Strings from electric guitar to acoustic. Nylon strings

In this lesson we will look at 2 questions:

• When should strings be changed?
• What strings to put (choose) on an acoustic guitar?

The data is approximate, since the strings are different and the duration of training is also individual for everyone.

For intensive exercise (from 2 hours per day) - change once every 2-3 months

When practicing up to an hour a day - once every 3-5 months

If you rarely play, listen to the sound and check the wear of the strings. About once every 10 months. — 12 months

What strings to choose for an acoustic guitar?

You can’t say unequivocally: “These are the best strings for a guitar” - after all, everyone chooses their own sound, and selects it for themselves (for their playing, their style). But if you are a beginner, then you do not have experience yet, and we will recommend you popular brands of strings for acoustic guitar.

If you have good guitar, a lot of money, have some experience playing the guitar (at least half a year) and you plan to practice long and hard, then we recommend Elixirs ( Elixir). There are various elixirs in stores, with different alloys, coatings - each is good in its own way, read the descriptions and choose what you find interesting, you can start with bronze, as many do. Many guitarists stop at elixirs, but for beginners we do not recommend taking these strings, they are expensive, plus you will not feel the advantages of these strings over others. For beginners, we recommend that you try to play elixirs (if possible) a little later, as soon as you complete the entire acoustic playing course, which is posted on our website.

Here are two popular brands that will suit you perfectly: Dadario ( D"Addario) martin ( Martin) - also bronze ( phosphor bronze ). These strings are full positive feedback. These guitar rigs are reasonably priced, sound good, and last a long time. A good choice for both experienced and beginners. We recommend buying your first strings at a regular retail music store; talk to the sellers - they will tell you a lot of interesting things and recommend them.

Which string gauge should I choose?

String gauge is the thickness of the strings in fractions of an inch. You've probably already heard such names as nines, tens - this is the caliber. It is always present on the package of strings. For example, in this form: 8−38 (eights - called by the thickness of the first string) - the thickness of the first and sixth strings is indicated here.

There are 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 gauges. Eights are the softest, thinnest strings. 13 - The hardest, thickest strings. The sound is also very different, for example eights sound quieter than others, their bass is less pronounced. But the next gauges are 9, 10 - here the sound is denser, louder, but it is also more difficult to clamp them, since the tension of the strings also increases with increasing gauge. Based on this, we recommend that beginners start with eights; with them you will quickly master the basics. Then after a few months you can try nines, then 10, 11 and from this choose what you like best, what suits you best. Listen to how the sound changes with gauge and how difficult it becomes to clamp the strings.

As soon as you switch from eights to larger calibers, it will be unusual, it will hurt - this is normal. It takes a few weeks for your fingers to get used to it. We recommend increasing the caliber gradually. Our final “average” recommendation is tens.

Where do you get new guitar strings? Personally, I prefer to buy them in regular music stores, feeling them live, while exchanging jokes with the sellers there who have known me for a long time. However, you can order guitar strings online without any worries.

Wandering through the expanses of online stores, you probably noticed that the types of guitar strings offered for sale are quite numerous. Of course, after this the question could not help but arise: how to choose strings for a guitar, how not to make a mistake with the choice when purchasing? These issues need to be sorted out in advance.

Types of strings based on material of manufacture

There are three main types of strings:

1. Organic Gut (Catgut) – Traditional strings made from animal gut and wrapped with wire. Despite their short service life, many guitarists still prefer to install only gut strings on their instruments.
2. Nylon strings held in high esteem by classical guitarists. They are soft and pliable, and therefore suitable for beginners. The three tenor strings (lower) are made of nylon line, and the three bass strings are nylon strings wrapped in gold or silver plated wire.
3. Steel is the most popular view strings The sound of the instrument with such strings has a bright and ringing timbre. The winding of steel strings is made from the most different materials: nickel, phosphorus bronze, brass and others.

About different types of string windings

Let's talk in more detail about the winding, or as it is sometimes called, the braid of the strings. The wire covering the core of the strings can be made in several versions.

1. Round braid is the cheapest to manufacture, which means the cost of guitar strings will be lower. Main disadvantages: squeaking of fingers on the strings when playing, rapid wear due to contamination of the sinuses of the braid.
2. Flat braid eliminates unnecessary sounds. These strings are used on a guitar for studio recording. Main disadvantage: less bright sound than round wound strings.
3. Semicircular braid is a hybrid that includes both the pros and cons of the two previous types.

What is string tension?

Before choosing strings for your guitar, find out what their tension is: light, medium or heavy. The tension force is influenced by several factors: their length, weight, tuning frequency, diameter, winding material and core size.

It is believed that the stronger the tension, the louder and brighter the instrument sounds. If it is light, the instrument is quiet and melodious. Another caveat is that strings with heavy tension will not be so easy to press on the frets, and therefore for beginners it is recommended to take strings of the lightest tension to make playing easier.

The most popular manufacturers and prices of guitar strings

The companies D'Addario and LaBella have long been producing a large line of a wide variety of strings for classical and acoustic guitars. They are considered the most popular manufacturers - all of their types of guitar strings have excellent characteristics and are sold at not such a high price (about 10 USD).

The strings from the French manufacturer Savarez stand out separately. They are made of high-strength materials, have excellent sound properties, and therefore their cost is high (from 20 USD).

The most popular manufacturers of strings for electric guitars and bass are Elixir and DR. Their prices are very affordable: for electric guitars - from 20 USD, for a four-string bass - from 70 USD.

Why can't a classical guitar have steel strings?

The mechanics of the pegs and the stand in a classical guitar are made of lightweight materials. Therefore, only nylon strings can be used on this type of guitar - they are soft and not very stretched, which means they are not capable of breaking and damaging the instrument.

Steel strings are used on guitars with a reinforced structure, such as acoustic six-strings. Well, if you try to put nylon strings on an electric guitar, you will see with your own eyes that the pickup simply cannot detect sound vibrations from them.

Conclusion

So, when choosing strings, you need to focus on the instrument itself, its strength or, conversely, softness, the level of your technical skill (tight or light tension), the practical purpose of the instrument (educational, concert, studio, etc.), well and on the traditions that have developed in guitar schools (preferences for materials of one type or another).

Of course, one of the most important criteria, and for some the main one, is the cost of guitar strings. And yet, also pay attention to the packaging of the strings - it should contain not only the characteristics of the product, but also the basic data of the manufacturer. Being careful will protect you from buying a fake.

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This review will introduce you to different types of guitar strings, types of windings and materials from which they are made. Let's look at what a string actually is. By the way, any stretched thread or metal wire can be called a string. Of course, with the condition that when playing it does not stretch or tear.

And now a little history. Our ancestors, long before the advent of guitars, used strings made from animal tendons. This type of string is called " veined"with strings. You can also find those that have survived to this day" intestinal"strings. They, as you probably already guessed, were made from animal intestines. Type of strings, appeared in. - early 19th century was completely different. These were wound strings that were able to improve the timbre of many instruments, particularly guitars. The winding helped reduce the tension, making it much easier to play. Somewhere around the same time, another type of string appeared - with a steel base or core. Although at first they were used on the piano, they later spread to other musical instruments including guitar. 20th century with its technical progress greatly increased diversity types of strings. Next we can look at each of them in more detail.

Types of strings.

- Gut strings The type of strings from this, to put it mildly, unusual material no longer produced in Russia. Although sometimes they can be found in the west, this is also a rarity. With the advent of synthetic strings, gut strings almost immediately gave way to them. The main disadvantage of this type of strings the fact that they wear out very quickly near the frets and lose their quality from high temperature or humidity, including moisture released by the hands. In other words, not the best option ;) .

- Synthetic strings The type of synthetic strings can generally be divided into two groups:

1. Nylon strings - They are mainly used for classical guitar. They are quite soft and well suited for beginner guitarists. The lower 3 strings of the guitar are made of nylon fishing line, which is made of so-called monofilament synthetics. The top three strings are made from many thin nylon threads. Such a fishing line will be made from polyfilament synthetics. Usually, the winding for this type of strings They are used from copper in the form of a round wire with a silver coating (Fig. 1). Silver increases wear resistance and, to some extent, prevents the strings from getting dirty with your hands. But nevertheless, it gradually wears out in the fret area. People found a way out by experimenting with other alloys. Silver-plated brass, pure brass, or phosphor bronze are superior in wear resistance to silver-plated copper.

Rice. 1

1 2. Carbon strings The material for these strings was discovered in the 20th century in Japan, and it is called fluorocarbon or carbon. Carbon fiber is 90% denser than nylon. Therefore, at the same tension, carbon fishing line can have a smaller diameter. This string type much louder than nylon ones. Bass strings of carbon sets can be made of either carbon or nylon, since there is no noticeable difference in sonority. Although, let’s say for particularly sophisticated musicians, this small difference is enough to make their choice in favor of carbon strings.

- Steel based strings

Data types of strings most often found in pop music, rock, blues, and also where preference is given to sonority and richness of sound. These strings can be stretched three times harder than synthetic strings. In acoustics, they are usually placed on guitars with a more reinforced structure. These are non-classical acoustic guitars with Western, Jumbo, and Dreadnought body types. And, of course, such strings are used on electric guitars. Because Magnetic pickups simply won't be able to read the vibrations from a nylon string. By the way, the winding of metal strings can be found in different ways. Copper-based alloys are most often used, but can be found in stainless steel, nickel, brass, and phosphor bronze.

Each winding adds its own unique flavor to the sound of the instrument. We are already familiar with the “Roundwound” type winding; we can see it again in Fig. 1. This winding gives maximum sonority and velvety, which is especially noticeable for the first time after installing the strings. There are two more equally popular steel string winding type: “flatwound” and “groundwound”, they can be seen in Fig. 2. Both types of winding “eat up” the whistle and unpleasant sounds that fingers make when sliding along the strings. This is achieved because outer side windings are flat. Such type of strings Very often used by guitarists who record in the studio via a microphone.

Rice. 2

That's basically all. Now you know, what kind of strings are there? for guitar. We conclude that to choice of strings should be taken quite seriously, since each type of string has its own pros and cons, its own characteristics, which can make playing the guitar somewhat easier or more difficult, and maybe even enrich it. And on my own behalf I would like to advise you: experiment!;)

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 (vintage) sound, choose a pure nickel winding (Pure Nickel), for a brighter one - a steel winding (Stainless Steel wound). Already mastered and know the right gauge? Try strings with improved qualities: the Austrian Thomastik will provide an excellent rich sound. 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 - when 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. Similar strings good quality at a low price they offer 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 an excellent 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. Second important criterion- this 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.

It has always been an honor to be able to play the guitar. Even after learning a few chords, you can already play simple songs in the yard or near the fire to lift your mood and morale. But there are times when, due to carelessness or prolonged use, the strings on a guitar break. In order not to cut short the holiday, you should always have a spare set of strings with you. This is where it comes in main question: “How to choose strings for an acoustic guitar?”

Types of strings

For an acoustic guitar, you have the choice of installing nylon or metal strings (on the same electric guitar, you can only install metal strings). These are two opposing camps. There is still debate about which strings are best for an acoustic guitar. In fact, it all depends on the person. Acoustic guitar strings sound different. That's why they are so great amount. There are many different sets that differ from each other in various parameters that affect the sound and quality of the game. Don't forget that, among other factors, the acoustic guitar itself also affects playing. What strings are best for beginners?

Strings for Beginners

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

Pros and cons of nylon strings

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

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

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

Nylon on a guitar does not sound as loud as metal. Its sound is more subdued, but soft. Therefore, when playing “forte” you need to put in more effort.

Pros and cons of metal strings

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

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

Which strings to choose

So what are the best strings for an acoustic guitar? Well, for this it is worth taking into account all the factors. If a person is just starting to study music, then it is better to use nylon strings, since they are the easiest to learn on; if you have experience, then metal strings, because they have a more beautiful sound.

How to change strings on an acoustic guitar

If suddenly the guitar you bought turned out to have a set of metal strings, but you needed nylon ones, it doesn’t matter. The question of how to change strings on an acoustic guitar is resolved very quickly.

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

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

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

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

Best Strings

You always want to have something of very high quality and reliability. The same applies to strings. As a rule, the strings for an acoustic guitar installed when purchasing it are not of high quality. This is why it is recommended to change the strings after purchasing an instrument. The best option will famous brand, dedicated to guitars, "Fender". He collected all the best in himself. This pleasure costs more than other strings, but it's worth it.