Is it difficult to switch to a different scale length? - Guitar Players Discussion

Re: Is it difficult to switch to a different scale length?

martmiguel — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 18:27:09 +0000

Not really, you just need to get used to it.

Re: Is it difficult to switch to a different scale length?

bytjyufdvfd — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 13:32:38 +0000

I had a problem. Many of the notes are fingered the same as the sax, but a few of them are different. At first I made a lot of mistakes fingering the flute like a sax, but in a reasonable amount of time, my fingers knew which instrument they were playing and used the appropriate fingering.

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Re: Is it difficult to switch to a different scale length?

DoReMiFa — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 22:25:57 +0000

Not sure if it was mentioned but for me it's when I pick up a jumbo fret guitar... sound like I cant tune a guitar for a few bars. Lol

Re: Is it difficult to switch to a different scale length?

Kopfschmerzen — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:57:08 +0000

The width and thickness of the neck make a difference, but not the scale length. Well, I ended up having both Strat-like G&L (25.5") and Brian May Special (24"). I confirm - scale length does not make a difference. Fret width (string spacing) does. Thanks everyone for your input :)

Re: Is it difficult to switch to a different scale length?

Ande — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 05:01:10 +0000

Funny- Different answers for different folks and situations. Mine may be a little odd.

I currently own three instruments- An acoustic travel guitar (22"scale), a nice electric guitar (25.5" scale) and a bass (34" scale.)

And I sort of mix and match- I use the travel guitar, mainly, when I'm away from home and learning songs that will eventually be played on either of the other two. I use it to learn, by ear, bass parts, guitar chords, or solos, riffs, and fills that I'll eventually used with the band, playing either the electric guitar or the bass. And it doesnt' seem to matter to me.

Worth noting, though, in contrast to noteboat, I never read onstage with the band. Before we get down to performance, all songs are thoroughly memorised and practiced on the "final" instrument. Also, though I shouldn't have to squint at the fretboard all the time, since I'm not reading, it's not an issue if I feel like having an occasional glance- so you could say, for the band scenario, scale length doesn't matter to me at all.

I'd never thought of it as a scale length issue, though, but reading this thread I wonder if it might be: I can only sight read on guitar. And not any guitar- just the one 25.5 inch scale electric guitar which is my main axe. Even other 25.5" scale guitars can trip me up if they "feel" too different.

Also, if I play an unaccustomed guitar, like my bandmates SG, for any length of time, my left hand cramps.

Best,
Ande

Re: Is it difficult to switch to a different scale length?

JoeHempel — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 08:51:06 +0000

I notice a difference when playing certain chords....those are the tougher chords for me though.

Namely C type barred chords. x98676. On my Alvarez (RF8), which is short scale, I can actually play these, on a normal scale it's quite difficult, because even on the short scale my fingers have to do some serious stretching.

Re: Is it difficult to switch to a different scale length?

Johnnie Black — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 12:49:01 +0000

I don't find the distance between frets significantly different enough to notice when it comes to position changes etc.

String bends are the biggest difference.. and left hand stretches.

The biggest difference when first playing an LP style guitar when you're used to strats etc. is the neck angle rather than the scale length. That's how it felt for me anyway.

Re: Is it difficult to switch to a different scale length?

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:39:54 +0000

switching from a short scale neck to long or vice versa can be a little irritating for a while when you're playing without looking, reach up for the higher frets and suddenly you're half a step flat or sharp. it takes however long it takes for your muscle memory to adjust. most of it takes a few minutes because we're talking fractions of an inch for the most part, but you may stumble from time to time for a few days.

Re: Is it difficult to switch to a different scale length?

Crow — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 19:00:17 +0000

Even going from standard six-string to bass guitar isn't a problem if you do it for a while. What I canNOT seem to do is any kind of lap guitar. Had a lovely Dobro squareneck for a few years but just couldn't get into it.

I find setup and string gauge are more challenging adjustments to make than scale length when going from guitar to guitar. I set up everything with about the same action, acoustic and electric, and string all but one with .012s. (In the past, this has had the added advantage of keeping bandmates away from my guitars. :lol: )

Re: Is it difficult to switch to a different scale length?

notes_norton — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 18:24:42 +0000

<...> if a sax player likes 3.25 hardness reeds, they'll be able to play with 3 or 3.5, but it won't be quite the same. Changing reed strengths on a sax is a lot like changing string gauges on guitar. It does take an adjustment period. But reed strength is also dependent on the size of the tip opening of the mouthpiece. I play with a very wide tip opening and a huge chamber, putting a 3.5 reed on that would make it impossible for me to play. The reed just wouldn't vibrate.

Changing scale length would be more like a player who exclusively played tenor picking up a soprano. The main finger keys would be no problem, but the palm and trill keys would be difficult to find until he/she got used to them.

Fortunately, while reading music on my main axe, the sax, I don't have to look at my fingers at all. It's one of the things that are easier on the sax than they are on the guitar.

When I first picked up the flute, I had a problem. Many of the notes are fingered the same as the sax, but a few of them are different. At first I made a lot of mistakes fingering the flute like a sax, but in a reasonable amount of time, my fingers knew which instrument they were playing and used the appropriate fingering.

I think if you put the time in, changing anything within reason shouldn't be a problem.

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