What Guitar Size Should I Buy? Guitar Size Guide

WHAT GUITAR SIZE SHOULD I BUY? WHICH IS THE RIGHT GUITAR FOR ME? WHAT'S THE BEST GUITAR TO LEARN ON? WE ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS WITH OUR HANDY GUITAR BUYING GUIDE and Guitar Size Guide.

Here at PMT Online, we are always getting asked LOADS of questions about guitars. What guitar is right? What's the difference between acoustic and electro-acoustic? What size guitar should my child play? What guitar is suitable for my son? What accessories do I need to buy if I'm buying a guitar? What's the difference between half-size and full-size guitar? So today, we'd like to give a helping hand in deciding which guitar is the right one with our handy guitar guide.

GUITAR CATEGORIES EXPLAINED

You'll find several different categories of guitars on our website, such as electric guitars acoustic guitars and classical guitars. But what are the differences?

CLASSICAL GUITARS

Classical guitars are the most popular choice for beginners. They are called that (or "Spanish guitars") because they were developed to play classical or Spanish-style flamenco music but can be used for any style, really. These guitars have distinctive features such as 6-nylon strings (rather than steel strings) and a smaller acoustic sound hole to amplify vibrations. They are lightweight, small and easier to play, with a mellower sound than traditional acoustic guitars.

They are also available in even smaller sizes (1/2 and 1/4) which are perfect for the little ones. They're usually cheaper, so perfect for those who just want a casual instrument to play and are perhaps unsure how seriously they'll dedicate themselves to it. Having said that, the more high-end models can be very expensive and are suited for professional musicians, especially those who indeed play classical music.

View all Classical Guitars.

ACOUSTIC GUITARS

Acoustic guitars are very similar to classical guitars, yet their steel strings make the sound much louder and therefore are of a bulkier build to hold the sound. They come in a variety of slightly different shapes such as dreadnought, grand concert, jumbo etc, and are the most popular type of acoustic guitar, as used on most acoustic songs you've heard, from Beatles and Bob Dylan to Oasis. Brands such as Tanglewood, Yamaha, Fender, Epiphone and Eastcoast are some of the UK's most popular brands, due to their exceptional value for money and built quality. If you're not sure which brand to choose, try out a few and see which one suits you. View more Acoustic Guitars.

ELECTRO-ACOUSTIC GUITARS

An electro-acoustic guitar looks exactly like an acoustic, and really they are pretty much the same except for one key difference. So what's the added benefit of an electro-acoustic? Electro-Acoustic guitars can be played as an acoustic, but also allows you to plug them into an amplifier, effects pedal and other recording equipment. They're just more versatile - fitted with pickups, a microphone or transducers, it makes them more convenient for live performances, or if you want to play along to a loop FX pedal, like Ed Sheeran and so many other acoustic artists do. Check our Ed Sheeran Gear Guide if you'd like to find out more about his setup. Often, but not always, electro acousric guitars will have a cutaway towards the body of the guitar as this allows you to play the higher frets easier.

View Electro-Acoustic guitars.

ELECTRIC GUITARS

Electric guitars do not include a sound hole for acoustic amplification, but produce their sound solely from electricity, converting the string vibrations into electrical audio signals. Which means you can't just buy an electric guitar to strum it like an acoustic, because you'll need to also buy at least a cable and a guitar amplifier. View Electric Guitars.

For a more detailed overview, check our article Electric Guitar Buying Guide and Acoustic Guitar Buying Guide which both show how to choose a good guitar for your particular musical tastes. Want to know more? You can watch a quick video on guitar sizes with Dagan from PMT Newcastle below, offering up in-hand examples of guitar sizes as well as a quick buying guide.

GUITAR SIZES EXPLAINED

It's important to know what size guitar you're buying, especially when you're shopping online and can't try out the guitar for yourself. Guitars a variety of different sizes - we have a guitar size-guide here, along with some guitars to match - so you can see just what suits you.  

 Even though 3/4-sized guitars are recommended for 8-12-year-olds, this doesn't mean they are not suitable for adults, too. Increasingly, adult players - even experienced ones - have been opting for playing 3/4 size guitars too, due to the convenient size (especially when travelling) and the more punchy sound. Ed Sheeran uses almost exclusively 3/4-sized guitars.

WHAT GUITAR SIZE DO YOU NEED?

There's no one-solution fits all when it comes to a musical instrument, and it always comes down to personal tastes. But you can follow these suggestions:

• If Buying Guitar for a Child: Follow the guitar sizes as advised before, according to child's age.
• If You've Never Played Guitar & want to try it out: Buy a classical guitar. Cheap and easy.
• If You Want A Good All-Rounder: Get a traditional acoustic guitar.
• If You're Thinking About Playing Live: Get an electro-acoustic.
• If You Want To Play Some Rock'n'Roll: Get an electric guitar

Please Note: If you're looking into completing Grade Exams with the guitar, such as ABRSM or Trinity College London, then you should take a look at the guitar grade requirements published by these examining bodies. The requirements state that the instrument used to take guitar grades must be a classical guitar with nylon strings (this is excluding Rock Guitar, or Rock School grades). If you're ever unsure about any guitar features advertised on our site, please don't hesitate to call up our sales team on 0151 448 2089, who will be more than happy to give you help and advice with whatever you need.

SHOULD I GET A 3/4 SIZE GUITAR? 

We often get asked this question. If you're thinking "should I get a 3/4 size guitar?" you need to think about what you want. A 3/4 size guitar is great for travelling if you want to take your guitar with you on holiday or trip, they're great for children and people with smaller frames and they're no longer known as "toy" guitars - they can be incredible quality guitars that professionals like Ed Sheeran rely on! 

In short, if you want to travel with your guitar easily, you're buying for a small child, you have a smaller frame, or you don't have the room for a full-size guitar, then yes, perhaps you should consider a 3/4 size guitar. 

ESSENTIAL ACOUSTIC GUITAR ACCESSORIES

Spare strings and a guitar tuner are absolutely essential. And even though some guitarists do prefer using just their bare fingers to pick or strum the strings when playing, most still prefer using guitar picks, so that's a recommended accessory. View all guitar accessories.

We recommend purchasing the following when you get your first guitar:

Spare strings - you WILL break a string one day! 
Guitar case or gig bag - for travelling with your guitar and keeping it safe
Tuner - To keep you in tune of course!
Capo - you may need to change the key or pitch of a song whilst learning to play

PMT'S GUITAR RECOMMENDATIONS

So now you know which guitar size is the right one for you, which guitar fits? Our guitar starter packs come with everything you need to start learning to play, complete with a learn-to-play DVD, picks, strap and an extra set of strings. PMT's diverse range caters to players of any age or any size, so we recommend taking a look at some of our best individual beginner guitars and starter packs and see what catches your eye. Here are a few options to get you started which we believe are great starter guitars. There are also links at the bottom of the page where we show you some of the best beginner guitars. 

We've started out with just the budget friendly options, but of course, if you're serious about continuing your guitar journey - the sky's the limit when it comes to purchasing your first guitar and how much you're willing to spend. As a general rule, professional level guitars can cost anywhere between £500- £2000.

Whether you’re totally new to guitar or just looking for something to travel with, the Taylor BT1-E Baby Electro-Acoustic is one of the best ¾-sized acoustic options available.

The superior build-quality makes this guitar a dream for beginners to learn on, and more seasoned players will appreciate the dynamic range of sounds available in addition to the comfortable fretboard.

The Taylor Expression System means that you can easily use this guitar in a live environment, and the included gig bag is sturdy enough to take out on the road.

• Top: Sitka Spruce
• Back and Side: Layered Sapele
• Neck: Sapele
• Neck Width: 1.6875"
• Fingerboard: Ebony
• Scale Length: 22.75"

FULL-SIZE DREADNOUGHT (ALL AGES)

A perfect introduction to Dreadnought acoustics, this Tanglewood model pays homage to 1930s America in both sound and style.

Built with a hand-selected Mahogany top and matched with a Mahogany back and sides, this tonewood pairing helps to deliver a harmonically rich tone which is ideal for playing Folk or Traditional Blues-style music.

The TWCRDE is fitted with a 4-Band EQ that means it’s ready for taking to the stage straight out of the box, and the built-in tuner means you’ll always sound great too.

For those looking for a dreadnought acoustic this is a superb option.

• Neck Material: Mahogany
• Fingerboard: Tech Wood
• Bridge: Tech Wood
• Finish: Whiskey Barrel Burst Satin
• EQ: Tanglewood TW-EX4
• Strings: Bronze Light

The perfect choice for any beginner looking to get started with an iconic Stratocaster guitar, this pack includes:

• Squier Stratocaster Electric Guitar in 3-Tone Sunburst
• Squier Frontman 10G Amplifier
• Fender Padded Gig Bag
• Fender Guitar Strap
• Fender 10’ Instrument Cable
• Fender Guitar Picks
• 3-Month Fender Play Subscription

The Poplar body is light and ideally-suited for beginners, whilst the 3 Strat single-coil pickups offer quintessential Fender tone. The neck is a comfortable C-shape, and with the included 3-month subscription to Fender Play you’ll be flying around the Maple fretboard in no time.

Use the handy aux input on the Squier Frontman amplifier to play along to your favourite songs and follow in the footsteps of every other guitar hero with your first Stratocaster.

This budget-friendly starter package gives you everything you need to set you on your way to rock’n’roll greatness.

• 1x Encore E6BLK Electric Guitar Gloss Black
• 1x Guitar Lead
• 1x Blackstar Debut 10E Bronco Grey Practice Amp
• 1x TOURTECH TTB-E1UEG Electric Gig Bag (or Equivalent)
• 1x Stagg SN5 BLK Braided Nylon Guitar Strap Standard Black (or Equivalent)

Taking inspiration from one of the most legendary guitars of all time, the three pickups deliver a classic, bright tone. The smooth-playing neck is ideal for developing playing skills, and the included gig bag is ideal for transporting your gear between lessons and rehearsals.

Prefer the T-style guitar to a Strat shape? Then this pack is for you:

• 1x Eastcoast GT100 Electric Guitar, Black
• 1x Guitar Lead
• 1x Blackstar Debut 10E Bronco Grey Practice Amp
• 1x TOURTECH TTB-E1UEG Electric Gig Bag (or Equivalent)
• 1x Stagg SN5 BLK Braided Nylon Guitar Strap Standard Black (or Equivalent)

A comfortable player that boasts all of the features necessary to take your first musical steps, this package is designed to make learning the guitar as easy as possible.

Set-up and rock out - no other instructions necessary!

Whatever it is that you're after, from electric to classical, full scale to junior guitars, we have what you need to start playing the guitar, or advance your skills. If you're undecided, take a look the rest of our affordable Electric Guitar Starter Packs and Acoustic Guitar Starter Packs. • All Guitar Gear • Electric Guitars • Acoustic Guitars • Electro-Acoustic Guitars • 3/4 Size Acoustic Guitars • Bass Guitars • Classical Guitars • Guitar Amps • Guitar Effects