if you have a tiny hand, there are smaller guitars. Closer frets can facilitate your guitar practice.

I’m too short

In this case, problems might be caused by the size of the guitar’s body. Standard acoustic guitars have a bigger body size than classical guitars. This could cause you problems playing while sitting, and you are especially short.

Are there different guitar sizes?

Yes, there are. These are the most popular four:

Size reflects the distance between the two points where the string is attached to the guitar: the saddle -on the bridge- and the nut -at the base of the headstock.- It is the length of the vibrating part of the string.

The standard scale length for a modern full-size classical guitar is 25.6 inches (650mm). Like in fashion, a given size has many different measures according to the manufacturer. The neck’s width varies. The standard width of a full-size classic guitar’s nut is 52mm.

The third possible modification is the guitar body size, which can be convenient for a small person but also reduces the guitar’s overall volume and tonal range.

Get some ideas of how it is to play a smaller guitar

If you have a full-size guitar and a capo, this is how you can do it:

The capo in the first fret simulates a 7/8 guitar.
If you put the capo in the second fret, the guitar acts as a 3/4.
If you put it in the third fret, it simulates a 1/2.

Check if the guitar string is too close to each other

Press one of the central strings with your finger perpendicular to the bridge. It would be best if you pressed it in the second fret, and the string must be right under the center of the fingertip.

If your finger touches the adjacent strings, that guitar will cause trouble.
It would help to keep your fingernails short to press the fingerboard adequately.

Conclusion

Likely, your physical characteristics won’t impede you from playing a “regular” guitar and reaching any goals you might have set your mind to. It would be best if you remembered how many different types of guitarists play a “regular” guitar.

But it would be best if you also considered that the wide variety of guitar shapes and sizes might contribute to a more enjoyable experience. Still, you’ll need to make sure it fits your exact needs.

Now you know the options. It is up to you. Which one will you choose?