Everything you need to know about guitar strings

As the part that bears the force of the fingers, and is also often exposed to sweat and the environment, after a period of use, the guitar strings quickly wear out and wear out. At this point you need to replace the strings to ensure the sound quality of the guitar.

As we all know, guitar strings directly affect the decision of whether the sound of the guitar is good, smooth or not. That is why it is necessary to replace the wire. There are many types of guitar strings, there are many factors you need to consider before deciding which one to choose such as coating, type of winding and material...

What are guitar strings made of?

When looking for new guitar strings, the first and foremost thing to consider is the material they are made of. In fact, guitar strings that are not made of the right material may not be compatible with your guitar! String materials can be divided into three broad categories depending on whether they are intended for electric, acoustic, or classical guitars. In addition, different materials can affect the sound and feel of the strings, even if they are made for the same guitar.

Electric Guitar String Materials

Electric guitar strings must be made of metal in order for the guitar's receiver to convert vibrations into an electrical signal.

Nickel

Generally, electric guitar strings are made of steel, with the lowest three strings being nickel-plated. Nickel-plated electric guitar strings are by far the most popular, and they offer a good balance between warmth and brightness, and can help the guitar stand out from other instruments.

For those looking for a warmer sound, such as jazz guitarists, pure (unplated) nickel strings may be an appropriate choice. Pure nickel strings deliver a warm, well-rounded sound with a classic sound without too much "glare" timbre.

Steel

If you are looking for a stronger tone, pure steel strings are a good choice. Pure steel delivers a very bright sound with plenty of high frequencies and sustain. In addition, pure steel wire has the highest corrosion resistance and is very durable. Rock and metal players often use this type of string.

Cobalt, titanium and copper

Some electric guitar strings are made from other metals, such as cobalt, titanium, and copper, but these are hard to find, expensive, and used by fewer players.

Acoustic Guitar String Materials

Acoustic strings also have a steel core but are plated with different metals. The three most common choices for acoustic guitars are brass (commonly referred to as bronze or bronze 80/20), phosphor bronze, and mixed strings.

Bronze 80/20 is made from 80% copper and 20% zinc. These are probably the most popular options, and they deliver a bright, clear sound. However, this type of metal corrodes quickly and the sound can be reduced after just a few hours of play.

Phosphorous bronze wire aims to increase the life of brass wire by adding phosphorus to prevent oxidation of the wire. This gives the string more stability and power at the expense of a slightly deeper tone and less brightness. If you often go to performances, this choice is very suitable.

The final type of acoustic guitar strings are called composite strings or silk and steel strings. These are nylon or silk cords wrapped in metal. Softer nylon or silk cores result in lower string tension and a softer sound.

Coated/coated nylon strings are also sometimes used as bass strings on classical guitars.

Classic Guitar String Material (classic - nylon)

Nylon strings are most commonly found on classical guitars because of their mellow and complex tone. There are different types of nylon strings, such as rectified or black nylon strings, but white nylon strings and plated nylon strings are the most common. Plain nylon strings are used for the top three strings, while plated nylon strings are usually used for the bottom strings.

Unlike acoustic and electric strings, nylon strings do not have a silhouette end and they must be tied around the bridge of the guitar.

Before nylon strings, classical guitarists often used "catgut" strings made from the intestines of sheep or other cattle. Wires made from this material are very fragile and unstable.

Guitar String Size

One of the most obvious characteristics of guitar strings is their loudness. Acoustic and electric guitar strings are distinguished by string size while classical strings are distinguished based on tension.

One of the most important factors to consider when buying guitar strings is that size refers to the thickness of the strings. The thinnest (lightest) string is lighter and the thickest (heavy) string is heavier. This is a general standard for string size but the actual practice will vary depending on the brand and most importantly is it for an electric or acoustic instrument (electric guitar strings are smaller than acoustic strings).

Fortunately, string sets will also include actual numerical information about how large the cord is measured in 1/1000th of an inch. For example, consider a brand and its attached parameters:

Extra Light [electricity] – (.009/.011/.016/.024/.032/.042)

The numbers refer to the diameter of the wire, in mm, going from the high E string to the low E string.

So, the light sub's high E string has a diameter of 0.23 mm, while the heavy E high string has a diameter of 0.36 mm. It doesn't sound like much, but it's a really big difference and will have a noticeable impact on how it feels and sounds!

Light weight rope, which is better?

The debate between light string and heavy string has been going on for years without a clear consensus. The answer from the experts is that it depends on personal taste and the type of music you want to play. Lighter strings are great for bending, easy to play, and have a bright tone. However, lighter gauge straps may break more easily and they may not hold up well with heavy use. Metal strings, on the other hand, are popular with electric guitarists and rockers alike. These strings are thicker, so if you want more volume, fewer string breaks, big bass, and more durability, heavier strings will provide all of that. However, they require more pressure to press down, making them harder to play and can cause cramping or pain in the hands for the uninitiated.

For classical strings, instead of being classified according to the criteria of "thick", "thin", they are classified according to low, medium or high tension. This criterion refers to the weight of the tension applied to the neck of the guitar. High tension strings for a louder, brighter sound but harder to play. Low-tension strings tend to have a more balanced sound, are easier to play, but also won't sound as good.

The terms "high" and "low" tension are not standardized and vary from brand to brand, so be sure to check the manufacturer's website to see the exact tension weights and wire sizes.

Be careful with high-tension or thick strings that will put extra strain on the neck. This can cause warping or damage if the guitar isn't used to that higher pressure, especially if it's classical or hasn't been used in a while.

How to Wind a Guitar String

The way the strings are wound around the solid core will dramatically change the feel and sound of the strings. Even beginner players can feel and hear the difference immediately.

There are three main ways used to wrap wire: round, flat, and half-turn.

Roundwound: Roundwound is by far the most widely used, versatile, available and cheapest option for guitar strings. These strings use round wire to wrap the inner core and that gives the string a textured surface that makes it easy for players to press. Therefore, round strings are often preferred for styles that require a lot of fingering, such as blues or rock. Compared to flat-wound strings, round-wound strings have a brighter, more durable sound and a higher presence of harmonics. However, due to the rough winding texture, there will be a lot of noise, which can be said to be a strong point for a strong musical style. Otherwise, it will quickly cause the wire to gradually wear out.

Flatwound: Flat- wound strings are often chosen by jazz guitarists and those who prefer a mellow, round, and warm sound. They are also the most popular bass guitar strings! Since flat wrap wraps a flat wire around the core, it feels much smoother than round wraps and players can easily glide through them. However, many players may find them too slippery and difficult to grip. These strings are often associated with a semi-hollow guitar and are more expensive than coiled strings.

Halfround: The half-turn takes the intermediate position between the flat wire and the round winding. They are harder to play than round strings but have a brighter sound than flat strings. These wires are expensive and quite hard to find. Unless you've experimented extensively with both round and flat wire and know you're looking for something in between the two, you probably don't need to worry about half-turn cords.

Guitar String Core

The core is the shape of the bottom of the coil. There are only two different shapes, hexagonal core and round core.

Hex cores: Although hexagonal cores in strings were invented after round cores, they are now the industry standard and the primary core shape for most guitar strings. As you can imagine, a cross section of the wire shape below the outer coil is a hexagon. Since the edges of the hexagons are very sharp, these cores have a very good grip on the outer wire, making it easy to produce machine-wrapped and slip-resistant wires.

This will help make the sound more consistent. Hex core strings also tend to be stiffer and offer a brighter, more modern tone than round core strings.

Round core: Round core wire has a round core and is usually still wound by hand. They are a bit harder to find than hexagon core strings, but some players prefer the sound of round core strings. The benefits of round core strings are increased durability, softer hitting and a warmer sound. This is why this string is suitable for jazz, blues and those looking for a mellow sound. However, be careful as round core wire is not as consistent as hex core wire and the outer sheath can be more prone to slip.

Guitar String Surface Coating

String coatings were introduced in 1997 with the goal of extending the life of the strings by coating conventional guitar strings in a polymer resin. This coating protects the strings against dirt and oxidation, and gives them a smooth feel with very little noise and helps them last longer.

Unfortunately, the downside of this method is that it reduces shine and costs more. The higher cost can be offset by a longer string life, but for some coated strings the sound is not strong enough.

Let's briefly compare two overlay styles: nanoweb and polyweb .

Nano coating: Nano coated wire is lightly coated so it is not effective in helping to extend the life of the wire.

Poly Coated: Thicker poly coating extends life but causes problems when playing at high frequencies. For the strong style player, poly coated wire is not a good choice.