Small differences in acoustic guitar strings can make a huge difference in your guitar sound.

We are talking steel acoustic guitar strings here. Wow!!!!

There are so many different acoustic guitar strings on the market today.

How do you wade through all those brands and all the different types within the brands to choose a set that works for you?

It's overwhelming if you are just beginning.

It would be time consuming and costly to play a set of everything out there!

If you have the time and money, play as many as you can.

Try out as many as you can in a music store.

Make friends with local store owners and always handle their instruments with care.

Gain the owner's trust so he/she doesn't mind you handling the instruments when you visit. There are many considerations when choosing acoustic guitar strings.

There are four that I mainly use.

Playability---

What gauge are they? Are they small enough and easy enough on my fingers?

Can I do the bends, tremelo, and sustains that I like to play and hear?

Is my guitar set up for these strings?
Sound----

Are yours crisp and bright?

Do they have the timbre that I like?

Do they have any meat to their range! How are the highs, lows and middles? Life Span---

How long will they last? How long will they retain an acceptable sound? What is the length of time from install to going dead?

Cost---

How much do they cost? Can I afford to change them regularly?

Do I go with a cheaper set that I have to change regularly to get the sound?

Do I go with the more expensive strings that I don't have to change regularly?

Most professionals change strings regularly.

Some are likely to change before each performance.

Others do a couple of performances with them if the performances are close together.

Semi-pros change less regularly and a novice may not change strings but once every six months.

If you are a novice and enjoy playing, do yourself and listeners a favor, change strings regularly!

If I am playing regularly, I change regularly.

I don't usually go more than a week.

A good fresh set of strings with just the right feel and sound can improve your performance, make you feel better about it, and even improve your playing.

Goto How to Change Guitar Strings Page

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