What strings should I use on my classical guitar? High tension/low tension?
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- čas přidán 15. 07. 2024
- The best answers I can give to a very frequent question I get on the channel - what is the difference between high and low tension strings? What kind of strings should I use on my classical guitar?
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As a luthier, my favorite day was when I realized there is no one way to build any guitar, and there are no perfect strings.
When you buy a guitar, pick the one you like the best. When you are buying strings, buy a bunch of different sizes and brands. Try them all and see what you like best. Don’t listen to people who try to tell you what to buy. Try for yourself and pick what works for you. And above all, don’t forget to have fun!
I'm so glad to hear someone vocalize this. The man at the music store almost didn't let me buy the thicker strings I wanted. I was trying to gain some control I'd been losing over the last few months and he just thought I wanted to effect my tone and be a SRV copycat. I appreciated that he didn't want me fooled by any misconceptions, but, dang, don't fight me and make me explain myself for EVERY purchase. Do I look that dumb? Do you not want my money!? 😂😂
You might want to check what strings the manufacture (or luthier) sells the guitar with. Sometimes this will be the optimized string for the guitar... the luthier has actually built the guitar around. Other times the guitar you buy has just cheap strings to get a guitar out the door. I'm talking acoustic guitars here!
Finally someone who is able to explain the difference in tension in normal words based on experience. Very good. I advice students to begin with normal tension. After a year try high tension. Try different brands. Expensive doesn't mean that you get the best. Experiment and that's the only way to figure out what kind of strings you like and what sounds best with your guitar.
Thanks for the info bro
Great advice
5 years later and still helping people. Thanks so much!
Perfect! I ask so many people for their advice on the different tension and no one can really go in depth with their answers. You nailed it
Thank you for the most helpful explanation of tension choice on the net. Not opinionated, didactic or coloured by prejudice. Brilliantly explaned, easy to follow based on real experience. Invaluable.
Thanks so much for watching! I'm glad you found it informative!
This is a truly informative and useful video. As a newer classical guitar player, it helped me understand the types of classical strings available and the key differences between acoustic and classical strings. Thanks for making it.
Thanks dude, you have answered all my the questions I had I had about buying my first replacement of classical guitar strings.
I believe i have just watched the best, most complete explanation of the classical guitar and string differences. Thank you so very much.
ive never thought of sustain from a guitar as a first order differential equation until now. nice dude
Great video covering some less known concepts for classic guitar. Great job!!!
Thank you for such an intelligent tutorial helping me to broaden my horizons in the physics of resonation!
Great info David ,Thanks for schooling me some things I didn't know
Amazing video, also thank you for explaining it in what synthesizer users understand very well haha. Breaking it down to asdr was a very nice addition to the explanation
This was very helpful! Thanks for demonstrating how the difference actually works!
Thnx for the thorough explanation!!! the best I found on CZcams about this technical subject
Just found this excellent guidance. This is so helpful, and well explained. I am much more informed about the string differences, and can choose my next set of strings with much more informed views.
Very good explanation about the nylon strings fundamentals. Great content here. Thanks!
This is great! I have played the guitar for 40+ years, but am buying my first Classical Guitar. This is super helpful David. You show an impressive amount of knowledge.
Use to have a classical guitar many years ago and never knew about string tension. I want to get a new one, but "knowledge" is going to drive me crazy(er)! Thanks for the info. Good layman language that makes sense.
Amazing explanation with all the points touched!
Thank you for the informative video. I have been playing steel string guitars for years and have only recently began studying classical. With the purchase of a nylon string guitar I was totally confused with "tension"strings, now I'm not. I will use normal strings for the time being and then I'll experiment. As you say, it's a personal preference and every guitarist attacks the strings differently. I like the way you don't commit to a certain string ... because had you started with, this is the best string, I would have went to the next video. Thanks again for a very thorough and non biased analysis.
Amazing video! Helped me to choose the tension that I needed. Thank you! ❤
This is a really clear and engaging explanation of a complex subject, thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Very solid explanation! Thanks David!
Great vid David! Thank you!
Excellent explanation ! Thanks.
I’ve always wondered what type of string those spanish guitarists use, when the sound is so smooth!
Great great great explanation. I am long time guitarist who tends to use heavy gauge strings on my steel string guitars because i like the feel. I just got a classical and i find it very loose on my right hand so i may try high tension strings. I especially like the part of the video where you talk about envelopes, it makes complete sense to me now. Thank you.
Thank you very much for your help. Great information
You saved my life bro. Thank you.
I had no idea I could save lives by pontificating on guitar strings.
Thank you for this information. It was very helpful.
Nice splainin'. I play a lot of electric but I started on a cat~gut classical some 50 years ago. I just found a 1969 Dorado by Guild that's pretty much like the one I had at 10-12 years old. I found this beautiful guitar at Elmer's Barn, Coopers Mills, Maine. I paid $80 and it's in remarkable condition. And the serial number is #207... I think I'm going for the high tension strings. Sound's like they may feel similar to electric strings... Thanks for the insight.
Thanks for this excellent explanation.
Very helpful, thank you very much!
OMG really Thank You for explaining :D I could't understand what I needed. Thanks again ;)
You da man! Great explanation....just got back into classical/flamenco and playing on normal tension (accoustic/electric guitar)...I'm now curious to see how high tension feels & sounds. Thx again!
Thanks. Very clear and concise. Excellent.
Thanks for the help!!!
Thank you very much! Very detailed.
Thanks. Useful information.
This was so helpful
Great insight! Thank you
Excelent, excelent, excelent video, you cover all the basis, first time a video cover all the question I had a some more, thanks for the video my friend!!!
Thank you David....
Thank you very much for this awesome info, I just got a Yamaha NTX 900. Coming from an APX 10, I need to find that happy medium. I just ordered the Pro-Arté Dynacore Titanium Trebles in Normal, Hard Extra Hard to see what I like. I figured the Titanium may give me the brighter sound I am looking for.
thanks for the tips, very helpful cheers
Well explained!. Thanks brother!
Excellent explanation. Thanks
Thanks, great information!
great helpful vid, thanks you so much
thanks for that info, very handy and well expressed.
Thanks for watching!
Excellent! I subscribed and liked thanks David.
Thanks for watching!
Excellent, concise, clear explanation, I make and play most styles and variety of guitars, (Classical is new.... made one, still learning to play.... flamenco is yet to happen). My knowledge of steel strings is, in my over inflated opinion of myself, pretty good, but nylons (strings that is) has alway mystified me. I think I may be getting a finger on it now.
Your video has been really a really great base form which, I will explore & experiment more
Thank you.
By the way Rick Beato, has just posted a really good comparison of 8s, 9s, 10 & 12s for electric guitar. You have to be careful not to overpower the 8s but they sound a lot more compressed??? and a lot less muddy than my go to 10s. Absolutely fascinating video, 3 different guitarists, same amp, same pedal, same settings, same musical pieces, same guitar, only the string sizes change. I only mention it because I’ve found your video as fascinating & illuminating, & I think you will enjoy his channel.
Once agin, my respect & thanks.
I’ve liked.
I’ve subscribed.
I’m exploring.
I just got those Savarez Alliance HT classic for my new classical guitar. I really like them, so thanks.
thanks, Dave exactly what I needed to know, Think Ill try high tention.
Thanks! Very helpful.
After watching dozens of videos about classical strings tension I feel that this video is one of probably 3-5 videos where someone explains the differences thoroughly and precisely.
This really help me. Thankyou
Thanks! Everything I needed to know. :-)
Hey thanks for that it was very informative , and it made sense
Very helpful. Thanks.
Thank you! That was really helpful! :)
Thanks for watching!
This is weird... I found you last week for a video on how to level efficiently in oblivion, and now I find you talking about classical guitar? Small world I guess lol
I use D’Addario Dynacore Basses, carbon trebles and I’d recommend this set to everyone. A bit pricey but so nice
They do make String sets w/ Lightly Polished Basses which are basically Composite Core Flatwound Classical Guitar Strings. Jazz guys have used them & you can do it too.
What a complete and excellent explanation about strings. Thank you. I like hard tension string but I bought a new guitar, a yamaha cg 142s, which has no tensor, and I am afraid to use them and damage my guitar neck. Is that posssible to happen?
It's unlikely to damage the neck if you are using classical guitar strings. Neck construction is quite robust without a truss rod, and even high tension strings are rather low compared to a steel-string guitar.
David Stewart thank you for the answer. I’ll give the normal tension string back to the shop and get a hard tension one. Thanks again.
@@jasielcalixto Hard Tension Classical Guitar Strings (or even so Extra Hard) are also great for lower tunings like E Flat Standard
what are you talking about? The video answers nothing just revoices the question...
On almost any guitar classcal or steel string... string tension has a lot more effect on the bridge and top then it does on the neck.... truss rod or not.
Great video for a new 'nylon player.' Thanks very much.🎶🎸🇬🇧
Excellent info.
This is very helpful due to the fact that I'm using two different nylon stringed guitars and they both feel and sound totally different. One is still easier to play than the other no matter how low my action is. Still experimenting.
Really helpful! Have always played on high tension, might try normal tension for once
The lower tension strings are great for playing lute pieces.
I play with "extra hard tension" here usually the heaviest I can find hard tension works too, and on steel string it's the other way around I go for custom lights... One of the things that I really like about high tension is that I never really had a string breaking on its own (and i'll use the same set of strings for 5-6 months straight no problem) and also as it ages it loses the snappiness and gains a softer sustain.
Thanks for the video!! I've learned so much! I noticed that you mostly talked about the three tension levels in two ways: the high/higher tension that you usually play, and "less than high tension", usually suggesting that something a little lower than high could solve some of the potential shortcomings of high tension, suggesting new folks stick to normal/medium. Are there any things that the "low" tension strings excell at, or a reason why someone would go beyond "medium/normal" tension?
Thanks in advance!
Excellent technical and practical explanation 👍🏽
Very useful. Thank you
Light strings are good for pieces with lots of advanced complicated bar chords. They will set to tone faster than normal or highs. Lights or medium are good for old classical guitars as well where you don't want to stress the bridge to much. Good video man, keep up the good work even though this is 5 years old. Lol
One tip, that will save you lots of time is that the nylon bass strings wear out about 3X faster than the treble strings. So, I leave the treble strings on through two extra changes of the bass strings. There is a good visual clue on the bass strings as the winding become damaged around their fret contact points. The big advantage is that the bass strings stay in tune enough to play about 4 times faster then the trebles. When I change trebles, I don't expect to be able to play the guitar for more then a minute, until tomorrow. I've also noticed that most maker's bass strings, that aren't 'composites', sound good and similar. So, I often change basses made by a different manufacturer, I'll put low cost D’Addario pro arte basses on replacing a set of say Hannabach's, even though I don't like the sound out the D’Addario trebles.
The thing is the guitar player is in the feedback loop of tone production. They are dealing with thousands of factors to make motions to produce the desired tone, including the judgement of the tone. The strings are part of the factors coupled to that feedback loop but they are far more constant than the other factors, like the constant change of nails, or a desire for a different tone, or altering dynamics. I can only feel that to be a great guitar player you have to have a great feedback loop. Not that the more fixed factors, like the particular guitar you play, or the type of strings you use, aren't important, but they don't help you with control, and control is the real name of the game, IMHO.
Well put.
Ive played for 25+yrs and still found this informative. I also still call my self an eccentric player though .
Wow really good video
Really nice video
Very helpful thankyou.
Very helpful, thank you. Going to try High Tension strings now.
Turned out that High Tension strings weren’t for me. But at least I know now.
@@DTGuitarTech Why it isn't for you? I was about to get one
@@TheRobber16 I can’t explain it. They just felt and sounded awful
@@DTGuitarTech Oh, okay thanks. I ordered normal tension now
Thanks. I learned a lot :-)
I use High Tension Classical Guitar Strings tuned Down a half step to Eb Standard Tuning because it'll make the high notes easier to sing, plus horn players like to play in flat Keys
He totally strung me along
Awesome thank you.
Thank you! That was very clear and concise
subbed, really helpful!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you!
The New Saverez cantiga Creation Strings are excellent,gives the choice to have a carbon string on the 3rd string,I find these saverez are Superb,a new inovation.
Cool, thanks!
I go with low tension and tuned in D.... I just like to play as smooth as possible xD
Thank you.
Thank you
I had some d'addario nylon high tension strings on my la patrie etude (its not a very expensive guitar anyways) and they sounded wonderful but since I couldn't browse my local guitar store due to covid when I replaced them they gave me friggen ernie ball strings. They actually hit the side of the headstock where my other strings didn't have this issue. So please especially right now. Make sure to tell the guitar store employee what kind of strings you want! And I'd avoid Erie balls if you don't want a miserable time.
Cool looking guitar
That was exceptionaI! I was banging through explanations of classical string choices and getting disappointing explanations. You not only covered more variables, but explained the most important variables and got me feeling ready to dive in (spend $) and face with all the remaining variables of classical strings
Because there is so much variation in the composites, there's "endless" variation in string makers and no standards with which to easily compare different brands. So at some point you have to spend money to test strings yourself because most makers don't even provide tension numbers (Variable 1). Ugh! The makers also don't even provide standard chemistry elements like how much nylon vs polycarbonate or titanium vs nylon etc......., .are in their string UGH! We need a Ministry of Standards for guitarists! HaHa.
Thanks bro.
hey David.. good video.. and the comments were very interesting *how''s the last guy "you got flies in yr studio"?
thank you
Willies guitar is a '12th fret' gu
itar, which means it is like a older 3\4size Martin steelstring acoustic but he uses two nylon strings if I'm not mistaken on the 4thD&5tfthA strings for tone he is intoxicated with .like ii said u need to further resrarch which of the strings he has modified to nylon
•12th fret means that the root or octave fret (12) is where the neck makes its plunging end into the body of the guitar where-as 99% or more of steelstring acoustics always make that plunge at the 14th fret thats all i got to say about that