*String Basics

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There are many factors to be considered when deciding which strings to buy. The characteristics of your guitar, your playing style, and the sound you're trying to achieve are the most important. String Basics is a list of general guidelines which will help you with your decision. I've purposely avoided technical jargon and advertising hype and concentrated on information that is general in nature and will apply to all strings. It is important to realize, however, that these are generalizations and there will always be exceptions.   You can be secure in knowing that I will not carry strings that I know to be inferior in quality or have a bad reputation among a majority of classical guitarists. Everyone has their preferences, you must cut through the hype and decide for yourself which string is best for you. In most cases you'll have to experiment with different brands and even mix basses and trebles from different brands until you get the best one.

1. Differences in string brands, or differences in types within a brand, are usually the result of manufacturers trying to bring out a particular characteristic in the string (bright sound vs. mellow sound for example). They do this by altering the material put into the string (less or more silver in the basses, different types of nylon in the trebles, etc.), and the processes used to make the string. String making is not an exact science. There are always positive and not so positive aspects to every brand of string. Each of the string brands have their own unique personality.  No one manufacturer has the "perfect string".

2. Getting advice about which string is "the best" is a good idea.  But be careful. Different people will have different criteria for evaluating strings.  For example, a luthier will probably favor a string that is neutral in tone (neither noticeably bright nor noticeably mellow) to allow the guitar's characteristics to come through unimpeded.  A player, however, may have preferences for a certain sound (earthier basses, brighter trebles, etc.).  These preferences aren't just aesthetic, it will depend on the guitar and on the player's style as well.  Therefore, a neutral string may not always be the best choice.

3. Much has been said about string tension.  Tension is the amount of force that must be put onto the string to bring it up to pitch.  Generally speaking from a classical guitar point of view:

• Tension ratings for nylon strings are typically extra-light, light, medium, medium-hard, hard, and extra hard.
• The tension rating on a string is based on a scale length decided upon by the manufacturer.  If the same string is put on two guitars.  For example, take one guitar with a 650mm scale length and another with 660 scale length. It is considered medium tension on the 650 scale (as measured by the string maker), then it will require more tension to bring it to the same pitch when put on the 660 scale.  It will become more like high tension when put on a longer scale length.  So, be sure to consider the scale length of your guitar when considering tension. Most string manufacturers use 650 mm (or 648 mm - depending on how you are measuring the scale length) as the standard to determine tension ratings.
• The higher the tension the thicker the string.
• The harder the material the brighter the sound (carbon trebles and titanium trebles would be brighter than regular nylon for example).
• The lighter the tension the easier to fret, but the more propensity toward buzzing (it really depends on the set up of the guitar).
• More tension does not mean louder. But the guitar itself, specifically the sustain of the guitar, will have much more to do with loudness. A case can even be made that an extra-hard tension string could put so much stress on the top of the guitar that the top becomes restricted which actually decreases loudness.
• Before using extra-hard tension strings, always check with the manufacturer of your guitar to be sure the guitar can handle them. Many luthiers do not recommend extra-hard tension strings for their instruments.
• Most players will be comfortable with medium, medium-hard, or hard tension strings. I do not recommend light or extra-light tension strings on standard scale length guitars because the sound is thinner than most players want. However, a light or extra-light tension string may be ideal on a longer scale length guitar such as 660 mm or 665 mm.

This comprehensive tuning chart compiled by Tobe A. Richards features each string reading from left to right as if the instrument was standing up vertically in front of you. The note names are listed in scientific pitch notation as used by The Acoustical Society of America. When discussing the configuration of an instrument’s stringing arrangement, you’ll find they are often referred to by the number of strings or by the number of courses. A course is simply a... To continue, Click Here to download the Tuning Chart!