What Is a 1/2 Size Guitar?
Updated Nov 13, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
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A 1/2 size guitar is a classical guitar built at the 1/2 size, with a smaller body and a shorter scale length than a full-size guitar. It has 6 nylon strings tuned to standard tuning E A D G B E. The Yamaha CGS102AII is a 1/2 size model with a 535 mm scale length.
What a 1/2 size guitar is
Size names for classical guitars use fractions. 4/4 means full size, 3/4 is smaller, and 1/2 is smaller again. A 1/2 size guitar is a classical guitar built at the 1/2 size, with a shorter scale length and a smaller body than a full-size guitar. It has 6 nylon strings tuned to standard tuning E A D G B E.
How 1/2 compares with 3/4 and full size
The Yamaha CGS102AII is a 1/2 size guitar with a 535 mm scale length and a 48 mm saddle width. The Yamaha CGS103A is a 3/4 size guitar. The Cordoba C1M is a full-size guitar with a 648 scale length. The size fraction and the scale length move together: the 1/2 size model has a 535 mm scale length and the full-size model has 648. Compare the size fraction and the scale length when you choose between them.
How to confirm the size on a listing
Check the size field in the listing before you order. The Yamaha CGS102AII is a 1/2 size guitar, the Yamaha CGS103A is a 3/4 size guitar, and the Cordoba C1M is a full-size guitar. The size can also appear in the model name, as in the Yamaha CGS103A 3/4 Size Classical Guitar. If the listing shows no size fraction, ask the seller for the instrument size and the scale length.
What else to check besides size
All 4 models here use 6 nylon strings, and each has a spruce top. The Cordoba C1M has mahogany back and sides, a pau ferro fretboard and an adjustable truss rod. The Ibanez GA35TCE has a thinline cutaway body with an undersaddle pickup and an AEQ210T preamp with an onboard tuner. The Yamaha CGS102AII has a rosewood fingerboard and bridge with a natural finish.
What you need
Cordoba C1M Classical Acoustic Nylon String Guitar
A classical guitar with a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, 6 nylon strings and an adjustable truss rod, with a 648 scale length.
- Size: full size
- Top wood: Spruce
- 1-year warranty stated
IbanezGA35TCEDVS Thinline Acoustic-Electric Classical Guitar Dark Violin Burst
A thinline cutaway classical guitar with a spruce top, mahogany body, 6 nylon strings, an undersaddle pickup and an AEQ210T preamp with an onboard tuner.
- Built-in pickup / EQ
- Top wood: Spruce
- Lifetime warranty stated
Yamaha CGS103A 3/4 Size Classical Guitar
A 3/4 size classical guitar with a spruce top, meranti back and sides, a nato neck, a sonokeling fingerboard and 6 nylon strings.
- Size: 3/4
- Top wood: Spruce
Yamaha CGS102AII
A 1/2 size classical guitar with a spruce top, a meranti frame, a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, a 535 mm scale length and a 48 mm saddle width.
- Size: concert
- Top wood: Spruce
These come from our ranked list Best Mini Classical Guitar, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 1/2 size guitar a full-size guitar?
No. A 1/2 size guitar is built at the 1/2 size, with a shorter scale length and a smaller body than a full-size, or 4/4, guitar. The Yamaha CGS102AII is a 1/2 size model with a 535 mm scale length, while the Cordoba C1M is a full-size model with a 648 scale length.
What strings does a 1/2 size guitar use?
A 1/2 size guitar uses 6 nylon strings, tuned to standard tuning E A D G B E. The Yamaha CGS102AII has 6 nylon strings, and the same string count and material appear on the full-size Cordoba C1M and the 3/4 size Yamaha CGS103A.
Which model here has a built-in pickup?
The Ibanez GA35TCE has an undersaddle pickup with an AEQ210T preamp and an onboard tuner. Check the pickup field on any model you compare with it.
Ranked classical guitars lists
More how-to guides
Product details come from each Amazon listing and can change. Check the listing before you buy.