Electric bass for small hands?

[Ostie]

Many female bass players with tiny hands have no problem playing 34 inch scale bass (Tal Wilkenfeld, Tina Weymouth, etc).

Tina played a Mustang back in the day.

 

[Eddie LeBlanc]

Spector Bantam

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Spector Bantam review | MusicRadar

 

[AcridSaint]

I am going to also say get a good teacher and stick it out. Literally, spend whatever you were going to on the new bass on lessons with a proper teacher. Do research beforehand. If you think small hands are a problem playing longscale basses, there are a lot of small-handed players that don't agree:

 

[maeda]

the new Fender PJ Mustangs (the ones made in Mexico) are pretty small and great little basses for the price. Give one a shot?

 

[GrantG]

I think it's fair for other posters to talk about technique and hand position. However, as a small-handed person myself, I find short-scale basses more comfortable to play. Fender Mustang basses are a good choice, but there are many other solid short-scale basses out there.

 

[LoTone]

Tina played a Mustang back in the day.

Tina also played a Jazz Bass and other long scale basses...

I don't want to be rude but haven't you guys notice that female bass players never complain about having small hands?

They just deal with it.

 

[vindibona1]

I have been genetically cursed with small hands. I’m also a beginner and have a Squire Jaguar bass that I’m unhappy with because can’t get much harmonics response , or anything much else I like except when playing metal gets fat dark sound. Board is still a bit big too. Something easier to play plus with brighter sound for slapping and picking. Ideas?

When I was at a Tal Wilkenfeld concert last summer and everyone else was taking selfies with her afterwards, I wish I had thought to get a picture of her hand next to mine. She's a small person and has hands much smaller than mine; and she plays rings around me. So don't worry too much about small hands.

There are two schools of thought on this issue: 1) Buy a short scale bass. Or 2) let your hands get accustomed to a standard length bass. For the most part I believe I subscribe to #2.

Case in point: I have medium sized hands and the first 5 string bass I bought had a 35" scale length. At first it felt huge to me. For the first week I thought I'd return it. So with that in mind I bought a 5er with a 34" scale length. By the time it came time to return it I had grown into it and have no issues with it. Fool that I am I also kept the 34" one as well. Neck profile, nut width and string spacing also play an important role in comfort for different sized hands.

As you mentioned, you're a "beginner". That brings an important question to mind: When fretting the first, then the third fret, to you use the index and third finger, or index and pinky?

 

[KohanMike]

I only play 21" to 25" scale bass because I'm not comfortable with anything larger and I have normal size hands. I bought a SmallGuitars.com MB-1 a few years ago for $150 on sale, 24" scale, and it's been one of my favorites of the 28 basses I own. (They replaced it with the MB-2 and raised the price.) I had it painted and added fret markers.

 

[MCDufour]

Small hands + bright sound = Sandberg Electra

I concur. A Sandberg Electra is what I have and it plays really well. It fits my small hands just fine!

 

[LoTone]

I only play 21" to 25" scale bass because I'm not comfortable with anything larger and I have normal size hands. I bought a SmallGuitars.com MB-1 a few years ago for $150 on sale, 24" scale, and it's been one of my favorites of the 28 basses I own. (They replaced it with the MB-2 and raised the price.) I had it painted and added fret markers.

View attachment 3634278

I am just wondering. Where do you find strings for such an instrument?

 

[Bassheart365]

Do a youtube search for Mohini Dey. Her hands are tiny. She plays full scale 5-6 string basses and is a virtuoso.

 

[Ostie]

I have been genetically cursed with small hands. I’m also a beginner and have a Squire Jaguar bass that I’m unhappy with because can’t get much harmonics response , or anything much else I like except when playing metal gets fat dark sound. Board is still a bit big too. Something easier to play plus with brighter sound for slapping and picking. Ideas?

Are you saying you have a Squier VM short scale bass? Cuz I had one, and those things have one of the easiest Playing necks that I have ever felt on a bass. Honestly, you might want to keep it and mod it for the tone you’re looking for, because you could try a lot of other basses and not find a neck that nice.

Having said that, I sold the Jag when I got my Mustang, and I don’t regret it, but I’m not as picky about necks as some folks are.

 

[npbassman]

I have small hands as well but have been playing for over 25 years. As a beginner, my suggestion is to find an instrument that is comfortable for you right now to keep you motivated and pain free as you get used to playing the bass, along with an instructor to teach you correct technique. Once you reach a certain point in your playing, you will see that the perceived physical limitation will gradually disappear and you’ll be able to play anything on any instrument.

Here’s a picture of my hand holding an iPhone. As you can see, not gigantic LOL but I can play tower of power and vulfpeck tunes on my fender 4’s, modulus or ken smith 5’s all day without issue. I don’t say this to pump myself up, I mention it to encourage. Just keep at it and eventually you’ll be able to play any tune on any bass as well. Best of luck!

 

[chaosMK]

I have smallish hands (around same as pic in last post) and use a 35" scale Cirrus. It was some adjustment for me but I love the sound and overall experience of the bass. I play prog metal and get by with more complicated riffs.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

I have been genetically cursed with small hands. I’m also a beginner and have a Squire Jaguar bass that I’m unhappy with because can’t get much harmonics response , or anything much else I like except when playing metal gets fat dark sound. Board is still a bit big too. Something easier to play plus with brighter sound for slapping and picking. Ideas?

 

[GrantG]

I have small hands as well but have been playing for over 25 years. As a beginner, my suggestion is to find an instrument that is comfortable for you right now to keep you motivated and pain free as you get used to playing the bass, along with an instructor to teach you correct technique.

This is super helpful advice. "Learn better technique" may be good advice, but it's not all that helpful in context of the original post.

 

[Kipp Harrington]

Let me tell you something, my friend. I would be confident in wagering funds that your hands are no smaller than mine... and I have short fingers! That being said, you will be fine playing any bass you like. It just takes patience and good technique. You can get that from a teacher or follow some informative online videos... or ask questions here. Many many knowledgeable people here at TB.

So go out and play many, many basses and narrow it down. Go with the one that "speaks to you" Then dive into playing daily and welcoming challenges. If you have a true passion for the instrument, you will become a good player and enjoy it immensely! Good luck

 

[nilorius]

Ibanez

 

[alencarlc]

Have you seen S Martyn mini basses?
S Martyn its a high quality brazilian made basses.
You can find them on instagram: Samuel Luthier Martins (@s.martyn_custom_basses) • Instagram photos and videos

Here is one mini bass, they sound really good.

 

[Ric5]