Guitar probably originated in Spain early in the 16th century, and it has been around us since then. The guitar has undergone uncountable changes throughout the past several centuries. Now, we have guitars with different body shapes and sizes; and each of these shapes and sizes serves a different purpose. In this article, we are going to look at some of the best 3/ 4 size guitars.

Top Ten 3/4 Size Guitars

Yamaha JR1 3/4

Yamaha JR1 is a 3/4-size dreadnought acoustic guitar. This instrument offers unparallel playability and tone. This guitar is perfect for musicians with smaller hands.

Its solid spruce top and Meranti back and sides account for the bright and balanced tone that is rich and full for its size.

This affordable guitar is great for beginners or those on a budget. The smaller size and lightweight make it suitable for kids. You will be impressed with its craftsmanship and durability.

Due to the 3/4 body size of the Yamaha JR1, it may result in reduced bass response and volume compared to larger guitars with a more traditional feel. The U-shaped rosewood neck is thicker compared to the other guitars, which might not be comfortable for everyone.

The Yamaha JR1 is a well-built, affordable, and versatile guitar worthy of being your first instrument. Its built and portable size makes it a great choice for travelers and beginners. 

Yamaha CGS103A 3/4

The Yamaha CGS103A 3/4 size is a classical guitar. As usual, you wouldn’t be disappointed with this Yamaha guitar.

With the spruce top and Meranti back and sides, this guitar looks and sounds as classic as possible. The neck wood, nato, is frequently used for guitar necks.

Playing on the Sonokeling Fingerboard will be a delight. Pairing this with the playability of nylon strings, you are going to master this instrument with relative ease, especially if you are a beginner.

As a 3/4 size guitar, it will not challenge learners physically. On the contrary, it would provide the utmost comfort for a beginning guitarist.

Another selling point of this guitar is, surprisingly, the volume. CGS103A has impressed many customers with its big volume.

Since it is a classical guitar, it would give a specific flavor. It might not sound appropriate with some style of playing.

All in all, for a beginning guitarist, I cannot help but recommend this amazingly crafted guitar. It would be perfect for you if your playing incorporates a lot of classical or fingerstyle elements.  

Cordoba Cadete 3/4

The Cordoba Cadete 3/4 size is a high-quality classical guitar. Its looks and tonal qualities are reminiscent of traditional classical guitars.

The solid Canadian cedar top and mahogany back and sides are bound to deliver a warm, mellow, and resonant sound as a classical guitar should.

This guitar presents itself with a shorter scale length. Navigating along the fretboard will be extraordinarily comfy for a beginning guitarist. You will also be provided with a padded case.

Like any other classical guitar, this one is also susceptible to weather conditions. It is generally recommended to have a humidifier if you own a classical guitar.

Keep in mind that this guitar neither looks nor sounds cheap in any way, which is a win-win for a new guitarist. At the same time, this guitar would also serve an intermediate or an advanced guitarist with its top-notch quality. I would claim that this is a reliable choice for beginners or players interested in classical, flamenco, or fingerstyle music.  

Yamaha APXT2 3/4

The Yamaha APXT2 is a 3/4 size version of the world’s best-selling acoustic-electric guitar, the APX500III. Its slim design and multiple color combination is a treat to the eyes. 

Its spruce top paired with mahogany back and sides is a recipe for a balanced and resonant tone. This mesmerizing and well-built portable guitar will be a great travel companion.

Yamaha APXT2 comes with a built-in ART-based pickup system for great amplification and performance. When plugged into an amplifier, it will blow your mind with its electro-acoustic sound. 

Like all guitars on this list, this guitar will be a great option for traveling musicians and people with smaller hands. This guitar has an admirable sound projection, although it is a 3/4 guitar. I would highly recommend this guitar to guitarists who are invested in their craft.

Fender Sonoran Mini 6-String

Fender’s Sonoran Mini will captivate you from the very first moment you take a glimpse of it. This guitar looks super classy with wood color and grain patterns, along with Fender’s trademark headstock and unique pick guard design.

The tone and overall volume of this guitar packs a serious punch, rare for this body size. Almost all-mahogany body and neck create ethereal soundscapes.

The scalloped bracing results in higher resonance of the top wood. You will hear every nuance that an acoustic guitar can offer.

Within an affordable price range, this is a smart option for anyone. I would recommend this to you if you wanted your first instrument or a travel guitar.

Strong Wind 36 Inch

3/4 guitars are, in general, suitable for kids who are starting to learn guitar. Strong Wind 36 Inch will be an excellent choice for that. This guitar is an absolute banger for both practice and recitals.

Strong Wind 36 Inch comes with a basswood Top and resilient full-size dreadnought body. Basswood has a light and gossamer tone as it is a very light and fairly soft wood. 

With a gloss finished yellow top wood and black fretboard, this guitar looks mesmerizing. Its ergonomic arc on the sides makes it playable for guitarist of any skill level. 

As it is a classical guitar, you will be using nylon strings which are easier to play. And its straight and smooth maple neck increases the playability even more. Another big plus for beginning guitarists.

This guitar does not have a cutaway. It might not be an issue for beginners, but for advanced or professional guitarists, it is. As you level up your skill, you need more access to the frets higher than 13th fret. 

Suppose you want a guitar that comes with a sturdy bag, has a great sound projection, and provides near effortless playability- Strong Wind 36 Inch is what you are searching for.

Beginner Classical Acoustic Guitars 36 Inch ¾

This 36 inch 3/4 guitar is from J&Z. This is a classical guitar, perfect for beginners, small-handed players, and kids.

This handmade guitar has basswood for the body and back and Maple for the top. You might already guess how good it would sound. You can also choose from five different colors.

It sounds great due to its masterful build and flawless fretboard. It is one of the most beginner friendly guitars on this list.

By ordering this, you will receive a package that includes: one classical guitar, one waterproof bag, one strap, one clip tuner (with battery in), one wipe, and two picks. This is a lucrative deal if you ask me.

This guitar doesn’t have a cut away which might be inconvenient for many players. But all in all, this is a compact guitar with great looks, sound, and playability. So, I would highly recommend this, especially if you are a beginner.

Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey

Inspired by the Gretsch Rex parlor guitars of old, Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey is a parlor guitar with quite a unique look. This guitar has a remarkable combination- playability of an electric guitar and the voice of a semi-hollow body.

Walnut fretboard and a “C” profile nato neck are the key ingredients for its superb playability, and an X-braced basswood body contributes to the supreme resonant voice. 

It has a stunning combination of Smokestack Black colored body and walnut-brown fretboard. G9520E comes with a Gretsch Deltoluxe soundhole pickup as it is an electro-acoustic guitar. This makes it sound more like an electric guitar than an acoustic one.

In comparison to the dreadnoughts, this packs an underwhelming volume in it. But even as a parlor guitar, it can project an impressively deep and resonant sound while played.

Considering the price range, you are bound to appreciate the craftsmanship and competence of this instrument. Gretsch G9520E will serve you for many years to come, preserving its tonal qualities.

Martin LX1E

The Little Martin LX1R acoustic-electric guitar is super comfortable to hold and play. Handmade from the highest-quality wood, a Sitka spruce top, mahogany back, and sides with a warm satin finish.  

Like all other 3/ 4 guitars, in terms of sonic projection, the LX1E falls behind other full-bodied guitars. The laminated back and sides may not offer the same tonal complexity and warmth as non-laminated bodies. 

Its solid Sitka spruce top and Fishman Sonitone pickup system are notable features that add to its versatility.  

Overall, the Martin LX1E is a well-crafted guitar with great playability. It is also ideal for travelers and players with smaller hands. I would say, It is a reliable choice for those seeking a smaller-sized guitar with a rich, balanced sound.

Cordoba C1M 3/4

Cordoba C1M 3/ 4 is the protégé of renowned guitar manufacturer Cordoba. This is a nylon string guitar perfect for students of all levels. It incorporates traditional craftsmanship of the early luthiers with modern requirements.

Like every Córdoba, C1M is lightweight and responsive. Along with its 3/ 4 size, it has proved to be an amazing guitar for beginners. It will also be a useful guitar for professionals seeking a smaller bodied guitar.

The Spruce top wood and mahogany back and sides have a characteristic warm and mellow yet rich and full sound. Pau ferro wood, used as a fretboard material, sounds warmer and fuller as well.

Like all classical guitars, it comes without a cutaway, but unlike many other classical guitars, C1M comes with an adjustable truss rod for lifetime neck stability.

Many customers claim that this guitar feels and sounds as good as an expensive guitar, which is a huge feat for a guitar of this price range.

On the other hand, some customers have noted uneven and sharp frets. You might need to have some minor work done on the fretboard following your purchase.

Keeping the potential merits and demerits, it would be unfair not to recommend this guitar to the players who will be served well by this astonishingly well-crafted guitar. If you are a beginner, I will be even more inclined to recommend this instrument to you.

What is a 3/4 guitar?

We can classify guitars based on their scale length. A scale length is defined as the distance between the nut and the bridge. A 3/4 guitar has a scale length of 24 inches or less. This scale length is one of the key factors that determines the voice and overall character of a guitar.

3/4 guitar advantages

3/4 guitars have smaller scale length, which helps produce a specific tone and grants the players some unique advantages.

Small size is good for kids of age 8 or above. 3/4 guitars are often recommended to kids or players with smaller hands.

String tension also depends on scale length. Smaller length guitar generally imposes higher tension on strings than longer scale length does.

String Action is the height of the strings above the fretboard. Strings with higher tension (or small-scale length) require higher action to vibrate. And string action also affects the playability of a guitar.

Fret spacing is also susceptible to scale lengths. A smaller scale corresponds to smaller fret spacing on the fretboard. Its playability will be affected by the amount of room available on each fret.

What is it made of? 

A lot of options are available for the materials of a 3/4 guitar. Most common wood is mahogany for the body, predominantly for the back and sides of a guitar. Walnut is also popular for back and sides as well as fretboards.

Rosewood is another great option for fretboard material and is used for the body material of smaller guitars.

The soundboard (top part of a guitar) is the most important part of a guitar when it comes to tone production. Variants of Mahogany and Spruce are popular choices among the makers.

Regular guitar vs. 3/4 Guitar

Let’s compare a regular guitar to a 3/ 4 guitar.

Regular guitar:

• Produces huge volume. 

• Inherits a rich and warm lower-end tone with impressive dynamic ranges. 

• Requires relatively higher tension on strings and has lower action. 

• Generally, suitable for intermediate to advanced players and players with bigger hands.

3/4 Guitar:

• Volume not on par with regular guitars.

• Usually, good enough for recording and playing in a small, closed space.

• Excellent for high-end to mid-range tones. 

• Inherits a brighter and punchy tone. 

• Imposes relatively lower tension on strings and has higher guitar action.

• Usually appropriate for beginners, kids, and players with small hands.

What ages is it for?

3/4-sized guitars are a typical choice for children of 8 years old or above. However, they can be used by adults with smaller hands too. And an adult with not so small hands can take up a 3/ 4 guitar if they aim for the specific tone that this guitar offers.