Questions tagged [strings]
Flexible material that provides vibrations in string instruments
498 questions
71
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21
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How often should I replace the strings on my guitar?
When and why should you replace your guitar strings?
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70
votes
21
answers
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Changing the strings: one by one, or by taking all strings off at one time?
The title says it all. Should I change strings one by one, or take them all at once? Does this matter at all?
If I take all strings off, will it damage my neck in any way, because the pressure is ...
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42
votes
17
answers
89k
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How to minimize the pain for a beginning guitar student so they won’t give up before they develop calluses?
This is a common problem and solving it will ultimately lead to a much higher success rate for beginning guitar students. So I wanted to share the information here on Music and Theory.
Many of my ...
- 27.5k
41
votes
13
answers
179k
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Why shouldn't I put electric guitar strings on my acoustic guitar?
I've always found even the lightest acoustic (bronze) guitar strings to be a bit too heavy to play comfortably. Electric (nickel) guitar strings tend to be lighter. But nobody uses electric strings on ...
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39
votes
7
answers
38k
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Does leaving a capo on "hurt" the strings?
On occasion I've accidentally left a capo on (overnight). Does this decrease the life of the strings, staying in tune time, hurt the neck, or anything else that's bad?
bobtheowl2
37
votes
10
answers
19k
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When tuning a guitar, should you always end with tightening the string rather than loosening it?
I used to have a guitar teacher that said you should always finish tuning each string by tightening/sharpening the string. So for example if the top E is a little sharp, you should turn the peg to ...
- 7,389
36
votes
19
answers
61k
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How often is it recommended to change bass strings?
With the risk of being a duplicate question of How often should I replace the strings on my guitar? I'd like to ask the same thing for bass guitar.
Bass strings are pricier than guitar strings, so I ...
- 463
31
votes
15
answers
21k
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Coated Strings—Gimmick, or worth the money?
Never used them myself, but I had a friend who used to swear by the plastic-coated strings he bought for his electric to try and help keep them cleaner. While I realize this probably does do ...
Kaji
31
votes
5
answers
3k
views
Recycling guitar strings
This one goes out to all my eco-friendly shredder pals. Does anyone know of an organization that takes guitar strings and recycles them? I run through quite a few packs per month on a heavy gigging ...
- 11.6k
30
votes
6
answers
33k
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Do guitar strings wear when not used?
Do strings wear because of the pressure applied to them or any other factor, or do they stay in quite the same shape as long as you don't use them?
Alexandre Nizoux
29
votes
5
answers
16k
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Boiling/washing used guitar/bass strings - is it worthwhile?
I've read that some people boil their strings from time to time to make them sound again like they were new (and save some money).
Is this really worthwhile, or are there any disadvantages to this?
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How does string gauge affect a guitar's sound and playability?
Guitar strings are available in a variety of gauges.
What effect does my choice of string gauge have on the sound of my guitar?
What effect does it have on playability?
- 36.3k
23
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why guitar sounds smoother in high frets?
When I (or you) pluck 2nd string fret 10, and pluck 1st string fret 5, which it's the same octave of the A note. Why when you pluck the 2nd string, it feels smoother than when you pluck the 1st string ...
- 4,157
22
votes
12
answers
24k
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How do I properly stretch my newly strung strings?
I came across this string stretcher device.
It's called The Stretcha.
It claims to properly and evenly stretch new strings and maintain tuning.
I never really made a point to properly stretch ...
- 361
20
votes
3
answers
14k
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What's the difference between the "smooth" strings and the "rough" strings?
On my acoustic, the first 4 strings are "rough" - that is they are covered in a type of metal corkscrew. The last 2 strings though are completely smooth, and don't have a corkscrew finish.
Why are ...
- 1,905
20
votes
9
answers
16k
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What determines how hard it is to press a guitar string?
When playing on different steel string acoustic guitars over the years, I noticed a huge difference in how hard it was to press down a string. This made me wonder why.
There are two obvious factors ...
- 303
19
votes
5
answers
6k
views
Why do lower pitched string instruments have a larger body?
I know that increasing the length of the string will decrease the pitch, but that doesn't explain why the body of a cello is larger than a violin, only longer.
What would be the "problem" with ...
- 403
19
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Does the horse hair in a bow all go in the same direction?
As the title says, I want to know if the horse hairs in a bow all go in the same direction? I know that human hair has a direction which it is smooth and a direction which it is rough. I assume its ...
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19
votes
5
answers
44k
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How can I effectively secure guitar strings to the tuning pegs?
One of the bigger problems I face when restringing my guitars is properly securing the strings to the pegs.
How should I wind the strings around the pegs before tightening them to prevent the string ...
- 2,077
18
votes
5
answers
21k
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Why does the D string in a guitar breaks so often?
Well... that's about it. D strings (on acoustic nylon guitars at least) break way more often than the others.
I guess there's a physical explanation but I wasn't able to found anything on the Internet....
- 280
17
votes
11
answers
24k
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How can I stop my electric guitar strings from rusting so quickly?
I suffer from hyperhyrdosis which means my hands sweat quite a lot. The problem is that because of this my electric guitar strings seem to rust quite quickly because of this. Is there anything I can ...
17
votes
7
answers
31k
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Playing Classical Guitar Pieces on a Steel-String Guitar
I'm an acoustic guitar player but have recently developed an interest in classical guitar.
I'm not quite at liberty to buy a classical guitar (with nylon strings and what not) and the stool thingy, ...
- 273
17
votes
5
answers
819
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Is it acceptable to play the same note simultaneously on different strings on cello?
For a piece I am performing with a local school orchestra, a final open A is to undergo an "insane" crescendo to a Fortissississimo, which our conductor interprets as "as loud as possible."
A fellow ...
- 273
16
votes
3
answers
67k
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Putting steel strings on a cheap nylon guitar
I was trying to get back into playing guitar. I only took lessons for a few years with a nylon string guitar that was fairly cheap. When I pulled the guitar out of the attic it needed new strings so I ...
- 161
16
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3
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3k
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Can you record several individual string instruments and put them together to sound like a real orchestra?
During these times of the pandemic, our senior school orchestra missed out on the traditional final performance before graduating on with the rest of our lives.
Due to the stay-at-home order, we aren'...
- 161
16
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7
answers
51k
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How does string gauge affect intonation?
I have a problem with intonation adjustment on my g-string on my Epiphone Les Paul. It's correct now but the bridge saddle cannot be adjusted any farther in range.
I need to change strings but I don'...
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16
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3
answers
2k
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String configuration on a bass guitar
Having swapped my 4 string bass about 12 years ago,for a 5 string, I'd never go back. Lots of players love them, but some hate them. The advantage for me is having an extra low string, not necessarily ...
- 197k
15
votes
9
answers
9k
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Piano vs Guitar Strings? Tension vs length?
Why do pianos have different length strings, while guitars have the same length strings? According to the guitar, it would seem that the pitch of a string is determined based solely off of tension, ...
- 569
15
votes
8
answers
3k
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Violin - Can double stops be played when the strings are not next to each other?
Suppose I wanted to play a double stop on the violin. The double stop played the G string and the A string simultaneously. Is this possible? Can you play a double stop on two non-adjacent strings?
- 2,222
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Does anyone make nylon strings for a standard acoustic guitar (non-classical)?
This may seem crazy, but I really love the sound of nylon strings, and I DO NOT want to buy a classical guitar though.
I was wondering if any manufacturer makes nylon strings for a "normal" acoustic ...
- 813
15
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9
answers
51k
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Is there a preferred string gauge for different styles of music?
Generally speaking is there a preferred string gauge for different styles of music?
E.g. Will the fingerpicking folk player choose one gauge and the rock lead guitarist another gauge, how about the ...
- 573
14
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Why do people in tutorials destroy/cut their old strings when restringing?
I'd like do try out different gauges on an electric and an acoustic guitar, but if I don't like them I would like to put the old strings back on. Is that even possible or are they ruined after ...
- 400
14
votes
10
answers
16k
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Do I need to replace very old strings of my guitar if I just start learning?
I found an old acoustic guitar and am thinking of starting to learn it (as a complete beginner). The guitar still has steel strings on it. These must be very old, I think, twelve years at least if not ...
- 4,494
14
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5
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5k
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Can a 24-year-old learn to play violin/viola proficiently?
I've seen a few of these questions asked, but it seems like most of the students to be where just starting out in music. They didn't have limber fingers, couldn't read notes. That's not a bad thing ...
- 209
14
votes
13
answers
34k
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What electric guitar strings are the most rust-resistant?
I constantly have to return to the music store with the same problem: My strings keep rusting within a day of playing.
I used Ernie Ball and the first four strings rusted on me, then I tried d'...
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3
answers
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What are "silk and steel" strings?
I've just heard of "silk and steel" strings, but can't find out what they are. So, what are they made out of? Do they produce a significantly different amount of tension in the neck?
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5
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Why are guitar strings numbered this way and not the other way around?
Considering that pitch goes up from low E to high E through all 6 strings, why is the high E called the 1st and low E the 6th string?
I find it a bit confusing... just curious if there are any ...
- 241
13
votes
7
answers
12k
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What's the difference between two notes played on strings of different thickness?
I'm working on this piece of music on a sequencer, and I'm trying to emulate the effect of playing the same note on different strings of a guitar, say, an E3 on the 5th fret of the B string and an ...
- 595
13
votes
6
answers
4k
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Should I change my guitar strings?
I received my guitar a few years ago and haven't changed the strings. I don't know when the previous owner had last changed the strings, but it seemed as though it had just been sitting around for a ...
- 131
13
votes
5
answers
6k
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Are there guitar strings for very high tunings?
David Gilmour used a special tuning for the rhythm guitar in the song Comfortably Numb. It was a regular EADGBE, but the lowest two strings were two octaves higher, and the middle two were one octave ...
- 5,961
13
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1
answer
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How do I use string gauge tables?
I have seen that string manufacturers publish tables of string gauges and tensions.
For example, this one.
How can I use these to choose a set of strings for my instrument?
- 36.3k
13
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2
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Tapewound strings on an electric bass
Recently tried Veillette and Rob Allen basses, both incredible instruments. Unfortunately, they're also incredibly expensive. Part of what I loved was the feel of the tapewound strings. What would ...
Silly
13
votes
2
answers
3k
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Stringing alternatives on classical guitar (headstock)
While looking at several images of classical guitar headstocks, I noticed that there seem to be several ways people wind their strings on the capstans.
I have always used the variant where I wind the ...
- 757
12
votes
3
answers
17k
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My Guitar came with both metal and nylon strings, what replacement strings should I buy?
I have the Katoh MCG20 Classical Guitar. As you can see, the guitar came with 3 metal strings and 3 nylon strings.
I understand that this is a classical guitar and should be replaced with nylon ...
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12
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7
answers
46k
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Is it good/bad to play guitar with low tension string?
When I started playing my acoustic(at an early age) I tuned the guitar just by matching notes. Like, matching the note of 5th fret of 6th string to open fret of 5th string and so on.
I didn't used any ...
- 1,722
12
votes
3
answers
17k
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Can I split guitar string gauges?
I want to know if I can split guitar string gauges, ie. using 12s on the bottom and 10s on the top, both for standard and drop tunings.
- 733
12
votes
2
answers
8k
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What is the proper way to notate the end of a section played "sul ponticello"?
That is, what is the standard way to tell a string player to play normally again?
- 2,305
12
votes
1
answer
3k
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Flat-wound vs round-wound strings
What difference can you expect when playing with flat-wound vs round-wound strings on an electric bass/guitar?
I know that they feel different - I am asking explicitly in terms of sound.
- 707
12
votes
3
answers
6k
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Restringing a 12-string guitar with heavier strings - is it possible?
I'm considering using a 12-string guitar I don't play all that much as a testbed: Is it possible to restring an acoustic guitar as a baritone guitar, or even just string it so I can tune it down a few ...
- 4,635
12
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Should I replace unwound strings on my acoustic guitar as often as the wound ones?
The wound strings wear off quite fast, and start sounding dull even faster, so I replace them quite often. But whenever I do so, I replace the unwound strings as well, even though at that point, they ...
- 236