Take a moment to think about how everything is bigger today. We drive bigger vehicles, live in bigger homes, and eat bigger meals, but does that mean the phrase “bigger is better” apply to everything? What about guitars? Double-neck and triple-neck guitars certainly are bigger–ungainly, even–and have their place in certain situations. However, that doesn’t mean a small guitar is any less worthy as an instrument.
Guitars with smaller bodies have several advantages and should not be ignored just because they aren’t as big as regular guitars. Regardless of how big you are personally, you may be surprised at how a small guitar feels in your hands, and the new element it adds to your playing.
To be sure, one of the biggest advantages of smaller guitars is that when you are a small person, you will have an instrument that’s a better fit for you. For anybody that finds guitars of regular size to be troublesome, a small guitar is much better. You will be able to sidestep the majority of the problems that would go along with a bigger instrument.
A guitar with a shorter neck is an excellent option for adults that have smaller hands. For those who have an issue with getting their hand to wrap around the neck to play chords, a down-sized guitar makes a world of difference. Anybody who can’t quite play the right notes on a standard guitar may discover a small guitar solves that problem.
Bigger guitars may also create trouble for players that don’t only have smaller hands, but are also smaller in stature. The arm that goes over the body of the guitar to play the strings can be extremely uncomfortable on an instrument that’s too big for the player. Also, if the body has more depth, this can cause further problems with the positioning of the instrument which leads to more discomfort.
However, even somebody who is full-statured and doesn’t have a problem with the size of their hands or arms may find a lot to like about a small guitar. By being able to more easily reach around and stretch your fingers for certain chord shapes, you can spend less time worrying about that part of playing, and more time focusing on other aspects of your technique.
There is another thing a lot of musicians like about small guitars, and that’s the way they sound. Everything is scaled down, but the sound is just as rich, if not richer than a regular guitar. Either way, the different sound may offer the nuance of sound you are looking for on certain compositions. They are as much at home in the recording studio as they are on stage.
One of the reasons a lot of musicians turn their noses up at small-necked guitars is that they think of them as nothing more than toys for children. While it is true that there are toy guitars made out of cheap plastic, authentic small guitars are high-quality instruments that compare to their full-sized counterparts. Either way, a small guitar has a lot going for it, and you are sure to enjoy it.