Who should use "super low tension" guitar strings for classical guitar?

Question

I see "super low tension strings" on sale here. Which kind of players (or which kind of music) normally uses them?

Do I assume correctly that such strings may be good for beginners as should bite fingers less and probably are easier to depress?

There is a question on how good/bad is to play on low tension strings here but this discussion mostly evolves about releasing (detuning) regular strings, I would prefer standard tuning. I am not sure but I think that the dedicated "low tension" strings should probably sound the same pitch with just lower tension.

Answer 1

Lower tension strings are both great for beginners, who want to build up their finger strength slowly (as lower tension will indeed make it easier to produce clean sounds) and also for advanced guitarists who are willing to do anything to increase their shredding speed - if pressing down is easier, you can do more of it in a set amount of time!

However, the guitar becomes quieter and loses some of its "guitarry" tone.

As far as I know, string tension is usually a preference of a guitarist and not a characteristic of a style. Of course, some styles benefit more from having greater tension, (e.g. the highly aggressive sound of flamenco and gypsy jazz players sounds better with high tension strings) but the more aggressive sound can also be produced by picking the string nearer the bridge.

Answer 2

I'm going to disagree with Michal Paszkiewicz somewhat. Low tension strings will bend if a light breeze hits them. It will also be very easy to play barres and bend several notes that actually should not be bent at all.

You really need a large amount of control over your vibrato and bending technique to not make them sound like they should not. Remember when you bend notes you are actually playing different notes to a certain degree which is not always good interpretation of the music.

Now it is not all bad. A good player can add depth to his playing by introducing the very subtle vibratos that these strings can provide but that is something to introduce later in ones playing life.

I would say that regular tension strings are still the best. You are very unlikely to build up bad bending habits with them and they are strings that have some bite to them. They do not just give in at the slightest touch.

It is very much a trade off the higher the tension the harder you have to work to bend but also the less likely you are to bend when you don't want to ( and should not) versus the lower tensions where the phrasing is easier but the chance of bending when you should not or don't want to is higher.

Get your beginners to play just regular tension medium strings and when they are reasonably proficient one day get them to experiment a little.

EDIT:

I'm just going to add that string gauge and string tensions are not the same. Classical guitar strings are all the same gauge or in other words the thickness of the strings but the tensions of the strings differ. That is how tightly wound the strings have to be tuned to get them in tune.

The OP uses the word tension which implies classical guitar strings. It is not clear if he may mean gauges and electric guitar strings.

Answer 3

I find the low tension strings are preferable for playing early music – as per lute, or such music as renaissance choral works on guitar.

The low tension strings can also suit alto guitars that are pitched higher than a standard guitar is pitched.

Also, if you add strings to a standard guitar, to make it an 8 string guitar, for instance, then it is necessary to use lower tension strings overall so as not to have to much force on the neck.