The Gibson Les Paul and the Fender Stratocaster are two of the most iconic electric guitars available.
If you’re thinking about learning guitar and want to buy either a Les Paul or a Strat, you might wonder which is easier to play.
Some guitarists feel a Strat is easier to play due to lower weight, better upper fret access, and a more comfortable neck. Other guitarists feel a Les Paul is easier to play due to a shorter scale length.
As there is no straightforward answer to this question, let’s take a closer look at the differences between a Strat and a Les Paul to see which you may prefer.
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Strat vs Les Paul Playability
When comparing a Les Paul and a Strat for playability, there are a few things to consider.
The scale length, weight, and type of neck all play a big role in the playability of a Strat vs a Les Paul. A shorter scale length improves the playability of a Les Paul, while the neck on a Strat improves its playability.
Let’s go through all of the important features that impact playability so you can decide which are important to you.
Strat vs Les Paul Scale Length
The scale length of a guitar is the distance from the nut to the bridge.
The scale length of a Les Paul is 24.75 inches and a Stratocaster’s scale length is 25.5 inches. A shorter scale length makes the Les Paul easier to play than a Strat.
This doesn’t automatically make a Les Paul easier to play overall, but scale length is a plus for a Les Paul over a Strat.
The longer scale length on a Strat increases string tension. The shorter scale length on a Les Paul decreases string tension. String tension plays a big part in playability, so I’ll cover it next.
Scale length also changes the space between frets. A guitar with a longer scale length will have wider gaps between frets. If you have small hands, this is worth considering and will be covered later.
Scale length is an incredibly important topic to understand. Learn all about Scale Length in this guide.
Les Paul vs Strat String Tension
A big part of a guitar’s playability is due to string tension. The higher the string tension, the harder you need to work to press down and move the strings.
A Les Paul has lower string tension when compared to a Strat with the same gauge strings. This makes a Les Paul easier to play.
The good news is that there is a way to deal with the extra string tension in a Strat.
An easy way to deal with the longer scale length of a Strat is to use lighter gauge strings. Lighter gauge strings reduce string tension, which makes the Strat easier to play.
If you’re a beginner and feel pain in your fingers when trying to learn, this is worth remembering.
Learn about string tension and string gauges in this guide.
Strat vs Les Paul Neck
A guitar’s neck plays a massive role in playability as it’s what you will be wrapping your hand around.
There are a few different things to consider when comparing the neck of a Strat vs a Les Paul.
The neck width impacts how easily you can stretch your hand out over the fretboard.
The neck width at the nut of a typical Les Paul is 1.695 inches (43mm).
The neck width at the nut of a typical Strat is 1.650 inches (42mm).
As you can see, there is barely any difference in neck width at the nut when comparing a Les Paul and a Strat.
Theneck profile plays a bigger role in playability because different profiles can feel completely different to play.
The neck profile is the shape of the neck behind the fretboard. The below diagram shows different neck profile shapes.
The Strat tends to use a ‘C’ profile, which is the far left example above.
The Les Paul tends to use a ‘U’ profile, which is the second example from the right.
The Les Paul neck is thicker when compared to a Strat. Some guitarists prefer the C shape of a Strat neck while other guitarists prefer the U shape of a Les Paul.
While there are guitarists who love the ‘U’ neck profile, it’s more common for a guitarist to feel thinner necks are more comfortable to play.
The ‘C’ shape of a Strat does make it easier to play compared to a Les Paul in the minds of a large number of guitarists.
It’s hard to say which neck profile will feel better to you as everybody has different preferences. The best way to find out is to pick up and directly compare both guitars.
The key point to remember is that the neck profile can completely change the playability of a guitar.
Strat vs Les Paul Weight
The weight of a guitar impacts how comfortable it is to play while standing up.
A typical Les Paul weighs between 9 – 12 lbs (4 – 5.5 kg).
A typical Strat weights between 7 – 8.5 lbs (3 – 3.8 kg).
A Les Paul is heavier than a Strat, sometimes by quite a big difference. This can make a Les Paul less comfortable to play while standing up.
While weight doesn’t directly impact how easy a guitar is to play, it is worth considering.
If you plan on performing live where you will be standing up while playing, make sure you get a guitar that will be comfortable to play.
Compare the weights of different electric guitars in this guide.
If you feel the weight of your guitar makes it uncomfortable to play while standing up, try using a wide and padded guitar strap like this one.
A wide guitar strap will help evenly distribute the weight of your guitar across your shoulder. Buying a wide and padded strap can make a big difference in comfort while standing up.
Strat vs Les Paul Playability Summary
There are a few different factors to consider when comparing playability. Here is a summary of the differences in playability between a Les Paul and a Strat.
A Les Paul has a shorter scale length, which reduces string tension. Lower string tension makes a Les Paul easier to play. The shorter scale length also decreases the distance between frets, which can make it easier to play.
A Fender has a longer scale length, which increases string tension and the distance between frets. You can decrease string tension with lighter gauge strings, but you cannot decrease the distance between frets.
The Strat has a neck profile that tends to feel more comfortable to play compared to a Les Paul. Every guitarist is different, but more guitarists prefer a Strat neck profile over a Les Paul neck profile.
Finally, a Les Paul is heavier and bulkier, which makes it less comfortable to play compared to a Strat.
Let’s look closer at comfort to help clear up which guitar might be better for you.
Strat vs Les Paul Comfort
As mentioned above, the extra weight of a Les Paul makes it less comfortable to play than a Strat.
But there are other areas to consider when comparing the comfort of a Les Paul vs a Strat.
Les Paul vs Strat Upper Fret Access
If you play lead guitar, an important difference to compare is the access to the upper frets on a Les Paul vs a Strat.
In the above comparison, you can see that the Strat (on the left) has two cutaways, while the Les Paul only has a lower cutaway.
This difference in upper fret access becomes obvious when you try to play both guitars.
The upper fret access on a Strat is significantly easier compared to a Les Paul. The upper cutaway gives you room to slide your hand right in and rest your thumb anywhere you want.
While many great guitarists are able to play perfectly fine in the upper range on a Les Paul, it is easier on a Strat.
Les Paul vs Strat Body Shapes
The other area to consider when looking at comfort is the shape and size of the body and how it sits against your body.
A Strat is significantly more comfortable to play due to the thinner body and better body contours.
Modern Les Pauls are more comfortable to play than vintage Les Pauls, but they still feel like a large slab of wood against your body when compared to a Strat.
Take a look at the body contours of the below strat and imagine how those contours feel against your body.
The large contour at the back of the body (the left arrow) helps make it more comfortable while resting against your body while standing or sitting.
The contour on the face of the body (the right arrow) makes it more comfortable to rest your arm against as you reach for the strings.
Now compare that to the below Les Paul body and how it would rest against you:
The lack of contours and the hard edge all the way around the body makes this an unnatural shape to press against you.
Of course, countless guitarists are completely happy with how a Les Paul feels to play, but there’s no denying how the contours of a Strat are better suited to resting against your body.
How to Choose Between a Les Paul and a Strat
If it feels difficult to choose between a Les Paul and a Strat, you’re not alone. They’re two incredibly popular guitars for a wide range of reasons.
When trying to decide between the two guitars, the most important decisionisn’t which one is easier to play.
There are guitarists who become great guitarists on Strats and there are guitarists who become great guitarists on Les Pauls. Even if one is easier to play than the other, it shouldn’t be the only thing to consider.
Here are some other things to consider:
Style of music: while both guitars are used in a wide range of styles, take a look at which type of guitar is more popular in the style of music you want to play. If you notice that one type of guitar is preferred over the other, that’s worth considering.
Pickup options: the type of pickups available in each type of guitar can be very different. A Les Paul will typically come with two humbuckers, while a Strat will typically have three single-coils.
There are a lot of different models with different pickup configurations for both types of guitars, so have a think about what types of pickups you want to use and which type of guitar will suit you best.
Style: there’s no denying that the style of guitar plays a big role in what guitars people buy. If you really like the style of one guitar, go for it. Just because somebody says that it’s harder to learn or less comfortable, that doesn’t mean you should turn your back on it.
Les Paul or Strat for Small Hands
If you have small hands, you might wonder whether you should get a Les Paul or a Strat.
Some guitarists with small hands prefer the shorter scale length of a Les Paul. The frets are closer together and the lower string tension makes a Les Paul more comfortable to play when you have small hands.
Other guitarists with small hands feel that the neck profile of a Strat makes up for the longer scale length.
The best way to find out which one is more comfortable for your hand size is to play both of them so you can do a direct comparison.
If you have small hands, I highly recommend reading my Guide to Guitar for Small Hands.
The guide includes my experience as a guitar teacher and helping a lot of children and adults with small hands.
Les Paul or Stratocaster for Beginners
If you’re thinking about learning guitar or you’re a beginner looking at buying one, you may wonder whether you should get a Strat or Les Paul.
Beginners can learn on either a Strat or a Les Paul without any issues. Both have their pros and cons when it comes to playability, but either guitar is a fantastic option for beginners.
Every guitar will feel difficult at first when you’re a beginner, but with the right practice approach, your guitar will gradually feel easier to play.
Check out this guide to 8 Steps to Learning Guitar for a good starting point for beginners.
While Les Pauls and Strats are two incredibly popular types of electric guitars, they aren’t the only options worth considering.
Check out this guide to find out about all types of guitars and which one may suit you best.
Related Guides and Lessons:
FAQs
What's easier to play Les Paul or Stratocaster? ›
Most beginner guitarists will find that the Stratocaster is an easier guitar to play than the Les Paul. It's lighter, and has a contoured body, compared to the heavy and flat-bodied Les Paul. This means that it's generally more easier to sit and stand with.
Are Gibson guitars easier to play than Fender? ›Fender uses lightweight Ash and Alder, while Gibson uses Mahogany, whereas Gibsons are generally heavier than Fenders due to the different tonewoods used in the build. The shorter scale length and neck profile give both guitars a different feel where Gibsons are generally easier to play.
Is a Les Paul better than a Strat? ›The Les Paul has a thicker, heavier mahogany body, usually with a carved top cap made of maple. The LP is more difficult to produce than the the Stratocaster with its slimmer, contoured body built from a single slab of wood—usually ash or alder. The Strat weighs less than the LP too.
Can a beginner play a Les Paul? ›It is a flawless guitar and the perfect option for any beginner guitarist. The Les Paul is iconic in almost every genre of music. Heavy metal players that gravitate to them include Slash, Zakk Wylde.
Is Les Paul harder to play than Strat? ›A big part of a guitar's playability is due to string tension. The higher the string tension, the harder you need to work to press down and move the strings. A Les Paul has lower string tension when compared to a Strat with the same gauge strings. This makes a Les Paul easier to play.
What is the easiest guitar style to play? ›Electric guitars are generally the easiest to play: the strings are usually thinner, the 'action' is lower and therefore the strings are easier to press down.
Why did Eric Clapton switch to a Strat? ›In 1970, Clapton switched from Gibson electric guitars to Fender Stratocasters, largely due to the influences of Jimi Hendrix and Blind Faith bandmate Steve Winwood.
What is the most versatile guitar model? ›Answer: The answer to this question is subjective, but many people consider the Gibson Les Paul to be the most versatile electric guitar in history due to its neutral body design and flexible tone.
Which guitar is easiest on the fingers? ›String Gauge
Electric guitars are habitually easier on the fingers since the strings are lighter and require the least amount of force to deliver buzz-free sounds.
To try and make a Stratocaster sound more similar to a Les Paul, use a noise gate pedal to reduce the humming, then thicken the tone by using the neck pickup and rolling back the tone control. However, both guitars sound very different so an exact Les Paul tone cannot be achieved on a Strat.
Did Jimmy Page ever play a Stratocaster? ›
An Olympic White 1971 Fender Stratocaster owned and played by Jimmy Page during the early 1990s has just hit the auction block at Gotta Have Rock and Roll. The LED ZEPPELIN guitarist first came in contact with this guitar in 1991, when Page moved to Lake Tahoe to record the COVERDALE/PAGE album with David Coverdale.
Did Eric Clapton use a Les Paul? ›As the 1970s began, Eric Clapton abandoned the Gibson Les Paul in favor of the Fender Stratocaster. However, he never completely abandoned the brand. Today, Eric Clapton uses a Gibson L5 for select numbers in concert and from time to time, he's played a Gibson Chet Atkins acoustic on stage.
Which brand of guitar is best for beginners? ›The Fender Acoustic Guitar is the best choice for both beginners and professionals offering a great sound and feel that will inspire you. The Fender Acoustic Guitar is the best choice for both beginners and professionals offering a great sound and feel that will inspire you.
What genres are Les Pauls best for? ›Due to their versatility, Les Paul electric guitars have been used in a wide range of music genres, including rock, country, pop, soul, rhythm and blues, blues, jazz, reggae, punk, and heavy metal.
Is A Fender Stratocaster a good guitar for beginners? ›With its timeless Strat body and tone, the Bullet Stratocaster HT is a great, inexpensive choice for beginner guitarists. It's thin and lightweight with a rich tone thanks to three Squier standard single-coil pickups, giving players plenty of room to experiment with their sound.
What is the most difficult style of guitar to play? ›As you might expect the answers were varied but the two guitar styles that many agreed were the hardest were the classical guitar and the acoustic steel string guitar.
What is the easiest guitar neck to play? ›Answer: There is no certain answer, but the most common one or generally considered the easiest to play is the C shape guitar neck, found on many Fender Stratocaster type guitars.
Do heavier Strats sound better? ›Heavier guitars generally have better sustain, and more resonance than lighter guitars. This is often due to the wood type, and the body size. Thicker guitar bodies, cause the tone to be fuller, warmer and louder.
What is the easiest Fender guitar to play? ›The Stratocaster is considered an easy guitar to play by most guitarists. This is because it has a lightweight contoured body, double cutaway design for easy fret access, and a fairly thin and comfortable neck. Hence, it's usually a great guitar for beginners to choose, when first learning to play.
What are the most comfortable guitars to play? ›The most comfortable electric guitars to play while seated have Stratocaster body shapes. Parlour acoustic guitars are the most comfortable of all acoustic guitars to use while sitting down. This is due to the small size and comfortable contours of these guitar body types.
Did Kurt Cobain like Stratocasters? ›
Kurt liked to have Japanese Fender Stratocasters to destroy at shows. Kurt preferred Japanese Stratocasters because of availability and smaller frets. Kurt had two all-white Strats with 3 white single-coil sized pickups.
What rock stars play a Stratocaster? ›From Stevie Ray Vaughan to Eric Clapton, here are some Strat slingers that put the famous guitar on the map. Who would have thought that an instrument designed more than 60 years ago could go largely unchanged and still be as iconic as ever in present day?
Why do stratocasters sound so good? ›The Stratocaster had a distinctive voice thanks in part to its three pickups, the wire-coiled magnets that transmit string vibrations to the amplifier. Most electric guitars at that time had one or two. Fender also designed a new vibrato — the metal arm at the end of the strings that allows player to vary their pitch.
What is the Holy Grail of guitars? ›1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard 'Burst'
A holy grail for collectors and in mint condition to boot. This 1959 Gibson Les Paul Standard is an early example to don many of the features iconic to Les Pauls models even today.
To sum it all up, the best guitar brands are Ibanez, Fender, and Gibson. The best overall option would be the Ibanez JSM100, based on its overall quality and versatility. The Fender Telecaster is our number one Fender recommendation, while from the Gibson range we would single out the ES-175.
What guitar is good for fat fingers? ›Buy a wide neck, flat radius guitar
The wider the nut, the more space between each string and the less obstruction for your fingers. Also, you'll benefit from a relatively flat fretboard radius as opposed to a curved radius. For example, Ibanez' Wizard necks tend to be flatter and wider than, say, most Strat necks.
The Vintage Modified Stratocaster is the perfect choice for those that have smaller hands as its smaller than a regular Telecaster. There's a tone, volume, and a selector switch for the pickups. There's a 9.5 fretboard radius and 21 jumbo frets so its very comfortable to play and the entire neck is maple.
Do fingers ever stop hurting guitar? ›Fingertip soreness is temporary and can last a week or more. It doesn't require treatment, although icing and numbing creams can provide short-term relief. But again, simply playing guitar until you build up some calluses, is the best remedy.
Why do Strats and Les Pauls sound different? ›The Strat and Les Paul have very different characters when it comes to tone. Most of this is due to their construction. The big, heavy mahogany body and neck of the Les Paul, coupled with a pair of humbucking pickups combine to create its instantly recognisable sound.
Did Jimi Hendrix use a Strat? ›Along with the Octavia, Fuzz Face, Vox wah, Uni-Vibe, and Marshall stack, Hendrix is synonymous with the Stratocaster, having used the iconic Fender solidbody almost exclusively throughout his trailblazing career of the late-'60s.
Are Strats good for hard rock? ›
The Quick Answer. Stratocasters are great guitars for rock music. They have a crisp and sharp tone, versatile controls, plus they are lightweight and comfortable. However, they are suseptible to feedback, and have a fairly thin tone.
What was Kurt Cobain favorite guitar? ›“Out of all the guitars in the whole world, the Fender Mustang is my favorite,” Cobain said in a 1991 interview with Guitar World. “They're cheap and totally inefficient, and they sound like crap and are very small.”
What was Elvis Presley's Favourite guitar? ›1956 Gibson J200
Elvis loved this guitar and used it often. He used it in many of his 1957 concerts and appearances.
Gibson SJ-200 In "The Beatles: Get Back," Lennon is seen playing this distinctive acoustic-electric guitar (sunburst finish, floral pick guard pattern and "moustache" bridge decor) on different songs. 1962 Fender Stratocaster finish in Sonic Blue used from 1965–68.
What was Johnny Cash's favorite guitar? ›Perhaps Johnny Cash's most favorite Martin guitar (and he played many) was a specially made D-35, his – and Martin's – first guitar with a polished black finish. Perfect for "the man in black," Cash played this guitar on stage for nearly 20 years.
What is paul McCartney's favorite guitar? ›After The Beatles, McCartney began to adopt a number of electric guitars, and frequently uses a Gibson Les Paul during his modern-day live performances.
What is Slash's favorite guitar? ›Slash told Metro that his guitar collection now is enormous and is "a little bit in excess of 400." When asked about his favorite guitar, he says "the go-to guitar for me when I'm recording is the same one I've been using since 1987, which is a replica of a 1959 Gibson Les Paul, handmade by the late, great guitar ...
Which guitar is best for all types of music? ›The Fender American Performer Stratocaster is one such guitar. Offering the dual benefits of classic single-coil Fender attack, with the extra heft of a bridge humbucker, we get a guitar that can handle most styles of music with ease.
How many hours does it take to master guitar? ›| Level | Hours Needed | Daily Practice Investment |
|---|---|---|
| Beginning | 625 | 156 days |
| Intermediate | 1250 | 10 months |
| Advanced | 2500 | 1.8 years |
| Expert | 5000 | 3.5 years |
Gibson Custom Shop 1959 Les Paul Standard Reissue
Often referred to as the "holy grail" of electric guitar, the '59 Les Paul is one of the most coveted instruments of all time, with originals easily going for $/£100,000.
What is the most sought after Les Paul? ›
Many players consider the Les Paul gold top and sunburst Standards with humbucking pickups made from mid 1957 through 1960 to be the finest solid body guitars ever made by Gibson resulting in exceptionally strong collector and player demand and very high prices today, some of the highest in the vintage guitars market.
What is Slash's favorite Les Paul? ›For studio sessions, Slash almost exclusively uses a 1959 Les Paul Standard replica made by Kris Derrig. It is with this instrument that he recorded almost all parts of Guns N' Roses, Slash's Snakepit, Velvet Revolver and solo albums.
Are stratocasters easier to play than Les Paul? ›A big part of a guitar's playability is due to string tension. The higher the string tension, the harder you need to work to press down and move the strings. A Les Paul has lower string tension when compared to a Strat with the same gauge strings. This makes a Les Paul easier to play.
What is easier to play a Stratocaster or a Telecaster? ›Telecaster is easier to play and tune, whereas Stratocaster is more comfortable to hold. Telecaster has one piece that extends right below the bridge pickup, whereas the Stratocaster bridge that has a two-point tremolo system.
Can you play a Stratocaster without an amp? ›But as long as there's no loud background noises, like a TV in the next room, you can still hear your notes and chords as you play them. Although they're solid body guitars, Fender Stratocasters sound perfectly fine unplugged. You can even hear a slight difference when you select different pickups.
Which is easier to play Strat or Tele? ›Telecaster is easier to play and tune, whereas Stratocaster is more comfortable to hold. Telecaster has one piece that extends right below the bridge pickup, whereas the Stratocaster bridge that has a two-point tremolo system.
Which guitar is best for absolute beginners? ›- Martin LX-1 Little Martin Acoustic Guitar. ...
- Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy Flat Top. ...
- Yamaha F335 Acoustic Guitar. ...
- Alvarez Regent 26 Classical Acoustic Guitar. ...
- Fender CD-140SCE Dreadnought Guitar. ...
- Martin Dreadnought Junior Acoustic Guitar.
Our top pick in this category was the Fender Player Telecaster. It's a full size guitar, but one that's famed for its slim neck, balanced weight distribution, and sparky tones. This is a no compromise option for players with smaller hands, bringing the classic Telecaster sound in a comfy package.
Which guitar has the easiest neck to play? ›Answer: There is no certain answer, but the most common one or generally considered the easiest to play is the C shape guitar neck, found on many Fender Stratocaster type guitars.
What genre is a Strat best for? ›And many genre-defining blues and rock players regularly sling Strats over their shoulders. Maybe that's why many players say that if they can only have one guitar on a gig, it would be their Strat.
What genre of music is a Stratocaster good for? ›
The Quick Answer. Stratocasters are great guitars for rock music. They have a crisp and sharp tone, versatile controls, plus they are lightweight and comfortable. However, they are suseptible to feedback, and have a fairly thin tone.
What is the number 1 guitar solo? ›1. "Stairway to Heaven" — Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin (1971) Since its release in 1971, "Stairway to Heaven" has topped numerous lists as the best rock song and best guitar solo of all time, and it's primarily thanks to the masterful architecture of Jimmy Page's guitar solo.
What is the most impressive guitar solo? ›- Pink Floyd | “Comfortably Numb” GUITARIST: David Gilmour (1979)
- Van Halen | “Eruption” ...
- Led Zeppelin | “Stairway To Heaven” ...
- Queen | “Bohemian Rhapsody” ...
- Eagles | “Hotel California” ...
- The Jimi Hendrix Experience | “All Along The Watchtower” ...
- Dire Straits | “Sultans Of Swing” ...
- Lynyrd Skynyrd | “Free Bird” ...
The Telecaster typically has two single-coil pickups, with the bridge pickup being wider and longer than its Strat counterpart. What's more, it is mounted on the Tele's metal bridge plate, which can give it a more powerful tone.