Is THIS The Best Sized Guitar for Beginners?

[@LaurenBateman]

✅ Check out my free crash course: www.laurenbateman.com/crashcourse

[@spacelord2234]

Got me a Yamaha fs 830 for Christmas and love it so much. All the problems i ve had with my dreadnought are gone . Iam not a small guy but have shoulder and chronic back pain . Smaller size guitar with rich and lovely sound is the way to go.✌🏼

[@davidgallie1365]

I live in the Uk. I’m 70 and taught myself to play Ukulele. At Christmas my son gave me a Baby Taylor and I’m following your 7 day course!

[@LaurenBateman]

That is awesome! Rock on!

[@dennisruch9809]

It's true, size matters! Being an older beginner I just switched to a travel size guitar in December. Not so much for the smaller body size, but for the shorter 24" scale size. Pair the smaller body and short scale together and I am finding it so much easier to play. Did a lot of research comparing specs of different parlor and travel size guitars, then went to my local store and played a few of my top choices. So glad I made the switch!😊

[@LaurenBateman]

That's awesome! So glad it worked out for you!

[@LMacNeill]

Paul Davids did a comparison of several different sized guitars here on KZbin. It was the same type of wood on each guitar, but each guitar was a different size. The most surprising thing to me was that the *highs* were more pronounced on the larger guitars. You expect the lows to be diminished on a smaller guitar, but the highs were also. It's like the dynamic range of the guitar gets larger at both ends -- high and low -- when you play on a larger guitar. A very surprising result, IMHO. But none of them sounded *bad,* per se. Sure the tone was different from guitar to guitar, but they all still sounded like an acoustic guitar. If you're not a professional musician going for a particular sound on a recording, who cares what the precise tone is? When you're sitting around a campfire playing tunes, *no one* is going to complain that the tone is "wrong" somehow. Play what's comfortable!

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for sharing!

[@TADDs101]

I am a new guitar player and decided on the Yamaha FS830 as my first guitar, it is so comfortable to learn on, and let me tell you, the sound is incredible for $349 new

[@kee-tu4cq]

Just bought the same as my 4th guitar (have sold my previous ones), the FS830 is amazing! I love Yamahas in general, they are amazing. I got my action lowered too and it plays great.

[@LaurenBateman]

Amazing. That's awesome!

[@karlparsons2031]

Just bought one myself-- put martin retro strings on it--- Love it !

[@TADDs101]

@karlparsons2031 awesome! How do those strings compare to the ones that came on the FS830 new ? Enjoy ! I think it's a great guitar for the price

[@karlparsons2031]

@TADDs101 yes. Great guitar for the price. There is a world of difference between the retros and the strings that came on it. Try those martin retros !!!✌️

[@4everPhloyd]

I have both a Gibson L-1 parlour and an SJ-200 jumbo and at home I only play the parlour, the jumbo sounds awesome but is too boomy in a small room. You give great advice for your students recommending a smaller parlour for learning and practice at home. They will know when they’re ready or need a full size dreadnaught. I truly enjoy your videos.

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for sharing!

[@annalockwood3021]

I deliberately sought out a parlor guitar when I decided I was ready to buy my own. Definitely a good decision for me. Bought mine from a local shop because the owner was so willing to help me find the right instrument for me. It took a few weeks, but was definitely worth it.

[@LaurenBateman]

That's awesome! It's always great to find a shop that really wants to help their customers 😄

[@kee-tu4cq]

lol this was me, I’m a 5’3” female. Had a Yamaha dreadnought (not realizing it’s a bigger size). My arm and shoulder were killing me all the time, making me not want to play much anymore. Black Friday I bought a Yamaha FS830 (concert sized) and have fallen back in love with playing again! It’s night and day in comfort. Also using Elixir Nanoweb Phos Bronze cus light have made a huge difference, I love the sound they produce!

[@LaurenBateman]

Glad it worked out for you! Thanks for watching!

[@BaritoneUkeBeast4Life]

Hey Lauren great video! I have been an avid Tenor and Baritone ukulele player for about 14 months and tried adding guitar practice into the mix during that time as well. I first tried the very popular and inexpensive Yamaha FS800 and it was far too big for me. I am a short guy at 5'7" so I returned it for the Taylor GS Mini which I love. I have rotator cuff issues with both shoulders and even though it's a smaller guitar, it is still be a challenge at times. So I gave up on the guitar until last September when I got a Klos all carbon fiber travel guitar which is parlor sized and it is perfect! I play it daily and it is very comfortable. I play it with a strap and angle it like a classical guitar which I find very easy to play that way. I love all your videos and your song tutorials are easy to understand and follow along with since you make everything fun and encouraging. You were my first and still my favorite guitar teacher here on KZbin.

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching! I'm glad you found a guitar that works for you. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@j-gmoran1124]

Great video. PRS makes great stuff!

[@kristanvw1563]

I'm learning on a parlour. This makes me feel so much better about it. I was worried it'd be too little. I really do love it. For reference I'm about 5'5".

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for sharing! Glad the video helped!

[@James-kq6gr]

I’m a new guitar player and I’m not a very big guy so I decided to get the Taylor GS mini. It is a perfect size guitar for me and I absolutely love it. Great advice.

[@lorabecka6177]

That's what I have and I love it. Just need to get back to learning.

[@richardholappajr.6184]

Great information, thanks Lauren!

[@LaurenBateman]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@Ernie-Tech]

I was so hoping for you to mention 4/4 (full size) and 3/4th neck width guitars, or acoustic guitars with rounded edges in the player side, or the use of different tuning mechanisms. Cause as a beginner, the first thing going wrong is tuning. The guitar tuning system you show here has 3 string-tuners going clockwise and 3 string-tuners going anti-clockwise to tune in the same upward (or downward and visa versa) pitch level, which I find very confusing as a beginner. Much easier are guitars that have their tuners all flat in the same direction cause all 6 strings tune the same way! As a big guy my hands were far too thick to play on my wife's guitar, since I have my own 4/4th full size neck guitar, and with this last tuning system, I'm so much happier learning to play guitar. Hope this helps. Cheers from France.

[@LaurenBateman]

Most acoustics are setup this way. Many electrics are setup the way you prefer.

[@clydeortego8332]

I own several sizes of Guitars form parlor to a big 12 string and just got a Rogue Concert Guitar for Christmas and Love the size and sound.

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for sharing!

[@starfox2215]

Cool stuff. I started off on a 50 dollar tag sale Washburn. I found a slightly used epiphone inspired Texan with pickup and I played 1 chord and said holy moly. It is a big guitar and sounds great with medium strings. I keep on trucking with my learning. The epiphone is my prized possession. It’s got a hard case, humidipaks and a temp and humidity reader in the case. Thanks for the learning videos and info

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching! Glad you found a guitar you love!

[@EvanCarmichael]

If you’re feeling uncomfortable with your guitar, a parlor size might be the perfect fit for you! Thanks for sharing! - Lipika - Team Evan Carmichael.

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaelpond6386]

I’m a big fan of the Jim Dandy, small but very loud great size, I modded mine with a DArmond sound hole pickup for a vintage blues sound.

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for sharing!

[@cimmaron50]

I 70 years old, been playing since my teens . I am 5'11'' tall and I much prefer the concert/parlor size instrument. They are not just for beginners. The idea that they are mostly for beginners is ridculous.

[@LaurenBateman]

Awesome. Thanks for the input!

[@BrookeLester]

I’m 6’1” with long arms, and I prefer small guitars (parlor size and 000). They’re more comfortable, and I don’t feel like I’m setting off a cannon every time I strum an open chord.

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for sharing!

[@AussieWoodyGirl]

I had been playing my Alvarez folk for a year without an issue. Then suddenly, it became very uncomfortable to play. So I've just purchased the Fender CC-60S v2 (all mahogany) concert size. Slapped on some Silk & Steel strings and wow, a beautiful instrument that's very comfortable and sounds great. Size does matter

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@tanikabell1070]

I have a 39 inch Pyle classical guitar it sounds amazing

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching!

[@HakuniAkutu2488]

I like small size acoustic guitar becauae I feel like playing electric guitar. ❤

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching!

[@ChristianCMC]

Is there any difference in the neck sizes on a bigger vs. smaller guitar? Or is the body size the only difference?

[@MattSwain1]

You need to look at the spec sheets to find that out. A standard full size neck has a scale of 25.5 inches (generally) which is the distance between the nut (fret 0) and the bridge. Something like a Taylor GS mini has a scale of 23.5 inches so fret 0 isn’t quite as far away (although the shape of the guitar and how it sits on your lap can affect this too). Sometimes the necks are a little narrower but we’re talking small fractions of an inch so I’d tend to disregard that

[@MattSwain1]

I’d also add that these small guitars aren’t just for smaller framed people. I’m 6ft (180cm) and play a Taylor Grand Theater sized guitar (basically the same size as a GS mini) it’s really comfortable and not too small / cramped. Unless you have a reason for playing a big dreadnought, maybe performing in public unplugged for example, then most people probably don’t need a guitar that big

[@LaurenBateman]

Yes, the scale can be different.

[@CathrynHopson]

Love my Taylor GS Mini for this reason 🤩

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching!

[@talesfromapartment8497]

I'm 5'7" and a guy, but I just bought a Taylor grand concert-sized guitar and it's SO much easier to play than a dreadnought.

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for sharing!

[@ninashields3285]

I love my 3/4 size Taylor’s. My original was too big!!!

[@seanhoude]

This tracks. I have a Martin AE Dreadnaught and absolutely love it. But I'm 6' tall and weigh 220 lbs. 👍

[@Lovehereafterr]

I have a question, is the neck the same size as a dreadnought? or is is it thinner or thicker?

[@LaurenBateman]

This guitar probably has a slightly small scale.

[@timswires5718]

I really like my Yamaha APXT2 3/4 size (I think) acoustic-electric guitar.

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching!

[@Neil-u7j]

Is an acoustic better to start with than an electric one?

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching! Do watch this also it might help kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHKTdXeqj7Gdi8k

[@paulwatson8219]

Looking around it looks like Taylor's have a smaller neck. Do you know if this is true? I still have a hard time playing but it feels that the Taylor's are a little easier to play. I am still horrible at it but it feels a little easier.

[@dyingforpie6879]

Yes they do - referred to as a " c " neck

[@LaurenBateman]

I don't know honestly. I've never been into guitar specs. Great question though.

[@evidenceroom]

I find it hard to play the guitar as a woman due to my smaller hands. The little pads on my fingers are more flat on my index, making it hard to have consistent pressure on the strings. Im gunna to keep going, but any advice on finger pain/ strain?

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching! Check also the guitar strings you use. Try Light strings. Also you may want to consider smaller guitar body that will fit

[@iowadeaniac]

Love my Fender-cc-60s-all-mahogany-concert-acoustic

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching!

[@Marinaxp1]

I love my Taylor GS Mini :)

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching!

[@bigal25938]

I bought a baby martin a few years ago. Thought it would be a great quality guitar for the grandkids to start on. I have played it often but don’t like it. Still hard to play and fret and not a good sound.

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@mickvictor]

The headstock on the guitar in your video looks wildly out of proportion to the body. Or is it just me? Also, you mentioned the Taylor GS. I purchased a Taylor Big Baby about 12 years ago. It's a 7/8 size, and I was and am still impressed by its sound quality and playability.

[@LaurenBateman]

Interesting. I don't think it's that weird. 🤔

[@GMec78]

I think a jumbo is bigger than a dreadnought but yep both are big in the lap

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching!

[@larrya3989]

❤❤❤❤good morning ❤❤❤❤

[@panagiotisarapis752]

The first"like "is mine

[@draster541]

The bigger guitar doesn’t mean you can play better. I find that medium size guitar is easier to play than a guitar bigger than yourself.

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for sharing!

[@rebeccaboothe4825]

I had to buy a parlor size and I'm a lot more comfortable.