string being played with a bunch of old strings can make your guitar sound strange. Players should be advised that guitars are usually set up for a particular gauge of string. The guitar will still function fine with a different gauge of strings, however for optimal sound, the guitar may need to be adjusted. See the chapter on adjusting the guitar for more details.

Because there are several different types of guitar, and each type is designed differently, each type has its own method of stringing.

Different Types of Strings

Each type of guitar uses its own type of strings. Strings are specifically designed for a type of guitar to give it a particular sort of sound. The differences between string types affect the guitar's tone, and it is not recommended to use a set of strings not made for your guitar. Not only would the result not sound good, but attempting to string a guitar with the wrong kind of strings would be both difficult and frustrating. In some cases, it may even damage the instrument.

The most common type of guitar is the six string acoustic. A set of acoustic strings has four bronze wound strings and two silvered steel strings, the steel ones being the thinnest and highest pitched. A twelve string acoustic has the same set of strings as a six string acoustic, but there are also six other silvered steel strings. A classical guitar has three bronze wound strings and three strings made out of nylon, which are the higher pitched. An electric guitar's strings are similar to an acoustic guitar's, except the strings are made of nickel instead of bronze and steel. There are four wound strings and two nickel strings.

Gauges and Brands of Strings

The two most common gauges for the high E string in electric guitars are .009 inches and .010 inches (these measurements appear to be used often even in countries using the metric system). Often a whole set of strings is referred to by the gauge of the high E string, e.g., "nines" or "tens" for .009 and .010 gauges respectively. The beginning guitarist is recommended to start with .009s; many professionals also use this gauge, so many guitarists never "outgrow" it.

Three of the best and most popular brands of guitar strings for both acoustic and electric guitar are currently Ernie Ball, D'Addario, and Elixir. Ernie Balls and D'Addarios are much cheaper than Elixirs, but Elixirs will keep their bright tone for months (which is why they are higher-priced). But Elixirs can break as easily as any other strings, so they are perhaps best left to people who have been playing a long time and rarely snap strings. The difference between the other two brands is a matter of taste; try them both.

Stringing Acoustics

Twelve String Acoustic

It has the same principal to the sixth string. But every two strings were tuned with the same sound *(RDT)

Classical Guitar

To unstring a classical guitar one method is:

Loosen the string by turning the tuning peg, then at the bridge push the string back into the hole a little, this will loosen the "knot" enough to unknot and pull the string out of the hole. Then feed the string around the peg loop by loop until the last hoop which is inserted through the hole in the peg is available, push the string out of the loop, then pull the loop out of the hole.

To string a classical guitar one method is:

Reverse of the unstringing. Bend about an inch of string at one end to form an open loop, push that through the peg hole, wrap the other end of the string around the peg and through the loop, then pass it down the guitar body to the bridge and into the hole there. Loop back to the neck (about two or three inches) and twist back around the string, then you can put two or three twists in which should end up on top of the bridge, pull the string from the middle of the guitar to draw the twists taut. Then wind the peg to tighten the string. You should take it easy when tuning up for the first time to give the string time to "settle in", you may also find that the string may go out of tune easily for a day or two as it beds in.