Guitar strings. Don’t you just hate them? They constantly go out of tune and break at the most inopportune times. I wish I played the piano. Piano strings rarely break and only need to be tuned occasionally and you get some other guy to tune it for you. You pianists don’t know how lucky you have it.

Guitar strings; guaranteed to let you down every time. Like when a friend comes over and asks you to play something on your axe, you pick it up, totally out of tune. Or you’re playing a gig, first song, that’s right you got it, a string breaks.

Guitar strings, I wish we didn’t have them at all. I like those guitars that Sony makes for the PS2, no strings. All guitars should be like that, don’t you think?

NO! Without guitar strings we wouldn’t be able to get the unique tones that we can get out of an axe; no bending, no harmonics, no squealing and no feedback. All the stuff we love about the sound of a guitar ultimately comes from the strings and the ability of guitarist to manipulate those strings.

So seeing we are stuck with guitar strings I have a few tips that might help you overcome some of the problems that guitar strings cause.

String Gauge

• You should decide what strings you wish to use on the guitar and what gauge the strings should be. If you want to play fast lead solos you need a fairly light gauge string but if you want to play with more feel you need heavier gauge strings. Light gauge strings will go out of tune more quickly then heavy gauge strings. A good compromise is light heavy bottom (10 - 52).
• Once you have decided on the strings and the gauge take the guitar to a luthier and get him to set the guitar up for those particular strings. He will set the intonation and action of the guitar based on the gauge of strings you are going to use.

Changing Strings

• Whenever you change strings you should stretch them in, this stops them going out of tune so quickly. To stretch them in put your finger on the 22nd fret and stretch the string about halfway from the 22nd fret to the bridge. Stretch it hard, like you hate that string. After you have stretched it a few times it will go out of tune, repeat the stretching until it stays in tune. Then repeat the stretching by putting your finger on the 7th fret and stretching back toward the bridge. Then finally repeat the stretching by leaving your finger on the 7th fret and stretching back towards the headstock of the guitar. After each stretch check the tuning and re-tune if necessary. Continue stretching until the string stays in tune.
• Use a string winder; this takes all the effort out of string changing.
• Only use about three string wraps around the machine head or get a lock down system which is even better.

Longer Life Strings

• Always wipe your guitar down after use. This will lengthen the life of your stings by removing sweat, muck and skin from the strings.
• Use long life strings like Elixir which last up to five times longer than other strings.
• Use a product like Finger Ease which is light oil that you spray on your strings. It not only extends the life of the string but softens calluses.

So learn to love your strings, treat them with respect and care and your playing experience will be greatly enhanced.

Axel