13 Best Guitars For Small Hands 2025, Acoustic & Electric Models Reviewed For Adults & Kids

Guitars come in a variety of sizes.

This is good news, because human beings were not created equal.

Some of us have big hands while others have smaller hands.

Finger length and thickness can also vary.

If you have smaller hands, you should find an instrument that works for you.

Fortunately, smaller guitars aren't too hard to come by.

So, here are the best acoustic and electric guitars for small hands available.

Acoustic Guitars For Small Hands

There are plenty of options when it comes to acoustic guitars for small hands.

From baby acoustics and travel guitars to 3/4 size and parlor guitars, you should be able to find something that strikes your fancy.

So, with that, let’s look at some of the best acoustic guitars for small hands.

Taylor GS Mini Acoustic Guitar

I’ve already introduced Taylor to you, so at this point, the only thing to talk about is the guitar

Taylor has certainly made a name for itself, thanks in part to artists like Jason Mraz, Ben Harper, Barenaked Ladies, George Strait and others who can be seen using Taylors.

Also available with a spruce top, the Taylor GS Mini acoustic comes with a tropical mahogany top, layered sapele back and sides and an ebony fingerboard.

In addition to looking great, the guitar has a good tone.

To me, it’s not all that different from the Baby Taylor or Little Martin but there is a little more body to the tone.

And, I’ll be a monkey’s uncle if it isn’t fun to play.

This is another instrument worth checking out and its price is decent enough.

Martin LX1 Little Martin Acoustic Guitar

As with the Baby Taylor, the Martin LX1 Little Martin has made plenty of our best-of lists.

Built by the legendary guitar manufacturer Martin, their amazing sounding instruments are loved by many pros you would know – Chris Cornell, Dierks Bentley, John Prine, Willie Nelson, the young and talented Ed Sheeran, and many others.

While it’s nice that Martin makes affordable guitars (it’s a big market), it’s my humble opinion that you’re not truly getting a Martin until you spend four-figures.

Still, the Little Martin is notable, if for no other reason because it was popularized by Ed Sheeran.

This axe comes with mahogany pattern HPL (high pressure laminate) textured finish, solid sitka spruce top, rust strata bond neck, chrome small-knob tuners, Tusq saddle and padded gig bag.

I feel the guitar sounds close to what you might expect (kind of small) but it is impressive for what it is, which is a 3/4 size guitar.

I also feel the cost could be a little less, but again that’s just one man’s opinion.

Customers love the Martin and for good reason – it’s a ton of fun to play!

Yamaha APXT2 3/4 Size Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Yamaha instruments are loved by a myriad of musicians, and while their guitars give off a bit of a “mass manufactured” vibe, when the company nails it, they nail it.

There was a time when Japanese Fender Strats were better than the American made ones, though Fender eventually put an end to that – the point is that Japanese guitars can be awesome.

But I digress.

The Yamaha APXT2 features a slightly unusual design and it even comes in Natural, Black and Dark Red Sunburst.

It comes with a spruce top, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, System 68 pickup and a gig bag.

And, this guitar may well be the best 3/4 guitar on this list.

It offers good projection and a strong midrange, and it’s a lot of fun to play.

No, it doesn’t sound like a full-size guitar, but hopefully you didn’t come here thinking you could find what doesn’t exist.

We suggest checking out the Yamaha for yourself.

Oscar Schmidt OG1FYS-A-U 3/4 Size Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar

Oscar Schmidt has been building stringed instruments since 1871 and they offer a variety of guitar products to satisfy different needs.

The OG1FYS-A-U 3/4 size dreadnought guitar is the perfect example.

This attractive-looking instrument comes in Natural, Pink, Transparent Blue, Transparent Red and Flame Yellow Burst, which certainly adds to its fun factor.

The guitar comes equipped with select spruce top, catalpa sides and back, fully adjustable truss rod and chrome die cast tuners.

For a guitar of its size, I find this guitar sounds more authentic to a full-size guitar than many others featured on this list.

Of course, being a dreadnought, it still isn’t exactly “small” but certainly smaller than a standard dreadnought.

Honestly, this Oscar Schmidt is a steal of a deal.

That, and it's a great guitar for women's hands, especially those on the smaller side.

Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar

The Taylor BT2 Baby Taylor is no stranger to our best-of guitar lists, and that’s because it isn’t just a great baby guitar – it’s also a great guitar in general.

The Baby Taylor is a Taylor guitar in an affordable and small package, though I don’t think you can get that signature “Taylor” feel and sound unless you pay for it (i.e. you need a better quality guitar).

Still, this instrument does what it does well.

This slim neck acoustic guitar comes with a mahogany top and layered sapele back and sides.

We hear some bickering about constantly having to tune the Taylor, which we don’t doubt.

Otherwise, it’s an addictive little guitar to play.

Yamaha FG JR1 3/4 Size Acoustic Guitar

The Yamaha FG JR1 comes in Natural and Tobacco Sunburst.

This is a 3/4 size acoustic guitar with a spruce top, Indonesian back and sides, nato neck, Javanese rosewood fingerboard and gig bag.

Built with beginners and children in mind, this could also work great as a travel or women’s acoustic guitar.

Although it certainly carries the sound of a small guitar, I happen to like the attack in its tone and it’s highly playable besides.

Its low price point is quite surprising too.

Is it an amazing guitar?

That it isn’t.

But if you’re on a tight budget, this is not a bad way to go.

Luna Safari Series Muse 3/4-Size Travel Acoustic Guitar

Luna Guitars is a relative newcomer on the scene and artists like Bria Blessing, Emma Lee and Gavyn Bailey have embraced their use – even if they aren’t household names.

Luna doesn’t have any shortage of product, and the Safari Series Muse Mahogany travel guitar is a testament to that.

Though it seems relatively apparent that this is Luna’s answer to the Baby Taylor and Little Martin, it only carries about one-fifth the price tag.

Far from perfect but not too shabby – the Muse Mahogany plays nicely enough, and its tone is balanced, even if it is somewhat small.

You’re not going to get the quality of a Taylor or Martin at this price point but if you don’t want to break the bank, the Luna could be a decent choice.

Cordoba Mini M Travel Acoustic Nylon String Guitar

Cordoba specializes in nylon string instruments and is associated with artists like Vahagni, Ben Butler, The Gipsy Kings, One Republic and others.

The Mini M travel acoustic is as it sounds, but instead of steel strings it comes with nylon strings, which I find to be a little easier on the fingers.

Nylon strings are generally used for classical, flamenco and sometimes jazz but they can be great in other musical contexts too.

But don’t kid yourself – the neck is still on the wider side, which is typical of nylon string instruments, so take note.

This axe comes with a solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, lightweight body, custom Aquila string set and custom Cordoba gig bag.

The Cordoba is more of a travel guitar than a guitar for smaller hands, but I figured it would be worth introducing at least one nylon string instrument here.

Luna Aurora Borealis 3/4 Size Acoustic Guitar

Here’s another affordable Luna instrument designed for beginners and younger students.

The Luna Aurora Borealis comes in fun colors like Black, Pink, Teal and White.

This guitar features a basswood top and body, mahogany neck, black walnut fretboard and bridge, moon rosette and sealed die cast tuners.

The guitar has a richer tone than you might expect and it’s easy to play too.

While it can be enjoyed by both sexes, it's become known as a womens acoustic guitar in some circles.

Again, while not perfect, this is a surprisingly good offering.

Fender Paramount Traveler Acoustic Guitar

Fender is best known for its legendary electric guitars – especially the Stratocaster and Telecaster models.

Whether it’s Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Strummer, Eric Johnson or otherwise, Fender instruments are played by some of the best players the guitar has known.

But Fender has evolved through the years and has only broadened their options – not that this should come as any surprise.

The Fender Paramount traveler acoustic is a good example.

Fender isn’t known for higher end acoustics the way Taylor, Martin and Gibson are known for theirs.

But in the beginner and intermediate space, they are starting to make a bit of a splash.

This attractive travel guitar comes with mahogany top, back and sides, mahogany neck with ovangkol fingerboard, Fender- and Fishman-designed preamp system, checkerboard binding and rosette, and a hardshell case.

All this is available at a rather low price point.

This lightweight instrument may not offer a ton of projection, but it has a pleasant, mellow, balanced tone to it.

Highly playable, the Fender could be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

Fender Malibu Player – California Series Acoustic Guitar

The Fender Malibu Player is a small body short scale acoustic-electric hybrid guitar with a myriad of finishes to choose from.

It comes with a Fishman pickup/preamp system, solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, slim-taper “C” shaped neck profile with laurel fingerboard and bridge.

This guitar certainly gives you that classic, laid-back, Californian songwriting beach vibe in a nutshell.

The solid woods make the guitar sound great and it should only sound better with age.

The guitar has a mellow sound to it plugged in, though you can certainly push the treble for additional cut.

Its acoustic tone is a tad plunky but it’s not half bad.

This is a good guitar that offers a lot for the price.

Electric Guitars For Small Hands

Unlike acoustic guitars, smaller electric guitars tend to fall under the category of beginner guitars intended for children.

With smaller acoustic guitars, there are plenty of options and some of them are quality instruments made with quality materials.

I’m a little more skeptical of small electrics, especially those made by lesser known off brand companies.

If you'd like to explore the differences between acoustic and electric guitars and their pros and cons, you can check out my acoustic vs. electric guitar guide here.

But there are still a couple electrics I’d like to introduce, so let’s get going.

Squier By Fender Mini Strat Electric Guitar Bundle

The Mini Strat is a bit of a go-to for younger students and can be a decent choice for adults that need something smaller to play on too.

It comes with a 3/4-size body, “C”-shaped maple neck, 20 fret-fingerboard, three single-coil Stratocaster pickups with five-way switching and a vintage hardtail Stratocaster bridge.

You can also find it in a variety of playful colors.

It sounds like a small guitar to my ears but for some general messing around, it’s not bad at all.

Depending on what amp you’re plugged into and what effects you’re using, you might be able to fool some ears into thinking you’re playing a more expensive guitar.

The Squier is good value too.

Ibanez GRGM21BKN 3/4 Size Mikro Electric Guitar

We can always count on Japanese guitar maker Ibanez for guitars that pack a lot of punch, especially for the money.

Embraced by the likes of Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Herman Li, Paul Gilbert and others, Ibanez makes guitars for discerning players.

The GRGM21BKN Mikro is the first ever compact Ibanez guitar with a 22” scale maple neck.

It’s available in a few different colors and it’s ideal for children and those with small hands.

Although the guitar’s tone is small, it offers considerable flexibility.

And, it can sound a little bigger with the help of your amp’s overdrive.

The Ibanez is another solid choice.

What Should I Look For In A Guitar For Small Hands?

Smaller guitars are often made for children, beginners and travel.

This does not mean there aren’t great options for those with smaller hands.

But it does mean most if not all axes on this list aren’t top of the line instruments.

Still, it’s hard to ignore the importance of finding an instrument that’s easy and fun to play.

So, here are some thoughts on finding the right small guitar.

Small Body

A smaller body can make the instrument a little easier to pick up and play.

You are not required to have a small body guitar just because you have small hands, but most guitars made for smaller hands have smaller bodies.

So, it can be helpful to narrow your search to smaller body instruments.

Note that small body guitars don’t have the same tone as full-size guitars.

But it’s a reasonable compromise for getting an instrument you feel comfortable playing.

Slim Neck Or Narrow Neck, Ideal For Shot Fingers

Again, just because you have smaller hands doesn’t mean you must play on an instrument that has a slim or narrow neck.

We even looked at a Cordoba guitar earlier and it has a wide neck, just as you would find on a standard nylon string guitar.

In general, however, this is important criteria.

If the neck on the guitar you’re thinking about buying is standard size it may not make it much easier for you to play.

Neck profiles can also make a bit of a difference to comfort, so it’s worth doing some research, and if possible, play a few guitars with different profiles.

Keep an eye out for a guitar with a reduced neck size.

Appealing Tone

Normally, we would consider tone the most important aspect of buying a guitar.

The reason this is not the case here is because it’s going to be a little harder to find smaller guitars that also have as great of a sound as their full-sized counterparts.

With that in mind, you don’t necessarily need to throw tone out the window.

This list features several guitars with solid tops and some that are made entirely with solid woods.

That means you can still get a nice sounding guitar if you’re willing to spend a little more and do a bit of looking.

A great sounding guitar is inspiring, so you shouldn’t give up on it completely.

A Highly Playable Instrument

Just because a guitar is of a smaller size does not automatically make it playable.

The biggest factor affecting a guitar’s playability is action.

The good news is that action can be adjusted.

The not so good news is that if you don’t know how to set up a guitar, you will need to hire a qualified tech to handle it for you.

Another factor is the strings.

Heavier strings can result in more tension and higher action.

Though electric guitars usually come with light gauge strings already, that’s not always the case with acoustic guitars.

At times, swapping out those finger-piercing 12-gauge strings with a much lighter 10 gauge can do the trick.

Ultimately, for better or for worse, not all instruments are easy to play out of the box.

If you can’t see yourself putting a little money towards setup, then do a bit of research and find a guitar that’s easy on the fingers before you buy it.

An Instrument Within Reach

Although guitars in this category aren’t exactly expensive, they can cost several hundred dollars.

I recommend staying within budget instead of going into debt to buy a piece of kit you may not even like.

And, if you must have the best guitar on the list but don't have enough money for it, then take your time and save up until you can afford it.

Baby, Mini, Travel, Parlor, 3/4-Size Guitar, Acoustic, Acoustic-Electric – Which One Do I Choose?

We can’t treat all guitars for smaller hands as equals, as tempting as that might be.

I’ve made mention of a few different types of smaller sized guitars (not all made with small hands in mind), and even some I haven’t entirely addressed.

Now, your tendency might be to think one would be better than the other.

This isn’t entirely the case.

I would suggest finding what works best for you instead.

But here’s a general overview, just in case you’re still lost:

A Little Martin and a Baby Taylor are essentially the same.

A Mini guitar is a little bigger than a Baby guitar, at least judging by Taylor’s standards.

Technically, it’s a shrunk down version of a more expensive Taylor model.

A travel guitar is usually a 3/4 size guitar, but it can take many forms as there are a myriad of unique designs to save space and reduce weight.

A 3/4 size guitar is simply one that’s roughly 75% the size of a standard, full-size guitar.

Finally, a parlor guitar is generally smaller than a standard sized guitar, though it was popular for folk and blues players prior to the 1950s.

Even though it's smaller, it's basically just a full size guitar with a smaller body type.

I could go into more detail, but it would mostly be wasted.

I suggest finding what you like and what works for you.

Best Acoustic & Electric Guitars For Men & Women With Small Hands, Final Thoughts

If you're looking for guitars for women's hands, you'll find your perfect one above.

It's not just women though, the above are guitars for people with small hands in general.

Learning to play the guitar can be tough enough without the added challenge of an instrument that doesn’t play nice.

Smaller hands are nothing to be ashamed of and though I’m 6’2” I’ve never claimed to have the biggest hands in the world.

I can play on full-size guitars just fine, but if you have even smaller hands than I, it’s always a good idea to explore your options.

Have fun!