What Is a Half Size Electric Guitar?
Updated Nov 13, 2026 · By 
Jonah Mercer · Editorial policy
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Buying through the Amazon links on this page costs you nothing extra. Full disclosure
A half size electric guitar is a 1/2 size electric guitar: a smaller body and a shorter scale than a 4/4 full size, with the same standard tuning and the same kind of pickups and controls. The 4 guitars below are full size, so they show what the 1/2 size is measured against.
What 1/2 size means
Instrument sizes use fractions of a 4/4 full size. A 1/2 size electric guitar is a smaller version of the full size guitar: a smaller body and a shorter scale, built to the same pattern with the same standard tuning, E A D G B E. The size name is the fraction to look for: 4/4 is full size, 3/4 is a step down, and 1/2 is a step down again. A 1/4 size is smaller still.
How to tell the size
Check the size name on the guitar's box or its spec sheet before you buy. The Donner DST-152R and the Donner DSC-128 are full size, and the Pyle and the CAHAYA are 39 inches, which is the full size length. A 1/2 size guitar is marked 1/2 size. Do not judge the size from a photo alone, since a photo gives no scale.
What stays the same at 1/2 size
A 1/2 size electric guitar keeps the same standard tuning, E A D G B E, and the same kind of parts: pickups, volume and tone controls, a pickup switch and tuning machines. It plugs into an amp through a 1/4-inch jack, the same as a full size guitar. The difference is the size of the body and the length of the scale, not the way the guitar works.
What to check before you buy
Check the size name, then the parts that come with it. The Donner DST-152R kit comes with an amp, a tuner, a capo, a strap, a cable and picks. The Pyle kit comes with an amp, a gig bag, a strap, spare strings and picks. The CAHAYA kit comes with an amp, a gig bag, a strap, extra strings and picks. The Donner DSC-128 kit comes with a gig bag. Check the amp and the accessories against what you already have.
Look after the guitar
Wipe the guitar down with a soft dry cloth after you play, and keep it in its bag when you are not playing. Change the strings when they look discolored or rough, or when they no longer hold tune. For work on the truss rod or the frets, ask a repair shop.
What you need
Donner DST-152R Electric Guitar Kit for Adults
A full-size solid-body electric guitar with HSS pickups, a coil split switch, 22 frets and an amp, for comparing with a 1/2 size.
- Amp included
- Frets: 22
- Tuner included
- Pickup layout: HSS
- 365-day warranty stated
Pyle Heavy Metal EG Fire Electric Guitar
An electric guitar with dual humbuckers, a 21-fret neck, a tremolo bridge and a 10W amp, for comparing with a 1/2 size.
- Amp included
- Frets: 21
- Case or gig bag included
- Pickup layout: Humbuckers
- 1 year warranty stated
CAHAYA Electric Guitar Set Beginner
A 39-inch electric guitar with HSS pickups, a 5-way switch and a 5W amp with a rechargeable battery, for comparing with a 1/2 size.
- Amp included
- Case or gig bag included
- Pickup layout: HSS
- 2-year warranty stated
Donner DSC-128 Electric Guitar Beginner Kit 39"
A solid-body electric guitar with dual humbuckers, a C-shape neck and a gig bag, for comparing with a 1/2 size.
- Case or gig bag included
- Pickup layout: Humbuckers
These come from our ranked list Best Student Electric Guitar, which compares them spec by spec.
Frequently asked questions
Is a half size guitar a different instrument?
No. A 1/2 size electric guitar is the same kind of instrument at a smaller size, with the same standard tuning and the same kind of pickups and controls. Only the body and the scale are smaller.
How do I know if a guitar is half size?
Check the size name on the guitar's box or its spec sheet. A 1/2 size guitar is marked 1/2 size, while the guitars here are full size or 39 inches. Do not judge the size from a photo alone.
Does a half size guitar need a different amp?
No. A 1/2 size electric guitar plugs into an amp through a 1/4-inch jack, the same as a full size guitar. The Donner DST-152R, Pyle and CAHAYA kits include an amp, and the Donner DSC-128 kit comes with a gig bag.
Ranked electric guitars lists
More how-to guides
Product details come from each Amazon listing and can change. Check the listing before you buy.