Questions tagged [strings]
Flexible material that provides vibrations in string instruments
454
questions
3
votes
3answers
186 views
Guitar Strings have no magnetic properties
I stumbled into Fender copycat electric guitar strings in ebay. (They had Fender packing and print)The price was 1€ per set.Great! I found the most peculiar reason in my life for that price. Three ...
2
votes
2answers
77 views
How would you notate an extra long note for strings in a way which allows it to be bowed multiple times?
When composing for strings, sometimes I'd like to write a note which is a combination of very loud and very long—something that can't be played on one bow alone. If I write a long note with ties, ...
5
votes
3answers
861 views
Should guitar strings be evenly spaced?
I decided to learn how to play the guitar so I bought one which arrived yesterday. At first it seemed okay although it did take a while to tune. However, it constantly sounds a bit off compared to ...
5
votes
1answer
176 views
What is “Young's modulus”, and how does it relate to guitar?
I've come across some posts that mention "Young's modulus" in relation to guitar.
Young's modulus is discussed on physics.SE (Young's Modulus and Vibrating String Harmonics), but I'm looking ...
3
votes
2answers
67 views
What is the correct string gauge for an Alvarez LJ2E acoustic guitar?
I am going to change the strings on this guitar for the first time. A google search brings up one website that says that it uses 13-56 strings, but this is not mentioned on the official Alvarez ...
8
votes
2answers
259 views
String advice for viola
I want to put new strings on my viola, as the current ones are more than five years old. I think the current ones are D'Addario Helicore for C, G and D, and Jargar medium for A (I tried to lookup the ...
3
votes
3answers
122 views
Floyd rose bridge leaning to the treble side
I've decided to change my strings on my guitar, and when I finally was done with setting up the springs to make the bridge parallel to the body, I wanted to make the action lower. I noticed that it ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Acoustic Steel: B String is E at 6th fret
Picked up my acoustic steel string after a bit and noticed that whilst it was in tune the B string's E was up at the 6th fret. It's annoying the heck out of me. I've restrung it and same.
Open B is ...
1
vote
2answers
78 views
Different types of string in one guitar
2 months ago, I bought D'Addario strings with specification:
80/20 bronze
EJ10
Extra light gauge 0.010-0.047
And then my G-string broke and I bought a new set
Phosphor bronze
EJ16
Light gauge 0.012-...
3
votes
4answers
195 views
How do you stop gunk from building up on guitar strings?
On a steel-string acoustic guitar, how do you prevent gunk from building up on the strings? Every time I play, the strings, particularly the B and E strings, will literally (okay maybe not literally) ...
1
vote
3answers
129 views
Broken violin string during solo. What normally happens?
I'm not a violinist but I've seen a couple of online videos where a soloist breaks a string. They go to the leader of the first violin section and come back with a replacement violin.
What exactly ...
6
votes
2answers
1k views
Why won't the top three strings change pitch
I ended up breaking the high E string because using an electronic tuner and my ear, it clearly wasn't changing at all. Kept tightening the string and eventually it broke behind the nut. To look into ...
3
votes
2answers
325 views
What's the difference between rectified nylon strings and regular nylon strings?
Many nylon string manufacturers offer rectified nylon options, but what's the difference?
Is there a difference in tone, feel, durability, or intonation?
If there isn't, which other differences can ...
4
votes
3answers
298 views
How does changing a guitar string's tuning affect its timbre?
I'm not a guitar player, but have been reading some posts about alternative tunings. There are several mentions of how tuning a string up or down can change its timbre, but I haven't found anything ...
3
votes
1answer
93 views
How to write triads for strings?
There is something that I have noticed several times when writing chords for orchestral strings (violins, cellos, etc), when I write standard triad (major, minor, etc) chords the strings make an ...
2
votes
1answer
105 views
Is there such thing as a guitar string database? [closed]
I'm completely new to guitars and guitar accessories.
I read several articles on (everything, but this question pertains to) strings, and it strikes me that one might want to try a set of strings with ...
6
votes
1answer
106 views
Divisi in Tchaikovsky Serenade for Strings
I am looking at the score for Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings op.48, Violins I section, and I can see that there are double-stops. It is not marked divisi, but I'm listening to some recordings and ...
5
votes
1answer
565 views
Does non-calibrated have a special meaning for guitar strings?
I'm puzzled by the following. It seems to imply that "non-calibrated" strings are a good idea.
Steinberger double-ball strings have, as the name suggests, string
balls at both ends of the ...
1
vote
1answer
144 views
A guitar or bass with precisely parallel strings (normal guitar strings fan out)
Background
Normal guitars have strings that fan out somewhat towards the bridge. There can be as much as a centimetre's overall difference between the width at the nut and the width at the bridge. I ...
10
votes
5answers
813 views
What is the relationship between where and how a vibrating string is activated?
My understanding is that each string on a musical instrument/chordophone has a "sweet spot", such that when a string is activated at that point, the "best" sound is produced.
...
1
vote
2answers
87 views
Will about 10 loose hairs in a violin bow make any difference when I use it?
It's something like the image above, just less loose hairss. While I was looking at it, I tried playing the violin, and some hairs got loose.
Do I just cut them off or yank them off? This little book ...
3
votes
1answer
153 views
Are all plain steel electric guitar strings the same, or are some more comfortable thanks to polishing or some other process?
It seems like the plain strings are just ignored. Manufacturers brag about their wound strings, make many different varieties. Yet, there's so little info on the steel strings other than they're ...
1
vote
1answer
278 views
Guitar strings too high off the fretboard
I have an issue whis this Yamaha acoustic guitar that i bought a year ago. The higher frets are really high up the frets as you can see in the picture which makes them really hard to press. Also as ...
3
votes
2answers
764 views
How far can 9's be tuned down?
Apologies if this question has been answered elsewhere, but before I commit to getting my guitars set-up, I was wondering if anyone has had any trouble using 9–42 tuned down a half-step (I currently ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
Guitar Strings & Bridge
I've been playing guitar for about a year and until now I've always wanted to play on lower tunings. I have heavy gauge strings for these low tunings. I'm scared that tuning up to e standard and what ...
1
vote
2answers
154 views
What is the name of this bowing technique for strings?
https://www.vsl.co.at/en/Playing_Techniques-Right_Hand/Violin-Ricochet
It is basically playing all 4 strings consecutively creating an "undulation". HOWEVER, not in the staccato slurred ...
2
votes
1answer
124 views
How to remove a grand piano harp and keep the strings attached? [closed]
I am planning to turn my old piano into a table, using the cast iron plate/harp with the strings, sound board removed, as the bottom, covered with glass. I would like to keep the strings. Seeing as ...
3
votes
2answers
246 views
Best string gauges for guitars with magnetic sustainer devices
After decades of being a Tele guy, I decided to make a change away from hard-tail. I went all the way to an Ed O'Brien Strat with a Fernandes Sustainer system.
I'm still on the first set of strings, ...
1
vote
4answers
108 views
Broken string fixed but it still sounds off
My fourth string broke a few days back, and fortunately (?) the breakage was near the bridge so I was able to fix it without having to buy a new one. The thing is it's been almost a week and even ...
0
votes
1answer
870 views
Tuning peg tight on a guitar (possibly slipping, too)
So my guitar's G-string peg is feeling tight. I'm a newbie, but I think that the peg is slipping, since I can hear a click sound when I try tuning it up. The G string is now around 2 whole steps ...
5
votes
1answer
104 views
Nylon String Features [closed]
I hope this is allowed as I'm not asking for a specific product recommendation, but generically what I should be looking for.
I'm intending to restring my nylon guitar and would like to make an ...
8
votes
5answers
5k views
Would fishing wire work for strings on an electric guitar?
So, I was browsing the Internet and stumbled across this video of someone using fishing wire as string replacements. This seemed to be kind of a gag just to see if it was actually even possible, but ...
1
vote
1answer
59 views
Change a single string
Just a quick and probably stupid question, but...
Basically, I wanted to play music again after years and years of not doing it, so I pulled out that old charango I have.
The first string was ...
5
votes
1answer
111 views
what families of guitar strings (lower and upper) will give me differents sound timbres?
They are plenty kinds of guitar strings for my classical guitar : silver or titanium (or platinum ?) coated, crystal ones...
Some are for commercial attractiveness, some might increase longevity of ...
1
vote
0answers
62 views
Anyone know how to get Sibelius to playback pizzicato at a softer dynamic level without writing the dynamic ridiculously soft?
Sibelius playback of pizzicato is much louder than arco for strings. I end up making two copies of a score. One with the dynamics as they should be written for pizzicato for printing and another copy ...
2
votes
1answer
295 views
What does ‘Unis’ mean?
I’m reading through the study score for Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique. There’s an indication I am unsure of. They refer to the Strings section.
(unis.)
After a Google, I discovered
several players in a ...
5
votes
2answers
75 views
How to change the strings on my violin/viola?
It's time for a new set of strings. How do I change all the strings on my violin (or viola)? What are the gotchas I have to look out for?
1
vote
2answers
108 views
Striking open B & E (high) strings causes newly purchased classical guitar to resonate, flaw?
Just purchased my first classical guitar (Alhambra 10P) and I am learning to play.
I notice that if I strike the top two strings (B & e) then immediately mute them, the guitar's lower strings ...
6
votes
3answers
756 views
Tone Color Changed after Replacing a Piano Bass String
I have a very old piano. A few years ago, one of its bass strings broke. I removed that broken string and kept playing almost everyday for a few years. Last week my technician installed a new string ...
6
votes
1answer
358 views
Does the Thunderbird actually need special strings?
I just got myself a brand-new Epiphone Thunderbird bass. I tried to get some new strings along with it, but was told it needs special (extra-length) strings due to its fairly big headstock.
That seems ...
1
vote
3answers
147 views
What are the best strings for this guitar? Steel or nylon?
(Apologies if you've seen this question somewhere else, but I need a second opinion and advices are inconclusive).
I have (found) this guitar:
PICS
It is a Chandry by Sue Ryder (Don't bother googling ...
1
vote
3answers
249 views
Install new strings on guitar with whammy bar
So I have an Ibanez GRG250DX and I want to replace its strings. But I havent played it in a long time.
What I tried so far:
I clipped the old strings, kind of cleaned the guitar and pulled in the ...
5
votes
1answer
136 views
Playing symphonies by e.g. Rachmaninoff or Mahler using string instruments with gut strings (like more Baroque styled instruments)?
I was listening to some performances from Netherland's "All of Bach" group that performs Bach works on Baroque instruments. I quite liked the sound of the strings, and I thought that it ...
7
votes
3answers
636 views
Do first violins take precedence over second violins for the main melody or the higher pitched part?
I know that in general within an orchestra, if the violins hold the melody it's usually the first violins which play the main melody and the second violins act as a support to them, but if the main ...
2
votes
1answer
79 views
Clunking/clacking bass
So I have a Fender Jazz Bass and I was playing it the other day and once I got to the 5th fret there was buzzing, and past the 5th fret (depending on what I was doing) there was severe, sort of, ...
1
vote
3answers
66 views
I can't work out if these string sections are tied, slurred or phrased
Take a look at the below screengrab from the orchestra score of Sweeney Todd.
Are bars 1 and 3 (with the exception of the Bass) tied or slurred? In bar 2 the pitch does drop but in 1 and 3 it's the ...
2
votes
1answer
36 views
Breaking gut strings even if the instrument is 'parked'
One of my lever harps got natural gut strings which I am currently not playing (carpal tunnel syndrome, sigh), it's parked in the living room. However, sometimes any gut string will just break at any ...
1
vote
2answers
251 views
Fretting out on fretboard?
Whenever I change the strings on my electric guitar, in no more than 2 weeks, this happens:
From about the 11th/12th fret onwards, the E and B (and sometimes G) strings sound noticeably lower, in ...
2
votes
3answers
105 views
Workflow of composing an oratorio?
I have decided to have my form of an oratorio as 4 voices (soprano, alto, tenor, and bass) and 4 stringed instruments (violin, viola, cello, bass). This form is much like the form of Handel's Messiah. ...
1
vote
1answer
261 views
Will using flatwound bass strings take emphasis off of my slap tone?
I've never gotten a chance to play a bass that has flatwound strings, but I've heard from people who have. They usually say that it completely changes the sound, but that they feel amazing for your ...
