How to choose acoustic strings. How to choose strings for an acoustic guitar

There is a huge range of different strings on the market for this type of guitar. As a rule, for classical guitar strings are made of either nylon or carbon. In addition, there are vein strings of the intestines. Classical guitar bass strings are also made from nylon, but with the addition of metal winding threads. The winding material most often used is bronze with silver plating or bronze with the addition of phosphorus.

Nylon strings

It's pretty popular look strings for classical guitar. Strings of this type are wear-resistant and durable. Dimensions nylon strings are different, so the tension force must be determined from the information on the packaging. As a rule, the package with strings contains the following inscriptions: Hard, Normal or Light tension. These inscriptions are translated as strong, normal and weak tension, respectively. For guitarists, low tension strings are usually recommended. For more experienced musicians, it is recommended to purchase high and medium tension strings.

Carbon strings

Carbon strings are made from carbon fiber, a material superior to nylon in quality. This material was created in Japan and quickly found application in many areas, including manufacturing. musical instruments. Carbon strings are very strong and more durable than nylon strings. In addition, carbon strings produce more ringing sound. The density of carbon is higher than that of nylon, so with a small diameter you can achieve strong string tension. The main disadvantage of this type of string is obvious - the high price.

Gut strings

These exotic strings are made from animal intestines and are prized primarily by hobbyists. ancient music. You won't find such strings on the market. In the process of their creation they are used modern technologies to increase their service life.

Bass string wrap

Bass string windings also come in several types. Bronze windings without any impurities are used quite rarely, since such strings wear out quickly. The cost of strings with bronze winding is usually low. Silver plated bronze windings on bass strings are quite common in production. This coating increases the service life of the strings, and also improves the quality of the sound produced. The cost of this type of strings is slightly more expensive than strings with a simple bronze winding. There are also strings with windings made of silver-plated brass, which are highly wear-resistant. Bronze winding with the addition of phosphorus is one of the most best types windings These strings produce a very long, soft and voluminous sound.

The strings on an acoustic or classical guitar have a huge impact on its sound and playability. If you have looked through the assortment of any online stores, then you have probably seen that they offer a huge variety of strings. Which strings to choose? What to look for? What does the price depend on? This article should answer all these and other questions.

Acoustic guitar strings

Because the typical acoustic guitar has no pickups and is not connected to an amplifier, its strings play a very fundamental role in how it sounds. Therefore, we must carefully consider the structure of the strings and their thickness.

Acoustic guitar and classical guitar: what is the difference?

The first and most significant difference between acoustic and classical is that a classical guitar has nylon strings, while an acoustic guitar has metal strings. In most cases, metal and nylon strings are not interchangeable, as they are designed for a specific musical style. For example metal strings are intended for rock, blues, country, while nylon ones are for classical, flamenco and folk. If you use metal strings on a guitar that was designed for nylon strings, you may cause serious damage to your instrument. The neck and body of a classical guitar are simply not designed to handle the amount of tension that metal strings create. Using the wrong strings can also cause damage to both the frets and the bridge of your instrument.

All about the thickness of guitar strings

Before we get into the specifications various types strings for acoustic and classical, let's talk about string thickness as it applies to both types. Strings are manufactured in a range from the thinnest to the thickest. Thickness is usually measured in thousandths of an inch. The thinnest strings are usually .010 inches (or simply "ten"), the thickest are usually .059 inches. The thickness of the strings greatly affects the sound of the instrument.
Thin strings:

They are usually easier to play
Allows you to play bends with less effort
Sounds quieter and produces less sustain
Tend to hit the frets, which gives a very unpleasant sound
Puts the least amount of tension on the neck, which is a safe choice for vintage guitars

Thick strings:

They are usually more difficult to play
Requires a lot of effort when clamping the string and playing bends
Sounds louder and generates more sustain (compared to thin strings)
Places more tension on the bar

String thickness designation

Most string manufacturers define their thickness as either “super thin” or “thin.” While the exact sizes may vary among manufacturers, I want to give you the most typical sizes used.

Typical String Sizes

Incredibly super thin:.010 .014 .023 .030 .039 .047
Super thin:.011 .015 .023 .032 .042 .052
Thin:.012 .016 .025 .032 .042 .054
Average:.013 .017 .026 .035 .045 .056
Thick: 014 .018 .027 .039 .049 .059

Metal strings for acoustic guitar

Thickness of metal strings

Let's consider the following factors in order to decide what string thickness to use:

Playing style: Let's take finger playing as an example. Playing with your fingers requires a lot of effort when producing sounds, so it makes much more sense to use thin strings. If you only want to play with a pick, thick strings will sound much better than thin strings. Okay, but what if you want to play with both a pick and your fingers? (after all, that's what most guitarists do). Your choice should be directed towards strings of medium thickness, as they will be the golden mean between ease of play and sound. If we talk in simple words, then I will say this: if you are a beginner guitarist, then give your preference to thin strings. It will be easier for you to learn to play on them and you will gradually be able to switch to thicker options. Eventually, you will be able to switch to thick ones completely and get the most benefits from them.

Desired sound: As you might have guessed, thick strings emphasize the bass register of the instrument and create deeper, stronger tones. On the other hand, on thin strings ah, high-frequency notes will stand out, which will give a sharper, crunchy sound.

Instrument age and condition: Rare guitars are often quite fragile, so thicker strings can simply move the neck, which will lead to problems with tuning. Therefore, if you have an old instrument, then play it safe and use thinner strings.

Materials used in the manufacture of metal strings

Bronze: It has clean, ringing and bright tones, but is very susceptible to wear due to its tendency to oxidize.

Phosphor bronze: It has a warmer and at the same time darker tone. Adding phosphorus to the alloy significantly extends the life of the strings.

Aluminum Bronze: Produces pronounced bass and crisp highs compared to phosphor bronze.

Copper: It has a bright, ringing metallic tone.

With polymer coating: Resin coated strings have less sustain and brightness than uncoated strings. A significant advantage is the fact that coated strings have anti-corrosion properties, which significantly extends their life.

John LeeVaughn of D'Addario Strings shows how to properly change strings on acoustic guitar.

Electric-Acoustic Guitar: Do I Need Other Strings?

Majority electroacoustic guitars, including models with nylon strings, are equipped with piezo sensors that allow you to convert string vibrations into an electrical signal using a built-in preamplifier. This type of pickup does not use magnets (like most electric guitars), so the materials used to make the strings have less impact on the sound. Some manufacturers make strings specifically for acoustic-electric guitars and you might want to compare their sound with standard strings, but for some reason it seems to me that you won’t hear much difference.

If the electric guitar is equipped with a piezo pickup, a microphone or a magnetic pickup above the sound hole, then I would advise you to follow the recommendations from the manufacturer of this pickup rather than the advice from users.

Nylon strings for classical guitar

Characteristics of nylon strings

Typically, nylon strings are used in such musical genres like: classical, flamenco, bossa nova and folk. Their soft, gentle tone is preferred by many guitarists including jazz and country.

Many beginning guitarists think that nylon strings are easier to play than metal strings because of their soft material and lighter string tension, which is generally true. However, all beginning guitarists experience pain in their fingertips to one degree or another, regardless of whether it is an acoustic guitar with metal strings or a classical one with nylon strings. All these inconveniences will pass when your body adapts to them. Calluses on the tips of the fingers appear quite quickly, within about a month or two, and after this time, the pain in the tips of the fingers will cease to be so significant problem. I highly recommend that you do not choose a nylon string guitar just because it is a little easier to play. This choice should be made only in accordance with your musical preferences, namely: if you want to play rock, blues, country, then metal strings are your all. If you prefer classical, Spanish music, flamenco, folk, then you cannot do without nylon strings.

Also, nylon strings need to be constantly adjusted (much more often than metal ones), especially new ones that have just been installed. All this is due to the fact that they tend to stretch and are very sensitive to atmospheric influences (changes in humidity and temperature).

Materials used in the manufacture of nylon strings

Calling nylon strings nylon strings is a bit of a misnomer. As will be described below, during manufacture of this type strings are used various materials, so it would be more correct to call them simply “classical guitar strings.” You will also notice that the principle of making bass strings is a little different from the rest.

And now a little history. Before the 1940s, classical guitar strings were made from cow or sheep intestines. The bass strings (E, A, D) had a core of silk thread on which animal intestines were wound. The rest, the so-called high-frequency strings (E, B, G) were made from pure guts (without the use of other materials).

Modern manufacturers use pure nylon, fluorocarbon or other synthetic threads to make high-frequency strings. Bass strings have stranded, nylon cores with various metals or nylon wound around the top.

Materials and tonal characteristics of high-frequency strings

Pure Nylon: The most popular material, which is made from pure nylon monofilament. Much appreciated for its rich, clear tone.

Refined Nylon: Also made from pure nylon, which is then sanded to create smooth surface along the entire length of the string. It has a gentle, even tone than pure nylon.

Black nylon: Made from a different nylon composition. It has a warm, clear sound with prominent high-frequency overtones. Very popular among folk performers.

Bass String Materials and Tonal Characteristics

As stated above, bass strings have multi-core cores that are wrapped around various types of metal windings.

Bronze 80/20: Made from 80% copper and 20% zinc. This alloy has a pronounced shine and projection. Some manufacturers call these strings “gold”.

Silver Plated Copper: The material is very smooth to the touch and produces a fairly warm tone. Some manufacturers call such strings “silver”.

Some guy shows how to properly change strings on a classical guitar

Signs that it's time to change strings

It is becoming increasingly difficult to tune and maintain an instrument
You see that there is rust on the strings
The braid of the bass strings seemed to begin to “unravel”
Dissonance and instability appear even in the way you tune the instrument
You can't remember when last time changed the strings

How often should you change your strings?

Unfortunately there is no definite answer to this question, but there are some factors that shorten the life of your strings:

Sweating. When you play a lot, your fingers produce a lot of sweat, which simply corrodes the strings.
You play very aggressively, i.e. use a lot of bends and a hard attack when playing.
Frequent playing of the instrument will also wear out the strings.
You use different guitar tunings and often change the instrument.

Keep your strings clean. After each gaming session, take the time to take a dry, clean rag and simply wipe them from your sweat, pieces of skin from your fingers and dirt. This procedure will allow you to significantly extend the life of your strings.
Wash your hands before each play on the guitar, which will slightly slow down the oxidation process of the strings.
Invest in a tool for winding strings onto pegs. It will help you significantly reduce your time when changing strings.
Buy strings in 5-10 sets. This way you will save your money by buying them at wholesale prices.
You may need to urgently replace a broken string at a rehearsal or performance, so keep a spare set or individual strings in your case or case.

Types of strings based on material of manufacture

There are three main types of strings:

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.
Nylon strings are held in high regard 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.
Steel strings are the most popular type of 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.

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.
Flat braid eliminates unnecessary sounds. These strings are used on a guitar for studio recording. Main disadvantage: less bright sound than round wound strings.
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 they don't sell for that much great 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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Note to the non-professional guitarist. (and for public education purposes)

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. 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) used very widely in pop music, as well as by those who appreciate the sonority (“metal”) in the 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 they are favored by guitarists who have to record in the 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 figure shows the string tension for 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 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 use steel-based strings Nos. 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 sill, 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.

This article will give you the information you need about different types strings for acoustic and electric guitar. Next, we will talk in detail about the thickness of the strings, about the types of strings for acoustic guitar and electric guitar, about strings with and without coating, about nylon strings, strings with flat and round winding, about the materials from which the strings are made, and their effect on the sound.

String thickness

Strings vary in size, and more specifically, in thickness. It is usually measured in thousandths of an inch. As a rule, the thickness of the strings in a set is indicated by the first string. Sometimes you can hear guitarists say something like: “I play ten.” This means they use a set of strings where the first string is 0.010 inches thick.

Acoustic guitars typically use strings ranging from 9 to 13 gauge. The most common are very light gauge strings, 10 gauge, and light gauge strings, 11 gauge. Thicker strings produce a richer, louder sound, but are more difficult to play. These will work well for you if you like your acoustic guitar to sound really tight and loud. Using thin strings will make playing easier, but you will sacrifice volume and fullness of sound.

Electric guitar string gauges range from 8 to 13 gauge. Thicker strings can be found, but they either come with flatwound or are made for baritone guitars. Most electric guitars are set to 9 or 10. For jazz and hard rock, thicker strings are used. Thick strings are also useful if you play in low tuning.

The thickness of the strings is indicated on the packaging

Acoustic guitar strings: bronze and phosphor bronze (Bronze, Phosphor Bronze)

For bronze strings characterized by a more sonorous and bright sound compared to phosphor bronze. Their golden color is given by the alloy from which they are made: 80% copper and 20% tin. Bronze is softer than steel and also resists corrosion well, which is useful in humid climates.

Phosphor bronze strings have a soft and warm sound, unlike regular bronze. Many guitarists believe that this makes them better suited to fingerpicking. As for color, they have a red, copper tint. The composition of phosphorus bronze is similar to ordinary bronze, but it contains a small proportion of phosphorus. It prevents rapid oxidation of the metal. Approximate composition: 92% copper, 7.7% tin, 0.3% phosphorus.

Bronze (left) and phosphor bronze (right)

Electric guitar strings: nickel plated, pure nickel and steel (Nickel Plated, Pure Nickel, Stainless Steel)

Nickel plated strings are probably the most common type of electric guitar strings today. The winding on their thick strings is made of nickel-plated steel, i.e. nickel plated steel. The steel from which the string is made is highly magnetic and ideal for magnetic pickups, while the nickel plating helps balance its bright sound. Nickel also makes the string smooth on your fingers and protects it from corrosion. It is softer than steel, so nickel and nickel strings will wear less on the frets than steel strings.

Pure nickel strings have a softer, warmer tone than steel and nickel-plated strings. If you play blues, jazz or classic rock, then you will truly appreciate the fat sound of pure nickel. Nickel resists corrosion very well and is well suited for magnetic pickups.

Steel strings have the brightest and loudest sound of all types of electric guitar strings. They also retain their sound over time because... Made of stainless steel, which resists corrosion well. Stainless steel actually feels different to the player than other strings. Some say they feel "dry" and are not as slippery as nickel. Steel - pretty hard metal, so frets with these strings will wear out a little faster, but if you want a bright, ringing sound, it's worth it.

Nickel plated strings

Strings with and without polymer coating (Coated, Non-Coated)

Polymer-coated strings have a kind of film on the surface that prevents oxidation and corrosion of the string, and also prevents dirt from getting between the turns of the winding. This helps the string sound like new for a long time. Such strings are about 2 times more expensive than uncoated ones, but if you don’t want and don’t like to change strings often, then they will be worth the money. They retain a fresh, new sound for about 3 times longer than uncoated strings. These are best for you if your hands get sweaty, you play a lot, or you live in a climate with high humidity.

Uncoated strings are cheaper, but retain their original sound for a shorter period of time.

String with polymer coating (left) and without it (right)

Nylon strings

Nylon strings are designated and graded by tension, rather than by fractions of an inch like metal strings. There are 3 tension levels for them: medium (Normal), strong (Hard) and very strong (Extra-Hard). Medium tensions are fairly easy to play, but can feel too floppy if played loudly and quickly. High tension nylon strings are better suited for playing loud and fast music, but b O A higher tension force may negatively affect the comfort of play. Strings with very high tension are needed to play even faster and louder music. They cause more discomfort on the fingers when playing than other nylon strings.

There are two main ways to attach nylon strings to the bridge of a guitar: with balls and knots. Usually, if you look at a guitar with nylon strings, you will see knots in the fastenings. They require a little more work when changing strings, but they are more popular.

Nylon strings attached with balls have a small plastic or metal ball at the end, a reel, thanks to which you do not have to tie a knot to attach to the bridge. These strings are less popular and more difficult to find.

The strings are attached to the bridge of a classical guitar by knots

Fastening strings with balls

Round and flat winding strings

Round wound strings are what most of us see when we think of a regular guitar string. The winding usually has thicker three or four strings (the winding is around the steel cord) and on this type of strings, as the name suggests, it has a round shape in diameter. The sound of such strings is louder than that of flat wound strings.

Flatwound strings have a warmer, softer sound. This is why they are commonly used in jazz and some types of blues.

Their winding is, accordingly, flat, reminiscent of flattened wire. These strings are more durable because there are fewer crevices on their surface where finger dirt can get trapped.

Round winding string (top) and flat winding (bottom)

How to determine when it's time to change strings to new ones

There are three factors that can be used to determine whether strings need to be replaced: their sound, appearance and how they feel on your fingers when playing. Of course, the most important of these is the sound of the strings. If you think the strings sound quite good, then there is no need to change them. If you think that they sound dull, unclear and dull, then it would be a good idea to replace them with new ones.

As for feeling the strings with your fingers, then good strings should be smooth and clean, there is no need to change them. Strings that are dirty, rusty or dry to the touch should be replaced.

They should look shiny, as if glossy. Dull, stained, rusty strings also need to be replaced.

The strings wear off on the frets

How often should you change strings?

It depends on many things: how often you play, what climate you live in, how sweaty your hands are, and how you keep your strings clean can all affect the lifespan of your strings.

Some guitarists change their strings every week or even after every gig, while others play with the same ones for months. How often you play will determine how often you change strings.

How to extend the life of strings

There are several rules that will help the strings not to lose their good sound. for a long time. First, wash your hands every time you play the guitar. Thanks to this, less dirt from your hands will accumulate between the turns of the winding, and sweat will not corrode them.

Secondly, after playing, wipe the strings with a rag or a special polishing cloth for strings. These two things will help you reduce the cost of new strings.