Friends, in this article we will talk about acoustic guitar strings, learn how to understand them and choose the right kit.

If your guitar sound isn't as bright as it used to be, and it's not very comfortable to play, then it's time to change the strings!

What does a beginner need to know?

So, look at your guitar. Pay attention to the thickness of its neck and the strings that are or were on it before. The neck is narrow and the strings are metal? Now take a look at the guitar in our picture. Does your guitar look like it?

Most likely, you have just such an acoustic guitar. So you can safely take a set of D`ADDARIO EZ900 strings. These strings are suitable for beginners, they are thin, do not cut fingers and are convenient for mastering all playing techniques. By the way, if you got an old guitar from the factory to them. Lunacharsky and decided to remember their youth, then this set of strings is also suitable.

If you still have doubts and you can’t figure out the type of your guitar on your own, then tell the seller (in the Pop Music store;)) the model name indicated on the label under the strings. One of the most common mistakes buyers make is asking for "regular" strings for a "regular" guitar. It's like a red rag for a bull :)

And some buyers try to put the first strings that come to hand on the guitar. We want to warn you right away that electric guitar strings will sound very bad on acoustics. You will not hear the sound of a guitar, there will be an unnatural ringing of strings in your ears and nothing more. Nylon strings won't work either, they're too soft and not tight enough to get the right resonance from the body. So, first things first.

What affects the sound of a guitar? Of course, your experience. In addition to it, the wood from which the guitar is made, the quality of the assembly, as well as the parameters of the strings - thickness and material, have an influence. We will consider the last two factors, since we are talking about strings in our article.

When size matters

String size is in inches and can be found on the package. For example, 10-50, where 10 is the thickness of the first string and is equal to 0.01 inches, and 50 is the thickness of the last string of 0.05 inches. The most common sets are six strings, but there are also seven and twelve strings.

Thin strings (10–50) are convenient at the initial stage of learning, they are easy to press, fingers do not get tired even with an aggressive playing style, and the guitar sounds and pleases. Thick strings are more difficult to play, but their timbre is richer and they are able to “shake” the body of the guitar. The wood begins to resonate, and the musician manages to extract much more nuances of the sound.

By default, the manufacturer puts 11–52, 12–53 strings on guitars (this is an average value), because their main task is to demonstrate the instrument before selling it from the best side, and then you decide what thickness to choose based on your preferences. In general, if you change strings, keep an eye on their pitch. Adjust the neck sag if necessary with a truss wrench, or contact a nail technician or dealer for help. Too high - it is difficult to play, the fingers will "get stuck", too low - there will be extra "jingling". The setting is done by experience.

How much material?

Acoustic guitar strings are made of bronze, nickel, phosphorus, steel, silk, and aluminum. Bronze is mainly used with various additives, which allows you to achieve a certain shade in the sound. On the websites of string manufacturers you can find a very handy guide on the brightness scale (bright - mellow). Bronze strings are the brightest. You will be heard in a duet of two guitars. Try, for example, ERNIE BALL 2004.

For guitars with a pickup, the GHS WB-XL kit works well. These strings reduce unnecessary overtones that occur when sliding along the fretboard and unnecessary ringing.

The combination of bronze with nickel or phosphorus will give the sound softness and intimacy. Perfect for guitar + vocal combination. One of the models of such strings is D`ADDARIO EJ16.

Silk and steel give a soft and rich sound for jazz, lounge and similar styles. For all this, the D`ADDARIO EJ40 model is suitable.

In addition to the material, the braid on the strings affects the sound. The most common type is the round wound, which is used to achieve a bright and resonant timbre. Tape wound is suitable for jazz, blues, slide playing (consider D`ADDARIO EFT15 as an option).

Many guitarists choose to use nano-coated strings to protect them from dirt, grease, and other foreign matter on their surface. For example, ELIXIR's POLYWEB strings are durable and feel like they slide across the fretboard when played. The ELIXIR NANOWEB strings are similar in properties to standard round wound strings.

If you are a happy owner of a 12-string guitar, then there are special kits for you. All of the above about material, braid and coating applies to them as well.

How often should the strings be changed?

The main criteria for replacing strings are their wear and dull tone. If you are just learning to play the guitar and spend a lot of time playing scales and chords, then we recommend changing the strings every three months. Many professional musicians change strings before each concert.

Despite the protective coatings, the strings will retain their original tone for longer if properly cared for. Apply special care products and you will extend their life.

As soon as you remove the strings from the guitar, you will see the “dark side of music” on the fretboard: particles of skin, grease, metal oxidation. Wipe the neck with PLANET WAVES PW-LMN Lemon Oil. It will also protect the fretboard from drying out. Remember, lemon oil should not get on the strings, otherwise oxidation cannot be avoided.

After each playing the guitar, wipe the strings - use a napkin or a special tool FORCE ACE 30 BLACK.

Sometimes a sudden change in humidity affects the coating of the strings, making it difficult for the fingers to slide from fret to fret. Sweaty hands before a responsible concert also leave their imprint on the strings. Use the GHS FAST FRET A87 conditioner. Remember, air conditioning will not extend the life of your strings, it will only help you play a concert without "extra graters"

Do not forget to wipe dust and fingerprints from the case with a special cloth. Love your guitar!

Conclusion

To date, there are a lot of different strings on the market, as they say, in taste and color. Amateurs and professionals have plenty to choose from. Before you opens a huge field for experiments with sound. Follow our recommendations and act!

Acoustic or classical guitar strings make a big difference in the sound of your guitar, so it's worth choosing from the widest range of strings on the market to find the perfect fit for you and your instrument. This guide will help you choose the right strings to best suit your guitar and playing style.

Acoustic guitar strings

Since there are no sound effects or amplification in an acoustic guitar, the strings are key to its sound. Thus, the material and gauge of acoustic strings must be carefully considered, and the type of winding is also an important factor.

Acoustic or classical guitar

The first thing that determines the choice of strings is the type of instrument - classical or western guitar (it is most often called acoustic). In most cases their strings Not interchangeable. Using metal strings on a guitar designed to use nylon strings can seriously damage the instrument. The design of the neck of a classical guitar is not designed to withstand the pressure from the tension of metal strings. Using the wrong strings can also damage the bridge and nut.

String Gauge

Before we dive into the specific characteristics of the different types of guitar strings, let's take a look at string gauge as it applies to both of them. Strings come in various thicknesses or gauges. Caliber is indicated in thousandths of an inch. The thinnest acoustic strings are usually 0.010 gauge and the thickest 0.059 gauge. The gauge of the strings greatly affects their playability and sound.

Note that classical guitar strings also vary in tension. Below we discuss the effect of tension on the sound and playability of classical strings.

Thinner strings (smaller gauge):

• - it is easier to clamp the strings and play with brute force;
• - break faster
• - their sound is less deep and long;
• - can cause fret buzzing, especially on guitars with a small distance between the fretboard and strings;
• - exert less pressure on the neck of the guitar and are safer for older instruments

Thicker strings (larger gauge):

• - require a lot of effort to pluck the strings and play chords;
• - the sound is deep and long;
• - cause more pressure on the neck.

Caliber designation on acoustic guitar string sets

Most manufacturers label the gauge of a set of strings with labels such as "extra light" or "heavy" on the package. Although string gauges of the same markings may vary slightly between manufacturers, the following are the standard string gauges for acoustic guitar:

extra light
custom light

Choosing an Acoustic Guitar String Gauge

When deciding which string gauge to choose, consider the following factors:

Type of shell: the general rule is that on guitars with a smaller body, that is, with less resonance, it is better to put strings of a smaller gauge, on guitars with a larger body, thicker strings. Thus, large dreadnoughts (western dreadnought) or jumbo, as a rule, sound better with medium gauge strings: thanks to the large soundboard, the sound resonates well and turns out to be balanced deep and loud. Folk and grand audience guitars will sound better with thinner strings.

Playing style: Fingering is much easier on strings with a smaller gauge. If you prefer fighting, it is better to choose medium-gauge strings, although they may seem stiff to beginners with not hardened fingers. If you're playing with a mix of picking and pounding, light-medium gauge strings can be a good choice. Such sets consist of the thinner bottom three strings and the thicker top three.

Desired tone: As you may have guessed by now, large gauge strings produce a deep low sound with a pronounced bass. On the other hand, thinner strings give a bright and sonorous sound to high notes, making picking very effective.

Instrument condition and age Note: Vintage guitars are often brittle and high tension on thick strings can cause the neck to change and damage the bridge. If you are unsure how large a gauge is safe for your guitar, contact the manufacturer or luthier.

Acoustic Guitar String Materials

Below are the features of the sound of strings with different materials of the winding of their basses.

Bronze: the strings have a clear, sonorous and bright sound, which, unfortunately, quickly goes out due to the tendency of bronze to oxidize.

Phosphor bronze: the sound is lower and warmer, but still quite resonant, the phosphorus in the alloy increases the service life.

aluminum bronze: Sounds cleaner than phosphor bronze with punchy bass and crisp highs

Copper: The strings have a bright, ringing, metallic sound, but get dirty and oxidized very quickly.

polymer coated: less resonant and brighter than equivalent uncoated strings, sounding warm and deep; resistant to corrosion.

With silk wrap(Silk and Steel): A steel core with silk, nylon, or copper wrap on the lower strings, giving them a softer feel and sound. These strings are popular with folk and fingerstyle players.

Why are electric acoustic strings special?

Most electroacoustics are equipped with a piezoelectric pickup (or simply a microphone) located inside the soundboard, which converts the sound vibrations of the strings and soundboard into an electrical signal using a built-in preamp. Because piezoelectric pickups are unaffected by the magnetic properties of the string materials, regular acoustic or classical guitar strings are fine for acoustic-electric guitars.

If electroacoustics is equipped with an electromagnetic pickup, you should be guided by the recommendations of the guitar or pickup manufacturer when choosing strings.

Nylon strings

Characteristics of nylon strings

Nylon strings are typically used for classical music, flamenco, bossa nova and folk music. However, their soft, rich sound with excellent touch sensitivity is used by guitarists of other styles, such as jazz or country.

Some beginners choose nylon strings because of the belief that they cut their fingers less. This belief is true, since nylon is a softer material and the tension of nylon strings is weaker than metal ones. However, all beginners must go through a roughening of the fingertips, and with proper tuning of the guitar, it passes quickly. Nylon strings should not be chosen for their initial ease of playing, but for their sound.

Because nylon strings tend to stretch more than metal strings, they require more frequent tuning, especially if the set is new. They are also more sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity.

Nylon string tension

In addition to the caliber, on the packaging of nylon strings, manufacturers indicate the tension of the set. Unfortunately, there is no single scale for determining it, so to find the strings with the ideal tension for you, you need to change several brands. The choice is complicated by the fact that there are sets in which the strings have different tensions, while only one value is indicated on the package. Below are the most common tension designations and their audio features.

Lowtension(Low Tension alsoModerate orlight tension)

• - it is easier to pick the strings, especially on instruments with a large distance between the strings and the fretboard;
• - the sound is less sonorous and juicy;
• - the sound is soft, without pronounced intonation;
• - more suitable for legato technique;
• - prone to buzzing frets.

Averagetension(Normal Tension/Medium Tension)

• - is usually the sweet spot between low and high tension performance.

Hightension(High/Hard/Strong Tension)

• - more force is required to clamp the strings, especially on instruments with a large distance between the neck and strings;
• - the sound is louder and brighter;
• - the sound is expressive, more abrupt;
• - more suitable for rhythmic searches;
• - can cause damage to the neck, bridge and pegs on fragile instruments.

Some manufacturers produce strings with Extra-light tension and Extra-hard tension, and there are also sets marked Medium-hard tension. In order to select the string tension that best suits your playing style, we advise you to first decide on the manufacturer and material of the bass winding. After that, try sets with different tensions in the selected line.

To reduce pressure on the instrument when using strings with a high tension, it is recommended to loosen them after playing, store them in a slightly deflated state and tune them immediately before playing.

Nylon string material

First of all, the very definition of “nylon strings” is somewhat erroneous. There are several materials from which strings are made, which would be more correctly called “strings for classical guitar”. The structure and materials of treble and bass strings in one set also differ.

Until the 1940s, classical guitar strings were made from the intestines of cows and sheep. The trebles were made from simple gut, and the bass strings were made from silk thread wrapped with gut.

Discants of modern classical guitar strings are made from nylon, fluorocarbon or other synthetic threads, basses are a core of twisted nylon thread with a winding of various materials.

Materials of treble strings for classical guitar and their sound characteristics

Clear Nylon : the most common strings are transparent nylon line, cast in the right gauge, have a sonorous and bright sound. The strings are smooth to the touch.

Calibrated Nylon (Rectified Nylon) : are also a nylon line of the desired gauge, which is then processed by a laser in order to achieve the most accurate compliance with a given diameter along the entire length of the string. They have a warmer, velvety sound. Matte and rough to the touch.

Black nylon : In addition to its appearance, it has a soft and clear sound with a predominance of high notes.

Nylon with titanium : Smooth to the touch with a brighter tone than normal nylon strings. They are often used on low-pitched guitars.

Combined : woven from several threads, have a bright, loud sound. Strings of this structure are often used as G-strings, as a transition between treble and bass strings.

Wrap Materials for Bass Strings for Classical Guitar

Bass strings for classics are a core of twisted nylon thread with a winding of various metals. The most common are listed below.

80/20 bronze : alloy contains 80% copper and 20% zinc. The sound of the strings is sonorous and bright.

Silver plated copper : Silver plating makes the strings feel smooth to the touch, copper gives a warm sound. Some manufacturers label such a winding “silver”.

Round winding (Roundwound) bass is the most common for classics. Some manufacturers sand the surface of Roundwound windings to smoothen the surface, which makes the strings smooth to the touch and reduces finger noise.

Most classical guitar strings have straight ends (tie-ends) with which they are tied to the bridge.

Signs it's Time to Change Your Strings

• - the guitar is increasingly out of tune, and it becomes more and more difficult to tune it;
• - the strings have rust or they have changed color;
• - at the points of attachment to the bridge, the winding has stratified and the base of the bass strings is visible;
• - the sound of the strings is flat and deaf;
• - You don't remember the last time you changed the strings.

How often do you need to change the strings

There is no single answer to this question, but the following are the reasons for the shortening of string life:

• - You play in a hot room, sweat when playing;
• - You play aggressively with loud combat;
• - You play often;
• - You often change the tuning of the guitar;
• - You smoke or play in smoky rooms.

• - Have a clean cloth handy to wipe down the strings after playing.
• - Wash your hands before playing.
• - Get a stringwinder, they are inexpensive and will make changing strings much faster.
• - Write down the date of replacement on the packaging of the strings, put the packaging in a guitar case, so you can compare which strings last you longer.
• - Buying strings in bulk can be cheaper, especially if you use thin strings that break easily.
• - Pay attention to the packaging: it is better to choose polyethylene - it will protect the strings from corrosion during storage.
• - Keep a spare set or single first, thinnest strings in your guitar case for emergency string changes.

Many guitarists, both beginners and more experienced, are preoccupied with finding the best sound, as a result of which they subject their instruments to all sorts of modifications.

Musicians replace stock pickups, potentiometers and other electronics, replace the nut with brass, bronze or bone, and sometimes even replace such essential parts of the instrument as the soundboard or neck in the hope of changing the type of wood and change the tone (or rather, we talked about wood types in article).

These manipulations certainly affect the sound of the guitar, but often such drastic measures are unnecessary, because it was possible to get closer to the desired tone just by changing the gauge and alloy of the strings, but for some unknown reason, many guitarists neglect such a simple and inexpensive procedure.

It is for this reason that in this article we will talk about the different types of strings for both electric and acoustic guitars, consider various alloys and coatings, type of winding, manufacturing techniques, calibers and, most importantly, the impact of all this on sound.

String Gauge

First of all, all strings differ in size, as a rule, for a standard tuning, the thickness of the first string in a set can vary from 0.008 to 0.012, and for lower tunings it often reaches 0.013-0.014 inches.

The thickness of the strings primarily determines the richness of the tone and the volume of the instrument, because the thicker the string, the richer the overtones and the louder the sound, especially for acoustic instruments, but as the law of equal exchange says: if you want to get something, you need to sacrifice something. then equivalent to this, in this case we directly sacrifice the convenience of playing, because the thicker the strings, the more physical effort goes into playing.

In this regard, it is not surprising that virtuoso performers in whose music the emphasis is primarily on filigree technique use sets with caliber 0.8, as an example of Yngwie Malmsteen.

Braid

Round braid

The round braid is easy to make and affordable, making it the most popular choice for both acoustic and electric guitars. It is a wire, round in cross section, wound in a spiral on a round core. It has a sonorous tone and medium tension.

Due to the rough surface, making slides is a little more difficult than on strings with a flat braid, but easier than with a hexagonal one, and the round braid is exactly in the middle in terms of fret wear.

flat braid

Strings with a flat braid have a complex production technology and a rather high price. The braid of such strings is wound on a round core, but the wire itself has a square cross-section with rounded corners.

These strings have a rich, velvety tone with beautiful lows and smooth highs, often used by jazz players. It should also be noted that the use of a flat winding has a beneficial effect on the resource of the frets. However, if you want to use an overdriven guitar sound, then these strings are not for you.

Hex braid

Making strings with a hexagonal braid is not much more difficult than with a round one, and they are about the same price. The design is a hexagonal core with a wound braid, most often round, with a hexagon in cross section.

The tone of such strings is very bright and expressive due to a tighter fit of the braid to the core. Durability is also top notch. However, the rigidity and sharp ribs of the braid adversely affect the life of the frets and can cause discomfort when playing.

Types of strings for acoustic guitar

To begin with, it should be noted that despite the general term “acoustic guitar”: classical-Spanish and western (jumbo) are essentially two different instruments, on which different strings should be put in order to avoid breakages.

Classical guitar strings

Strings made from sheep intestines are often referred to as gut strings. In our time, they are no longer as widespread as in the past, however, there are enthusiasts who bring these strings in small quantities to our country. They are usually used by lovers of folk music.

Synthetic strings (nylon)

Synthetic strings, launched in the 1940s in the United States, quickly ousted intestinal strings from the market, as they were cheaper and more durable.

The basis for such strings is nylon, and copper alloys are used as an external metal winding, which are distinguished by durability and a matte sound.

Western guitar strings

Bronze strings

As you might guess, the braiding of such strings is made of bronze, or rather 80% copper and 20% tin, as a result of which the color of such strings is very similar to gold. Such strings are durable and have good anti-corrosion properties. The sound can be described as sonorous and bright.

Phosphor bronze strings

Phosphor bronze strings differ from bronze ones in the presence of 0.3% phosphorus and a large amount of copper, about 90-92%. Due to this amount of copper in the composition of the alloy, the strings have a red tint. The sound of such strings is very soft and warm, not possessing such brightness as pure bronze.

Types of strings for electric guitar

Due to the fact that the electric guitar transmits not acoustic, but electromagnetic vibrations to the pickup, it is impossible to use strings for acoustic guitars on it, but there is no problem with this, since there are simply a huge number of types of strings for electric guitars.

steel strings

Steel strings are made entirely of steel, both core and winding. They have a bright and piercing sound, but they have high rigidity and very mediocre (especially without a polymer coating) anti-corrosion properties, add to this the strong wear of the frets from such strings and it will become clear why they are not very popular.

These strings are nickel-wrapped, much softer than steel, have less fret wear, and have a soft yet rich tone. However, nickel strings quickly lose their acoustic properties and stop sounding within 2-3 weeks of active play, but despite this they are the most popular electric guitar strings in the world.

How often do you need to change the strings

First of all, it depends on the intensity of the game, professionals change the strings before each performance, but most guitar lovers keep the strings fresh from 1 to 1.5 months, of course, if you limit the playing of the instrument, you can increase these periods.

However, there are a few factors that will help you figure out when to change strings. Some of the tips are taken from the course of Mikhail Rusakov:

• First of all, these are visual signs of wear, such as breaks in the winding, dents in the strings and corrosion.
• The second is the sound, if your instrument has begun to sound not as bright as usual or frankly muffled.
• And the last thing is the system, if it floats, the tuning of the guitar becomes uncomfortable or even impossible, the strings should be changed.

Results

Such an abundance of different alloys and gauges suggests that there are no ideal strings. Therefore, you need to think about what matters most to you: brightness of the tone, playability, durability, or even appearance, and based on this, make your choice.

Being able to play the guitar has always been an honor. Even having learned a few chords, you can already play simple songs in the yard or near the fire to raise your mood and morale. But there are times when, due to negligence or from prolonged use, the strings on the guitar are torn. In order not to interrupt the holiday, you should always have a spare set of strings with you. This is where the main question arises: "But how to choose the strings for an acoustic guitar?"

String types

For an acoustic guitar, there is a choice: to install nylon or metal strings (on the same electric guitar it is possible to install only metal ones). These are two opposite camps. There is still debate about which strings are best for acoustic guitar. In fact, it all depends on the person. Acoustic guitar strings sound different. That is why there are so many of them. There are a lot of different kits that differ from each other in various parameters that affect the sound and quality of the game. Don't forget that, among other factors, playing is also influenced by the acoustic guitar itself. What strings are best for beginners?

Strings for beginners

The first steps in mastering the guitar are always difficult. It is very important that from the very beginning a person enjoys playing the guitar, otherwise he will soon give up this business. Since the strings are the main element of the guitar, the approach to their selection should be in the first place. For beginners, nylon ones are best, since they have all the parameters that are useful to them.

Pros and cons of nylon strings

For beginners, nylon strings are best, as synthetics are much easier to play. Metal is a much harder material than synthetics, so it's more difficult to strike your first chords on such strings. Synthetics, in turn, are a softer material, so learning to play on it will be many times easier.

For untrained fingers, the first loads will be quite large, so you need to do everything possible to reduce the load on them. In addition, synthetics are not so detrimental to the skin: although at first it will hurt to clamp the frets, but then you quickly get used to it.

But everything is not as simple as it seems. Synthetics are a soft material, which is why it is prone to deformation. Because of this property, acoustics need to be constantly adjusted as the strings stretch. They are also less durable, so you should be careful and try not to tear them.

Nylon on the guitar does not sound as loud as metal. Its sound is more muffled, but soft. Therefore, when playing "forte" you need to put more effort.

Pros and cons of metal strings

Metal strings are made of a stronger material, which gives them such strength. They are more durable and unpretentious to other conditions. They also don't deform as much. This makes it possible to keep them taut (no need to adjust them every time). The best acoustic guitar strings are metal. They are rightfully considered as such, because their sound is more sonorous and loud.

But they have a number of disadvantages. Due to their strength, metal strings are made thinner. Especially for beginners, this results in thick calluses on the left hand. If, out of a spiritual impulse, you re-study, then you can erase your fingers into the blood, and these are not just words. That is why it is important for yourself to choose the norm, several hours a day, in order to avoid overwork and bloody blisters. In addition, it will be much more difficult to pinch chords than on synthetics, since metal is a harder material. Here you need to apply all your strength to make a sound.

Which strings to choose

So what are the best strings for acoustic guitar? Well, for this it is worth considering all the factors. If a person is just starting to play music, then it is better to put nylon strings, since it is easiest to learn from them, if with experience, then metal ones, because they have a more beautiful sound.

How to change strings on an acoustic guitar

If suddenly the purchased guitar turned out to be with a set of metal strings, but nylon ones were required, it does not matter. The question of how to change the strings on an acoustic guitar is solved very quickly.

The first step is to buy a new set of strings. They are sold in any music store, and there are plenty of them on the Internet. After that, it remains only to remove the old ones and fix the new ones.

Old strings need to be removed starting from the pegs (things that are attached to the headstock). By reducing the tension, you can easily untangle them with your fingers and remove them from the peg. Then the knot on the bridge (the base on which the strings are attached near the right hand) is simply untied. Then, having done the reverse procedure, they put on new strings, starting from the lower bridge and ending with the pegs.

Valuable advice: the strings for an acoustic guitar are best changed not according to the principle from top to bottom, but from the sides. That is, first the sixth and first strings are put on, then the fifth and second, and only then the fourth and third. The headstock is designed so that pairs of pegs hold the strings in that order. The farthest pair of pegs is responsible for the first and sixth. Same with the middle and third pair of pegs.

In fact, there is nothing complicated here, you just need to practice a little.

Best Strings

You always want to have something very high quality and reliable. The same applies to strings. As a rule, acoustic guitar strings installed at the time of purchase do not shine with quality. That is why it is recommended to change the strings after buying an instrument. The best option would be the famous brand dedicated to guitars, Fender. He collected the best in himself. This pleasure is more expensive than other strings, but it's worth it.

Note to the non-professional guitarist. (and for public education purposes)

The choice of strings is a purely individual matter and it is impossible to say unequivocally which strings to choose, this also applies to instruments. Demanding musicians sometimes spend years picking up strings for themselves, sometimes one at a time from different sets. Even if they finally pick it up, then, you see, the string manufacturers will come up with something new, and the search begins again. A good musician, as a creative person, will always look for better and better strings, but for a novice guitarist, when choosing strings, it is important to decide on the main thing; what kind of music and what guitar he will play, then the choice of strings will not be such a painful problem.

First, a little about what strings are. In fact, any thread or wire can be a string, as long as it does not break or stretch from the influence of the player. Once upon a time, when there were no guitars or violins yet, our distant ancestors played sinew (made from animal intestines) and silk strings that did not have a winding. The gut strings have survived to this day, but for a number of reasons now they remain almost only on harps and are sometimes found on violins (mainly when performing authentic music). Only in the 19th century did a metal (copper, silver) winding appear on the core strings, which made it possible to improve the timbre of the bass strings, at the same time reducing their tension, which made life easier for the performer and enriched the timbre of his instrument. At the same time, with the advent of the piano, the first experiments in the production of steel-based strings appeared, which later found application for other instruments. The 20th century greatly expanded the range of types of strings, adding many new ones to the already existing ones: synthetic, on a steel cable, multilayer, with a profile winding (not round, but flat or semicircular, etc.), bimetallic (combining two or more materials ), combined, etc. Let's try to figure out what determines the need for such diversity.

String types

gut strings in principle, they do not last long on a fretted instrument, so they are almost out of use (they are not found in Russia).

Synthetic strings– usually used for classical guitar. They were substitutes for unstable vein. The first three strings are a calibrated nylon line, and the three bass strings are made on a polyfilament (consisting of a large number of threads) twisted synthetic base. The traditional winding for them is silver-plated copper. The silver coating (several thousandths of a millimeter) improves the sound of relatively dull copper, does not darken when touched by fingers, and looks very nice, however, it wears off over time. Many firms successfully use other copper-containing alloys as windings, which are in no way inferior in sound and far exceed silver-plated copper in their durability.

Strings on a steel mono-base (usually on a hex core) are used very widely in pop music, as well as by those who appreciate sonority (“metal”) in the guitar. These strings have a higher tension than synthetic strings and are placed on guitars of a different, reinforced type. And although there are still strings on a steel base with a winding of silver-plated copper, this is rather their disadvantage, since the steel base does not allow the twisted string to bend around the guitar fret like a synthetic one, which is why these strings serve several times less than those with a winding of bronze, brass, stainless steel, etc.

Guitar strings on steel wire they are not found in Russia, although they probably exist in the West, but not for the mass buyer, because. they should be several times more expensive than the above.

Concerning strings with a flat winding or with a semicircular lying flat side up, these strings have a longer service life and do not have the characteristic whistle of fingers on the winding turns when changing positions. They tend to be a little less bright, but guitarists who have to record in the studio love to put them on.

For all guitar strings, there are many sizes, which is determined by the requirements of the musician and his instrument. Unlike bowed instruments, where the string length of a full instrument (4/4) is the same, guitars are different in scale (the length of the working part of the string). There are instruments with a scale from 610 mm to 660 mm and even more, so the same set of strings will have different tensions. For a shorter guitar, heavier (almost always thicker) strings should be used. The standard scale of the guitar is increasingly considered the size of 648 mm.

About string tension

Guitarists are accustomed to determining the tension of strings on a steel base by the number of the first string, indicated in thousandths of an inch, i.e. #10 "medium-light" tension string set is a set where the first string has a diameter of 0.010 inches = 0.254 mm. But few people pay attention to the diameters of other strings, and this is important. American steel-backed acoustic guitar strings are typically sized for large instruments that are primarily played with a pick. These kits provide for a stronger tension on twisted strings, which is traditionally preferred by most Russian performers who have instruments of a different design and prefer not the volume of the instrument, but its melodiousness, i.e. pedal (duration) of sound, which can only be obtained on strings with less tension.

The figure shows the string tension for a six-string guitar. The upper graph shows the tension of the “loud” strings, the lower one - less loud, but with a larger pedal, i.e. "melodious".

The tension of synthetic-based guitar strings (for classical guitar) is also determined based on the sections of the strings, but here the difference in the tension of strings of different sizes is negligible, which is partly due to the fact that the scale of the instrument itself has settled and is about 650 mm. Even 0.002 inches (0.05 mm) deviation in line diameter for the first three strings is no longer significant for string tension, since nylon itself is more than 7 times lighter than steel.

conclusions

From all of the above, you can already draw some conclusions about which strings to choose. The choice is mainly determined by what sound (timbre) you yourself like, what instrument you have at your disposal and what kind of music you play. For a beginner guitarist, when choosing strings, you can advise the following:

If you like a muffled sound and soft strings, you should opt for synthetic strings, but you should use them only on a classical guitar, otherwise the sound will be too weak.

For those who want the power of sound and sonority and who has a large, American-style instrument, steel-based strings no lower than No. 11 should be preferred. True, this requires strong fingers.

Those who do not want to have calluses on their left hand fingers, but who do not like the “plastic” sound of synthetic strings, can be advised to put steel-based strings No. 9 and 10. In this case, it may be necessary to slightly increase the height of the strings above the neck due to the height of the lower nut, since soft (or rather light) strings have a greater range of vibration and can touch the frets when playing.

And finally, one more piece of advice - always tune your strings with a tuning fork, because in addition to the fact that when you overtighten you spoil the instrument itself, the strings can stretch out for a long time with a overtightening and in the correct tuning they will sound worse.