If you play classical guitar, your choice of strings is very important. The strings you use greatly affect the sound of your guitar. They affect your comfort while playing. And they even affect how long your guitar will last. This short article will help you choose the best nylon strings for you.
Classical guitars use nylon strings instead of metal strings (used on electric and acoustic guitars). The three thin strings are usually made of clear nylon, carbon, or titanium. The three thick strings (the bass strings) are made of nylon wrapped in a metal, usually silver-plated copper.
For beginners, the most suitable material for the three thin strings is clear nylon. They are comfortable to play and have a warm, soft sound. Carbon or titanium strings sound brighter and louder, but they are not as beginner-friendly as nylon strings.
Strings come in different tensions:
- Low tension: very comfortable for beginner fingers, but can rattle when playing loudly
- Normal tension: These strings have a balance between finger comfort and sound quality.
- High tension: produces a loud, powerful sound, but is difficult for beginners to press.
Therefore, if you are just starting to learn to play classical guitar, you may want to start with low or normal tension strings.
What strings are best for beginners? The best choice is strings from the following manufacturers: D’Addario, Savarez, Augustine, Hannabach.
Don’t forget to change the strings at least once every six months. If you play the guitar a lot and often, you can change the strings even more often. And don’t forget to wipe the strings after each play, then the strings will last longer.
It is necessary to say a few words about how to put new nylon strings on the guitar. If you take guitar lessons from a good teacher, ask him to explain and show you how to put nylon strings on the guitar. The best way to learn how to put nylon strings is to change them yourself in the presence of your teacher. Ask him to show you how to remove old strings from the guitar, how to carefully roll old strings. Under the supervision of the teacher, try to remove at least one or two old strings from the guitar and roll them up. You can ask the teacher to remove the rest of the old strings. Then ask the teacher to show you how to put new strings on the guitar. The most difficult thing when putting nylon strings on the guitar is to properly secure them to the bridge and to the tuning pegs. Let the teacher show you how to properly secure the strings. And then try to secure at least one treble string and one bass string in his presence. Fastening treble strings and bass strings on the bridge of the guitar is slightly different. You can ask the teacher to put the remaining strings on the guitar. Then, let the teacher explain to you how to tune the newly strung guitar strings. The first few days, the strings will be very out of tune, and this is normal. After a few days, the strings will stretch out, they will not need to be tuned as often as in the first days.
About the author. Denis Rusakov teaches playing the classical and acoustic guitar in Kazakhstan, in the city of Karaganda. He puts his heart and soul into working with each student. If you need guitar lessons in Karaganda, contact Denis!