The 6 Best Guitars for Small Hands: Get the Right Fit for You

Guitars come in many different shapes and sizes to suit people of different shapes and sizes. Each of these has something different up its sleeve, be it great tonewood or an easy-to-play neck. Beginners and people with smaller hands usually have problems with guitars that are relatively big. This leads to improper fretting or a bag fit when playing overall.

Nowadays, we have seen manufacturers produce many instruments in a smaller parlor or travel size to solve this problem. This comes from the likes of big brands like Taylor, Fender, and others like Zager! One problem with small guitars is that they do not sound as rich as their bigger counterparts. However, this gap has been shortening greatly over the recent years.

Smaller guitars are now an emerging trend with more people buying them as they sound almost as good as a classic OM-sized guitar. They are easy to fret with slim necks, great for smaller hands. Having said that let’s check out our top picks for the best guitars for small hands so that you have an idea of what to expect when you’re out shopping for one!

Look At The Best Guitars For Small Hands In 45 Seconds!

• Zager Travel Acoustic-Electric: It is best for musicians who are always on the go! It comes with a solid mahogany wood construction and features a custom string spacing great for smaller hands,
• Zager Parlor 38-inch: It delivers exceptional quality and value, boasting a 2-inch shorter-scale neck for ease of play. It is a great example of a small guitar with great sound quality.
• Zager ZAD80CE (Smaller “OM” Size): One of the tops-of-the-line products from Denny Zager! Although it is not the smallest guitar than the others.
• Zager ZAD20 Series: It combines solid wood construction with premium components that define its great sound. With a slim neck and Zager soft-touch fret design, you’ll have a great time playing especially if you have small hands.
• Taylor BT2:  A great, portable, and affordable alternative to full-sized Taylor guitars, with a ¾ sized dreadnought body with a real tropical mahogany top. 
• Eastman E10P: The Eastman E10P Parlor is made from premium materials such as a solid Adirondack spruce top and solid mahogany sides and back. It’s small and packs a punch!

Top 6 Guitars For Smaller Hands: Our Professional Picks

1. Zager Travel 

The Zager Travel Size is an acoustic-electric guitar that is compact and versatile for guitarists with a smaller build. It is designed for travel in mind as the name itself suggests. The Zager travel is crafted with the same attention to detail as their other guitars from their more premium segment such as the ZAD900. 

If you have smaller hands this guitar will be perfect for you as Zager carries over its custom easy play neck design across all its guitars. Ideal for both children and adults with small hands, the Zager Travel is ideal for seeking portability without compromising on sound quality. 

It comes in a solid mahogany wood construction that is both durable and rich in sound. Zager’s guitars are known to include professional-grade hardware and electronics found in flagship models most of the time. This guitar is no exception too. 

It comes with a custom electronic transducer system and an automatic tuner. This way you can seamlessly transition from acoustic to electric with a simple amplifier. Additionally, it comes with, a genuine Fishman electronics package, complete with custom equalization, and empowers players to tailor their sound to their unique playing style with precision and ease.

In addition to its advanced electronics, the Zager Travel guitar prioritizes comfort and playability. It features a slim neck design, custom string spacing, and Zager’s signature soft touch fret design. This makes up an instrument that is comfortable to play during extended sessions. Its compact footprint makes it an excellent choice for musicians with smaller hands.

2. Zager Parlor 38-inch 

The Zager 38-inch Parlor guitar stands as a great example of luthier Denny Zager’s commitment to precision and passion. This guitar has great quality while being accessible at a competitive price point. Although it is not the smallest guitar in comparison to the ones we’ve mentioned till now, it is another great choice for those with small hands. 

Zager’s easy-play guitars are designed with comfort and playability in mind. The Zager Parlor features a 2-inch shorter scale neck than regular guitars, great for smaller-handed musicians to navigate the fretboard with ease. 

What sets it apart from other parlor guitars is the fact that it can produce a deep sound, which is slightly due to the use of solid wood in its build. It also has a hand-carved bracing system and a custom neck design that adds to its custom sound.

The Zager Parlor has great attention to detail with features like an adjustable truss rod, soft touch fret design, and hand-laid abalone inlay rosette. Moreover, the slim neck design and custom string spacing promote speed and accuracy. It also aids in minimizing string buzz and finger fatigue making it a great pick for beginners and seasoned guitarists alike.

3. Zager ZAD80CE Orchestra Model

The Zager ZAD80CE is a smaller version of the original full-sized one with the same name. If you’re looking for a good quality guitar without compromising on sound. It is slightly larger than the parlor guitars from Zager but a good enough size for people with smaller builds.

This Orchestra Model (OM) version of the ZAD80CE guitar is a direct copy of the full-size but in a 15% smaller framework. It sports a narrow hourglass shape and a thinner body making it ergonomic and seamless to hold close to your body.

When you hold this guitar, you will instantly be reminded of popular models like the Martin OOO and Taylor Grand Auditorium. Similar to the Martin, it has a Venetian cutaway box design that enhances playability by giving easy access to higher frets great for solos.

The ZAD80CE makes it easy for any type of player to play it with comfort, especially for players with smaller hands. The slim neck design and custom string spacing make playing chords and navigating the fretboard effortless. This also reduces finger strain and fatigue.  Additionally, the Zager soft-touch fret design minimizes string bite and finger fatigue, enhancing overall comfort.

Beyond its design features, the ZAD80CE sounds amazing thanks to its solid wood construction. It is made from East Indian rosewood and red cedar, which is known for sounding deep and rich. To add to the list of features, it has hand-carved bracing and a special high gloss finish. 

In terms of onboard electronics, the ZAD80CE comes with a Fishman Presys Blend transducer system transforming the ZAD80CE into a versatile acoustic-electric hybrid. Its built-in automatic tuner ensures precise tuning in seconds, making it an excellent choice for both stage and studio settings. Want to plug it in? Go for it! 

4. Zager ZAD20 Series

The ZAD20 Series features a unique neck design and unique bracing system in addition to its solid wood construction. This slim neck design adds to its level of comfort when playing for long sessions. It also benefits those smaller hands to move about the fretboards with minimal strain.

The ZAD20 is designed from the ground up with playability and sound quality in mind. The ZAD20, a full-size dreadnought that appeals to a broad spectrum of players, represents the most widely used guitar size in the world. Dreadnoughts, although a standard size, maybe big for some players, but the ZAD20 changes that with its custom design.

The ZAD20 Series has a solid wood construction and comes with a custom neck design and special bracing system.  The guitar’s build quality guarantees that its tone will only get better with time. Superior bracing improves the soundboard’s movement, which produces a deeper tone. 

The playing experience is further improved by extra features like the adjustable truss rod and Zager soft touch fret design. It lessens the weariness and string bite that comes from playing in various styles. A unique ultra-thin high gloss finish applied to the guitar helps create a deeper, more resonant sound.

The ZAD20 offers outstanding quality thanks to its premium components, which include genuine Grover tuning machines, a hand-laid abalone inlay rosette, and a hand-carved bone nut and saddle. Value and bang for your buck are all you’re getting in this guitar which is all you need really!

5. Taylor BT2 

The Taylor BT2 is a fine guitar from the brand known to pack premium features from over their more expensive line-up. It is great for guitarists who prefer slim necks due to their small hands. It does not come at a hefty price tag but Taylor does try to provide value for you in guitar every inch possible. 

The BT2 is a ¾ sized offering from the brand set at the entry-level segment of the market. It is a great reasonably-priced guitar. It is designed with travel in mind so you can expect both durability and good sound from the dreadnought body. The body is made with a combination of a mahogany top and laminated sides and back.

In terms of design, Taylor has crafted this guitar with those with smaller hands or an overall smaller build in mind. It has softened curves at the top and bottom for extra comfort. It also comes in a scale length of 22 ¾ inches paired with an ebony fretboard with 19 frets. It’s small, tactical, and ideal for smaller hands.

One great feature of the Taylor  BT2 is the use of mahogany which adds to both the guitar’s looks and value. Remember, laminated guitars are not known for their sound so keep that in mind when you’re considering this guitar. They usually lack tonal depth in comparison to those that come with solid wood.

Regardless of that the price you pay for the guitar, and the tone you get from it is good enough to not let any of its shortcomings bother you. You need to remember that a smaller guitar will never give you the same feel as an OM or dreadnought. However, the Taylor BT2 gets close to this albeit with muddy resonance with heavy strumming. 

6. Eastman E10P 

The Eastman E10P deserves attention due to its craftsmanship. Despite being small, Eastman has spared no expense in its construction, It uses premium materials and has great attention to detail.

The E10P is a versatile guitar and can cater to a wide range of genres. Its compact size makes it easy to play, especially for those with smaller hands. Whether you’re strumming or fingerpicking, this guitar will feel comfortable and lightweight in your hands. This is greatly due to its neck and fretboard design. The neck sits half an inch below the standard dreadnought length.

The E10P Parlor is crafted from a solid Adirondack spruce top and solid mahogany sides and back. You can expect both durability and a rich sound from the use of its tonewood. The sturdy mahogany neck is finished with a high-quality ebony fretboard. It is designed to reduce fret noise and easy mobility for your fingers across it.

From the vintage open-gear tuners to the hand-fitted dovetail neck joint, every detail in the E10p contributes to the guitar’s performance and stability. It has a 24.9-inch scale length with 19 frets, The E10P delivers a comfortable playing experience with precise intonation and string action.

Eastman’s dedication to craftsmanship is evident in the attention they paid to every aspect of the E10P. With no flaws in construction or buzzing noise in the neck or frets, this guitar sets itself apart as a superior choice in its price range. 

What To Check In Acoustic Guitars for Smaller Hands? (6 Mandatory Factors)

If your guitar purchase is highly dependent on the size of your hand then there are a few factors that you need to look out for. These factors directly affect a guitar’s playability and comfort. Here’s what to check in acoustic guitars for smaller hands:

1. Scale Length

 The distance on a guitar from the nut to the saddle is called the scale length. For players with smaller hands, a shorter scale length can help to reach across the fretboard with ease. Generally speaking, standard scale lengths fall between 24.75 and 25.5 inches, with shorter scale lengths being closer to 24 inches. 

Some guitars may have an even shorter scale length, like 23.5 inches, especially if they are made for smaller hands. When examining guitars, notice how comfortable it is to stretch for chords and reach across the fretboard.

2. Neck Profile

The guitar’s comfort level can be greatly influenced by the thickness and form of the neck. A thinner neck profile can help players with smaller hands. It makes it easier to form chords straining less when wrapping your fingers around the neck. 

If you have smaller hands you may find it easier to play guitars with slim neck profiles, or “C” shaped necks. Steer clear of necks that are overly thick or chunky as these may be harder to hold and play comfortably.

3. Body Size

The guitar’s body size can also have an impact on how well it plays, especially for players with smaller hands. Concert or parlor-sized guitars, for example, typically have smaller bodies and a more compact design that makes reaching across the fretboard easier. 

These guitars are usually easier to hold and play for longer periods because of their narrower waist and lower bout. A lighter guitar may be easier to handle, particularly for smaller or younger players, so it’s important to also consider the guitar’s overall weight.

4. Fingerboard Radius

The radius of the fingerboard’s curve from side to side is known as the fingerboard. Smaller-handed players may find it easier to play guitars with flatter fingerboard radiuses, usually 12 inches or more. 

Lower string action and easier string pressing without overstressing are made possible by a flatter radius, which also shortens the distance between the strings and the frets. To achieve a comfortable and effortless fretting experience, try varying the radius of your fingerboard.

5. Nut Width

For guitarists with smaller hands, playability can also be affected by the nut’s width, The nut width is the little piece at the top of the neck where the strings are spaced apart. Narrower nut widths—typically 1.69 inches or less are great for more accurate fretting of chords and notes. 

Steer clear of guitars with wider nut widths as these might need more finger elongation and may not be as comfortable for smaller-handed players. Classical guitar can serve as a good example for one with a wide nut width.

6. String Spacing

Particularly for players with smaller hands, the distance between the strings at the nut and bridge can affect how comfortable the guitar is to play. String spacing on guitars that are closer together makes it simpler to reach across the fretboard and form chords without strain. When fretting chords and playing melodies, pay attention to how far the strings are apart. Wider string spacing may make it harder to play comfortably on some guitars.

Got Smaller Hands? We Have A Guitar For You!

We hope that after looking at our top picks for guitars for smaller hands, you have some idea about the options you have available. It’s important to visit a guitar store to try out various guitars and decide which one you feel most comfortable playing before making a final decision. There is undoubtedly a guitar out there that is ideal for you! If it is you do not want the hassle of going out in search of the perfect one, choosing anyone from our list should be guaranteed to leave you satisfied.