Selecting acoustic guitar strings. How to choose strings for classical guitar

Choosing strings for acoustic guitar, any musician, both a professional and one who first picked up an instrument, faces one difficulty. It consists in the inability to listen to the sound. How certain strings will sound will become known only when they are used, it is impossible to predict the sound.

If professionals understand what they came to the store for, that is, these people are familiar with various brands, they have specific preferences and favorite manufacturers, then beginners do not have such experience and are lost in front of the shop window.

How to choose?

Buying strings is almost always a lottery, but there are some defining moments. Firstly, you need to be as clear as possible in advance about what exactly you need to purchase in terms of technical characteristics and material. It makes no sense for a beginner in music to try everything at random, since a person who does not have experience can simply pull the string incorrectly, because of which he will not hear its true sound.

To decide what is worth buying, music teachers, acquaintances with experience in playing can help. A similar question can be asked in thematic groups or on the forums. The only thing you should not do is trust the words of the seller, who talks about which strings are best for acoustic guitar.

As a rule, the dealer is not at all interested in how the instrument will sound, he is concerned about selling an old or frankly low-quality, stale or expensive product to an amateur. Each musician can choose the best strings for an acoustic guitar only on their own, just like an instrument. Absolutely identical strings, like the guitars themselves, in different hands they don't sound the same at all.

What are they like?

The question of what strings are on an acoustic guitar, how they differ from classical ones, beginners are usually embarrassed, trying to figure it out on their own. However, having found out how some differ from others, novice musicians do not take into account such a factor as finger strength, which an experienced musician or teacher will definitely tell you about, explaining which strings are used on acoustics.

Acoustic strings themselves can be:

• monolithic on a steel basis;
• steel in flat and semicircular windings;
• synthetic on a steel basis.

Hearing about steel, novice musicians almost always ask sellers for acoustic guitar strings made of copper or brass in bewilderment. Such questions immediately betray a complete lack of experience and even the very fact of acquaintance with the instrument. Copper, brass, etc. - the material is not the strings themselves, but their windings.

Monolithic

Made from the so-called piano steel. The windings of "monoliths" use copper, its alloys and phosphor bronze. These strings are very resonant and have good unison. Almost all 12 string acoustic guitars are equipped with them.

With flat and semicircular windings

This is how an ordinary acoustic guitar with 6 strings is equipped. The strings are stretched with the flat side under the fingers, and the round side, respectively, to the body of the instrument.

This is the best option for beginner musicians. The specificity of this type of strings is that they give a more matte, clear and devoid of impurities sound even with uncertain playing technique. Especially important point is a smooth sound on the bass, which is more difficult to achieve than the top ringing.

Synthetic

They are most often equipped with not very expensive instruments, which are just acquired by beginners. Many are completely satisfied with the sound, and going to the store, such musicians know for sure that they need "synthetics".

As a rule, only when contacting the seller, beginners in playing the guitar will find out that this type of string comes in two types.

The first type - strings in a metal winding, additionally closed with Teflon on top. This variety is good for those who use the tool intensively, as it is extremely wear-resistant and almost does not give in to friction.

The second type is strings, in the winding of which the wire and "synthetics" are connected. This variety is lighter in terms of pressing the frets, but quickly gets dirty with sweat and leather particles, since the gaps between the turns are not very tight. This feature leads to the fact that these strings are devoid of iridescence, that is gypsy romances they are not ideal to play, the sound is quite deaf. But for chanson they are quite suitable.

About winding

Before you change the strings on an acoustic guitar for the same ones, you need to know exactly what variety is on the instrument, and, most importantly, do not forget what the winding is made of and what type it is made of.

Literally everything in the game depends on these factors, not only for a beginner, but also for an experienced musician. Since guitar playing is based on tactile memory, that is, the memory of the fingers, the uniformity of the string is extremely important. Accustomed to certain gaps in the coils and the bulge of the strings, musicians always experience discomfort and perform worse on the new type.

Of course, after some time given to scales or other exercises, the fingers get used to it, but there are not always free hours for their own “tuning”, especially for beginners.

Winding materials

Acoustic guitar strings are wound with copper and its alloys, phosphor bronze, brass, synthetic polymers and silver.

There was a joke among Western guitarists in the middle of the last century that silver strings protected them from vampires in auditoriums.

In fact, such strings are not made of silver, and they cannot protect against a vampire. Silver is only a coating sprayed onto finished strings with any winding. This does not affect the sound in any way, but it looks very aesthetic and even mysterious. In addition to visual appeal, such strings do not leave dark marks on the skin and do not fade with long-term use.

Phosphor bronze and brass are the most durable and strong of all existing windings. But they have a minus, the same as that of polymers - such acoustic guitar strings do not ring. Their sound is thick, rich and deaf, very solid and serious.

Copper, like its various alloys, is the most popular winding material. These strings give off lilt, they are ideal for Spanish pieces of music, for accompaniment to dances, singing romances and much more. For example, a high-quality fight can be performed exclusively on copper. The only disadvantage is fragility, such strings have the most short life.

What else affects the sound?

Beginning musicians, trying to achieve satisfactory sound quality, often change strings, throwing out quite good ones. And they do it just because it doesn't sound. This is another difference between a beginner in music and an experienced guitarist.

In addition to the material of the winding and type, the height of the strings on an acoustic guitar also affects the sound. It is regulated above the fingerboard, and it is on it that the quality of sound, and the convenience of performance, and even the life of the strings largely depend.

Each musician chooses this parameter for himself, there is no single standard for the “correct pitch”. It is determined personally, during the game, of course, not in an hour or even a month.

When tuning, beginners need to take into account that strings pulled too low will definitely cling and rub against the frets, as well as rattle on chords. Stretched too high will require a lot of effort from the fingers and from the hand in general, especially on the central frets.

The tool itself affects the optimal height parameter. For a convex neck, one height is good, for a curved neck, another. The ratio of the thresholds also matters.

What does a normal set of strings look like?

In the standard kit, only the 4th, 5th, 6th are always wrapped. But the 3rd string can have the thinnest winding in comparison with the others, but most often it is “bald” or “naked”. 1st and 2nd always remain unwound.

In stores, strings are sold exclusively in sets, which quite often causes bewilderment among novice musicians who need to replace only one that has burst. However, the sale of strings in sets is not due to the desire of sellers and manufacturers to cash in on novice and inexperienced guitarists. This is because each batch of strings has certain specifications nuances of sound. Acquired at random, piece by piece, strings from various factory batches almost never sound in unison.

And this moment is extremely important for obtaining high-quality sound. Even playing at home or playing in the park on a bench "for girls" on strings from different sets often gives a noticeable resonance to listeners. And when the instrument is busy at venues with sound amplifiers, for example, in any of the clubs or cafes, sound defects are the first thing that “rushes into the ears”. Therefore, you should not look for advertisements for the sale of one string or a pair, you need to purchase a whole set.

Beginners don't have to be shy when choosing their first set with strings. You should ask about everything, no matter how ridiculous the question may seem to the most novice guitarist. Music is impossible without good tool, and he, in turn, requires a thorough study by the owner.

Solve the system of equations:

Nylon strings >classical guitar

Classical guitar=nylon strings

For the humanities, we explain: the use of nylon strings is far from being limited to classical guitar. They give a soft, warm sound to acoustics and, thanks to their greater sensitivity than metal strings, allow you to achieve better intonation, which is valuable in different styles music - jazz, folk, country.

On the contrary, we strongly recommend that you use only nylon strings on a classical guitar. This is due to the peculiarities of the structure of the classics: the neck glued to the soundboard experiences strong stress when the metal strings are pulled, which can lead to damage to the instrument.

Below we will talk about the main characteristics of nylon strings, which we hope will help you with their choice.

Many beginners choose nylon strings because on initial stage they cut less on hardened fingers. Due to the softness of the material and the lower tension, this is indeed the case. But nylon strings should be chosen for their sound, not for ease of playing, because the sooner a guitarist develops fingertip hardness, the easier it will be.

Because nylon strings stretch more easily, they require more frequent tuning than metal strings, especially if they are newly installed. They are also more sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity.

Tension

The main characteristic when choosing nylon strings, which determines their sound, is the tension (Tension). There are low tension strings - Low Tension (you can still find Moderate or Light Tension markings), medium tension - Normal Tension (Medium Tension) and high tension - High Tension (Hard / Strong Tension).

Due to the greater pliability, low tension strings are easier to play, especially on guitars with long distance between the strings and the fretboard. But their sound is not sonorous, they lack depth and brightness, it is difficult to change intonation when playing. These strings are well suited for Legato playing.

High tension strings, on the other hand, are less pliable, they sound as close as possible to metal ones - sonorous and bright. But their disadvantage is greater load on the neck, which is not always justified, especially on older instruments.

The golden mean is medium tension strings, they combine all the advantages of the two previous categories.

Some manufacturers produce strings with very low tension (extra-light tension) and very strong (extra-hard tension), there are also average sets, for example semi-hard - medium-hard tension and sets with different tensions of 3 first and 3 bass strings. In any case, the division of strings by tension is conditional and may not be the same for different manufacturers. Therefore, first decide on the manufacturer and material and then experiment with different tensions.

A good way to reduce stress on the neck when the strings are under a lot of tension is to store the guitar with the strings slightly deflated and tune them just before playing.

String material

Calling nylon strings “nylon” is only partly correct, since they differ both in the material of the base, that is, it may not be nylon, and in the material of the winding of the bass strings. By the way, until the 1940s, classical guitar strings were made from the intestines of cows and sheep. The unwound strings were just gut, the bass strings were silk thread wrapped with gut.

The modern set of strings are the first strings made of pure nylon, fluorocarbon or other synthetic material and bass strings having a base of interlaced nylon threads with metal or nylon wrap.

Strings without winding can be a directly transparent nylon line cast in the desired gauge - this is the so-called clear nylon (Clear Nylon). Such strings are the most common and give a clear and sonorous sound. There are strings that, after casting, are additionally calibrated with a laser (Rectified Nylon), this allows you to achieve a clear observance of the diameter along the entire length of the string, while the surface of the strings is slightly rough, and the sound is more velvety. Many manufacturers have models made of black nylon, they differ in color, while there is an opinion that the dye in their composition gives the strings a warmer sound.

As a transition between unwound strings and bass strings as a G-string, twisted nylon thread is sometimes used.

Bronze wound bass strings - an alloy of copper and zinc 80/20 - gives a bright ringing sound. Some manufacturers label bronze wound strings "gold".

The most common way to wind bass strings for classical guitar is a round winding (Roundwound). Many manufacturers sand the surface of the strings to make them smoother, more pleasant to the touch and reduce finger noise.

Most classical strings have straight ends and are knotted to the bridge. Balls at the ends, the so-called ball ends, are rare, so if it is not indicated on the package, consider that the strings are with straight ends. There are a lot of videos on the Internet on how to change nylon strings, and the process is actually quite simple, so we won’t stop there.

Nylon strings fail more often than metal strings - that's a fact. This is due to the fact that the steel base of metal strings is much stronger than nylon, and manufacturers do not add materials to the alloy of the winding of nylon strings that slow down its oxidation. If the guitar is getting worse and worse and hard to tune, the winding has changed color, the bass strings have stratified at the points of attachment to the bridge and their base is visible, the sound has become flat and muffled - these are signs that it is time to replace the strings. Dirty, sweaty hands, playing with a cigarette or in smoky rooms, frequent tuning changes contribute to the rapid aging of any strings.

There is no single correct answer to the question of best strings for classical guitar - the choice is very individual! The only thing is to start with more versatile nylon strings, there are manufacturers who call these lines “Student Classic”. With experience, you will understand what sound you are looking for and what characteristics of strings can give you it.

Understand the difference between steel and nylon strings. It is important to note that using strings designed for acoustic guitars on a classical guitar will ruin the neck. The tension of the strings and the guitar are different, so you cannot use classical strings for acoustic guitar and vice versa. Classical guitars usually have nylon strings. The bass strings look like steel, but the cores are made from nylon fibers. In this article, we will discuss steel strings.

• If you play a lot (on stage) you might want to stick with 80/20 bronze. Phosphor strings tend to last longer.

Remember that the material you choose will affect the sound. The three most commonly used materials are bronze, phosphor bronze and silk and steel. There are other materials, but these are the main ones.

• Bronze strings are sometimes referred to as 80/20 bronze because they are made from 80% copper and 20% zinc. They can be used for all playing styles. They have a bright sound that disappears quickly after a few hours of play. Bronze strings are the most commonly used strings.
• Phosphor Bronze Strings - Bronze strings with added phosphorus. They can also be used for all types. They have a warm sound that lasts longer than bronze strings.
• Silk and steel strings produce a soft, rich sound. They have less tension and are available in light calibers. They are good for vintage guitars that require special strings. They are quieter and less durable, but easier to play.

Hello to all electric guitar lovers. In this article, we will try to answer this interest Ask: "How to choose strings for an electric guitar?". And sooner or later such a question will arise and the correct answer to it is the key to success in mastering the technique of playing the instrument. So let's figure out which strings are best for electric guitar.

Since the strings of a guitar are the direct source of sound, any change in the characteristics of the string will invariably affect the sound. More or less experienced musicians already know what strings they need, but what about beginners who have just purchased their first electric guitar? I hope this article helps you.

I want to remind you right away that after buying a new musical instrument, you will need to immediately think about changing the strings, because. the strings that are installed on the guitar in the store are demonstrative. It is not possible to play on them, and even more so to study. For example, when I bought my first electric guitar, I decided to keep the old strings. And after two weeks the first string "ordered a long life." Even if your guitar was just lying in a case and you didn’t play it, get ready to change the strings in six months, because. the old strings are already worn out.

String Gauge

The first and most important, in my opinion, moment is the thickness of the strings or their caliber. As a rule, string gauge is indicated in inches. The manufacturer indicates the thickness of the first and last string on the packaging. For example, for six-string guitar the package will show .008-.038, which means the first string is 0.008" thick and the sixth string is 0.038" respectively. Such strings, for convenience, are usually called “eight”, strings 0.009 “nine”, etc.

What affects the thickness of the strings? First of all, the comfort of the game. Thin strings (eight and nine) cannot boast of their sustain and sound density. The main advantage of such soft strings is that a novice guitarist can easily perform various playing techniques, such as bends and vibrato, without harming their fingers. This is true for a beginner guitarist, since their fingertips have not yet grown stronger.

Strings with a first string thickness of 0.010 can be called the "golden mean". They have a fairly dense sound with a small thickness. These strings are best suited for electric guitars, both for beginners and more experienced guitarists.

Thicker strings 0.011, 0.012, 0.013 are suitable for playing in heavy directions: metal, hard Rock. You should not start learning on such strings if your fingers are dear to you.

String manufacturers

The next thing to pay attention to is the manufacturer. Before choosing strings for an electric guitar, you should be aware that there are many manufacturers of strings and the price can be very different from each other. You should not be fooled by the low price of a set of strings from an unknown manufacturer. Such strings can nullify the fine tuning of the instrument and run the risk of breaking from any touch. There are several proven manufacturers: D'Addario, GHS, Ernie Ball, La Bella, Dean Markley. The strings of these manufacturers are best suited for your electric guitar. A set from these manufacturers will cost you from 300 to 500 rubles.

String coating

On the package guitar strings the manufacturer indicates the presence of a special coating for the winding of thick strings. You probably noticed that the third (not always), fourth, fifth and sixth strings are wound. To protect the winding from impacts external environment, on it and put it special. coating.

Nickel-plated strings are the most common. Such strings are characterized by a softer and warmer sound, suitable for most musicians. There are strings without coating at all, i.e. both the core and the winding are made of steel. It is customary to play heavy rock and metal on such strings. Because they sound very harsh and aggressive.

There are strings with other coatings, but they are rare, and the cost of the kit will cost more than one thousand rubles.

Summarizing all of the above, let's summarize. If you have noticed that the sound of your favorite electric guitar has changed, the tuning has begun to break, the strings have lost their shine and become dirty, then you need to think about buying new strings.

An unequivocal answer to the question, “what strings are best for an electric guitar?” you will not find, because every guitarist only by trial and error chooses the strings that suit him best.

Now you have learned how to choose electric guitar strings. Try to play on the strings of different manufacturers and over time you will find exactly what you need. Thank you for your attention! Good luck to all!

This article will present the strings of the most famous brands, and which of them you will like - decide for yourself, but remember that in order to successfully master the technique of playing the electric guitar, it is important to learn not only the basics this art, but also to clearly determine which specific strings are suitable for you and your instrument. The main parameters that should guide the choice will be described below, as well as the characteristics of the brands of the most famous guitars.

Main criteria

To determine which strings are best for an electric guitar, knowing the three main parameters that should be followed when choosing them will help you. Here is a simple list of them:

1. The material they are covered with.
2. Form of string winding.
3. Caliber.

Both the sound and the convenience of playing the guitar depend on the above characteristics.

Coating material

Electric guitar strings are made of either silver or steel. But the braid comes from different materials. And there are various techniques its application, which differ in the shape of the braiding of the core.

But what should you choose among today's variety and which strings are best for electric guitar? It’s up to you to choose, and you should start from the braid first. Here are her options:

• Synthetic nylon coating that makes the strings comfortable for calmer styles of guitar music. Professionals pull them to the limit, and the sound is very clear, but for beginners, this playing technique is not easy.
• Nickel-plated strings are very widely used for the most popular brands of electric guitars. They sound very warm and harmonious, but, alas, are very impractical, since nickel is soft material. But playing them is easy and simple.
• Steel-coated strings are not as popular as they are slightly more expensive than nickel-plated strings. But on the other hand, such a winding is the best option, since the sound is clearer, more voluminous and brighter, only the frets suffer from such a neighborhood much more.
• Nickel-plated steel strings combine the advantages of both. Therefore, they can be regarded as the best option what are the best electric guitar strings to buy.

Winding form

Each of the coating materials is applied to the core of the string in a special way and directly affects the sound production. Here are four winding schemes:

1. The flat shape is the most gentle on the fretboard. It makes the string very smooth and easy to play. It also gives a muffled harmonious sound, devoid of side effect from moving fingers. They are very fond of jazzmen.
2. The round shape of the winding is classic, as it is very inexpensive and widespread (because of its simplicity). The downside is that the sills wear out an order of magnitude faster. The sound is characterized by a whistle from slipping fingers, which many musicians turn from a minus into a plus, as a kind of expression of the main musical idea.
3. The semi-circular shape of the winding may please newcomers, as it incorporates elements of the two previous coating schemes. Initially, a round winding is made, which in the next step is subjected to pressure, which gives the tactile sensations of a flat string.
4. The hexagonal shape of the winding is also a combination of the two styles and wins in terms of sound beauty due to the hexagonal profile. Nevertheless, the sills wear out much faster.

In addition, some string sets are marked FL, which means they have a Floyd Rose tremolation system. They are characterized by the absence of special coils attached to the machine. Therefore (although such strings can be found infrequently), pay attention to such a mark.

Diameter

Often, when you get into a conversation between two guitarists, you can hear something like: “No, the nine does not sound as cool as the ten! Take it - you won't go wrong!" So what are they discussing? And they talk about the thickness of the string, that is, about its caliber, and the choice of a set should be guided primarily by the diameter of the first and sixth, which are designated as 9-42. In inches, this is reported as 0.009-0.042.

For beginners, thinner strings are suitable, since thick strings are difficult to master for unworked fingers. But the sound thin string fluctuates less intensively, therefore not so juicy and bright. Most musicians use 10-46 or 9-42 calibers, but it's worth starting with 8-38 nonetheless. It’s just not worth getting involved in playing the latter for a long time, because it’s more expedient to switch to a thicker caliber and extract a more voluminous sound. To "cut" heavy metal, you can use strings with a diameter of 11 or 12. But in general choice should be done based on your own experience and style of play.

What are the calibers

1. Thin - from 0.008-0.009, ideal for beginners who learn the very basics of the art of playing the guitar. But over time, it is better to switch to thicker strings in order to improve the quality of sound production.
2. Medium - 0.010, are distinguished by a balance between the sound of the string and its thickness. This caliber is widely used by performers of various genres.
3. Thick - from 0.011 to 0.013, are favorites for representatives of metal culture, since playing such strings requires great skill and virtuoso skills. Sound production is very bright, juicy and expressive.

To help you choose the strings that are right for you, here is a list of well-known manufacturers, after reading which you will be much clearer on how to choose electric guitar strings based on your own preferences.

• Elixir. The company produces strings High Quality which, unfortunately, are not cheap. Of the main advantages, one can single out a deep timbre of sound that envelops every note. The Elixir strings are coated with a polymer winding, which is quite pleasant to the touch. And it is thanks to her that they do not get salted and last longer. In general, choosing disappointed you will not. After all, based on the foregoing, they are practical and pleasing to the ear.
• D addario. They are a real dinosaur of the instrumental market, as the strings of this manufacturer have proven themselves well a century ago. Moreover, "Dadario" is still ubiquitous and loved by the people. Admirers can be found all over the world, which is not surprising, because D addario are time-tested and can be trusted. Moreover, at a price they are more affordable than the strings of other manufacturers.
• Ernie Ball. They differ primarily in that they are sealed in foil packaging, and not in a plastic bag. The strings are created with latest developments in this region. The outer coating is made of a special anti-corrosion alloy, which in itself is a huge plus. In addition, Ernie Ball are reinforced with a special titanium wire, which allows you to better keep the system. But they are much more expensive than their competitors.
• Dunlop. Strings for electric guitar, also distinguished by an unusual packaging VCI (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor), which is a special envelope, the manufacturing technology of which allows you to keep the strings in the most favorable conditions. They were produced in North America and versatile for any style of performance.

Ibanez

The electric guitar from this Japanese manufacturer is known worldwide, as "Ibanez" became a pioneer on the way to the US music market. This brand has its own, very complicated history.

Initially, the company was engaged in selling Italian-made guitars. But in the light of tragic events ( civil war) occurred in Italy, the instrument-making workshop was destroyed, and the Japanese acquired the rights to manufacture guitars under their own name, setting up their production.

Chip are horned guitars with deep cutouts. With the advent of the 80s of the last century, the Roadster Guitar and Roadster Deluxe models gained popularity, the tremolo of which is Floyd Rose, and the colors are very bright and fashionable.

To date, the Ibanez electric guitar is known everywhere and is quite democratic at a price that varies from $200 to $1500. Therefore, you can safely stop your choice on it.

Yamaha

Electric guitars from this Japanese manufacturer have received recognition from a wide range musicians. At a price they are quite democratic, and in quality they can compete for first place among representatives of the most expensive brands. The history of their production began in the 60s, when the company's acoustic models made a serious sensation among guitarists around the world.

It is noteworthy that when creating the first electric guitar, Yamaha foresaw the increased interest of the people in a new (at that time) type of instrument, and they were right. Moreover, the affordable price was initially, which is also a kind of marketing ploy.

Today, the enterprising and practical Japanese have a fairly wide selection of models, and, most likely, among them there is “the very option” for you.

Fender

It is the most favorite brand among hard rock and heavy metal artists. And it all started with the fact that back in 1946, Leo Fender founded a company for the production of this wonderful instrument. Nowadays, the factory produces personalized guitars, which are made individually, following all the wishes of the customer.

In addition, Fender re-releases old models that have become hits for true music lovers. Stratocaster and Telecaster have long established themselves as excellent instruments, becoming the standard of sound.

Now the company has many models, including: Jaguar, Jazzmaster, Mustang, Roscoe Beck Bass and Prodigy. But, in addition to excellent ones, it produces various devices, amplifiers and other electronics for a cool sound. The price of the tool varies from 800 to 3000 $.

In general, when choosing which strings for an electric guitar are best, trust your hearing, tastes and preferences, and then your heart will tell you.