How to tie the strings on a classical guitar - a quick guide

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

In the 18th century, the guitar appeared, which serves for solo performance, accompaniment, ensemble. It has a soft, pleasant sound, great for professionals and beginners.

The instrument has six strings, but not everyone knows how to tie strings on a classical guitar.

Short description of the tool

Learning to play the guitar starts with the classical version, then some musicians switch to electric guitars, jazz, bass guitars with metal strings. Classical guitar is made from rosewood, spruce, mahogany, cedar. For the neck, as a rule, only cedar or mahogany is used.

A classical guitar has twelve frets from the headstock to the body - this is what makes it different from all the others. It is not intended for setting metal strings, playing with a pick, as there is no protective plate under the strings and the body is likely to be damaged.

Setting the strings on a classical guitaris an important point, since it has a wider neck than an acoustic one, which means that the distance between the strings is greater. It is not possible to adjust the neck deflection, tighten the strings by a tone (or more), so the tension is important - the volume and softness of the sound directly depend on this.

It will not be difficult for every more or less professional musician to deal with the instrument, but for a person who has just picked up an instrument, the question of how to put the strings on a classical guitar remains relevant.

Types of strings

All strings are different thicknesses. The thicker, the more expressive the sound and the more difficult it is to play - the fingers get tired quickly. The nylon strings used are easier to grip. The only drawback is the relatively quiet sound, more suitable for chamber performances. First, second, third strings of pure nylon. Three basses are covered with silver-plated copper winding. The silver plating enhances the sound. The sonority can be increased by using fluorocarbon or carbon strings. They are strong, give in to strong tension.

It is dangerous to use metal strings, they are sometimes used on concert instruments. They are very strong, resonant and, compared to nylon, have a stronger tension. But a classical guitar is not designed for long-term stress, so only professionals on the big stage will need information on how to put strings on a classical guitar with a steel base. Various types of metal-based windings add brightness to the sound. Bronze-wound strings give a hard sound, silver-wound strings give a velvety, softer sound.

Installation rules

It is necessary to remember the main rule and observe safety precautions before tying the strings on a classical guitar: when changing, tuning, keep the instrument strictly away from you! Because the tensile force of all strings is approximately equal to a mass of 50 kg, if it breaks, it can cause injury, injure the face or eyes.

If during the replacement you decide to bite the string first, then you should use wire cutters. It is important to remember that the tension is loosened in advance of replacement, because with a sudden change in tension, the likelihood of damage, neck distortion, damage to the guitar body and injury to the musician increases. Sometimes, for convenience, stringwinders / stringweiders are used - machines for loosening strings.

Step by step instructions

Let's consider step by step how to tie the strings on a classical guitar according to all the rules:

First you need to remove the worn (torn) strings. Using a typewriter or by rotating the peg in the direction necessary to loosen the string. Rotation is performed until the end can be pulled out of the peg

It is important to remember that the usual cutting (biting) of the stretched strings can be traumatic for the musician and harmful for the instrument.

• Then, untie the remaining knots of the loops and pull the end of the string out of the nut of the lower stand.
• When the strings willremoved, you can wipe the entire instrument from dust with a dry cloth or a specially designed guitar care product.
• Nylon products are tensioned in the same way as in the case of others. The first and sixth are pulled first, then the second and fifth, at the end of the middle - the third and fourth. This is for convenience.
• The string is threaded into the hole of the nut by 10 - 12 cm. The end is wound under the main part and wound into a loop until a knot is formed.
• So that the end does not slip out of the knot, the main part is bent to the body of the guitar, and the end is pulled in the opposite direction so that the knot is tightly tightened.
• The end on the other side is threaded into the hole of the peg and make a half turn around the peg. Then the end is wrapped around the main part of the string and threaded inside the turn.
• Slowly turning the peg, you need to pull the string until the end is pressed. Sometimes a few turns around the pin are enough.
• The direction of winding the string is of particular importance:

1. The first and sixth are wound from the outside in the direction of rotation of the shaft.
2. Second, third, fourth, fifth - from the inside in the direction of rotation of the shaft.

• Similarly, taking into account the rotation of the shaft, the remaining strings are stretched. After installation, cut off the protruding ends.

Before tying the strings on a classical guitar, it is recommended to loosen them so that the load on the instrument is uniform. Some manufacturers produce products with balls at the end, which allowsdo without tying an additional knot on the saddle.