Film making

As a guitar player, you’ll inevitably need to restring your guitar at some point. When you begin playing, “guitar string gauges” and “alloy ratios” really aren’t important terms to know or understand. When you’ve played so much that your guitar starts to produce the dreaded “buzzing” sound, it’s time to teach yourself about the different string types available and the sounds they produce. Standard acoustic guitars are made with 6 or 12 steel strings, and more expensive models come with on board electronic pick ups. Compared to classical guitars, which are made with nylon strings, the steel strings on acoustic guitars are very high tension, which creates a very powerful and bright sound. Taking a few minutes to familiarize yourself with the different guitar string types will help you make the right decision when it’s time for new strings. Acoustic guitar strings come in a variety of “alloy ratios” and “guitar string gauges.” While these terms might sound be a little intimidating, the concepts are very simple. Essentially, the alloy ratio refers is the metal ratio which compose the string. The guitar string gauge is the thickness of your string.

Reading up on alloy ratios and guitar string gauges will go a long way in helping you make a good decision when it’s time to buy new strings. Acoustic strings are available in a number of different alloy ratios and guitar string gauges – which can definitely be overwhelming to a first time string buyer. The “alloy ratio” refers to the actual metals the string is composed of, while the “guitar string gauge” refers to the strings thickness and/or diameter. Bronze strings are often simply referred to as 80/20′s, because they are made up of 80 percent copper and 20 percent tin. 80/20 strings create a very bright and ringing sound, and generally have a very soft feel compared to other alloy ratios. These are often simpler to play on for the novice guitar player – they don’t have much tension, so they really aren’t too difficult to strum. The downside with 80/20′s is that their bright or glowing sound is eventually lost, so you’ll find yourself restringing every few months.

Phosphor/bronze strings are composed of 92 percent copper and 8 percent tin, and generally have the longest life span of any alloy ratio. They are corrosion resistant and create a very bold and brassy sound. With a nice combo of durability and sound, phosphor/bronze are considered the most widely used guitar string.

Brass acoustic guitar strings are 85% copper and 15 % tin, and represent the middle ground between bronze and phosphor-bronze strings. These strings are easier to play than phosphor-bronze, but some people find this alloy ratio to be irritating to their skin oils. In terms of sound, these strings fall between the above two types of strings. Despite the irritation these strings may cause, they are usually more popular than 80/20′s.

When you are browsing online for new guitar strings, you will notice that they are classified by guitar string gauges of extra super light, super light, light, medium, heavy, and extra heavy. Lighter guitar string gauges are much easier to pluck, and are preferred by beginners, while heavier gauge strings are louder and stiffer. These require much more finger strength and skill to play, and you will need to be a highly skilled guitar player before you are able to use extra heavy strings. Medium gauge gives you benefits on both ends of the spectrum, and are perfect for intermediate players who have advanced past acoustic guitar basics. Different playing styles require different strings – try playing different gauges if your friends have guitar string gauges you do not – you’ll quickly find out which gauge you find most enjoyable.

Looking to find more information on guitar string gauges, then visit www.acousticguitarblog.net to find the best advice on guitar string gauges for you.