What is the best string gauge for an acoustic guitar? String Selection: Nylon or Metal Strings

Many guitarists, both beginners and more experienced, are preoccupied with searching for the best sound and, as a result, subject their instruments to various kinds modifications.

Musicians replace stock pickups, potentiometers and other electronics, replace the saddles with brass, bronze or bone, and sometimes even replace such significant parts of the instrument as the soundboard or neck in the hope of changing the type of wood to change the tone (and we talked more about wood types in article).

These manipulations certainly affect the sound of the guitar, but often such drastic measures are unnecessary, because it was possible to get closer to the desired tone by simply changing the gauge and alloy of the strings, but for some unknown reason many guitarists neglect such a simple and inexpensive procedure.

It is for this reason that in this article we will talk about various types strings, both for electric and acoustic guitars, we will consider various alloys and coatings, type of winding, manufacturing technologies, calibers and the most important effect of all this on the sound.

String gauge

First of all, all strings differ in size; as a rule, for a standard tuning, the thickness of the first string in a set can range from 0.008 to 0.012, and for lower tunings it often reaches 0.013-0.014 inches.

The thickness of the strings primarily determines the richness of the tone and volume of the instrument, because the thicker the string, the richer the overtones and louder the sound, especially for acoustic instruments, but as the law of equal exchange says: if you want to get something, then you need to sacrifice something - then equivalent to this, in this case we directly sacrifice the convenience of play, because the thicker the strings, the more physical effort is required when playing.

In this regard, it is not surprising that virtuoso performers whose music primarily focuses on filigree technique use sets with a caliber of 0.8, as is the example of Yngwie Malmsteen.

Braid

Round braid

Round braid is easy to manufacture and affordable, making it the most popular solution for both acoustic and electric guitars. It is a round wire in cross-section wound in a spiral on a round core. It has a ringing tone and medium tension.

Due to the rough surface, making slides is a little more difficult than on strings with a flat braid, but easier than with a hexagonal braid, and in terms of fret wear, the round braid is located exactly in the middle.

Flat braid

Flatwound strings have sophisticated production technology and are quite high price. The braid of such strings is wound on a round core, but the wire itself has cross section square with rounded corners.

Strings with this type of braid have a rich, velvety tone with a beautiful low end and smooth top end, and are often used by jazzmen. It should also be noted that the use of flat winding has a beneficial effect on the service life of the frets. However, if you want to use an overdriven guitar sound, these are not the strings for you.

Hexagonal braid

Making strings with hexagonal braid is not much more difficult than with round braid, and their price is about the same. The design consists of a hexagonal core with a wound braid, most often round, with a hexagonal cross section.

The tone of such strings is very bright and expressive due to the tighter fit of the braid to the core. Durability is also excellent. However, the rigidity and sharp edges of the braid negatively affect the life of the frets and can cause discomfort when playing.

Types of strings for acoustic guitar

To begin with, it should be noted that despite the general term “acoustic guitar”: classical-Spanish and western (jumbo) - these are essentially two different instruments, on which different strings should be installed to avoid damage.

Classical Guitar Strings

Strings made from sheep intestines are often called gut strings. Nowadays, they are no longer as widespread as in the past, but there are enthusiasts who bring these strings to our country in small quantities. They are usually used by folk music lovers.

Synthetic strings (nylon)

Synthetic strings, launched in the 40s in the USA, quickly replaced intestinal strings from the market, as they were cheaper and had greater wear resistance.

The basis for such strings is nylon, and copper alloys are used as the outer metal winding, which are durable and have a matte sound.

Western Guitar Strings

Bronze strings

As you might guess, the braid of such strings is made of bronze, or rather 80% copper and 20% tin, as a result of which the color of such strings is very similar to gold. Such strings are durable and have good anti-corrosion properties. The sound can be described as ringing and bright.

Phosphor bronze strings

Phosphor bronze strings differ from bronze ones in the presence of 0.3% phosphorus and big amount copper about 90-92%. Due to the amount of copper in the alloy, the strings have a red tint. The sound of such strings is very soft and warm, not as bright as pure bronze.

Types of strings for electric guitar

Due to the fact that an electric guitar transmits not acoustic, but electromagnetic vibrations to the pickup, it is impossible to use strings for acoustic guitars on it, but there is no problem with this, since there are simply a huge number of types of strings for electric guitars.

Steel strings

Steel strings are made entirely of steel, both the core and the winding. They have a bright and piercing sound, but they have great rigidity and very mediocre (especially without a polymer coating) anti-corrosion properties; add to this the severe wear of the frets from such strings and it becomes clear why they are not particularly popular.

The winding of such strings consists of nickel, they are much softer than steel, wear out the frets less and have a soft but rich tone. However, nickel strings quickly lose their acoustic properties and stop sounding within 2-3 weeks active play, but despite this they are the most popular electric guitar strings in the world.

How often should you change strings?

First of all, it depends on the intensity of the game, professionals change the strings before each performance, but most guitar lovers keep the strings fresh for 1 to 1.5 months, of course, if you limit playing the instrument, you can increase this period.

However, there are several factors that will help you know when to change your strings. Some of the advice is taken from the course by Mikhail Rusakov:

• First of all, there are visual signs of wear, such as breaks in the winding, dents in the strings and corrosion.
• The second is the sound, if your instrument begins to sound not as bright as usual or downright dull.
• And the last thing is the tuning, if it floats, tuning the guitar becomes uncomfortable or even impossible, you should change the strings.

Results

Such an abundance of different alloys and gauges suggests that there are no ideal strings. Therefore, you need to think about what it means for you highest value: tone brightness, playability, durability or even appearance and based on this make your choice.

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

Main criteria

Knowing the three main parameters that should guide your selection will help you determine which strings are best for an electric guitar. Here is a simple list of them:

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

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

Coating material

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

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

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

Winding shape

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

1. The flat shape is the most gentle on the fingerboard. It makes the string very smooth and easy to play. It also gives a dull harmonious sound, devoid of side effect from moving your fingers. Jazzmen love them very much.
2. The round shape of the winding is classic, as it is very inexpensive and widespread (due to its simplicity). The downside is that the thresholds wear out much faster. The sound is characterized by a certain whistle from sliding fingers, which many musicians turn from a minus into a plus, as a kind of expression of the main musical idea.
3. The semicircular shape of the winding may please fans of something new, since it includes elements of the two previous coating schemes. Initially, a round winding is made, which at the next stage is subjected to pressure, which gives the tactile sensation of a flat string.
4. The hexagonal winding shape is also a combination of two styles and benefits from the beauty of sound thanks to the hexagonal profile. But nevertheless, the thresholds wear out much faster.

Additionally, some sets of strings are marked FL, which means they have a tremulous system Floyd Rose. They are characterized by the absence of special reels attached to the machine. Therefore (even though such strings can be found rarely), pay attention to this mark.

Diameter

Often, when you find yourself in a conversation between two guitarists, you can hear something like: “No, the nine’s sound is not as cool as the ten’s! Take it - you won’t go wrong!” So what are they discussing? And they are talking specifically about the thickness of the string, that is, about its caliber, and when choosing a set you should be guided primarily by the diameter of the first and sixth, which are designated as 9-42. In inches this is stated as 0.009-0.042.

For beginners, thinner strings are suitable, since thick strings are difficult for unused fingers to master. But the sound of a thin string vibrates less intensely, and therefore is not so rich and bright. Most players use 10-46 or 9-42 calibers, but 8-38 is a good place to start. But you shouldn’t get carried away with playing the latter for a long time, because it is more advisable to switch to a thicker caliber and produce a more voluminous sound. To “chop” heavy metal, you can use strings with a diameter of 11 or 12. But in overall choice should be done based on your own experience and playing style.

What calibers are there?

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

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

• Elixir. The company produces strings High Quality, which, unfortunately, are not cheap. The main advantages include a deep timbre of sound that envelops every note. The Elixir strings have a polymer winding applied to them, which is quite pleasant to the touch. And it is thanks to her that they do not become salty and last longer. In general, you will not be disappointed with your choice. After all, based on the above, they are practical and pleasant to the ear.
• D addario. They are a real dinosaur of the instrumental market, since the strings of this manufacturer have proven themselves well a century ago. Moreover, “Dadario” is still widespread and loved by the people. Admirers can be found all over the world, which is not surprising, because D addario is time-tested and can be trusted. Moreover, they are more affordable in price than strings from other manufacturers.
• Ernie Ball. They differ primarily in that they are sealed in foil packaging, and not in a plastic bag. The strings are created using the latest developments in this field. The outer coating is made of a special anti-corrosion alloy, which in itself is a huge plus. In addition, Ernie Balls are reinforced with special titanium wire, which allows them to better maintain tuning. They just cost significantly more than their competitors.
• Dunlop. Strings for electric guitar, also distinguished by unusual VCI (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor) packaging, which are special envelopes, the manufacturing technology of which allows the strings to be kept in the most favorable conditions. They were produced in North America and are universal for any performance style.

Ibanez

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

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

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

Today, the Ibanez electric guitar is known everywhere and is quite affordable in price, which varies from $200 to $1,500. Therefore, you can safely choose it.

Yamaha

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

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

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

Fender

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

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

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

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

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

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

I would like to remind you right away that after purchasing a new one musical instrument, you will need to immediately think about replacing the strings, because... The strings that are installed on the guitar in the store are demonstrative. It is not possible to play them, much less study them. For example, when I bought my first electric guitar, I decided to keep the old strings. And after two weeks the first string “decided to live long.” Even if your guitar was just lying in a case and you didn’t play it, get ready to change the strings after six months, because... the old strings have already become unusable.

String gauge

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

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

Strings with a first string thickness of 0.010 can be called the “golden mean”. They have a fairly dense sound and are not very thick. These strings are best suited for an electric guitar, both for beginners and for more experienced guitarists.

Thicker strings 0.011, 0.012, 0.013 are suitable for playing in heavy styles: metal, hard rock. You shouldn't start learning on such strings if you value your fingers.

String manufacturers

The next point you should pay attention to is the manufacturer. Before choosing strings for an electric guitar, you should understand that there are many string manufacturers and the prices may vary greatly from each other. Don't fall for it low price a set of strings from an unknown manufacturer. Such strings can negate the precise tuning of the instrument and risk breaking from any touch. There are several proven manufacturers: D’Addario, GHS, Ernie Ball, La Bella, Dean Markley. Strings from these manufacturers will be better suited for your electric guitar. A kit from these manufacturers will cost you from 300 to 500 rubles.

String coating

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

The most common strings are nickel plated. These strings are characterized by a softer and warmer sound, suitable for most musicians. There are strings without any coating at all, i.e. both the core and winding are made of steel. It is common to play heavy rock and metal on such strings. Because They sound very sharp and aggressive.

There are strings with other coatings, but they are rare, and the cost of a set will cost several thousand rubles.

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

A clear answer to the question, “which strings are best for an electric guitar?” you won’t find it, because every guitarist only uses trial and error to choose the strings that suit him best.

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

The choice of strings is a purely individual matter and it is impossible to say unambiguously which strings to choose; this also applies to instruments. Demanding musicians sometimes spend years selecting strings for themselves, sometimes one at a time from different sets. Even if they finally pick it up, then, lo and behold, the string manufacturers will come up with something new, and the search begins again. A good musician, as a creative person, will always look for better and better strings, but for a beginning guitarist, when choosing strings, it is important to decide on the main thing; what kind of music and what kind of guitar he will play, then the choice of strings will not be such a painful problem.

First, a little about what strings are. In fact, a string can be any thread or wire, as long as it does not break or be stretched under the influence of the player. Once upon a time, when there were no guitars or violins, our distant ancestors played on sinew (made from animal intestines) and silk strings that did not have a winding. Gut strings have survived to this day, but for a number of reasons they now remain almost only on harps and are sometimes found on violins (mainly when performing authentic music). Only in the 19th century did metal (copper, silver) windings appear on gut strings, which made it possible to improve the timbre of bass strings while simultaneously reducing their tension, which made the performer’s life easier and enriched the timbre of his instrument. At the same time, with the advent of the grand piano, the first experiments in the production of 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, multilayer, with a profile winding (not round, but flat or semicircular, etc.), bimetallic (combining two or more materials ), combined, etc. Let's try to figure out what determines the need for such diversity.

Types of strings

Gut strings in principle, they do not last long on a fretted instrument, so they have almost fallen out of use (they are not found in Russia).

Synthetic strings- usually used for classical guitar. They were substitutes for unstable veins. The first three strings are made of calibrated nylon fishing line, and the three bass strings are made of polyfilament (consisting of large number threads) twisted synthetic base. The traditional winding for them is silver-plated copper. Silver coating (several thousandths of a millimeter) improves the sound of relatively dull copper, does not darken when touched by fingers, and looks very nice, however, it wears out over time. Many companies successfully use other copper-containing alloys as windings, which are in no way inferior in sound and are much superior in durability to silver-plated copper.

Mono steel strings (usually hex core) are used very widely in pop music, as well as those who appreciate sonority (“metal”) in a guitar. These strings have a higher tension compared to synthetic ones and are used on guitars of a different, reinforced type. And although there are still strings on a steel base with windings made of silver-plated copper, this is rather their disadvantage, since the steel base does not allow the twisted string to bend around the guitar fret in the same way as a synthetic one, which is why these strings last several times less than those with a bronze winding. brass, stainless steel, etc.

Guitar strings on a steel cable they are not found in Russia, although they probably exist in the West, but not for the mass buyer, because they should be several times more expensive than those listed above.

Concerning strings with flat winding or semicircular, lying flat side up, then these strings have a longer service life and when changing positions they do not have the characteristic whistle of the fingers on the winding turns. They tend to be a little less bright, but are a favorite of guitarists who have to record in a studio.

There are many sizes for all guitar strings, depending on the requirements of the musician and his instrument. Unlike bowed instruments, where the length of the strings of a full instrument (4/4) is the same, guitars are different in scale (the length of the working part of the string). There are instruments with scales from 610 mm to 660 mm and even more, so the same set of strings will have different tensions. For more short guitar you should take heavier (almost always thicker) strings. The standard guitar scale is increasingly considered to be 648 mm.

About string tension

Guitarists are accustomed to determining the tension of steel strings by the number of the first string, indicated in thousandths of an inch, i.e. A set of "medium-light" tension strings No. 10 is a set in which the first string has a diameter of 0.010 inches = 0.254 mm. But few people pay attention to the diameters of other strings, but this is important. American steel-based acoustic guitar strings are usually designed for large instruments that are mainly played with a pick. These sets provide higher tension on the twisted strings than most traditionally prefer Russian performers who have instruments of a different design and give preference not to the loudness of the instrument, but to its melodiousness, i.e. pedaling (duration) of sound, which can only be obtained on strings with lower tension.

The picture shows the string tension for a six-string guitar. The top graph shows the tension of “loud” strings, the bottom - less loud, but with a larger pedal, i.e. “singing”.

The tension of guitar strings on a synthetic basis (for a classical guitar) is also determined based on the sections of the strings, but here the difference is in the tension of the strings different sizes is miniscule, which is partly due to the fact that the scale length of the instrument itself has settled and is about 650 mm. A deviation in line diameter for the first three strings, even by 0.002 inches (0.05 mm), is no longer significant for string tension, since nylon itself is more than 7 times lighter than steel.

conclusions

From all of the above, we can already draw some conclusions about which strings should be chosen. The choice is mainly determined by what sound (timbre) you like, what instrument you have and what kind of music you perform. A beginner guitarist can be advised the following when choosing strings:

If you like a muted sound and soft strings, you should opt for synthetic strings, but they should only be used on a classical-type guitar, otherwise the sound will be too weak.

Those who need sound power and sonority and who have a large, American-type instrument should prefer steel-based strings no lower than No. 11. True, this also requires strong fingers.

Anyone who does not want to have calluses on the fingers of their left hand, but who does not like the “plastic” sound of synthetic strings, can be advised to install strings on a steel base No. 9 and 10. In this case, it may be necessary to slightly increase the height of the strings above the fingerboard due to the height of the lower nut, since soft (or rather light) strings have a larger range of vibrations and can touch the frets when playing.

And finally, one more piece of advice - always tune the strings using a tuning fork, because In addition to the fact that when you re-tighten you damage the instrument itself, if the strings are held for a long time with re-tightening, they can stretch out and sound worse in the correct tuning.

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?

It is impossible to say unequivocally: “These are best strings for 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, there is little experience playing the guitar (at least half a year) and you plan to practice long and hard, then we recommend Elixirs ( Elixir). There are different 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 opt for elixirs, but we do not recommend these strings for beginners, 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 store. 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.