Questions tagged [strings]
Flexible material that provides vibrations in string instruments
489
questions
3
votes
1
answer
320
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 ...
user72615
3
votes
1
answer
147
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 ...
- 169
6
votes
1
answer
252
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 ...
- 61
5
votes
1
answer
759
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 ...
- 3,952
1
vote
1
answer
264
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 ...
- 3,952
10
votes
5
answers
855
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.
...
- 82.4k
1
vote
2
answers
345
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 ...
- 11
3
votes
1
answer
387
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 ...
- 31
1
vote
2
answers
3k
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 ...
- 13
3
votes
3
answers
3k
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 ...
- 171
1
vote
1
answer
95
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 ...
- 11
2
votes
1
answer
427
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 ...
- 169
3
votes
2
answers
821
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, ...
- 13.2k
1
vote
4
answers
121
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 ...
- 13
0
votes
1
answer
3k
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
1
answer
120
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 ...
- 53
8
votes
5
answers
6k
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 ...
- 255
1
vote
1
answer
67
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 ...
- 11
4
votes
1
answer
163
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 ...
2
votes
1
answer
164
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 ...
- 21
2
votes
1
answer
1k
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 ...
- 2,676
5
votes
2
answers
142
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?
- 5,620
2
votes
2
answers
481
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 ...
- 123
6
votes
3
answers
944
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 ...
- 195
7
votes
1
answer
1k
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 ...
user70370
1
vote
3
answers
235
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 ...
- 19
1
vote
3
answers
943
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 ...
- 111
5
votes
1
answer
171
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 ...
- 448
8
votes
3
answers
1k
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 ...
- 81
2
votes
1
answer
267
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, ...
- 23
1
vote
3
answers
139
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 ...
- 2,676
2
votes
1
answer
162
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 ...
- 353
1
vote
2
answers
355
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 ...
- 63
2
votes
3
answers
285
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. ...
- 1,368
1
vote
1
answer
670
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 ...
- 165
7
votes
6
answers
5k
views
String bending pain doesn't go away
I have been playing the guitar since 2006, so I'm not new to the activity, and I have caluses.
I started playing Flamenco on a nylon strings and in 2013 moved to play Surf on a stratocaster.
A couple ...
user44769
1
vote
0
answers
190
views
Ibanez SA160FML G & B String Warble/Oscillation Issue
So i recently purchased an SA160FML. My guitar shop had a brand new piece because no one wanted a lefty but it was an old stock since this guitar is now discontinued.
I checked it at the shop and ...
- 11
-1
votes
2
answers
147
views
Where to look for damage when steel strings are used on a classical Ibanez? [closed]
Ok, so when I was a kid, the guitar my dad taught me my first few chords on, was this Ibanez classical acoustic. I started playing guitar as a kid, and I quit as a kid. So now as an adult (age 30), I ...
- 31
2
votes
2
answers
449
views
Can you put steel strings on an acoustic guitar that came with bronze strings?
I know this sounds a bit dumb but I can't find an article anywhere and can't go to a guitar shop with the current situation and I thought now would be the perfect time to try different strings.
- 23
2
votes
1
answer
211
views
Which string instruments/playing techniques were used for Nashville Sound country music?
I've been delving into the history of a particular style of country music called "Nashville Sound" recently, which involved a lot of string sections in songs. Some websites describe them as being "...
- 229
3
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Why don't my guitar strings rust?
I've played my guitar for about 4.5 years and I have never cleaned it after playing. Why does it never rust? My guitar and bass strings are rusted after one month. As far as I know, the stainless ...
- 33
0
votes
3
answers
626
views
Why I feel like my guitar strings are very hard?
I bought an Acoustic guitar six months ago, and I am trying to learn with the help of YouTube videos. And in those videos, it seems like it is not hard for them to press the strings for a chord.
...
- 101
14
votes
3
answers
6k
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 ...
- 380
16
votes
3
answers
3k
views
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
0
votes
2
answers
178
views
My G String wears out all the time
I use Elixir HD light on my Yamaha SLG200S. I notice my G string is usually the first to develop kinks / gets frayed. Of course, when I change, I change the whole set. Is there a setup issue with ...
- 103
2
votes
2
answers
416
views
Solution for a more durable acoustic guitar G string?
I’ve been playing guitar for 30 years and probably haven’t broken a string for the past 20. However my G string consistently wears out much faster than all other strings; the wrap wears on the frets ...
- 1,140
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
What did I do wrong with the bridge of bass guitar when restringing?
I had my dad's bass guitar lying around (I play with it, but don't play it, if you know what I mean - I'm a drummer myself). I believe that it is a Stagg B300-SB Standard J. It had been lying unused ...
- 247
1
vote
3
answers
873
views
How do dirty violin strings (uncleaned rosin) affect sound and playability?
If I don't clean the rosin off my strings from time to time how will that affect the sound the strings make as the rosin builds up? How will it affect the playability, the way the bow moves over and ...
- 5,620
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Sudden problem with first three frets, especially the high E string
I bought a new semi-acoustic guitar 8 months ago and it sounded absolute wonderful up until a week ago. I am experiencing that the high E string, and to a lesser degree the nearby B and G string, ...
- 123
2
votes
2
answers
78
views
Does playing double stops wear violin strings more quickly?
Does playing strokes which apply more force to the strings, like double stops, spiccato and sautille, wear out the strings more quickly?
- 5,620