In this article I will help you answer two basic questions: what strings are best for acoustic guitar
And what are the best acoustic guitar strings for beginner guitarists. I hope this material will help you choose the best strings for an acoustic guitar.
Due to the lack of pickups or amplifiers, guitar strings have a relatively greater impact on the overall sound of acoustic guitars compared to electric guitars. Therefore, when choosing guitar strings, you need to carefully study their composition and gauge. Choosing the right type of strings for this instrument is of utmost importance.
Depending on the material used, the shape and the way they are made, guitar strings can produce different sounds and different playing sensations, so using the right type of strings has huge benefits for the guitarist. Likewise, when guitar strings are incorrectly selected, it can be quite detrimental to both the player and his instrument.
One of the most important criteria for choosing the type of strings for acoustic guitars is their gauge., since it is equally relevant for all types and varieties of this instrument. String gauge has a huge impact on the playability and sound of an acoustic guitar.
Guitar strings come in different diameters or gauges. Caliber unit: 0.001 inch. Typically, the thinnest string is .010 (first string) and the thickest is .059 (sixth string). You should also remember that classical guitar strings are designated according to their tension.
Below are the main advantages and disadvantages of different string gauges that affect the quality and difficulty of playing an acoustic guitar:
Smaller gauge strings (“thin”):
- as a rule, it is more convenient to play;
- it is more convenient to do suspenders (bands);
- easier to tear;
- give less volume and sustain;
- may cause fret rattling;
- less stress on guitar mechanics (suitable for vintage guitars).
Larger gauge strings (“thick”):
- generally more difficult to play;
- it is more difficult to make a band;
- give more volume and sustain;
- more stress on the guitar mechanics.
Most guitarists name sets of strings by the thickness of the first(for example, “tenths”, “elevenths”, etc.). And the producers guitar strings define their caliber in a set using terms such as "light" or "medium".
While these definitions do not always correspond to the same gauge sets across different manufacturers, here are typical guitar string set ranges:
- "extra light": 0.010 - 0.047
- "custom light": 0.011 - 0.052
- "light": 0.012 - 0.054
- "medium": 0.013 - 0.056
- "heavy": 0.014 - 0.059
More full table thickness of guitar strings:
| Set name | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra Light | 0.008 | 0,010 | 0.015 | 0.022 | 0,032 | 0,039 |
| Super Light | 0,009 | 0,011 | 0,017 | 0,024 | 0,032 | 0,042 |
| Light | 0,010 | 0,013 | 0,017 | 0,026 | 0,036 | 0,046 |
| Medium | 0,011 | 0,014 | 0,018 | 0,028 | 0,038 | 0,049 |
| Medium Heavy | 0,012 | 0,016 | 0,024 | 0,032 | 0,042 | 0,052 |
| Heavy | 0,013 | 0,017 | 0,026 | 0,036 | 0,046 | 0,056 |
String core
There are many more components to a guitar string than meets the eye, and all the individual components come together to create “ vitality"guitar sound. Through the middle of the string along its entire length stretches its base - a metal core.
Attached to the wire core is a "ball" tip - this is what holds the string to the tailpiece. Another round wire is wound around the metal core, which the guitarist's fingers feel when they press the string to the neck.
There are two main types of core shape: round and hexagonal (hexagonal).
Guitar string winding material
The main materials used in guitar strings include steel and nickel (commonly used on electric instruments), brass, bronze and nylon. However, there are many more types of strings, since during the manufacturing process many manufacturers use various alloys and impurities, and in addition, the strings may differ in design and the presence of additional coating. Not only the sound and ease of playing the instrument, but also the durability of the strings themselves depend on the materials of the guitar strings. 
Bronze
The braid of this type of string consists of 80/20 bronze (80% copper, 20% tin) and has a golden hue. Bronze guitar strings provide a clear and bright tone, but quickly lose their positive properties due to the rapid oxidation of this alloy. 
Phosphor bronze
Another type of bronze string is phosphor-infused bronze string. Due to the higher copper content in the alloy, they have a darker, reddish tint. Phosphorus increases the lifespan of these strings, making them more durable than bronze strings.
Phosphor bronze guitar strings produce a warmer sound with a smoother top end. This makes them especially suitable for genres that are characterized by a soft tone, as well as for fingerpicking. They pair well with smaller-bodied acoustic guitars, although many quieter players prefer these strings on larger instruments as well. 
Copper
Copper acoustic guitar strings are considered a cheaper analogue of bronze ones. They also give a clear and bright tone, but lack a characteristic “individuality”, so copper strings from different manufacturers are almost the same in sound. 
Silver plating
Silver coating of copper strings (silver plated copper) does not contribute significant differences into the sound, leaving it just as clean and bright. However, more high quality This metal makes silver-plated strings more durable and reliable, as they are less susceptible to corrosion and contamination.
However, in addition to excellent aesthetic qualities and practicality, such strings are characterized by a higher cost compared to strings made of copper and its alloys. 
Brass
As a general rule, brass guitar strings always sound brighter than bronze ones. Although, oddly enough, most brass strings are manufactured according to the 80/20 bronze principle. There is no significant difference between these two types of strings, since brass, like bronze, consists of 80% copper with the addition of 20% zinc.
This gives the strings a bright and punchy character, although when used on guitars high level, this can make the instrument sound ringing and “metallic”. Another feature of brass strings is their low durability, since brass tends to oxidize. 
Which brand of electric guitar is best for beginners?
How to choose the gauge (thickness) of strings
When determining what thickness of string to use, you need to take into account four main factors:
- Guitar size. The general rule of thumb is that the smaller the body of the guitar, the thinner the strings, and the larger the instrument, the thicker the strings. For example, a dreadnought, which has a characteristically large soundboard, sounds better with medium gauge strings, which take full advantage of the acoustic qualities of this relatively large instrument. And guitars with a small soundboard sound much better with lighter strings (“light”).
- Guitar age. Vintage instruments are often less durable, so the high tension created by medium and heavy gauge strings can cause the neck to warp and the tailpiece to become misaligned. If you are not confident in the strength of the instrument, then you should refrain from installing large-caliber strings on it.
- Playing style. The finger method is much easier to play on smaller diameter strings. For strumming or picking, medium gauge strings are probably the best choice, although they will be much more difficult to play for beginning players. If the style of performance involves a combination of fighting and fingering, then the medium set may be a reasonable solution. Similar sets have thicker three bass strings and standard thin strings.
- Tone and volume. The thickness of the strings directly affects the volume and tone of the sound created. Thus, larger gauge strings emphasize the bass register of the guitar, creating deep and powerful tones. Thin strings, on the contrary, will place more emphasis on the high frequency range and can be useful when playing with a pick and strumming.
Famous guitarists and the strings they play
Ernie Ball
Mark Knopfler- Fender Extra Lights 009 .011 .015 .024 .032 .040
Jimi Hendrix- FENDER "ROCK N" ROLL" STRINGS Light Gauge 010 .013 .015 .026 .032 .038
Yngwie Malmsteen- Original Pure Nickel Soft Light Ball End Electric Guitar Strings 008 .011 .014 .022 .030 .038
D"Addario
Mark Knopfler
Joe Satriani- D"addario EXL120 Super Light 9-42
Robben Ford- EKXL110 Regular Light Tremolo 010. 013. 017. 026. 036. 046
Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)- Blue Steel Electric 010 .013 .017 .030 .042 .052
Gary Moore- Nickel Steel Electric Custom 010 .013 .017 .030 .042 .052
Thomastik
George Benson- Infeld Electric Guitar Flat Wound Medium Light George Benson 012 .016 .020 .028 .039 .053
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 of 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 since on initial stage they cut less 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.
The bronze winding of the 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 is classical guitar is a round winding (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 package, 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.
Usually you can find a long article of several pages, which describes all the intricacies of string selection, but in reality, the choice comes down to several essentially identical options.
What strings to choose for an electric guitar? The choice of strings for an electric guitar depends on your task. If you just need high-quality strings, or you are a beginner musician, start with the main manufacturers, market leaders: American Ernie Ball, La Bella (this company is worth special attention - for example, they invented the same strings for the electric guitar, and they have a huge assortment) or D "Addario. The most popular gauges are 9-42 (softer, will be comfortable for a beginning guitarist, easier to play solo), 10-46 (usually installed on Strats and similar guitars, generally the most popular caliber) and 10-52 (installed by default on LesPaul, they sound a little lower than 10-46 and a little stiffer), and if the guitar is a 7-string, start with 10-56. Traditional materials are Nickel wound steel strings, start with those for a warmer feel. For a (vintage) sound, choose a winding made of pure nickel (Pure Nickel), for a brighter sound - a steel winding (Stainless Steel wound). We advise rock musicians to pay attention to Ernie Ball and Dunlop - with them it is easier to achieve a harsh sound, and they cope better with rough handling. :) Strings with an increased service life due to a special coating - for example, Elixir will last 3-4 times longer, this is very convenient if the guitar is not used very actively - if idle, the strings will not be exposed to the environment for a long time. Next, pay attention to the products of smaller manufacturers - such as Curt Mangan or Kerly, which have their own characteristics and production technologies - you may find the most suitable strings from them!
What strings to buy for a bass guitar? For beginners, and for most, strings of standard gauge with soft or medium tension are suitable: 45-100 or 45-105 (40-125 or 45-125 for a 5-string guitar) from any manufacturer, with traditional nickel-plated winding. Often the choice is made in favor of steel-wound strings - they have a brighter sound with an extended low range. If you need strings with an extended service life, choose coated strings, such as Elixir or other manufacturers. In our catalog, similar strings can be easily found by noting “Extended service life” or “Protective coating” in the product filters. Better, richer sound is offered, for example, by the D"Addario NYXL and Ernie Ball Cobalt series.
What strings to buy for a classical guitar? First of all, if you are just starting to play, we recommend medium string tension, this will make it easier on your hands and fingers. A tighter tension will produce a richer, louder sound, but these strings are a little more difficult to play. Classical guitar strings are made primarily from nylon and silver-plated copper windings. Such strings of good quality at a low price are offered by well-known American companies D"ADDARIO and ERNIE BALL, or inexpensive series from the German HANNABACH - they are suitable for a beginning musician or for everyday amateur playing, and will never disappoint you. If you are seriously learning to play the guitar , and want to get a great sound and make the learning process more enjoyable - try SAVAREZ strings, which are recommended by most music schools and teachers. Find the strings that will maximize the sound of your guitar and be comfortable for you!
What strings to buy for an acoustic guitar? For beginners, we recommend calibers 10-47 or 10-50, which have a softer string tension, this will make it easier on the hands and fingers, making learning easier and more comfortable. 11-52 or 12-54 have a tighter tension, but also a more powerful sound output - choose these strings if you already have experience playing the guitar. The second important criterion is the material. 80/20 Bronze Alloy sounds brighter, Phosphor Bronze sounds warmer and richer, and strings with a special coating (Ernie Ball Everlast or Elixir) will last especially long. There are other alloys, such as Aluminum Bronze or Nickel Bronze, which are brighter in the mid-high range, and are more resistant to corrosion even without a special coating. Whatever you choose, they will not disappoint with their quality.
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, enriched the technical capabilities and timbre of most musical instruments 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.
relative comparison of the sections of guitar strings made of carbon and nylon 1st E string carbon - 0.48 mm (for nylon - 0.70 mm); 2nd string "B" carbon - 0.67 mm (for nylon - 0.80 mm); 3rd string "G" carbon - 0.87mm (for nylon - 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 the strings vibrations a different character, which is reflected in 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, which is 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.
At the turn 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 wound strings, and especially for those who have a naturally caustic chemical composition of sweat that 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
For all types of guitar strings, there are many standard sizes, 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 for a stronger tension on the bass strings than is traditionally preferred by most Russian performers, who often play with fingers in the right hand, 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 classic sound spanish guitar or for some reason you are only suitable 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 strings on a cable or on a steel base with low tension Nos. 9 and 10. In this case, you may have to increase them slightly the height of the strings (mainly bass) above the fingerboard 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.
If you have already purchased an acoustic guitar for yourself and want to take a set of spare strings for it, but still don’t know which ones to choose or have no idea about them at all, then in this article I will try to reveal all the secrets to you and answer such an important question: how to choose strings for an acoustic guitar?
What do you need to know first?
When choosing strings for your guitar, I would advise you to be careful about the opinions of the so-called “experts”. This is especially true for unfortunate salespeople in music stores, who for the most part are not particularly professional and want to push you the most expensive or stale product in the window, but are not as interested in helping you choose strings for an acoustic guitar.
I'm sure that for mine creative life Any guitarist will try more than a dozen different strings and change his preferences more than once, because a person’s requirements and tastes change over time, and string production technologies also do not stand in one place. Quite often, professionals have several different guitars and accordingly, for each, a separate set of strings is selected that are best suited in terms of physical and sound parameters. Therefore, it makes no sense to give any advice on choosing certain brands of strings. But on the other hand, I will try to introduce you to modern types of strings and their design differences.
Deciding before purchasing
As I already talked about in the article, you first need to decide what kind of guitar you will master. Whether it is a classical guitar or an acoustic one, the strings will also be different; in fact, the strings are almost the whole difference between a classical and an acoustic guitar.
When choosing strings for your acoustic guitar in a store, you will definitely encounter a problem that did not exist when you were choosing your instrument. I’ll tell you what this problem is now. Before purchasing, you will not be able to listen to how the strings sound in order to choose the most suitable ones for yourself. Therefore, first, consult with friends or acquaintances of guitarists who have experience behind them before you decide to buy strings.
String thickness
You need to decide what thickness of strings suits you best. Keep in mind that to play thick strings confidently, you must have well-trained fingers on your left hand. As a rule, the diameter of the 1st string in different sets can vary from 0.008 to 0.013 inches. The thicker the strings, the richer and more voluminous the guitar will sound.
Winding material
Copper or its various alloys. These strings are the most common and most often used on acoustic guitars and are therefore less expensive.
Silver coating. This metal has little effect on the sound, but has a good effect on aesthetic qualities. Strings with this coating do not fade, look beautiful and do not leave dark marks on the fingers.
Brass or phosphor bronze. Such strings will be more durable and, unlike copper ones, will have a slightly different sound.
String winding type
Round winding. Strings with such a winding will have a ringing and bright sound, especially immediately after replacement, but not for a long time.
Flat winding. When choosing such strings, keep in mind that their sound will be dull, as if muffled.
The 1st and 2nd strings are always made without winding. The 6th, 5th and 4th bass strings are always wound. The 3rd string most often comes without a winding, but in thicker sets with a winding, which gives its sound a more beautiful and rich sound, but it also has a drawback. Due to the fact that the winding is very thin, it often breaks and becomes unusable, and because of this it is necessary to change the entire set.
Classical Guitar Strings
Synthetic (nylon) strings. The first three strings consist of nylon fishing line, but the bass strings are made of a large number of threads of exactly the same nylon and have an external metal winding, most often made of copper, less often of silver or brass (phosphorus bronze).
High density synthetic. These strings, unlike nylon strings, are made of carbon fishing line, and at the same time have an increased density and a thinner diameter. Such strings are characterized by a ringing, pronounced sound. The disadvantage is the high price.
Strings on a steel cable. The strings are relatively soft and have different windings: the first three are with nylon tape, and the 6th, 5th and 4th are with silver-plated copper. These strings have virtually no stretch and change pitch quite quickly when the pegs are turned. They are less popular due to their high price and are quite unusual.
Synthallic strings. They are characterized at the metal level by high sound brightness and the usual softness like nylon. They tune up quickly, the winding does not wear out so much from contact with the frets, and these strings also allow you to make “braces.” Maintains tune and rich timbre for several months without changing.
Acoustic Guitar Strings
Monolithic steel strings. The core of these strings consists of high-strength, so-called “piano steel”, from which the first three strings are also made. Alloys based on copper or phosphorus bronze are most often used as windings, and the windings differ in hardness and elasticity, while imparting different rigidity to the strings. This in turn affects the sound of the instrument and the comfort of playing with your fingers.
Steel strings with semicircular or flat winding. Such a winding can lie flat side out. These strings are a type of string with a solid steel base. When sliding fingers along the coils, the windings do not make a “whistle”. They are characterized by a more matte sound on bass strings and a more ringing sound on unwound strings.
Steel strings covered with thin synthetic material. There are two types of them. The first type includes strings in which on top of the metal winding there is another additional thin tape winding consisting of Teflon - a synthetic material that has low friction and good wear resistance. Protects the twisted string from dirt and moisture and reduces wear from contact with the frets. The second type differs in that, according to the technology, the wire winding the strings is already enclosed in a plastic sheath. Disadvantage - the gaps between the turns are less protected from contamination and sweat from the fingers, but they more effectively reduce wear from contact with the frets. These two types of strings are quite expensive and lack the iridescent sound that is characteristic of round wound strings.
Let's sum it up
When choosing strings for an acoustic guitar, you need to decide what sound you personally like, what kind of guitar you have and, not least, what kind of music you will play or already play. But for beginner guitarists who have no experience, I would advise the following:
Try to always tune the strings using a tuner or tuning fork, because the instrument will not be able to sound fully if it is not tuned correctly. Do not over-tighten the strings so as not to deform them or break them at the most inopportune moment. Also, you shouldn’t tighten the strings loosely, because the sound will be less dense and loud, and the tuning will “float.” Keep in mind that even if you take the most expensive strings, but don’t tune them correctly, they will sound much worse than cheap ones, but correctly tuned and matched to the hands and guitar of a particular player.
Perhaps this is the most important information for those who wondered: “How to choose strings for an acoustic guitar?” I hope that I was able to help you in some way and will be glad if you write a comment, adding your information to this article. Don't forget to share with your friends on social networks, they might also be interested in knowing this. The next article will be about how to choose strings for an electric guitar. So, if anyone is interested, wait for updates on the site. Good luck to you!