3/4 Guitar vs Full Size: How to Choose the Right One?

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When it comes to the appearance of a ¾ size guitar and that of a full-size guitar, they all look the same. But there are a few significant differences between these two sizes of guitars, and one of these differences can be easily observed.

The size is one of the major differences between these two types of guitars and can be felt when you try to play them. This is one of the reasons why so many people become disheartened when starting out playing this musical instrument.

It is especially important for younger and entry-level guitar players to choose the right size guitar so they can easily reach those low notes. We will take a look at these two major types of guitars so you can decide which one to choose.

Similarities

Both the full-size and the ¾-size guitar have the same part and components, so it will not make any difference to your experience. You will be able to use the same strings and tune the guitar the same way, and all the chords and notes can be played on both guitars.

They can both be made from the same types of wood for the body as well as for the fretboard. They both may have or not have a deeper cutout where the body meets the neck for quick and easy access to the higher frets.

Both the full-size as well as the ¾-size guitar are available in both the classical as well as acoustic format.

Differences

The main difference some people will immediately notice is the size of the guitar when you try to play it. This is where those people with smaller hands will struggle to play all the chords as well as the lower notes on the fretboard.

The fretboard of the full-size guitar is longer than the ¾ size guitar, and the body is bigger as well. The scale length of a full-size guitar will be 24 inches and more, while the 3/4-size guitar will be less than 24 inches.

When it comes to the price of the full-size guitar, it will easily be from a few hundred up to thousands of dollars. You can pick up a good entry-level ¾-size guitar for only a couple of hundred dollars most of the time.

¾ Size Guitar

This type of guitar is a good choice for anyone who wants to start learning to play the guitar. The ¾-size guitar is especially a good choice for people with smaller hands as well as for young entry-level guitar players.

The ¾-size guitar is also great for traveling when you want to take it with you on trips or camping.

Because a ¾-size guitar does not have a high string tension, it tends to go out of tune much faster. This means if you are playing the guitar for some time, you will have to tune in every hour or so to keep it in tune.

Full-Size Guitar

This type of guitar is larger and heavier because of the large body as well as the longer fretboard of the guitar. The longer scale size of the full-size guitar also helps it to have a much better string tension, making it stay in tune for longer.

The large body size of the full-size guitar will provide a much louder sound output and a good tone to the sound. With a full-size guitar, you can play basically any music genre, and it is suitable for those who have been playing for some time.

3/4 Guitar vs Full Size: Tips for Picking the Right One

There are a few things you need to look at when you are out buying a guitar for yourself or anyone else, for that matter.

Your body size will determine what type of guitar you need to get; smaller people will go for smaller guitars.
If you have smaller hands, a ¾-size guitar will be a better option so you can play all the notes and chords. This is especially if you want to play first position open chords like those used for country music.
Determine what type of music you want to play before you finally decide on the size of guitar you want to buy.
Try out a few guitars in both sizes to feel whether they are the right fit for your body size and type.
Make sure the guitar is not too big to fit into your body and under your arm when you sit to play it. If your arm lifts up too high or you cannot easily reach the strings over the guitar, it is too big for you.
It is imperative that you feel comfortable with the guitar and you can easily reach all the parts of the guitar.
Make sure you can easily play chords that are on the first fret of the guitar without the need for you to overreach. If you are struggling to reach it will cause you to get tired while playing the guitar, and beginners might get disheartened.
If the guitar is too small for you, you might feel a bit cramped when trying to play, and this will also quickly tire you.
The difference in the dimensions of the full-size guitar and the ¾-size guitar may just be the reason you enjoy your guitar to the fullest.
When you start out playing the guitar, do not spend too much money on a smaller guitar if you choose the ¾-size.
You may want to migrate to the full-size guitar if you are still young and still grow or if you become better at playing.
A ¾ -size guitar is always the better choice to practice on before you apply all you have learned to a full-size guitar.

Conclusion

As you can see, it is important that you approach a new guitar the same way you would when buying a pair of shoes. It must feel comfortable for you to hold and to play it while not making you tired too quickly while you are playing it.

We hope that after this you will be able to make the right choice and enjoy learning to play your new guitar.