Most guitars are full size. The problem with this is that they can be uncomfortable for children to learn on and play. To make it easier and more comfortable to play, you can buy half-sized guitars. This guide will help you pick out the best 1/2 size guitar to meet your needs.
In a Hurry? Here Are the Best Half Sized Guitars
Why Play a 1/2 Size Guitar?
A 1/2 size guitar means what it says. It is a guitar that is half the size of a regular-sized guitar. There are several reasons why you might want a half size guitar. These instruments are often suitable for younger players for children that are just beginning out. They are also recommended if you have a smaller hand size and find a larger guitar too uncomfortable to play. They are also used by backpackers because of the small size you can put them in your backpack and take the guitar with you.
The neck on these guitars is smaller than normal. This makes it easier to play chords, which might be too comfortable on a full-size neck. If you struggle with certain chords, you should try one of these half-size guitars. You may find this type of guitar to be the perfect instrument for learning on. Once you get the basics down, you can try a full-sized guitar.
What is the Best Half Size Guitar for Me?
The type of half-sized guitar you buy is going to be determined by what you intend to play. You can find half size nylon strings, steel-string acoustics, and electric guitars. Let’s have a look at the various types to see what would be the right one for you.
Can Adults Play 1/2 Sized Guitars?
Anyone can play a 1/2 size guitar. They are ideal for children, but adults can play them too. Your age doesn’t really matter when it comes to this type of guitar. If you struggle with a regular-sized guitar, this might be the best option.
Are Smaller Sized Guitars Easier to Play?
In general, smaller size guitars are easier to play. This is because of the smaller neck size, and the body is easier to hold. You still need practice with a smaller size guitar. children tend to have less frustration with the smaller size guitar because they can hold it properly and play. Once a child has grown past the age of 8-10, they can move up to a larger-sized instrument.
Wood Choice
When you buy1/2 size guitar, try to find one that has at least some tonewood. In an ideal situation, you would want cedar or spruce for the top. Many of these guitars are made with plywood construction so you have to deal with that. For most beginners, the wood really isn’t much of an issue. If you are interested in a guitar that has a great sound, you probably won’t find it with a half size guitar. You should consider this type of instrument to be a learning instrument or one that you use to have fun on.
Strings for a Half-Sized Guitar
Half-sized guitars work best with lighter strings. It’s best to put a fresh set of strings on a new guitar and go with light gauge strings. Your local guitar store can change the strings for you if you don’t know how to do this. Light strings are easier on the fingers.
Half Sized Nylon String
If the student is under the age of eight years old, a 1/2 size guitar with nylon strings is the ideal option. This guitar will be easier for a child to hold. They will find it comfortable and much easier to play. The nylon strings won’t dig into their fingers. They’ll be able to play notes and simple chords with ease. This is probably the best type of guitar for any child to learn on. If you were to get them a full-size guitar, they might not even be able to hold it because their body and hand size are small.
1/2 Size Acoustic Guitar
For older students for those just starting out on guitar, a half-sized acoustic guitar can be a good option. This guitar is easy to hold easier to play than a full-sized acoustic. While you can buy a full-sized acoustic to learn on, the half-size guitar is going to be a lot easier. It really comes down to your own comfort level. If you’re comfortable with a full-size guitar, try that. If you’re not, the half-size guitar can provide additional comfort while you learn.
1/2 Size Electric Guitar
For those that want to try electric guitar, you might want to consider one that is 1/2 or ¾. Most small electric guitars are ¾ in size. The small size is ideal for a younger student who can’t hold a full-sized electric or is bored with the plain nylon or steel-string acoustic. This allows them to play electric guitar without the discomfort of a full-sized version.
Guitar Kits
Half-sized guitars often come in a guitar kit. This is nice because it gives you an instrument and accessories. Typical accessories included DVDs, picks, strings, guitar straps, and so on. Electric guitars may also come with an amplifier, so you don’t have to buy one separately. This can save you a lot of money. If you have a child that wants to play guitar, a 1/2 size guitar kid can be an excellent option.
Half Sized Guitar Tips
- Try a half- size guitar If you struggle playing a regular instrument
- Smaller children will learn faster on a half size guitar
- Those with a small hand size will benefit from a half size guitar in most cases
- Guitar kits can be ideal as they give you everything in one package
- You can buy steel-string acoustic, nylon string, and electric guitars in half size
- They are normally small enough to take in a travel bag so they can also be a good travel option
Best Half Size Guitars
1. Cordoba Mini II MH – Best Mini Nylon String Guitar
For students just starting out on the guitar, the Cordoba Mini II MH is an excellent option. this is a small 1/2 sized nylon string guitar. It is easy to play and comfortable to hold. The body is finished with Satin polyurethane for an attractive look. I was impressed at how well this instrument looks even though it’s only a small size guitar. The Cordoba is well put together.
The instrument features layered mahogany for the back, top, and sides. This wood improves the tone of the instrument. The neck has a comfortable C-profile, so it’s easy on the hands and comfortable while you’re playing the strings. You get a full and warm one out of this instrument. It’s suitable for any small child wanting to learn to play the guitar. It’s also the perfect companion to take with you traveling due to its small size.
Pros:
- Nice sounding 1/2 size guitar
- Nice action out of the box
- Great for beginners
Cons:
- May be too small for some players
- Nylon strings aren’t as loud as steel strings
2. Oscar Schmidt OGHS-A-U – Best 1/2 Dreadnaught
Half-size guitars are excellent for students, but they mainly have nylon strings. When looking for the best 1/2 size guitar with steel strings, it can be a little frustrating. That all changes with the Oscar Schmidt OGHS-A-U 1/2 Size Dreadnought. This is an excellent Dreadnought style 1/2 size acoustic guitar. The best part is that it doesn’t use nylon strings; it is a steel-string acoustic.
This guitar uses Spruce tonewood for the top. The back and sides are made with Catalpa. It features a solid mahogany neck. It comes with die-cast tuners to keep the tuning of the instrument stable. The instrument also has a truss rod which is fully adjustable. Other extras include a rosewood bridge and a nice herringbone style trim around the instrument. This is the perfect guitar for anyone that wants a half-sized instrument but the full sound of an acoustic guitar.
Pros:
- Uses steel strings, no nylon
- Looks great with nice extras
- Big sound for the size
Cons:
- Steel strings ae tougher on younger hands
- A bit harder to play than nylon 1/2 guitar
- May need some initial setup for the action
3. Pyle Beginner 30 – Best Student Guitar Kit
Whenever you look at half size guitars, you have to consider accessories. Many of these guitars don’t ship with accessories. You can purchase guitar kits such as the Pyle Beginner 30″ Classical Acoustic Guitar it comes with many of these accessories. This saves you a lot of money which can be important if you are a parent with a child that wants to learn guitar.
This guitar is a small 1/2 sized nylon string acoustic. It has everything a student needs to begin. It comes with a shoulder strap, gig bag, spare set of strings, digital tuner, picks, and a cleaning cloth. The guitar is small and easy to hold with a classic look to it. It’s made with handcrafted Lindenwood. The headstock is made with birchwood. The fretboard is made with solid hardwood. The body is polished to a high gloss, and it has chrome tuning pegs. It’s the perfect instrument for any beginner just learning how to play.
Pros:
- Full kit for beginners
- Easy guitar to play
- Solid Construction
Cons:
- Might be too small for some beginners
- Quality control issues for some buyers
4. No products found. – Best Traditional Style Small-Sized Electric Guitar
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The Stratocaster is the most iconic electric guitar. The problem for younger students is that a full-sized Stratocaster guitar is too large to hold. For younger players, you might consider the Squier by Fender Mini Strat Electric Guitar. it gives you almost everything a regular Stratocaster has, but it’s designed for smaller players.
The guitar comes with a comfortable C- shaped Maple’s neck, so it’s comfortable for smaller fingers and hands. It has a full-sized 20 fret fretboard. The body is made with laminated Hardwood. It has three single-coil Stratocaster style pickups that sound great. There is a 5-way switch for these pickups. You get a master volume and a master tone knob. It has a vintage Stratocaster style hardtail bridge. You have everything you need to make authentic Stratocaster style sounds with the mini Strat. As a Stratocaster player myself, I was impressed with the sound of the mini Strat.
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5. WINZZ 30 Inches Real Kids Electric Guitar with Beginner Kit – Best for the Youngest Electric Guitar Fan
For small children, there are plenty of acoustic and nylon strings available, but not a lot of electric guitars. One guitar you might want to consider is the WINZZ 30 Inches Real Kids Electric Guitar. It’s the ideal size for even the smallest child. It’s a double-cutaway 30 in electric guitar. It has 21 frets, and the body is 20 inches. You can get the instrument in several different colors. It’s perfect for children that are aged 4-8.
The guitar has a solid basswood body. The neck is made out of maple. It comes with single-coil pickups and a volume control knob. The bridge is made with a Chrome alloy, which helps to keep the tuning stable. It comes with die-cast machine heads. You won’t have to spend a lot of money on accessories. You get a guitar cable, gig bag, picks, strap, and an amplifier. You will need to buy batteries for the amplifier. Children will have everything and they need to rock out on with this guitar.
Pros:
- Come with accessories
- Perfect for even very younger players
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Some tuning problems
- Not ideal for older children
- Sound is poor
6. Ibanez GRGM21BKN MIKRO Electric Guitar – Best High-Quality Mini Guitar
When looking for the best 1/2 size guitar, you can run into problems. A lot of the instruments are not made to high quality. The Ibanez GRGM21BKN MIKRO Electric Guitar is an excellent option. Not only is this guitar a small size, but it’s also made to a high-quality and sounds amazing.
This guitar is the first compact Ibanez. It has a 22-inch scale neck. The neck is made with solid maple. It’s low tension and smaller than the regular Ibanez neck. This is the perfect guitar for any student that wants to learn to play Rock. It’s set up like the regular full-size guitars. You can get left-handed models if you want. It comes in many attractive colors, so you have a lot of choices. The best part about this guitar, in my opinion, is that it comes with two humbucking pickups. These are excellent pickups and it makes this guitar A Cut Above most of the other ones that artist size.
Pros:
- Very good pickups
- Looks like an authentic rock guitar
- Superior sound
Cons:
- May not suit some players due to the size
- Some users had tuning issues with it
Conclusion
This guide should help you find the best 1/2 size guitar. Beach guitars lock the tone I will fuller sized instruments. They make up for this what’s the fact that they are easy to play and suitable for children. There are low cost and a perfect way for children or younger adults to get into playing guitar. You can get nylon string, steel-string acoustic, and electric small-sized guitars.
The Oscar Schmidt OGHS-A-U is my choice for the best acoustic small size guitar. This is because it comes with steel strings, which give a better tone when compared to nylon strings. The Cordoba Mini II MH is an excellent option for those that want nylon strings.
In terms of electric guitars, the Ibanez GRGM21BKN MIKRO Electric Guitar is the clear winner because it has excellent pickups and an eccentric tone. The No products found. is also an excellent option in a small-sized electric guitar.
These 1/2 size guitars are the perfect entry point for anyone that is interested in playing guitar. They’re perfect for students, those traveling, or for anyone that finds a full-size guitar uncomfortable. You’ll find a decent instrument for any playing situation.