Which strings are softer for an acoustic guitar? About choosing guitar strings

04.05.2019

It doesn’t matter whether you are a professional or just starting to play the guitar, there will come a time when you need to replace the strings for your favorite instrument and then the difficult task of choosing them will arise. In order to choose good, and most importantly “correct” strings, you need to know a few things. We'll talk about them.

Important!!! Strings different types, can only be used on the corresponding instrument. Using strings for other purposes may lead to undesirable consequences, including failure of the instrument.

Today we will talk about how to choose, which is very popular in the musical instrument market, as well. But before that I would like to say a little about what a string is. By and large, any wire or fishing line that can not deform or break after repeated use can be considered a string.

But if all the strings were the same thickness, then the sound of all 6, 7 or 12 strings would be the same. In order to make the sound of each string unique, in the 18th century they began to use winding, which can be made of various metals:

Bronze:

Yellow- a bright clanging sound with good percussion, loud, beautiful, but yellow bronze requires care - it quickly oxidizes, the winding acquires a characteristic greenish color. It is better to store in a case in a dry place.
Phosphorus- there is no such characteristic clanging, but the sound is more even, deep, with clear bass.

Which bronze to choose is an acquired taste, but personally I prefer the first option. I would like to note that if you choose bronze from a good manufacturer, you definitely won’t regret it. Cost from 60 - 100 UAH. average.

Copper- a cheaper string option. Although their sound is clear, with a good midrange, they do not have the same individuality as the bronze ones. In general, they sound approximately the same for different brands.

Silver- quite thin in structure. Their sound also has subtlety and clarity. Voiced, perfect for fingerpicking performed with both fingers and a pick. But, as for me, they do not have as much power when playing in combat as bronze ones.

And also be of different types:

Round winding. These strings have a ringing and bright sound.
Flat winding. These strings have a more matte, slightly muted sound.

In this regard, the sound of the guitars was filled with great power, which guaranteed the performer unforgettable success. In the 20th century, the range of strings became even more diverse. They are starting to be made on a steel cable, synthetic, with profile and multilayer winding, combined, bimetallic.

When choosing strings for your guitar, we must not forget that all strings are divided into 3 types: thin, medium thickness and thick (light tension, medium and strong, respectively)

Thin strings It’s easier to press, your fingers don’t get so tired, but their sound is quieter
Thick sets strings sound more juicy and rich, but they are harder to play.
Average thickness ideal for beginning musicians and combines ease of string clamping and pleasant sound

In terms of thickness, sets 0.10 - 0.48, 0.11 - 0.52 best convey sound. Strings 0.12 - 0.56 add volume, but are very hard, so it is advisable to lower the tuning with them a little.

Synthetic strings are used only for classical guitar, so it is not surprising that such a guitar is recommended for learning by beginning musicians. When playing on such strings, your fingers don’t get so tired and it’s easier to press them to the frets. Typically, the top three strings are synthetic nylon line, and the rest are made of polyfilament backing. Often craftsmen use round wire for winding.

Also, I would like to note that synthetic strings come in higher density. Their inventors are considered to be Japanese scientists, who at the end of the 20th century began to use carbon in their work, which has a density higher than that of nylon. For example, the 3rd string of this type has a diameter of 0.85-0.92 mm. The main disadvantage of such strings is their high price, since such material is 5-7 times more expensive than nylon. But despite this, high-density synthetic strings will provide you with enjoyable guitar lessons that are sure to be productive!

Synthetic (nylon) strings. In such sets, the first three strings are made of nylon fishing line, and the three bass strings are made of many threads of the same nylon and covered with an outer metal winding, mainly copper, sometimes silver or brass (phosphor bronze).
High density synthetic strings. These strings are made from carbon line, which gives them increased density and a thinner diameter. Such strings have a ringing, pronounced sound. The disadvantage is the high price.
Strings on a steel cable. These strings are relatively soft and have different string wraps: the first three are with nylon tape, and the 4th to 6th are with silver plated copper. Such strings hold tuning very well and practically do not stretch. They are not very popular because the price is very high.
Synthalic strings. These are strings that, even at the metal level, are characterized by high brightness of sound and the usual softness, like nylon strings. They tune up very quickly, the winding wears out much less from contact with the frets, and these strings also make it possible to make “braces.” The tune and rich sound remain unchanged for several months.

Strings for acoustic (pop) guitars:

Monolithic steel strings. It is definitely worth mentioning the strings on a monolithic steel base. They can be seen on acoustic guitars, which are often used in pop music. These strings are based on high strength steel. The winding is most often made of copper or phosphor bronze and varies in hardness and elasticity. These parameters affect the sound of the guitar and the comfort of the fingers.
Steel strings in a thin synthetic sheath Americans are known to us not only for inventing new types of guitars, but also strings. For example, the creation of steel strings in addition to a synthetic shell of bass strings. This means that the bottom layer is made of metal material, covered with synthetic elements. Such a successful selection is ideal for those guitarists who want to practice for a long time musical creativity on his acoustic guitar.
Steel strings with semicircular or flat winding. Such strings are a type of strings with a monolithic steel base. When sliding your fingers along the string, there is no “whistle” characteristic of ordinary strings. They have a matte sound on the bass strings and a more sonorous sound on the first three, which are without winding.

Please note:

- on the frequency of winding turns: Once I bought a rather expensive set of phosphor bronze, which had a more frequent winding. As a result, I got a completely different sound - more dull, with bass and without my favorite clanging.
- on the manufacturer: Choose strings that are more expensive and from well-known brands that have proven themselves in the market - the strings will last longer and you will get more pleasure from playing.
If you are a beginner and do not particularly understand the choice of strings and do not see any fundamental differences in them, you should consult with the consultants in the store. They will be happy to help you choose exactly what suits your guitar best. Very often, beginning musicians mistakenly put uncharacteristic strings on the guitar, as a result of which, best case scenario You will simply get low-quality sound, or at worst, the guitar will fail.
If you have an idol in music (it is possible that you have an analogue of his instrument), I advise you to find out which strings he plays on. Knowing his preferences, you can always find a lot useful information about the parameters of its strings and make your choice based on this knowledge. For each style of music you need to select your own set, and who else but famous guitarists, know better than anyone what it takes to play well.

In general, choosing strings is a very individual process: look at what companies your idols use, try playing with sets of different thicknesses and different manufacturers, because the best experience is personal. Only after trying many options can you choose the best one for yourself.

P.S. After playing the guitar, run your finger along the bottom of the string, from the nut to the nut. You will see dirt that has accumulated there; it needs to be removed. Do this every time you finish playing - the strings will last you much longer. I do not recommend wiping them with a cloth that is not intended for caring for strings - the micro fibers that remain on the strings accumulate between the turns of the winding and interfere with the vibrations of the string, muffling the sound.

Good luck!

Friends, in this article we will talk about strings for acoustic guitar, let's learn to understand them and choose the right set.

If the sound of your guitar is not as bright as before, and playing is not very comfortable, then it’s time to change the strings!

What does a beginner need to know?

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

Most likely, this is exactly what you have, 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 took out an old guitar from the factory named after. Lunacharsky and decided to remember his youth, then this set of strings is also suitable.

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

And some buyers try to put on the guitar the first strings they come across. We would like to immediately warn you that electric guitar strings will sound very bad on an acoustic. You won’t hear the sound of the guitar, your ears will have an unnatural ringing of strings and nothing more. Nylon strings are also not suitable, they are too soft and their tension is not enough to obtain the necessary resonance from the body. So, first things first.

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

When size matters

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

Thin strings (10–50) are comfortable for initial stage learning, they are easy to press, the fingers do not get tired even with an aggressive manner of playing, and the guitar still sounds and makes you happy. It is more difficult to play on thick strings, but their timbre is richer and they are able to “swing” the body of the guitar. The wood begins to resonate, and the musician is able to extract much more nuances of sound.

By default, the manufacturer puts 11–52, 12–53 strings on guitars (this is the average value), because their main task is to demonstrate the instrument before selling it with the best side, and then you decide for yourself what thickness to choose based on your preferences. In general, if you change strings, keep an eye on their height. Adjust the deflection of the neck if necessary using an anchor wrench or seek help from a luthier or dealer. Too high - it’s difficult to play, your fingers will get stuck, too low - there will be extra “tinkling”. The setting is done experimentally.

How much is the material?

The materials used to make acoustic guitar strings are bronze, nickel, phosphorus, steel, silk, and aluminum. Mainly bronze is 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 convenient guide to the sound 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 is a good choice. These strings reduce unnecessary overtones that occur when sliding along the fingerboard and unnecessary ringing.

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

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

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

Many guitarists choose strings with nanocoating, which serves as protection against dirt, grease and other foreign elements on their surface. For example, the POLYWEB series strings from ELIXIR are durable, and when playing them, your fingers seem to glide along the fingerboard. ELIXIR strings from the NANOWEB series are similar in properties to strings with standard round braid.

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

How often should you change strings?

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

Despite the protective coatings, the strings will retain their original timbre longer if they are properly cared for. Use special care products and you will extend their life.

As soon as you remove the strings from the guitar, you will see " dark side music": skin particles, fat, metal oxidation. Wipe the fretboard with PLANET WAVES PW-LMN lemon oil. This product will also protect the fingerboard from drying out. Remember, lemon oil should not get on the strings, otherwise oxidation cannot be avoided.

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

Sometimes a sudden change in humidity has a negative effect on the finish of the strings, making it difficult for your fingers to slide from fret to fret. Sweaty hands before an important concert also leave their mark on the strings. Use the GHS FAST FRET A87 air conditioner. Remember, air conditioning will not extend the life of your strings, it will only help you play a concert without “extra rubbing”

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

Conclusion

Today there are a lot of different strings on the market, as they say, depending on taste and color. Amateurs and professionals have plenty to choose from. A huge field for experimenting with sound opens up before you. Follow our recommendations and take action!

Understand the difference between steel and nylon strings. It is important to note that using strings intended for acoustic guitars on a classical guitar will damage 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 typically have nylon strings. Bass strings look like steel, but the guts (core) are made of nylon fibers. In this article we will discuss steel strings.

If you play a lot (on stage) you may 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 called 80/20 bronze because they are made of 80% copper and 20% zinc. They can be used for all play styles. They have a bright sound that fades quickly after a few hours of play. Bronze strings are the most commonly used strings.
Phosphor bronze strings are bronze strings with the addition of 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 lower tension and come in lighter calibers. They are good for vintage guitars that require special strings. They are quieter and less durable, but easier to play.

Check the caliber. String gauge is the thickness of the strings. It is usually measured by the diameter of the first string (high string) in thousandths of an inch. The gauge can list string thicknesses in numbers (0.009, 0.010, 0.011...) or words (super light, light, medium...), or both numbers and words. Higher gauges (thicker strings) have higher volume, longer duration, and a warmer tone (more overtones, less brightness, lower treble compared to bass volume), but are more difficult to play due to the increased force required to press and bend the string . Light gauges are easier to play, but they sound thinner and sometimes rattle. Beginners should start with easy or extra easy to make the game easier. You can change calibers when you feel more confident.

Decide whether you will choose coated strings. Some guitar strings are coated to help them last longer. It also creates a smooth texture that some guitarists love and some hate. The coating helps your strings last longer and resist corrosion. Coated strings usually cost more than regular strings. Covered strings can also be multi-colored - red, blue, black, etc.

Check the price. Buy strings that you can afford. They don't have to be super expensive to sound great. Make sure no one is asking too much. A set of cheap strings can cost from several thousand rubles. Medium strings can cost from 180 to 535 rubles. Expensive strings can cost up to 1,780 rubles - but remember that you don't need the highest quality sound. Comparing strings using websites or guides can be helpful in determining which sets are of higher value.

Go to the store and try some strings. Test different materials and gauges and decide what works best for you. Ask the store clerk and your friends what brands they use.

Choose from at least two brands and try them both. Compare both and choose your favorite.
Repeat this process until you find several brands and types that you like best. It's also helpful to have a different brand of string to fall back on when you don't find the strings you usually buy in the store.

Solve the system of equations:

Nylon strings >classical guitar

Classical guitar=nylon strings

Let us clarify for the humanities: the use of nylon strings is far from limited to the classical guitar. They give a soft, warm sound to acoustics and due to 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 using exclusively nylon strings on a classical guitar. This is due to the structural features of the classic: the neck glued to the soundboard experiences strong stress when the metal strings are tensioned, 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 at the initial stage they are less harsh on rough fingers. Due to the softness of the material and weaker tension, this is indeed the case. But nylon strings should be chosen for their sound, and not for ease of play, because the sooner a guitarist gains firmness in his fingertips, the easier it will be for him.

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

Tension

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

Due to their greater pliability, low tension strings are easier to play, especially on guitars with more space between the strings and the neck. But their sound is not ringing, they lack depth and brightness, and it is difficult to change intonation when playing. These strings are well suited for playing in the Legato technique.

Strings with high tension, on the other hand, are less pliable; their sound is as close as possible to metal ones - ringing and bright. But their disadvantage is the greater load on the neck, which is not always justified, especially on older instruments.

The golden mean is strings with medium tension; 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 arbitrary 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 fretboard when strings are under high tension is to store the guitar with the strings slightly slack and tune them immediately before playing.

String material

Calling nylon strings “nylon” is only partly correct, since they differ both in the base material, 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 simply gut strings, the bass strings were silk thread with a gut wrap.

The modern set of strings are first strings made of pure nylon, fluorocarbon or other synthetic material and bass strings having a core of interwoven nylon threads with metal or nylon winding.

Strings without winding can be directly transparent nylon fishing line cast in the desired caliber - this is the so-called Clear Nylon. These strings are the most common and give a clear and ringing sound. There are strings that, after casting, are additionally calibrated with a laser (Rectified Nylon), this allows you to achieve strict compliance with the diameter along the entire length of the string, 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, and there is an opinion that the dye in their composition gives the strings a warmer sound.

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

Bronze wound bass strings - 80/20 copper and zinc alloy - produces a bright ringing sound. Some manufacturers label bronze wound strings “gold”.

The most common way to wind classical guitar bass strings is Roundwound. Many manufacturers sand the surface of the strings, making it smoother, which is more pleasant to the touch and reduces 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 this is not indicated on the packaging, consider the strings to have straight ends. There are tons of videos on the Internet on how to change nylon strings, and the process is actually quite simple, so we won’t dwell on it.

Nylon strings fail more often than metal ones - 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 winding of nylon strings that slow down its oxidation. If the guitar keeps in tune less and less well and is difficult to tune, the winding has changed color, the bass strings have delaminated where they are attached to the bridge and their base is visible, the sound has become flat and dull - these are signs that it is time to replace the strings. Dirty, sweaty hands, playing with a cigarette or in smoky rooms, frequent changes in tuning contribute to the rapid aging of any strings.

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

Date of publication: October 20, 2002

When choosing strings, as indeed when choosing any musical instrument, you need to be aware that in this matter everything is very individual, so you should not rely entirely on the opinions of others, including sellers in music stores. I will not sin against the truth if I say that during his life, any experienced guitarist will try more than a dozen different strings and change his opinion about strings more than once. Therefore, this article is intended not so much to give recommendations on the choice of specific brands of strings, but to introduce readers to their modern types and fundamental design differences. With regard to strings of the same type from different manufacturers, we can safely say that the choice in favor of one model or another can be made by a musician only on the basis of his own experience.

First, a little about what a string is. In principle, any thread or wire, with or without winding, can be considered a string, as long as it does not break or stretch too much when played. Once upon a time, when there were no guitars or violins, our distant ancestors played on unwinded vein (made from animal tendons), intestinal (made from animal intestines), silk, bronze, copper and strings made from plant materials . Gut strings without winding have outlived all the others, surviving to this day, but for a number of reasons now they can only occasionally be found on harps, and even ancient instruments in medieval music ensembles. Winding on strings appeared only at the end of the 18th century. early XIX i.v. It made it possible to improve the timbre of bass strings, while simultaneously reducing their tension, which facilitated performance and enriched the technical capabilities and timbre of most musical instruments of that time. At the same time, with the invention of the piano, the first steel-based strings appeared, which later found application for other instruments. The 20th century extremely expanded the range of types of strings, adding many new ones to the existing ones: synthetic, on a steel cable, with multi-layer and profile winding (flat or semicircular), bimetallic (combining two or more materials), combined, etc. Let's try to figure it out. what determines the need for such diversity.

Types of strings

Gut strings- (everywhere incorrectly called “vein”), as noted above, are made from animal intestines (not produced in Russia). Despite the fact that in lately Abroad they have learned to better protect them from external influences; they do not last long on instruments with metal frets. They also have the unpleasant ability to lose their quality in conditions of elevated temperature and humidity, including from finger sweat. And although intestinal strings are brought to Russia privately by lovers of ancient medieval music, they are almost never found on sale.

Synthetic strings- are used only for “classical guitar”. They are also recommended for beginners due to their softness. In the middle of the 20th century, these strings replaced unstable intestinal strings. The top three strings of the guitar set are synthetic nylon line. The other three bass strings are made of polyfilament (consisting of large number threads) on a synthetic base made of the same nylon with a surface wire winding. The traditional winding material for them is round wound wire made of silver-plated copper. A silver coating of a few thousandths of a millimeter not only looks good, but also improves the sound of relatively dull copper, although it wears out quite quickly. At the same time, copper itself, due to its natural softness, breaks through over time at the points of contact with the frets of the guitar. Recently, many companies have successfully used other copper-containing alloys (for example, silver-plated or pure brass and phosphorus bronze) as windings for synthetic strings, which are noticeably superior in durability to silver-plated copper.

High density synthetic strings made from a new synthetic material invented at the end of the 20th century in Japan carbon(or in other words - fluoro-carbon). Since the density of carbon is 30-90% higher than that of nylon (depending on the specific grade of material), at the same tension as nylon, the top strings of a classical guitar made from carbon line have thinner diameters. So, for example, the 3rd G guitar string on carbon will have a diameter of 0.85-0.92mm instead of 1.00mm.

Carbon strings have an advantage over nylon in better wear resistance, but their most important advantage is their greater ringing. Their only drawback is their noticeably higher cost. Carbon fishing line is 5-7 times more expensive than the best nylon string, which may be due to the fact that the production of these strings has not yet become widespread. Bass strings in sets with carbon line can be made using either carbon fiber or traditional nylon, since the difference in sonority with twisted strings is less noticeable than with fishing line.

Monolithic steel strings are used very widely in pop music, where sonority (“metal”) is more valued in sound. These strings have a higher tension compared to synthetic ones, and are placed on guitars of a different, reinforced design (Western models, “Western”, “Jumbo” or Russian guitars with variable neck height). The basis of these strings is high-carbon steel, which is superior in strength and elasticity to all brands of spring steel, which is used in a “bare form” for the top two or three strings. As a rule, alloys based on copper, less often stainless steel or nickel, are used as windings for steel strings. Most often, various grades of brass are used (in the American tradition called bronze), as well as phosphor bronze. The winding material varies in hardness and elasticity, giving string vibrations different character, which affects the sound of the instrument. The winding profile of “twisted” strings also varies, but the most common is still the so-called “round wound”, which provides the strings with maximum sonority, especially noticeable in the first period after installation. Let us note that today in Russia, domestically produced steel-based strings with silver-plated copper windings are very popular among amateurs, which to a large extent This is due to poor awareness among musicians about the disadvantages of such strings. The fact is that the steel base does not allow the twisted string to bend around the guitar fret in the same way as is the case with synthetics, why strings with soft silver-plated copper they fail several times faster than those with windings made of phosphor bronze, brass, stainless steel, etc., without having any sound advantages. Regarding varieties steel strings with flat or semicircular winding("flat wound", "half-round wound"), lying flat side out, then such strings, when changing positions, do not have the whistling of fingers on the winding turns, characteristic of strings with a "round winding". These strings give a less bright sound, which is especially noticeable in the first period after their installation, but this is why some guitarists like to use them, especially those who have to record in the studio through a microphone. They are also preferred by those performers who are greatly annoyed by the change in the timbre of round-wound strings over time, caused by the gradual flattening of the winding at the points of contact with the frets.

On the threshold of the 21st century, two new types were developed in the United States steel strings with synthetic cover bass strings. The first type is distinguished by the fact that a thin tape winding made of synthetic material is placed on top of the traditional metal round winding. It is designed to protect the twisted string from the penetration of sweat and dirt from fingers between the winding turns, and also to slow down the flattening of the string winding turns upon contact with the frets. The second type of string differs from the first in that here the winding wire itself is enclosed in a plastic sheath, which is why the interturn gaps of the winding are less protected from sweat and dirt, but this design protects against breakdown of the turns no worse, and perhaps even better, than the first. Both ideas are quite good, especially for those guitarists who would like to maximize the life of twisted strings, and especially for those who have a naturally caustic chemical composition sweat, which can corrode the metal of the winding. However, in addition to a noticeably higher cost, strings in a plastic shell lack that iridescent (“diamond”, as the professionals say) overtone, characteristic of round-wound strings in the first hours of playing, which is so valued by professional guitarists that for this alone they are ready to install a new one. a set of strings for every concert or studio session.

Strings on steel cable They began to bring them to Russia literally in the last 2-3 years. Manufacturers present them as strings for a classical guitar (apparently because of their softness), but rather they are still intermediate strings between nylon and steel, since when installed on an instrument they immediately amaze classical guitarists by the fact that they practically do not stretch and quickly change pitch with minimal rotation of the pegs, which is typical for steel-based strings. So far, even in Moscow, these strings are quite rare due to low demand - they are quite expensive and too unusual/unusual.

About guitar scales

There are many standard sizes for all types of guitar strings, which is determined by the varied requirements of musicians, the design and scale of their instruments. About the latter in a little more detail. Unlike bowed instruments, where the working length of the strings of a full (4/4) instrument is the same, guitars can differ quite significantly in their scale length. There are instruments with a scale length from 610 mm to 674 mm, on which the same set of strings will have different tensions. To get identical string tension, a shorter guitar should use heavier (almost always thicker) strings. Recently, the standard scale length of a guitar is increasingly considered to be 648-650mm, although the author of this article has his own point of view on what the exact scale length of a guitar should be, which can be read in the article Standardization of scale lengths of stringed instruments and methods for calculating them.

About string tension

Guitarists who play “metal” are used to determining string tension by the number of the first string, indicated in thousandths of an inch. For example, a set of steel strings No. 10 is a set in which the first string has a diameter of 0.010 inches = 0.254 mm. However, few people pay attention to the diameters of bass strings, and in vain. American steel-based acoustic guitar strings, which are very widely available in Russia, are usually designed for instruments played with a pick. These sets provide a higher bass string tension than most traditionally prefer Russian performers who often play with their fingers right hand who have instruments of a different design and rather give preference not to the volume of the sound, but to the richness of its timbre and long “sustain”, i.e. duration of sound inherent in strings with lower tension.

The graph shows the tension of two types of steel strings for six string guitar. The differences concern only the “bass” strings with winding, starting from the third. The top graph shows the tension of “loud” strings, the bottom - less loud, but with greater “sustain”, and also richer in timbre.

The tension of synthetic guitar strings is also determined based on the cross sections of the strings. It is important to understand that only homogeneous materials can be compared cross-sectionally - for example, nylon with nylon, carbon with carbon. It is inappropriate to compare nylon with carbon in diameter due to the difference in density between these materials. At the same time, we note that the difference in the tension of nylon fishing line of different diameters is negligible - even a difference of 0.002 inches / 0.05 mm is not significant for string tension, because Nylon is almost 8 times lighter than steel. When comparing carbon line, the same difference of 2 thousandths of an inch will be slightly larger - again due to its greater density.

Conclusions

When choosing strings, you mainly need to start from what sound (timbre) you personally like, what instrument you have, and even what kind of music you perform. When choosing strings, a beginning guitarist with no experience at all can be advised the following very roughly:

if you like the classic sound of the Spanish guitar or for some reason only soft strings- you should opt for synthetic strings (nylon/carbon), but they should only be used on a classical-type guitar, otherwise the sound will be too weak and dull;
those who are interested in sound power and ringing, and who have a large, American-type instrument ("Western" / "Jumbo") with lower strings above the fingerboard, should prefer steel-based strings no lower than No. 11 (however, this requires strong fingers);
for those who do not want to have thick calluses on the fingers of their left hand, but who are not satisfied with the somewhat “plastic” sound of synthetic strings, we can advise setting the strings on a cable or on a steel base with low tension No. 9 and 10. In this case, you may have to increase it slightly the height of the strings (mainly bass) above the neck due to the height of the lower nut, since soft, or rather, light strings have greater range vibrations and can touch the frets when playing with forced sound production.

And one more piece of advice for beginning guitarists - always tune the strings using a tuning fork. In addition to the fact that an incorrectly tuned instrument cannot sound fully, when re-stringing you run the risk of ruining it. Strings that are kept tight for a long time may, if not break, then stretch out, and in the correct tuning they will sound worse. Weak tension is also undesirable, since the sound will be less loud and ringing, and the tuning will “float”. Even the most expensive “sophisticated” strings in the wrong tuning will sound worse than simple, but correctly tuned and selected for the instrument and hands of a particular player.