Guitar Strings

Guitar strings are as essential an element to a guitar as DNA is to a human. A guitar is nothing without its strings. The variety of guitar strings is staggering. There are acoustic strings, electric strings, and electric bass strings to name a few. Different string types give different sound qualities to the music you will play on your guitar.

Qualities of Guitar Strings

Different types of guitars have different characteristics in their strings. Electric guitar strings produce different power and tone to achieve the characteristically warm and clear sounds of the instrument while both electric and bass strings come in a wide selection of gauges.

What to Do About String Problems

The best thing you can do to avoid problems is to perform regular maintenance on your instrument. Listen to the sound of your guitar and if it sounds less bright than it should or intonation is inconsistent, it's time to change your strings. Snapping strings is a common problem and is most often caused by sharp edges on your instrument. Inspect your guitar for these imperfections and you can minimize broken strings.

One of the most important and most often overlooked ways to keep your string and instrument in good shape is through proper storage. Don't expose your guitar to extremes of temperature and never leave it outdoors. This leads to cracked and broken strings.