Every guitar player needs to maintain and take care of their instrument in order to make sure they sound the best they can. You don’t need to be a professional guitar player to know that not all guitars use the same strings. Most guitars use either acoustic steel, electric or classic nylon and often their strings are not interchangeable. Using different strings on your guitar may cause your instrument to warp and distort your sound. So, let’s see in what ways can the string impact your guitar’s ring and what rules should you follow as to choose strings in accordance to your preferred playing.
Gauge
There is a wide variety of different gauges. The gauge is the diameter of the string or in other words, it stands for how fat the string is. The gauge plays an important role, it can change how the guitar feels when you play it, and it effects the way the guitar sounds. Usually, thinner strings are easier on the fingers, but they are also more prone to breaking. Thicker gauge provides a fuller, deeper tone and they are also louder and more durable than their skinnier counterparts. The gauge of your guitar should be determined by your style of playing. If you dig heavier music, a heavier set will be best for you, if however, you like playing more lightly, then a thinner set will do the trick.
Material
The strings’ material is very important as it determines how your guitar will sound. There are several different material types used for acoustic guitar strings making and all of them can affect your sound and the strings’ longevity. Bronze strings are made out of 80% copper and 20% zinc and they give out a clear ringing tone, but also age quickly due to bronze’s tendency to oxidize fast. Phosphor bronze however, ages much more slowly. The phosphor is added to help the strings age slower but there is no substantial difference in the sound. Bras has a more metallic sound to it, and the string looks shiny and bright. And last but not least, silk and steel strings produce a nice mellow sound and are most frequently used type for acoustic guitars.
Changes
So how often should you change your strings? Well, it all depends on how often you play your guitar, however there is no better sounding guitar then a guitar with new strings. If you are a strummer and play your guitar roughly, then maybe change them once every two months. You can take extra precautions to increase the longevity of your strings by washing your hands before playing the guitar and cleaning and maintaining the acoustic guitar strings regularly.