How to Choose the Right Guitar Strings
Like all aspects of playing guitar, the type of strings that a musician chooses will go a long way in defining his sound. From the nylon-wound sounds associated with classical playing, to the bronze sheen of acoustic dreadnoughts, and the nickel-wound overdrive of a screaming electric lead guitar, the material, type and thickness of strings play crucial roles in helping a player to establish style and tone.
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Things You'll Need
- Bronze or phosphor-bronze strings (for acoustic guitar)
- Nylon strings (for classical playing)
- Nickel roundwound strings (for electric guitar)
Instructions
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Which Strings Suit You?
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Know the types of material associated with different sorts of guitars. For classical players, nylon strings are the only choice. Never use steel strings, which exert a heavier pull than nylon, and stress the neck. For acoustic guitar, phosphor or plain bronze strings work best, while nickel is the preferred electric guitar option. As with classical guitars, do not cut corners by putting steel acoustic strings on an electric, for example.
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Stick to lighter string gauges--or thicknesses--until your fingers have built up calluses. For acoustic guitar, stick with .011 or .012 gauges. For electric guitar, use .010 gauge for rhythm playing. Reserve the lighter gauge of .009 for lead work.
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Understand the special attributes of the strings that your guitar uses. Phosphor-bronze strings are considered more desirable for acoustic guitar than normal bronze strings, which wear out faster, and need more frequent replacement. Do not put them on electric guitars, which require nickel strings. Round wound strings are most common, though jazz and dub reggae players lean toward flat wound strings.
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Once you have broken in your strings of choice, change them after every 15 to 30 hours of play. Dirt and oil from your fingers will accumulate on strings, which causes them to lose brightness, and vibrate unevenly along the length. This can lead to tuning problems, as well.
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Change an entire set of strings, even if you only intend to replace one, or have broken one string. That way, you will ensure a consistent sound across the whole set.
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Tips & Warnings
Coated strings have become favored among acoustic players, because they are supposed to feel easier to play, and keep their factory finish longer. However, there are no dramatic differences, other than price--which is twice that of normal strings. Many top guitar players endorse a specific brand of strings, but this does not automatically imply that one is automatically better than another. Beginning players should experiment to determine what brand works best for them.
Avoid extra light or heavy string gauges until you are a more experienced player. Lighter strings demand a little more finesse, while heavier strings--a touch favored by blues players, like Stevie Ray Vaughan--force the hands work harder to achieve the desired effects.
Resources
- Photo Credit ww.celebrityrockstarguitars.com
