Bass guitars are ordinarily quite large. And unless you have the reach and the power in your hands to hold down the strings, you may have a bit of trouble playing a full sized bass guitar.
Or worse, get discouraged from learning at all. Rather you need something that is manageable per your own body’s requirements. It doesn’t matter if you’re a child, woman or a man with small hands, these bass guitars are simply easier to play.
These instruments give you the perfect introductory “feel” to your music career as an adult bass is simply too big for some people to hold and play correctly. You should always stick with small-scale guitars as they are perfect for people with smaller hands, children or adults.
A bass guitar is the perfect introductory guitar for any young up-and-coming John Entwistle superstar. Your child can start their bassist career from age 7. Your kid may very well be showing good signs that he is ready to become a bassist.
Here are 5 Signs Your Child is Ready:
- Your child loves music
For any parent, at a young age, you will know what your children take an interest in. If they love listening to rock or love watching guitarists, then this is a good sign. If you are a family of musicians, then your child may gravitate towards playing an instrument and all this will make them learn and adapt faster.
- Your child can focus
As with anything, you need to practice getting better. Can your child focus on the lesson they will need to take? If they can, then this is a good sign for things to come.
- They want to practice every day
When you first taking lessons, your child needs to set aside time every day and be willing to practice. It’s no use, you as a parent force this upon them after a while.
- Your child has rhythm
If you see your child humming or beating on the table, then this is a healthy sign they finding a keen interest in music.
- Your child wants to attend lessons
If your child is mature enough to commit to lessons on their own time and stick with a fixed schedule every day, then this will help them learn a lot faster.
The 4 Best Bass Guitars for Small Hands That We Recommend Buying:
Ibanez GSRM20
Ibanez is one of the leading guitar brands. They are known for providing premium quality at an affordable price.
The Ibanez GSRM20 model has a shorter scale design, making it perfect for kids to pick up and play. It has a 28.6” scale to be precise. It is a great guitar for travel, pop it in the back of the truck when you away on a nice trip.
The Agathis material on the back and top sections deliver your necessities. It has a dynamic P pickup configuration which produces a nice punch and treble sound. It has a maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard followed by 4 strings.
Pros
- Perfect for beginners
- The price is affordable
- Rich tone
- Convenient for travel
Cons
- Strings not the best
- There is small evidence of fret buzz
Dean Custom Zone Bass
The Dean Custom Zone Base is anything but subtle. Your child will either love it or hate it, depending on how they find the color. Luckily for you, bright colors are what kids love.
The body itself is made from basswood, which is standard for guitars in this category. The neck is C-shaped, made of maple that has been bolted on. It is sported with a 20 fret maple fretboard that has been painted to match the exact color of the body. It has one passive DMZ-designed pickup in the middle, which is controlled by a master volume and tone.
Pros
- Smaller size bass making it perfect for your child
- Variety of finishes
- Comfortable and easy to play
Cons
- Cheaper made design
- Color can be a disadvantage depending on what your kid prefers
Squier by Fender Bronco Bass
Fender introduced the beautiful Fender Bronco Bass for one of their introductory bass short-scale ranges.
This shares many qualities with the 1970s Fender Musicmaster but at an affordable budget. This make has a comfortable C-shaped neck profile. The Bronco Bass has a maple neck that has been bolted on with a 30” short scale length, making it perfect for children as well as adults who aren’t comfortable with a full sized bass guitar.
It has a single coil brass pickup. It comes with a standard master volume and tone knob. This has medium jumbo frets and 19 frets in total. It is sported with an Ashwood back and tops. The satin finish neck makes it a dream for guitarists of any level.
Pros
- Lightweight design
- Satin finish neck makes fretting the guitar a smooth transition
- Short 30” scale length
Cons
- Nothing stands out about the sound quality
Dean Hillsboro Junior ¾ 4 String Bass Guitar
The Dean dynasty is a respected guitar brand in the music world. With the Hillsboro Junior, they made this perfect for the beginner player looking for something comfortable to play.
It is sported with a basswood body and top, a C-shaped maple neck, and a maple fretboard. It has split P bass pickups with master tone and volume controls, making it easier to find your right sound.
Pros
- Perfect for a bass guitar beginner
- Affordable
- Solid construction
- For guitarists with smaller hands
Cons
- The tone knob is a little fragile
Tips For You When You First Start:
- Selecting the right size
If the instrument is too large, it may be harder to learn. Find the perfect size so your child focuses on playing rather than being able to hold it upright.
- A metronome is your friend
Perfect for learning the basic rhythm.
- Use hand grip strengtheners to tighten that grip
The bass guitar has heavy strings. If you are playing it over time, this can lead to quicker fatiguing of the muscles. By having this strengthening, they will improve your child’s grip.
- Play with a pick
Learning to play with a pick will help you play any style of rock.
- Practice with other students
People who play with other musicians tend to learn a lot faster.
Many brands cater to smaller guitars, which are perfect for children. We recommend Ibanez GSRM20. This is the best value-driven buy we can use with a quality brand behind its name. Your child may be in that stage where they testing out a lot of different things and that is okay.
With this brand behind the name, it is easier to resell as a backup if they decide to rather go with another instrument. This model covers every single aspect you need for trial and error. It is a must-have in 2021 for your child starting their music career.
Wrapping Up
We hope that this post about the best junior bass guitars was helpful for you. Getting your child into playing a guitar is an awesome thing. In general, it’s easier to learn how to play if you start young.
With so many great options available these days why not try to get your child playing if you think they’re showing interest in it. If you’d like to see more information about getting a guitar for a child be sure to check out our other posts. Thanks for reading!
