What are the best strings for an acoustic guitar? Choosing Strings: Nylon Strings or Metal Strings? Is it possible to use nylon strings on a western guitar and metal strings on a classical guitar?

Nylon or metal strings? Many guitar players have once gone through (or are currently going through) the complex procedure of selecting strings.

Let's start with the most common metal strings. They really seduce guitarists with their ringing sound, excellent sustain and, most importantly, familiarity of sound. But you have to pay for everything. Firstly, pain in the fingers. You can bet that I can play for hours and nothing will happen. I can do that too. But we are talking about training. I personally remember very well how my fingers hurt after five minutes of playing (I studied metal).

There are many parameters that characterize strings. The main ones are the thickness of the first string and the tension force of the string. Thickness ranges from 0.08 to 0.15 mm (or so). On good strings (,), the diameters of ALL strings and, preferably, the tension force (in kilograms) should be written. These numbers are important. Experiment with different types and brands of strings, don't be afraid to make mistakes. But I want to warn you: strings that are too thin are difficult to handle. They are easy to press, but they are VERY difficult to tune and can go out of tune if you press the string hard between the nuts.

Secondly, if your goal is not just strumming in the yard (nylon is definitely not suitable for this purpose), then try to find a professional guitarist who plays metal (of course, there are such people, but they are few). The fact is that the soft nylon sound is perfect for chamber performance. And in general, the speed of playing on nylon is really higher than on metal.

Metal strings less susceptible to aging than nylon strings. If nylon needs to be changed every two months, then metal lasts six or more. But here it is necessary to make a reservation that in general the first two strings fail (i.e. they stop building, change the color of the sound) much earlier than the rest, so you can often replace them (only if spare ones are included in the kit).

I’ll say right away: nylon strings it’s more difficult to tune, the fact is that you simply have to catch the desired tone like a flea. You just have to get used to it. Nylon strings are suitable for all types of guitar music that require fast passages, tremolo, vibrato or just fingerpicking. Where the rich sound of six strings is needed at the same time, nylon falls on the shoulder blades: metal strings are excellent when playing with strikes.

Now a few words about guitars. There are guitars either only made of nylon or only made of metal. There is no other option! St. Petersburg's old guitars don't count - they actually fit both types of strings, but the sound left much to be desired. Whatever strings were installed when purchased (naturally, in the store), these should be installed when replacing. The fact is that technically a replacement is possible, but what will be the consequences? The guitar may simply not be in tune, or its neck may be bent (believe me, this is possible), the manufacturer will not wish anything bad.

As a result, I would still advise learning to play nylon, and then making a choice. After all, it is easier for a real guitarist to switch from one type of strings to another than for a beginner.

Which nylon strings to choose?

The typical choice of a professional guitarist is nylon strings high tension (High Tension) with silver-plated winding. Teachers usually recommend that beginner guitarists use normal-tension strings; they are easier to play on, although the nuances of sound production that are available on high-tension nylon cannot be obtained with them. You may also be advised not to install silver-plated strings on low-quality guitars. Pay special attention to the frets. If the grinding of the frets leaves much to be desired, but you still want to use nylon strings, then the optimal choice is strings with copper (or copper alloy-based) braid. They will “live” longer, although their sound is initially less bright.

When choosing “voices,” the determining factor is the quality of their processing. There are polished and honed (matte) surfaces, each with its own “sound” nuances. Polished strings are the most common. This is due to the fact that they produce fewer overtones during fast passages.

Now - a couple of general rules for communicating with strings:

1) Never reinstall old strings - this can lead to breaks and a permanently out-of-tune guitar.
2) After installing the strings, let the guitar sit for at least a day (just tune it first) to allow the strings to stretch. You shouldn't start playing right away - the strings will go out of tune very quickly - there will be little pleasure.
3) Do not play the guitar with dirty or greasy hands - the strings will deteriorate.
4) Periodically wipe the neck of your guitar along with the strings - it won’t make it worse, but the strings will be nice.
5) If a string breaks, it is better to replace all six - the sound of the new one will still stand out from the general background.
6) If the guitar SUDDENLY stops playing, there is no need to throw it away, just try changing the strings to new ones.

Information provided- website Secrets of a Musician, author Izotov

In this article I will help you answer two basic questions: what strings are best for an 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 guitar string manufacturers define the gauge of strings in a set using terms like “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

A more complete table of guitar string thicknesses:

String core

There are many more components to a guitar string than meets the eye, and all the individual components come together to create the “life force” of the 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 against the fingerboard.

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 make any significant difference in the sound, leaving it just as clean and bright. However, the higher quality of 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 made using 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 high-end guitars it can make the instrument sound ringing and "metallic". Another feature of brass strings is their low durability, since brass tends to oxidize.

Nylon

Nylon guitar strings can be made from pure or rectified nylon. Pure nylon guitar strings are first drawn and then gauged to ensure accuracy.

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:

1. 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”).
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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 other hand, will place more emphasis on the high-frequency range and can be useful for picking and strumming.

How to change strings on an electric guitar with Floyd Rose

Famous guitarists and the strings they play

Ernie Ball

Jimmy Page
- Ernie Ball 10-46 and 9-46
Eric Clapton
Kirk Hammett
Slash- Ernie Ball 2220 Power Slinky 11-48, RPS-11 - Slinky Nickel Wound 011 .014 .018p .028 .038 .048
Steve Vai- Ernie Ball 2221 Regular Slinky 10-46, RPS-9 Slinky Nickel Wound009 .011 .016 .024w .032 .042
Jeff Beck- Ernie Ball 2223 Super Slinky 9-42
John Mayer- Ernie Ball 2221 Regular Slinky 10-46
Jack White- The Raconteurs - Ernie Ball 2627 Beefy Slinky Drop Tune 11-54
Aerosmith- Ernie Ball 3123 Coated Super Slinky 9-42, Ernie Ball 2223 Super Slinky 9-42
Paul Gilbert- Ernie Ball 3123 Coated Super Slinky 9-42
Buddy Guy- Ernie Ball 2220 Power Slinky 11-48
Steve Morse- Ernie Ball 3121 Coated Regular Slinky 10-46
Iron Maiden- Ernie Ball 2220 Power Slinky 11-48
Blink 182- Ernie Ball 2215 Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom 10-52
Brad Paisley- Ernie Ball 2221 Regular Slinky 10-46, Ernie Ball 3121 Coated Regular Slinky 10-46
Keith Richards- Ernie Ball 3123 Coated Super Slinky 9-42, Ernie Ball 3121 Coated Regular Slinky 10-46, RPS-11 Slinky Nickel Wound 011 .014 .018p .028 .038 .048

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

Buy strings

Unfortunately, it is not always possible to buy strings from famous brands; in this case, AliExpress comes to the rescue with its affordable prices. There are strings for every taste and budget, for example this set of strings for an acoustic guitar.

Which I have encountered throughout my career as a guitarist and guitar teacher.

In my practice of teaching, I often have to change sets of strings on my students’ guitars, and over more than 14 years of experience, the number of strings I have replaced has already gone into the thousands. The most frequently asked question after replacement:

When should you change strings again?

I will try to answer comprehensively.

1. Appearance. If the strings look new, then let them stand. High-quality strings retain their commercial appearance for a long time. This applies even to silver-plated strings, which are the first to lose the snow-white color of the winding.
2. Strings that feel rough to the touch should be replaced, as they are taken away from you by the caring hands of metal corrosion (in the case of metal strings). When playing a guitar, moisture and grease from our fingers remain on the strings, criminally penetrating under the winding and reaching the cord (core). If you play the guitar irregularly (a couple of times a week or less), you've probably noticed how stiff the strings can be after weeks of breaks from playing. Polymer braided strings are suitable here. They are more expensive, but due to the special coating, corrosion will not soon reach the winding, and therefore the cord. Corrosion is also inevitable at high air humidity. As you know, not a single metal can hide from water molecules floating in the air without special protection.
3. Hygiene. You should always wash your hands before playing the guitar. I often see a coating of black dirt on the back of the string. In combination with the harmful effects of corrosion described above, the strings will fail much faster. In addition, excess dirt that does not settle on the strings will dirty your fingerboard and will have to be cleaned. A simple test is to wrap the string in a white paper towel, press and run along the string. Then unfold the napkin and look inside. If the color has not changed (which is only possible on new and well-maintained strings), then it is not time to change. If the napkin turns black, then it’s most likely time to replace it. Although, there is a special liquid for caring for strings. If you are not too lazy, wash it and continue using it.
4. Sound. The physical wear and tear of strings directly affects their sound. Firstly, the sound becomes somewhat dull and muffled. Due to the stretching of the strings, which entails an increase in the amplitude of vibrations, unpleasant rattling on the frets may occur. The guitar stops playing because over time the strings develop grooves from the frets, which leads to flattening and a decrease in the diameter of the strings in places where they are regularly pressed.
5. Obsolescence. Sometimes you just want to change the strings that have been in place for a month or two but somehow aren’t very pleasing;)
   Summarizing all of the above, I recommend not to rush or delay the replacement. Keep an open mind, listen to the sound and wash your hands before playing.

Can I use nylon strings on a western guitar and metal strings on a classical guitar?

This question is perhaps the leader among the rest. Answer: “No.” If you put metal strings on, then negative consequences are possible (if not inevitable). Which ones exactly? Metal strings have a higher tension than nylon strings, which means that the load on all string attachment points increases:

• the stand (bridge) may simply come off,
• it happened that the lower and/or upper sill split,
• plastic tubes were cracked, placed on the metal parts of the pegs where the strings are wound.
• The load on the internal springs of the guitar body increases, which can deform the top soundboard (in the case of cheap Chinese guitars, I personally saw the top soundboard bent under the tension of metal strings)
• The fretboard of a classical guitar is often made of softer wood than that of a pop guitar, which, with frequent playing of chords, wears the fretboard down to the dimples on the frets.
• The frets of inexpensive classics are also made from softer alloys compared to western frets. Consequently, metal frets wear down almost to the fretboard in a matter of months.

Some will say: “I have it on Cremona, Orpheus, Musima, etc. they cost metal and nothing.” Let me note that during the production of “those” guitars they did not skimp on materials and used high-quality wood and metal on the frets. This also applied not only to guitars (Mersedes, BMW, Volksvagen car bodies produced in the 80s still drive, while modern ones corrode faster).

Now consider the case of installing nylon strings on.

• First of all, in the case of modern Westerns, you will encounter the real inconvenience of installing nylon strings when attaching them in the bridge area. In recent years, manufacturers have been making sockets for threading strings into the bridge not of the “through” type, but by drilling holes to insert the tip of the string into the body, followed by deepening and fixing it in the bridge with a plastic rod. If you install nylon, you have to invent a bunch of ineffective units, which will ruin the beautiful appearance of the bridge and take you several hours of labor.
• If you do install nylon strings on the Western bridge, you will encounter difficulty in winding them onto the tuners. On a Western, unlike a classical guitar, the tuning drum has a smaller diameter. After all, at least three thin turns are enough to tension a metal string; for a nylon string, even 5 may not be enough. To prevent a nylon string from slipping, again, you will have to make a bunch of turns through a bunch of knots, wrapping the drum until it is invisible. After which you will have to wait a long time and pull and tune the strings many times until these countless turns “settle down”. 30-40 adjustments per day during the first two weeks are provided.
• If you've installed nylon strings on your Western guitar, you're doing great! Enjoy great sound! The beautiful sound of nylon strings rattling against the neck and frets. Synthetic strings, unlike metal ones, have a larger vibration amplitude, and the seats for the strings of a pop guitar are lower than those of a classical one. Therefore, it will be possible to avoid rattling only in one case: if you do not play such a guitar.

So what strings should I use? (Manufacturer, price, thickness, material, winding type, etc.)

Beginning guitarists usually ask this question; pros themselves know what they need. A sea of ​​articles is devoted to this topic. You can read until your brain explodes. Therefore, I will just add a little of my own to the material described.
So: what are the tasks of strings and what do you expect from them?
With strings, as with a car, socks or iPhone, it's best when they're new. I had to play on noname strings made in you know who, which cost as much as a couple of cans of lubricant for the nerve fibers of the soul. And I’ll tell you that for the first two weeks they completely coped with the original tasks of the strings. They kept the line, sounded and did not break. The sound faded quite quickly and in the third week the first string broke. But they got their money's worth. So, for a guitar of the “Les-Shashlyk-Kolkhozny Punk” class, I would not recommend using Dunlop. A thickness of 0.11-0.12 Chinese or post-Soviet strings is sufficient. Unless, of course, you're going to a barbecue with Eric Clapton or Kirk Hammett.
If you want to play for several hours a day, then I recommend American Ernie Ball RPS or Rock-n-Roll strings for an electric guitar. I change them every 1-2 months and everything is fine. In second place I have Roto Sound Nexus for electro, then the regular nickel-plated Roto Sound. Rounding out the circle are Dunlop and Dean Markley (nickel). I play exclusively on sets 10-46. For me this thickness is optimal. Thinner strings have worse sustain and I seem to feel them poorly. They are like “spider webs” to me, and the thicker ones in standard tuning make fast solo parts difficult.
On the pop guitar I use Ernie Ball 2047 (this is their article number on the pack. Thickness 0.10, bronze, with a silk thread between the cord and the winding). Gives a pleasant soft sound. For those who need cool ringing, I recommend Elixir.
I also use Ernie Ball (art. 2409. Bronze) on my classical guitar. If you like quiet dynamic shades, then I recommend silver-plated strings. Silver gives the quietest and softest sound. For romances and accompaniment in p, pp or mp - this is it. For Classics in the same dynamic shades they are also suitable. But if you are a fan of playing different fingerstyles on classics and prefer forte, then it is better to take bronze. And it will keep its presentation longer, since it is not white.

Many musicians think that nylon strings are only for beginners who don't want to get calluses on their fingers while learning. This is a fairly common misconception, which we intend to dispel in this article.

Features of nylon strings

The first three strings are calibrated nylon fishing line. Now they are made from various copolymers and polymers, the basis of which is nylon. The rest of the bass strings are made from multifilament synthetic twist core. It is sometimes called filament nylon. Silver-plated winding is usually used. This coating improves the sound of dull copper and looks beautiful, but wears off after a while. In some cases, various alloys of copper and silver with the obligatory presence of zinc act as windings. However, this is not as practical and also more expensive. In some cases, other alloys can be used as windings, which are inferior in sound to silver-plated copper, but superior in durability.

String tension can be normal (Normal/Regular), strong (High/Hard) or very strong (Extra High). In some cases, the manufacturer indicates the thickness of the strings on the packaging. Moreover, the stronger the tension and the thicker the string, the louder and richer it will sound. A thinner string will sound thinner and louder.

So, which ones to put? Nylon or metal strings?

Nylon strings were originally intended for classical guitars. Moreover, the instrument must have a glued neck, since a screw-on neck significantly worsens the sound of the instrument. This is one of the reasons why metal strings are most often used on cheap instruments. Also, many luthiers do not recommend using nylon strings on Western guitars (also called folk guitars) and dreadnoughts. These instruments are designed for higher tension and are unlikely to sound good with nylon ones.

How to choose nylon strings?

Typically, professional guitarists choose high-tension strings with silver-plated windings. But teachers advise beginning musicians to use medium-tension nylon strings, as they are easier to play. But it is worth considering that in this case a novice musician will not be able to use some sound production techniques. Particular attention must be paid to the frets. If they are poorly polished, then copper wound strings are a better choice. They will last longer, but the sound will not be as bright.

The determining factor when choosing “voices” is the quality and method of processing them. There are matte (polished) and polished surfaces. Each of them has its own nuances. Nowadays, polished strings are most widely used, since they create fewer overtones during fast passages.

As for brands, the most famous are Martin Strings (American) and Savarez (French), as well as Pyramid, La Bella, D'Addario and many others. Choosing a brand of nylon strings is a personal matter for each musician.