Are You Playing The Right Guitar?

Guitars come in more shapes and sizes than a casual observer might think. There’s lots of variation in the depth and width of the body, not to mention the neck….then you need to take the size and proportion of your fingers, hands, and arms into account as well. Yet many students who come to me are playing essentially the same style guitar, and don’t have a sense of how the physical shape and size of the instrument affects their ability to play it.

Part of the problem is that entry-level instruments don’t come in as many styles as more expensive guitars. If you’re buying a guitar for a child, there are ¾ and half-size models available, but an average adult would probably end up purchasing a standard style acoustic called a dreadnought. When you picture an acoustic guitar, this is most likely the body style you imagine: a lower bout that is slightly wider than the upper, with a shallow waist between the two. Dreadnoughts were designed for fullness and projection back in the 1920s to compete with louder instruments like fiddles and mandolins; they produce a fuller tone because the sound resonates through the deep lower bout. If you’re playing in standard right-handed style, this is the part of the guitar you need to get your right hand around to reach the strings…and for many people, this is where the trouble starts.

I personally love the sound of a dreadnought but I find that my right arm will begin to tire if I’m working around that deep lower bout for an extended period of time. If you are a person of smaller build you may find it awkward to even get your right hand comfortably to the strings, often leading to contortions and overuse of the right shoulder. If you find that your right shoulder is higher than your left when you play seated in a straight-backed chair, the guitar’s depth may be creating a physical challenge for you.

My primary acoustic is a slightly smaller-bodied design called an OM or orchestra model. It lacks the low-end punch of a dreadnought but chimes beautifully and is physically much more comfortable for me to play. I also own a parlor guitar, which is even smaller and has a more graceful, narrow waist. It has less power than the dreadnought or the OM but is a very sweet-sounding instrument and wonderful for fingerpicking.

Ultimately there are many body styles out there, and it’s worth being aware of the differences. Even if you’re just getting started, you can tell just by sitting and holding the guitar whether it’s well-matched to your body type. You should be able to reach the strings comfortably with your strumming hand without having to compress or overextend the shoulder, and you should be able to swing the arm freely without strain. Try sitting in a straight-backed chair or standing with a strap. And most of all, don’t be intimidated by the sales staff…take the time to get a sense of what feels right and what doesn’t.

Everyone’s going to have their own preferences when it comes to the size-to-sound-to comfort ratio. Sometimes it’s a function of musical style and sometimes it’s a purely physical or aesthetic judgment. But as I often say to students in any setting, be it a private lesson, a workshop, or an article…we come back again and again to the importance of paying attention and feeling what you’re doing. Listen and feel, and your ears and body will tell you when you’ve found the sweet spot.