41
votes
Accepted
My Guitar came with both metal and nylon strings, what replacement strings should I buy?
They are all nylon strings, but the bass strings have a thin layer of wound metal over a nylon core. All nylon string sets are like that, it's perfectly normal. Buy any standard classical guitar ...
- 28.6k
32
votes
Accepted
Would fishing wire work for strings on an electric guitar?
It won't work, unless you're using a piezo system which induces current from physical vibrations.
An electric guitar works because the magnetic field around the vibrating strings induces current in ...
- 15.1k
25
votes
Violin - Can double stops be played when the strings are not next to each other?
As Jomiddnz points out, there's pizzicato. You could also bow one string and pluck another at the same time.
But if you want both notes played with the bow, and don't want the bow to catch the ...
- 5,200
22
votes
My Guitar came with both metal and nylon strings, what replacement strings should I buy?
I would like to point out that you NEED to have nylon strings on a classical acoustic guitar. Attempting to put regular metal strings on it will damage or destroy it due to the much larger tension by ...
- 321
22
votes
Accepted
I broke my G string and my other 3 strings are out of tune too
You have eleven days until the concert. Even if you don't have a local music store, that's plenty of time to order a string online.
In case you can't get hold of a replacement:
The strings are all ...
- 21.6k
18
votes
Accepted
Does the horse hair in a bow all go in the same direction?
As a bowmaker, I'd like to expand upon Carl's answer. The question of the scales seems to be answered by microphotographs of bow hair, which show all the scales to be gone once the hair is played in, ...
- 6,532
18
votes
Accepted
Why do people in tutorials destroy/cut their old strings when restringing?
The reason people in tutorials often cut the guitar strings is because they are often professionals whose goal is to change a set of strings as fast as possible. They aren't concerned with re-using ...
- 6,506
18
votes
I broke the high E string of my semi acoustic guitar. What do I do now?
Installing a string is pretty easy and quick; I can't believe that any store would charge extra to put it on for you. (If so, can you find a different store?) But if you have any uncertainty about how ...
- 18.7k
17
votes
Accepted
Question about the abbreviation for 2 instruments in an orchestra score
Br. is short for Bratsche, which is german for Viola.
K-B. is short for Kontrabass, which is german for Contrabass a.k.a. Double bass.
The two Viol. parts are both Violins. An orchestra has two ...
- 14.4k
16
votes
G string out of tune but only when played open
Check the intonation. The bridge/saddles may need moving, so that the 12th fret harmonic is exactly the same note as the fretted 12th. As an extra check, capo on 1st fret, and hear the 13th fret ...
- 196k
16
votes
Accepted
Why won't the top three strings change pitch
The instrument in question is an Ibanez with a Floyd Rose tremolo system, which allows you to provide vibrato without changing tuning.
They have a locking nut, with three hex bolts holding the string ...
- 13.2k
16
votes
Do pianos have a generally recognized "bass register"?
No, there’s no generally recognized split point — by manufacturers or musicians.
Early pianos, up until at mid 1800s at least, had three very distinct registers, each with starkly different timbres. ...
- 92.5k
15
votes
Does the horse hair in a bow all go in the same direction?
Not too hard to find some strong opinions from skilled luthiers. Here's what DavidFinck wrote in a blogpost.
That’s a great question. Every hank I have received is knotted at the
root end. The ...
- 15k
15
votes
Accepted
Strings for my guitar - I'm supposed to tie a knot, but they have a loop
The instrument in the photo is a classical guitar, not acoustic. It uses nylon strings: the three treble strings are from plain nylon (like the one remaining on the photo), and the three bass strings ...
- 17.3k
14
votes
Should I change my guitar strings?
How often you should change guitar strings depends on how often you play, the chemistry of the oils in your fingers, and your personal preferences for budget, comfort, and tone.
I like to put new ...
- 57.7k
14
votes
Why do lower pitched string instruments have a larger body?
The lower the sound the instrument is producing, the larger the vibrating plate needs to be to produce that sound. The vibrations from the strings are being transferred to to the face of the ...
- 7,534
14
votes
Strings for my guitar - I'm supposed to tie a knot, but they have a loop
…and just to reinforce user1079505’s answer, if you did manage to put them on remove them immediately. A classical guitar is designed for about 1/2 to 1/3 the string tension of a steel string acoustic ...
- 28.1k
13
votes
Accepted
Do pegs for stringed instruments require holes?
Yes, holes need to be added for the strings. Pegs for violin family instruments are usually sold as "blanks" that are ready for shaping and setting.
Because of the wear and use of the pegs, the peg ...
- 7,534
13
votes
Would fishing wire work for strings on an electric guitar?
Metal, but not just any metal. Both steel-string and classical acoustic guitars generally use metal, such as bronze or silver-played copper, for the windings to add mass and lower the frequency, but ...
- 13.2k
12
votes
How to minimize the pain for a beginning guitar student so they won’t give up before they develop calluses?
This is such a great question! I have been playing guitar for 20 years but travel often, and tend to lose all my callouses after only a couple weeks away. So it is not only beginners who must suffer ...
- 121
12
votes
Accepted
What are "silk and steel" strings?
Silk and steel strings are made to be used on a steel string acoustic guitar. They no longer use silk but instead use a nylon filament that resembles silk.
These strings will not work well on an ...
- 27.4k
12
votes
Can you record several individual string instruments and put them together to sound like a real orchestra?
This is a great idea and as long as you record to some type of reference like a click and make sure everyone records their individual tracks at the same sample and bit rate you can mix all the ...
- 28.1k
12
votes
Tone Color Changed after Replacing a Piano Bass String
Like Tom says, a new string, even made by the same manufacturer will sound much different, most likely brighter than strings that have been on there for years. I suggest talking to your tuner about ...
- 28.1k
12
votes
Accepted
Does non-calibrated have a special meaning for guitar strings?
The term is related to Steinberger's TransTrem tremolo system, which requires strings of a specific length to work properly- the strings are "calibrated" for use with this system. Any other ...
- 9,120
12
votes
I broke the high E string of my semi acoustic guitar. What do I do now?
Welcome to guitar world! Strings break sometimes - and need replacing as they're old at other times. The process is painless, and all you need to do is work out how the other strings have been fitted, ...
- 196k
12
votes
Do pianos have a generally recognized "bass register"?
One element of answer might be the number of strings behind the different keys.
Pianos have generally one heavy string per key in the low register, two per key in the middle, and three thin strings ...
- 129
11
votes
Why do lower pitched string instruments have a larger body?
Just to complement Alphonso's answer: the lower the pitch, the lower the frequency. The lower the frequency, the larger the wavelength. Surfaces respond better to waves, when their wavelength is close ...
- 1,921
11
votes
What are your steps for setting up a guitar?
Change strings, bring it up to tune, leave it or a couple of days.
Check neck relief, change using truss rod if necessary.
Change action height to preferred, by adjusting bridge/saddles height.
...
- 196k
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