Replacing guitar strings is something that many new guitarists don't think of until they break their first string, or maybe they notice that their shiny new guitar has lost its previous bright sound and has acquired a dull sound even though their playing has improved. But guitar strings are a "consumable" and all guitarists should get used to the fact that they should regularly change their strings.
Choosing guitar strings for beginners
There is a bewildering range of guitar strings available... and with terms like nickel, roundwound, coated, gauge, light, medium, skinny top etc there is plenty to confuse the uninitiated. Here's some simple advice for the beginner who's choosing new guitar strings for the first time:
1) Buy 'Nickel' strings for electric guitar.
These are the basic, cheapest silver-colored strings. Don't be tempted to use Phosphor-Bronze (gold-colored) strings on your electric guitar, as these are for acoustic guitars only and won't work with your electric guitar pickups. You don't need stainless steel or coated strings but if you chose these more expensive options they shouldn't cause any problems.
2) Buy "Roundwound" strings.
Again, these are the most common strings around, and refer to the cross-sectional shape of the thin wire that is wound around an inner core on all but the two or three thinnest strings. As roundwound strings are the most common (and cheapest!), if it doesn't say flatwound, pressurewound, tapewound etc you can be pretty sure they are roundwound strings, which are generally the best choice for the beginner.
3) If you play mostly rhythm guitar (strumming chords), choose "10 gauge".
Popular examples are Ernie Ball Regular Slinky or Rotosound Yellows, but the main thing is to look for "10 gauge". This means that the thinnest string (the high E) is 10 thousandths of an inch thick - this is generally the best for beginners playing rhythm guitar.
4) If you play mostly lead guitar, choose "9 gauge".
Popular examples are Ernie Ball Super Slinky or Rotosound Pinks, but the main thing is to look for "9 gauge". This means that the thinnest string (the high E) is 9 thousandths of an inch thick - this is generally the best for beginners playing lead guitar as the strings bend more easily.
5) Change all of your strings at once, even of you're only changing them because you've broken one.
You'll be amazed at how much brighter your guitar sounds with new strings and by changing them all you can be sure that you have a compatible set. Never be tempted to re-use old strings unless you are really desperate! Treat guitar strings as a consumable commodity that will need regular replacement throughout the life of your guitar and always keep a spare set in your guitar case for a quick change when needed.
One final tip - buy a string winder, if you can. These simple plastic devices fit over the tuning knobs of your guitar and make changing your strings much, much easier. Basic string winders can be bought for the price of a cup of coffee and more sophisticated versions include a cutter for trimming the ends of the strings neatly.
That's it! Just remember that the most important thing for beginners is gauge - use 9 or 10 gauge as described above and don't be tempted to go for Extra Light or Heavy strings until you have mastered the basics of electric guitar playing. When you become more experienced you will probably want to experiment with different types and gauges depending on the sort of music you are playing and your personal playing style.
| Price : $79.95 | Post Date : Feb 05, 2012 01:32:46
