All About 3/4 Size Guitars

Choosing an instrument is the most important step on the path of a musician. When newcomers come to the store, they often get lost not only in firms and prices, but also in size. It is especially unclear what this 3/4 size is and who it will fit.

In addition to strings, bodies and materials, guitars vary in size. It is customary to measure the length of the tool in inches, but for convenience, data will be given in centimeters. The full length of the guitar (from the beginning of the body to the end of the neck) is considered only for the traditional 4/4. The length of other instruments includes a scale - the length from the beginning of the tension of the strings to the tuning pegs.

The 3/4 guitar is a scaled-down copy of a regular 900 cm guitar. This tool is mostly intended for children aged 8-10 years.

In addition to the size of the tool, the choice is difficult for many brands. Everyone knows that every manufacturer has both strengths and weaknesses.

Popular manufacturers include Valencia. It is a Melbourne brand specializing in the production of classical and electro-acoustic guitars. The biggest plus of this company is the preservation of quality at a relatively low price. Cheapness is achieved by assembling tools in China and Indonesia. The most famous 3/4 guitars are the Valencia-104 and Valencia-204.

The instruments from this manufacturer are perfect for beginners, as they have a wide neck and nylon strings. This makes it much easier to clamp the frets. The most common in stores is the Barcelona-CG11 series.

Stagg specializes in the production of 3/4 size electric guitars. The guitars of this brand are easy to tune, the strings are located low to the neck, which does not require serious effort while playing. They are also easy to customize and the design adds comfort to use. More popular among the rest is the Stagg S300 guitar.

Let's describe what you should pay attention to when choosing a 3/4 guitar.

Tools of this size are perfect for children under 10 years of age. However, this should take into account the rapid growth of children. Perhaps it is better to take a guitar "for growth", so to speak. For example, the 7/8 pattern falls between traditional and 3/4.

In addition to age, it is worth considering the growth of a novice musician. The 3/4 tool is convenient for short people.

Another important criterion that can influence the choice of a tool is the length of the fingers. People with long fingers are unlikely to find it comfortable to clamp the frets on a 3/4 guitar.

Choosing a tool is not worth it solely by measurements. Coming to the store, it is better not to rush, but to hold in your hands guitars of different sizes. There is a certain "magic" in music, when a special connection is established between the instrument and the musician, so to speak. Therefore, it is worth relying not only on the parameters, but also on the sensations when playing the guitar.

3/4 guitars are budget guitars. This is a great option for beginners. However, later it may become necessary to change the instrument to a better one, because simpler materials are used for the production of budget guitars.

A smaller tool is always more convenient to carry with you. Size 3/4 is a great solution for those who like to play around a campfire, as well as for those who do not want to part with their guitar during long trips. It is important to transport the guitar in a case, otherwise the instrument can be damaged - in order to lower the price of the product, they use cheap types of wood or plastic, which are too easy to scratch or break.

Guitar manufacturers usually install substandard strings. That's why after purchase, it is better to purchase new ones and replace them. First, they will last longer. Secondly, it will help improve the sound quality (by choosing nylon or other strings). Third, the soft new strings are easier to grip, and this will help reduce the number of blisters that will haunt the beginning guitarist.

Despite the fact that the 3/4 guitar is a scaled-down version of the standard 4/4 guitar, beginners may have questions about the specifics of its tuning. A smaller guitar tunes in the same way as a regular instrument. Let's describe the sequence of actions.

• Loosen the strings. This will help to better perceive the rise in sound, and also reduce the likelihood of sound cutoff during the tuning process.
• When one string is pulled, the others loosen and detune a little. After completing the setup, you need to check the sound again.
• You can use a pick to get a clearer sound.

There are several ways to configure.

Mechanical method that does not require significant time investment. A good solution for those who have problems with tuning by ear. The musician is only required to follow the programming instructions. The setup process is as follows:

• first you need to set it in the program "Standard setting";
• using a microphone, the program picks up the sound and gives hints;
• you need to turn the tuning pegs as the program shows;
• tuning is complete when actions have been performed for all strings.

The principle of operation of the tuner is similar to that of programs. The difference is that it is a physical item, not an application. Tuners are sold in music stores and cost quite a lot, but you can save money and buy in the online store.

The tuner picks up the sound through the microphone and, after analyzing the sound frequency, shows the differences from the standard. Tune the guitar by the tuner as follows:

• having connected the tuner, you need to set the "Standard setting";
• first pull the first string;
• turn the peg in the desired direction, as shown by the tuner scale;
• if the tuning is correct, the green light on the tuner will light up or the device will make a sound;
• these actions must be performed for all strings.

You can tune your guitar without additional accessories. The guitar is tuned by ear at the 5th fret. Tuning of strings is based on the following principle: one string is tuned relative to the other. This requires good hearing.

• The second string is clamped at the 5th fret.
• You must first pull the second string, then the first open string and compare the sound.
• The peg rotates until the strings sound the same.
• Each subsequent string, except for the third, is tuned in the same way: the fourth open is compared with the second clamped at the fifth fret, the fifth with the fourth, and the sixth with the fifth. The third is clamped at the 4th fret and stretched to such an extent until it sounds like the second.

Tuning a guitar is a delicate matter. Very often, each musician adjusts the instrument purely for himself. So, two guitars that are tuned in the same way can sound completely different.