Guitar Strings

What would a guitar be without strings? Just a hollow box and stick, relegated to the percussion session. Guitar strings are what make the wide range and infinite styles of guitar music possible, using different thicknesses and materials to produce all manner of sounds and tones to delight the ear. Guitars can be found in nearly any form of music, from heavy metal dirges to classical folk accompaniments. In every application, and understanding of guitar strings, how to choose them, how to string them on the instrument and when to replace them are must-haves for any guitar player.

A String's Substance

A guitar string starts with a core, which is either hexagonal or round in shape. The core of the string is wrapped with windings which come in three shapes, which are flat-wound, half-round, and round-wound. The most common is round-wound, which is popular because of the clear and bright sound it produces. To make a half-round string, a round-wound string is ground and burnished on one side, creating a more even, flatter surface for the fingers to glide across. Half-rounds are not as bright in sound, but there is considerably less squeaking. As for the third shape; for a flatter, darker sound often found in jazz guitar, nothing beats a flat-wound string. The flat-wounds have an out wrap that is completely smooth and squeak-free.

Music