Modern guitar strings divide into two basic types - steel
and nylon. Steel strings are used on electric guitars and
on flat-top and arch-top acoustics; nylon strings are used
on classical and flamenco guitars.
Most guitars are strung with a set of six strings, each of
a different thickness and each tuned to a different pitch.
Of these six, the 1st and 2nd strings are "plain", and the
4th, 5th, and 6th strings are "wound". The 3rd string is wound
for acoustic guitars and may either be plain or wound on electric
guitars.
String Types
Because it is impractical to make thick plain strings, the
mass of the bass strings is increased by wrapping lengths
of extra "wire" around a central core. The central core may
be either round or hexagonal. With steel strings, the core
is made of steel; with nylon strings, the core is made of
nylon.
The material from which the wire winding is made varies:
they can be roughly classified as "white" or "silver" metal
(stainless steel, nickel, nickel alloy, silver-plated copper)
or "gold" or "yellow" metal (bronze, brass and various alloys).
Either white or yellow strings can be used on acoustic guitars
- although most players prefer the yellow bronze or brass
strings. A popular choice is phosphorus bronze. On electric
guitars with magnetic pick-ups, only magnetically responsive
white metal strings can be used.
Round wound strings are the most commonly used. The base
strings are wrapped with a long, continuous length of round
wire. The winding is done automatically, by a machine that
spins the central core. Roundwound strings produce a good
tone and volume, and when new give a clear ring suitable for
both acoustic and electric guitars.
Flatwound strings, also known as "tapewound" strings, have
a far smoother surface than that of roundwound strings. This
is because the winding is made not from round wire but from
flat metal tape or ribbon. Flatwound strings were designed
to overcome the problem of "finger squeak". The smooth flat
surface helps to reduce the noise produced when a guitarist's
left hand moves up and down the fingerboard while in contact
with the strings.
Flatwounds have a more mellow sound than round wound strings
and are often preferred by jazz players. They are not as popular
with rock guitarist's because they lack the bright, percussive
tone of round wounds and tend not to last as long.
Ground wound strings are an attempt to combine the different
advantages of round wound and flatwound strings. They are
made the same as round wound strings, but the winding is also
ground down and polished so that the protrusions are removed
and a flattened surface is left. Ground wound strings give
some of the bright tone quality, projection and sustain of
round wounds while also offering the smoother feel of flatwounds.
String Gauges And Tension
The pitch of the note produce
by a guitar string depends on three things:
The tension placed on it (this is controlled by the tuning
heads).
The length of its vibrating section (determined by the
distance between the nut and the saddle.
Its mass, when both the diameter and weight of a guitar
string are increased, so is its mass.
Steel-string diameters are expressed as gauges - usually
measured as fractions of an inch. They are available in sets,
usually labeled"heavy", "medium", "light", "extra light",
and "ultra light". Strings are also available individually
- in almost all practical gauges - so you can make up your
own set if you wish.
An example of a custom gauge nickel wound set of electric
guitar strings that have become very popular are: Ernie Ball's
"Heavy Top Skinny Bottom" - .010, .013, .017, .030, .042,
.052.
Why Do Strings Break?
The string is over-tensioned. Guitar strings are designed
to be tuned to concert pitch.
They can be tightened only a little higher before there
is a risk of them breaking or of
the excessive tension distorting or damaging the guitar
neck.
The older a guitar string, the more likely it is to break.
Less elasticity, combined with
wear and rust caused by sweat from the fingers, will weaken
strings and may eventually
cause them to snap.
Strings are often broken by heavy right hand technique,
particularly hard strumming.
This is more common rhythm guitarists who play hard, than
it is with lead guitarists.
A kink in a string can cause a weak spot. Before it breaks,
it can be seen and felt as a
small bump. When changing strings, take care not to fold
them back on themselves,
since this can cause kinks.
Sharp edges on the saddle, nut or tuning head capstans
can cause strings to break.
Check where the string has broken and file down any sharp
edge.
How Long Do Strings Last?
Strings stretch during their lifetime. They slowly lose their
elasticity and their tone quality decreases. Eventually, they
will stretch no more. Old, fully stretched strings produce
notes which are no longer rich in harmonic overtones. As a
result, the guitar becomes harder to tune and the sound is
dull and lifeless.
Strings also wear, particularly at the points where they
make contact with the frets. Wound strings suffer the most;
they develope "flat spots" where the undersides of the windings
are worn flat. Flat spots and broken windings will both impair
tone, while the latter will also cause string "buzz".
With time, strings can become tarnished, dirty and rusty.
Dirt and grease from sweaty hands build up quickly on the
strings, especially on the undersides and between the windings.
For this reason you should clean and dry your strings immediately
after playing.
How often you should change your strings is up to you. Some
professionals change their strings once each night they play.
Many guitarists love the bright sound of new strings and change
them once every week or two. Many amateur's, on the other
hand, leave the same set on their guitar for years.
