Guitar is an instrument whose sound characteristics depend on many factors: material, length and thickness of the neck, number of strings and their types, winding and core string.

The strings depend on a lot of things: sound quality, sound style, efficiency of playing the guitar. Not all strings are suitable for beginners. And not all strings will give a good sound for the music of a particular genre. Let’s see what kind of guitar strings are.

Guitar string features

Winding material

• Bronze. Bright, intense sound, medium comfort game, reasonable cost. Oxidize quickly, need to change frequently, react sharply even to a short stay in the wet. Classic option for beginners who have not yet decided on a priority style of music and just learn to extract quality sound.
• Phosphor bronze. Soft sound. They incorporate the best qualities of bronze strings, but thanks to the alloy with phosphor retain the original appearance for a long time. Also suitable for novice guitarists who often carry a guitar (especially in humid climates).
• Copper. Classic strings at low cost. It is possible to find good copper strings from various companies, which will last a long time and will produce medium quality sound, universal for various compositions.
• Silver plating. Have a high cost, although do not affect the quality of sound. Some companies producing such strings promise a cleaner sound. Bronze or copper, covered in silver, retains the original properties for a long time. And the guitar with such strings looks very aesthetic.
• Brass. Bright, sharp sound. In skilled hands can acquire mechanical (technical) notes. Well play modern rock and classic blues.
• Nylon. Used on classical guitars by musicians of all levels – from students of music schools to professional performers. They are durable and reasonable price. Also popular among beginners during training. They have a specific sound, which is fundamentally different from metal strings.
• For electric guitars choose strings made of nickel and steel. They are durable, create an excellent “technical” sound, although often torn and stretched quickly. You should carefully choose the manufacturer of such strings to be durable and most comfortable to use.

Core

• Round. With such a core, it’s good to perform classical rock and blues. Create the so-called “vintage sound”, they play comfortably, give a soft tone in the sound. This is a classic option for both beginners and experienced guitarists.
• Hexagonal (rectangular). Gives very bright, saturated tone. Such strings are elastic and comfortable for experienced musicians. They sound great modern compositions, and they are, as a rule, stronger than others.

Diameter (Gauge)

• Thin strings. Suitable for beginners, as they are easy to play and convenient to do suspenders. Also, if you own a vintage instrument or your guitar is just not in the best condition, these strings will create the least tension on the guitar mechanics. Of the cons, it can be noted that such strings are easy to break and sometimes cause rattling of the frets (correctable in skilled hands).
• Thick strings. Give a cleaner and deeper sound, although playing on them is harder – you need to put more effort to clean sound extraction. Such strings put a lot of pressure on the guitar mechanics, but give more volume and sustein.

String winding type

• Round winding. Classic winding that gives the strings a characteristic roughness and “roundness”. These strings have many kinds and are made of all materials, so you can choose the strings that best suit your sound. They are characterized by low cost and widespread – can be found in any store.
• Semi-circular winding. An option for playing old music. They are more difficult to play, they put more pressure on the fingers. The sound becomes softer and deeper, which is not suitable for modern compositions. However, such strings are durable.
• Flat winding. Gives muted sound, low tones, soft sound. Not the most comfortable option for use, so not recommended for beginners. Best suited for soft jazz – the sound of rock tracks or blues will sound unusual and too sharp.

How to choose a guitar strings?

To choose guitar strings you should ask yourself a number of questions. What is the guitar made of? How old is this guitar? What kind of music do you usually play? How experienced are you in guitar playing? Where do you usually play guitar? After answering these questions you will choose the best choice of strings from the above list.