Are you new to guitar playing? Maybe you were given a new guitar for your birthday or as a holiday gift and you are taking lessons or teaching yourself how to play. When the time comes for you to walk into a store which sell musical instrument strings because you need to replace the strings on your guitar, be ready to be completely blown away by the vast selection of strings you have to choose from.
You will find that there are a great many manufacturers of guitar strings and tons of different labels and numbers which are bound to confuse you greatly. You could either ask the clerk for help or you can read further to learn some basics about guitar strings which will demystify the process of choosing the right strings for your instrument.
You will need to understand what string gauge means. With musical instrument strings, the gauge effects the playability and sound of the guitar. The heavy gauge strings are designed to make loud tones while light gauge strings are designed to produce softer tones. If you are a new player, go with.009 or.010 gauge guitar strings as they are ideal for playing many types of music and they’re not to tight to make things easier on your fingers.
Musical instrument strings can be made from a variety of materials including nylon, bronze, stainless steel, nickel and nickel plating. The type of strings you choose will depend on the type of guitar you have and on the type of music you play. If you have an acoustic guitar and you’re a new player, go with nylon strings with a light gauge and which are coated. These strings are easy to press down on and gentle on the fingertips.
Do you have an electric guitar? Then you need to buy musical instrument strings made for electric guitars. A good set of strings for a beginner are stainless steel electric guitar strings as they’re long lasting and strings which produce brilliant, sustained sounds. You can buy strings right online at any one of a large number of music stores. Most of these retailers have buying guides on their sites which walk you through the process of choosing the right guitar strings for you. If you are uncomfortable changing the strings on your guitar, either ask an experienced player to help you or take your instrument and new set of strings to a local music shop for some help. You may have to pay to have the strings replaced but most retailers charge reasonable fees so don’t worry that you won’t be able to afford it.