Hi Guys.........!
Some of these tips will make you play better, some will make your guitar sound better some will just make playing easier.
This is a 'sound better' tip..
One thing I have found as a professional player that never fails to improve a guitar's sound is that's right put on a new set of strings. Nothing puts the sparkle and punch back into your sound like a fresh set of strings. I'll never forget when I found out how often studio players changed their strings. I thought, "How do they afford that?" Well, it's their gig, They either show up sounding great or they don't get called back.
Here are a few hints about guitar strings:
Some of these tips will make you play better, some will make your guitar sound better some will just make playing easier.
This is a 'sound better' tip..
One thing I have found as a professional player that never fails to improve a guitar's sound is that's right put on a new set of strings. Nothing puts the sparkle and punch back into your sound like a fresh set of strings. I'll never forget when I found out how often studio players changed their strings. I thought, "How do they afford that?" Well, it's their gig, They either show up sounding great or they don't get called back.
Here are a few hints about guitar strings:
1. The brand of strings isn't as important as
the fact that they're new!
Strings come in two kinds - coated and
uncoated. Coated strings are 'slicker'
feeling when you play them because they have a coating that keeps dirt and oils
from tarnishing the strings (and it keeps their
tone sounding bright.) So coated strings
sound "new" longer. From my experience, individual brands don't
demonstrate as much real-world playing difference as the marketing
would imply. I prefer 'Elixir Polywebs' because I like the
feel of the coating. But there are other
brands that offer coated strings too.
2. The gauge of strings is important.
Lighter strings are going to be easier to
push down though they sound a little 'smaller' in tone. If you're just beginning, I recommend a
lighter guage string set. Heavier strings will increase your sustain and volume
but they're also harder to push down. Experiment the next couple times you buy
new strings to see what works best for you.
3. Your strings have a
"life-cycle."
Most strings (coated or not) will sound
'fantastic' for about the first 4 hours of playing time; then 'really good' for
about 3 days; after that, you'll notice the tone beginning to 'dull' a bit
(depending on how you observe #4 below.)
Coated strings will last a good bit
longer (and sound 'new' longer) because they stay untarnished. They cost more, but
it's worth it to me.
4. Wash your hands before you play.
Your hands have oils that you don't even
notice...so strings get 'gunked up' and corroded...losing that clear
'ring.' Washing your hands before you
play minimizes this oil transfer so your strings
last longer.
5. Steve's Rule of Thumb...
If you can't remember the last time you
changed your strings, then it's time.
Do yourself (and your listeners) a favor
and put a new set of strings on your guitar. You'll stay inspired when your tone is clear.
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