A guide to Guitar Strings
Types of guitar strings
There are three main types of guitar strings:
Electric guitar strings
Usually Nickel-plated steel wound onto carbon steel, but sometimes stainless steel. Because the electric guitar pickup directly senses the vibration of the string magnetically, the strings must be made of ferrous metals - i.e. they must contain iron, which is magnetic.
Acoustic guitar strings (steel)
Most steel guitar strings are known as Bronze or Phosphor Bronze. Because the guitar does not rely on magnetic pick-ups non-ferrous metals may be used. The core wire is still made of steel (hence 'steel string' guitars), but the outer winding on the 'wound' strings is made of bronze.
Nylon guitar strings (classical or Spanish guitar)
Guitar strings were originally made from animal gut, but in 1969 Augustine created the world's first synthetic guitar strings, made from Nylon. All classical guitar strings are now made from nylon. The bass strings are wound with metal wire however, the same as other types of strings. These fine wire wrappings are made from bronze, silver or other metals.
Tuning your guitar
One of the first things you need to know as a new guitarist is how to tune your guitar. The principle is the same for all 6-string guitars regardless of whether they are acoustic, electric or classical.
The thinnest and highest sounding string is the 1st string. The thickest and lowest sounding string on the guitar is the 6th string
The strings are named as follows:
6th string = low E
5th string = A
4th string = D
3rd string = G
2nd string = B
1st string = high E
Tuning your guitar with an electronic guitar tuner
The easiest way of tuning is to use an electronic guitar tuner – basic models are available for under £10. Check your particulat tuner for instructions, but remember the basic rule to get the string roughly in tune, but slightly flat (i.e. its pitch is a little too low). Then carefully increase the pitch (tightening the string) until your tuner indicates that it is in tune. This will ensure that your guitar strings stay in tune.
A particular feature that is useful for beginners is an off-note indication. This will tell you which way to tune even if the string is a very long way out of tune.
Tuning your guitar by ear
You might hear people talking about “A440” or “concert pitch”. Concert Pitch is the standard pitch that you should tune to and when correctly tuned your 5th string (the ‘A’ string) should produce a frequency of 440Hz (440 hertz). To hear a 440Hz ‘A’ note, either use a tuning fork or try this great online version: http://www.onlinetuningfork.com/
To tune your guitar by ear, first tune the 5th string to sound the same as the A440 tone.
Once your 5th string (A) is in tune hold down the 5th fret on this string and play the note. This note is a D so tune the 4th string to sound the same.
Once your 4th string (D) is in tune hold down the 5th fret on this string and play the note. This note is a G so tune the 3rd string to sound the same.
Once your 3rd string (G) is in tune hold down the 4th fret on this string and play the note. This note is a B so tune the 2nd string to sound the same.
Once your 2nd string (B) is in tune hold down the 5th fret on this string and play the note. This note is a high E so tune the 1st string to sound the same.
The 6th string (low E) and the 1st string (high E) should sound the same note an octave apart. You can check the low E is correct by holding it down the 5th fret and playing the note. This note will be an A and should sound the same as the 5th string.
Changing your strings and tuning
Tuning your guitar after replacing the strings takes a little patience, as strings stretch and the guitar itself flexes – even a modern electric guitar is still made out of a natural product (wood, dummy!) and it takes a little while for it to stabilise. It’s best not to remove all your strings at once, but to change them one at a time; this keeps tension on the neck.
If you've just restrung your guitar, grab the middle of each string in turn (around the 12th fret) and gently pull it up and away from the guitar – this helps to pre-stretch the strings and helps them to settle down quicker.
When you tune your guitar and vary the tension on one string, your guitar flexes a little, changing the tension on the other strings. So it’s almost impossible to get the tuning right first time, even if you have an electronic tuner. Just tune each string approximately first and when you have got all strings roughly in tune then repeat, becoming fussier and more accurate about the exact tuning. Here’s a good online tuner… but if you haven’t got one, why not buy one now? They’re cheap enough… and pretty cool toys! (check out Guitar Accessories)
All new strings take a little while to settle down, with Nylon strings for classical guitars taking longer to stretch and settle into tune than steel ones.
Old guitar strings get flattened where they contact the fret wire and become dull sounding and difficult to keep in tune. That's when you really need to change them!
Ernie Ball electric guitar strings
The Ernie Ball Slinky range of electric guitar strings is the most popular choice for many guitarists worldwide and are often referred to simply as 'slinkies'. This brief guide gives an easy reference to the string gauges available, their names, codes and the guitar styles they best suit.
Let's start with the Ernie Ball sales blurb...
Nickel-plated steel wire wrapped around tin-plated hex-shaped steel core wire provides vibrant, bright, lasting tone and reduces fret wear. This weight balances maximum response from your pickups with playability and bendability. Ernie Ball strings are precision manufactured to the highest standards and most exacting specs to assure consistency, optimum performance, and long life.
A note about gauges...
If you're new to the guitar scene you may be confused by people saying things like 'I always use nines'. Guitar string gauges are usually described by their thickness in thou' (thousands of an inch). When guitarists talk about 'nines' or 'eights' etc they are referring to a standard set of guitar strings, with the first string being nine thou' or eight thou' thick.
The best all-round beginner gauges are either Regular Slinky (10s) or Super Slinky (9s).
Ernie Ball Super Slinky guitar strings are the most popular item in Mars Guitars' stock.
It's not that simple, however, as there are many variables in guitar strings not just the thickness of the first string. The great thing about Ernie Ball Slinky range is that they allow you to match the top and bottom strings to suit your style... so if you like to easily bend your high strings when playing lead but pound the bottom strings when playing rhythm then you can chose a suitable combination.
As a rule, heavier strings give a fuller guitar sound, but are harder on the fingers for beginners and are more difficult to bend when playing lead. Lighter guitar strings are easier to fret, better for expressive bends, slides and vibrato effects.. but give a slightly thinner sound and break more easily! In my experience, beginners who use 'eights' often break their E string!
It's generally assumed that the first and second string will be 'plain' (just a straight bit of wire), whereas the third to sixth strings will be 'wound' (a thin bit of wire in the middle tightly wound with a wrapping of even thinner wire to make up the total thickness). Where this generality is broken, it is indicated by p for plain or w for wound, added to the gauge. Again, you will hear guitarists say things like 'I prefer a plain G' - an example of this is in the Beefy Slinkys, where the 3rd string is '22p'.
Here's all the gauges available...
2215 - Skinny Top Heavy Bottom 10, 13, 17, 30, 42, 52
2220 - Power Slinky 11, 14, 18p, 28, 38, 48
2221 - Regular Slinky 10, 13, 17, 26, 36, 46
2222 - Hybrid Slinky 09, 11, 16, 26, 36, 46
2223 - Super Slinky 09, 11, 16, 24w, 32, 42
2225 - Extra Slinky 08, 11, 14, 22w, 30, 38
2626 - Not Even Slinky 12, 16, 24p, 32, 44, 56
2627 - Beefy Slinky 11, 15, 22p, 30, 42, 54
Guitar Links
Here's a few of our favorite guitar links, we hope you find them useful.
Useful guitar tips
How to string a guitar - includes a video (from D'Addario)
Books, CDs, DVDs and Software - especially chosen for the guitarists by Mars Guitars!
Guitar forums & on-line guitar resources
Vintage Guitar and Bass
A UK forum for discussing vintage guitars and basses
8 Notes
Free Sheet Music, Riffs, Lessons and Tools for musicians who play.
A useful guitar resource, especially for beginners.
(Each link opens a new window)
Guitar, string and accessory manufacturers:
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