How often should I change my guitar strings?

If you play for hours a day, a good rule of thumb is every month. If you are a more casual player, you may find you only need to change strings a couple of times a year. Pro players change their strings every week if not every day depending on how busy they are with gigs. If you are breaking strings, it is a good idea to change the whole set rather than just the broken string: new strings sound brighter and your ears will notice the difference. Also, if your strings are discoloured, not holding their tuning or leaving dark residue on your fingers, then you should have changed them a long, long time ago!

What difference do guitar strings make?

Different types and thicknesses of strings drastically affect the sound of your guitar. Thicker strings are great for tuning your guitar to a lower pitch, while the different materials of an acoustic guitar string can highlight different balances of low end and high end.

What do different guitar strings do?

Different strings are used to highlight a different kind of tone or sound on different kinds of guitar. Roundwound Electric guitar strings are designed to be bright and clear, flatwound strings have a warmer, more mellow tone that's great for jazz. Bass strings are built thicker to handle the much lower tuning of a bass guitar, while nylon strings are specifically designed for the warm response of a classical guitar.

Will restringing my guitar make it sound better?

Yes, absolutely. Fresh strings on any guitar make it instantly sound brighter and more crisp. new strings also hold their tuning better than old strings once they've settled in.

How do I know what strings to get for my guitar?

Manufacturers will often include the info on which strings they fit in the factory when you buy your guitar. For any other advice though, contact us or visit our stores, and our highly knowledgeable staff will be happy to point you in the right direction.