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Choosing the Right Tension: Download this PDF file compliments of D'Addario guitar strings to help you decide which are the right guitar strings for you: Tension Chart
from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit
How to get the right guitar strings.
Steps
- Keep in mind that the string you select depends on the type of guitar you play, the sound you want to create and your preferences for ease of playing.
- Go to your local music store and look at its selection of strings.
- Get nylon strings if you are a beginner. They have a soft, mellow tone and are easy on the fingers. You will stay with them if you decide to play classical guitar.
- Pick ball-end nylon strings, frequently called "folk nylon," if you want to become a folk guitar player. They are a little heavier than regular nylon and take vigorous strumming.
- Get Monel strings if your fingers are strong enough to handle the metal strings. They have a much sharper and louder tone than nylon. thickness varies according to the type of set purchased; medium-light gauge is recommended for beginners. Do not use them on classical or electric guitars!
- Select silk and steel for finger-style playing. They are much easier on the fingers than the regular metal strings. Do not use them on electric guitars because they will not pick up electricity.
- Pick bronze strings for fingerpicking on a folk guitar. They provide brilliance in sound. Select light gauge for finger-style playing, heavy gauge for strumming.
- Buy a set of brass strings if you want your tone to be sharp and harsh; they are usually more brittle than bronze.
- Get flat-polished strings if you desire ease of playing. They are easier on your fingers than standard metal strings. These strings come for both acoustic and electric guitar.
- Select flat-wound strings for any electric guitar. They are comfortable to the left hand and give a smooth tone when amplified. This string is preferred by many jazz guitarists.
- Make sure to get the correct type of strings for your guitar. Acoustic steel strings( phosphor bronze, 80/20, etc...) have too high a string tension for a classical guitar and can damage it. Nylon strings won't vibrate the top of a steel string guitar enough to produce much sound. Electric guitar strings have a different composition than acoustic guitar strings to help the pickups function properly.
Tips
- Replace old strings on your instrument. When a string gets old, it sounds dead. Beginning students can start looking for wear after about five weeks. When in doubt, ask your guitar teacher.
- Talk with an employee in the store or your guitar teacher about string tension. If the strings on your guitar have a high tension, then they eventually begin to bend the guitar neck, causing the strings to tune incorrectly and become more difficult to play.
- Use a string winder/bridge pin puller on a steel string acoustic guitar. This will make string changing easier and won't hurt the guitar if accidentally dropped on it.
Related wikiHows
Sources and Citations
Article provided by wikiHow, a collaborative writing project to build the world's largest, highest quality how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Choose Guitar Strings. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.
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