www.shortscale.org

[Wistasona]

Hi everybody! I need your recommendations, I guess.

I am in my 70's and need some advice on what stringed instrument to pursue for easy strumming along as I sing folk songs and favorite old singers like Elvis and the Everly Brothers. Strictly for my own enjoyment. I was a very novice 6 string guitar player almost 50 years ago. When I tried both steel and nylon string 6 strings recently I realized I have no muscle memory, have lost strength and flexibility in my fingers.

I started researching 4 strings which then took me to ukuleles so I got overwhelmed quickly. I am starting from scratch and welcome any advice, so:
Tenor 4 string, cigar box, ukulele (if so, which size?)? I even saw a 3 string being played on YouTube. Suggestions?

Easiest to play?

Steel, nylon or steel over nylon?

String notes? Anything where I can get away with mostly only needing to use 2 fingers?

Specific models and brands?

Thanks in advance!

[Thomas]

Get a parlour guitar, they're fairly inexpensive, small bodied and shorter scale so easier to play, and they sound great. A secondhand Gretsch Jim Dandy would cost around 80-100.

[Bacchus]

Not really an answer, just more to get confused about, but have you thought about playing slide guitar?
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[kingkiller]

Steel string would probably be easier to play once you start to learn a bit more, nylon string guitars tend to have necks that are a little bit wider so fretting becomes a bit more difficult. Best of luck!
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[Nick]

Try tuning something up to open chords instead of standard tuning. Could be a ukulele or even a cigar box guitar. Banjo also seems easy to play with the small necks and light strings
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https://hauntedcat.bandcamp.com/album/haunted-cat-3

[paul_]

There are these Loog learner instruments



And while decidedly not a "strummer", there are these "church basses" with 2 strings and 5 frets



As far as regular small/cheap stuff goes, I'm frequently tempted by the $150-$200 lines of Recording King acoustics, which are pretty pawnshoppy parlor guitars (though they also make dreadnought and 000 models)


Link

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[robroe]

Buy a telecaster. Play in drop D with a capo

It's what everyone else does to cheat and use 1 finger....you can too!

[NickS]

There's a chap local to me who is "Dan" in the band "Dandy Man" (geddit?) and he uses a 4-string tenor very effectively. It could be cheaper to put only 4 strings on a six-string. Comfort could be a major consideration; nylon will be easiest on the fingers to start with but most nylon-string guitars have a wide flat fretboard and you may find the neck on a steel-string more comfortable. Can you get to a music shop to try?

[Ankhanu]

A dulcimer might be right up your alley. Tuned in a chord, fretted so that all positions are in key, and easy to play.
https://www.amazon.com/Seagull-Merlin-Mahogany-Dulcimer-Natural/dp/B00PPYIPAI/ref=lp_11971231_1_4?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1559347685&sr=1-4
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[George]

Silk and steel strings are much easier to fret than other steel acoustic sets.

You could also detune whatever instrument you decide on and use a capo so the strings are looser

Open tuning may also be useful to look in to

[sunshiner]

Lighter gauge of strings on Affinity Squiers. Their necks are somewhat narrow, if you put 7s or 8s and tune a half step lower you'll be good I think
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[Doog]

[sunshiner]

lol wtf? I thought it was a joke

However there should be three strings. They completely failed and should be anathematized
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[Fakir Mustache]

[paul_]

Oh damn, I thought it was real because of the alt-rock cross.
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[Nick]

[paul_]

Used those on my Martin for awhile after being converted by a friend til I missed the volume, they're swanky and especially nice for fingerpicking.
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[Doog]

[sunshiner]

[George]