Mar 07 2025

guitar tuning methods by famous guitarists such as Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and Eric Johnson

3 Unique Guitar Tuning Methods of Famous Guitarists!

By Vinnie Mah Music Articles No Comments

3 Unique Guitar Tuning Methods of Famous Guitarists!

I bet you haven’t heard of these three unique guitar tuning methods used by some of the most famous guitarists! Sure, as a guitarist, you’d know how to tune a guitar. However, we’re talking about the moments when Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and Eric Johnson unlocked their guitars’ full potential.

guitar tuning methods by famous guitarists such as Eddie Van Halen, Steve Vai and Eric Johnson

In today’s world, digital tuners have made things so convenient that many guitarists. They tune up without truly understanding why they need to tighten or loosen a string. It’s like how Singaporeans are losing their dialects, then their mother tongues—guitarists are losing their ability to hear the notes properly! If you’re interested in sharpening your ear, check out our ear training guide.

But today, we’re diving into the crazy and brilliant tuning methods these guitar legends used to their advantage!

Sign up for guitar lessons and learn more about guitar tuning methods of famous guitarists

Learning about these unique guitar tuning methods is a great way to deepen your understanding of these famous guitarists. However, having a teacher to guide you through them and explain the nuances makes all the difference!

We are a music school offering guitar lessons at Upper Thomson Road, Singapore. Signing up for guitar lessons with us means learning from a team with over 10 years of experience running a successful music school in Singapore. Over the years, we have refined our teaching methods to ensure they are engaging, effective, and tailored to suit students of all ages and skill levels. Our commitment to excellence goes beyond lessons—we organize annual recitals! It provides our guitar students with the opportunity to showcase their progress, build confidence, and experience the joy of performing.

Eddie Van Halen talks about his guitar tuning methods with the B string!

One of the most famous guitarists to discuss unique tuning methods is none other than Eddie Van Halen! For Eddie, tuning wasn’t just about relying on a tuner and expecting it to solve all the problems. He and his band were known for tuning to each other before recording, meaning he would adjust his guitar by ear to what sounded right, and the bassist would then match him. This was a common practice among guitarists at the time, myself included. While there were many reasons for this approach, one of the most practical was the lack of easy access to digital tuners. Reference tuning was a quick and effective way to get straight into playing and jamming.

eddie van halen running with the devil guitar tuning lesson However, Eddie has a special way to tune the B string on his guitar. He famously tuned his B string slightly flatter so that it would sound more in tune when he plays certain harmonies. For example, in the song “Running with the devil”, the B string would hit a major 3rd note and cause a dissonant tone against the root note. The dissonant tone prompted Eddie to go against the rule and tune his B string slightly flatter so that it fits better with the root note. Here’s what Eddie said.

It’s hard to get in tune perfectly. Any guitar. A guitar is just theoretically built wrong. Each string is an interval of fourths, and then the B string is off. Theoretically, that’s not right. If you tune an open E chord in the first position and it’s perfectly in tune, and then you hit a barre chord an octave higher, it’s out of tune. The B string is always a m*** to keep in tune all the time! So I have to retune for certain songs.

Read the transcript of the 1979 Guitar Player interview here. The devil is in the details!

Steve Vai has wonky guitar frets!

There’s no doubt that Steve Vai is a legendary guitarist with an exceptional ear for detail. If you’ve noticed the unusual frets in the cover image of the YouTube video above, you might be wondering—why do they look so wonky? This is due to a specialized fret system called True Temperament, whose slogan is fittingly, “There are no straight lines in nature!” These wavy frets are designed to improve intonation, helping chords and notes stay in tune more accurately across the fretboard. The guitar has long been known for its tuning compromises—typically, you can get an A chord or a D chord perfectly in tune, but not both at the same time! Makes you wonder how AC/DC pulls it off.

Eric Clapton adopted his tuning method from Piano tuners!

Eric Johnson once shared his unique approach to guitar tuning, and it’s quite different from the usual method most guitarists use. Typically, we tune from the low E to the high E string or vice versa, simply adjusting one string relative to another—nothing too complicated. However, this isn’t how piano tuners approach their craft. Instead, they start in the middle of the piano and work their way outward. Johnson adopted this technique for guitar tuning, explaining how it helps achieve better overall intonation.

If you’re unaware, adjusting one string affects the tension of the others. Think of the guitar neck as a bow under constant tension from all six strings. This is why breaking just one string can throw your entire guitar completely out of tune. Johnson’s method takes this into account, aiming for a more balanced and stable tuning.

Alternative tuning

So far, we are only talking about guitarists who use the standard E tuning. This means, EADGBE from the 6th to the 1st string. The standard E tuning came about after guitarists from a long time ago derived that this is the best idea to tune the guitar. It keeps chord shapes and scales easy to play and visualize. Since it was the most popular tuning, it became the standard tuning over time. However, there are more alternative ways to tune the guitar! Here is a list of tunings you can explore on your guitar.

Half-Step Down (Eb Ab Db Gb Bb Eb) – Used by Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Guns N’ Roses for a slightly darker tone.
Drop D (DADGBE) – Low E string is tuned down to D, making power chords easier to play.
Double Drop D (DADGBD) – Both E strings are dropped to D, used by Neil Young in songs like Cinnamon Girl.
DADGAD – Popular in Celtic and folk music, providing a droning, open sound.
Open G (DGDGBD) – Used by blues and slide guitarists, including Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones.
Open D (DADF#AD) – Great for slide guitar and blues, used by artists like Robert Johnson.
Open C (CGCGCE) – Used by Devin Townsend and John Butler for a rich, open sound.
Open E (EBEG#BE) – A bright, resonant tuning used by slide guitarists like Duane Allman and Derek Trucks.
Nashville Tuning (EADGBE but with high-octave strings on the lower four strings) – Creates a 12-string-like shimmer using just a 6-string guitar.
All Fourths Tuning (EADGCF) – Every string is tuned in fourths, making scales and chords more uniform across the fretboard.

What if I want more?

Why stop at six strings? Why not explore 7, 8, or even 9-string guitars? A quick internet search will reveal some truly wild creations, like a 21-string guitar or a 69-string bass! While adding more strings expands musical possibilities, the thickness of the strings also plays a crucial role.

Take Yngwie Malmsteen, for example—he famously uses ultra-thin 0.08 gauge strings, which allow for effortless vibrato and a lighter touch. However, thinner strings also affect intonation. Some guitarists even experiment with hybrid string gauges, using thinner strings for higher-pitched notes and thicker ones for the lower register.

Who knows? Maybe this article will spark some inspiration for you to experiment and create something entirely new!

Conclusion

Tuning a guitar is more than just matching pitches—it’s about understanding the subtle interactions between strings, tension, and intonation. Small adjustments, like compensating for string tension or fine-tuning certain notes, can make a huge difference in how your guitar sounds and feels to play. Legendary guitarists have proven that attention to these details can unlock new sonic possibilities. So next time you tune up, take a moment to really listen and experiment—you might discover a method that transforms your playing!

If you are keen to learn more about guitar tuning through proper guitar lessons, consider taking a Trial Lesson with us! I am sure with our decade-long experience, we will be of valuable help to you. Contact us through these easy channels! 🙂

Feb 11 2025

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When should you change your guitar pick?

By Vinnie Mah Music Articles No Comments

When should you change your guitar pick?

when should you change your guitar pick?

It’s obvious that guitar picks wear out and need replacing, but when is the right time to change them? When I first started learning guitar, a senior in school told me that older picks feel better with time. As a young and naive beginner, I fully embraced that idea, keeping a small tin with 3–5 of my favorite picks that I refused to replace. It wasn’t until I joined a professional band and performed regularly that I realized how much the condition of a pick affects playing. If you’re a beginner or just curious to see if your thoughts on pick longevity are accurate, this article is for you! Let’s dive in!

Guitar teachers will make sure you change your guitar pick when the time is right!

Just like checking your nail length, our guitar teachers routinely inspect your guitar pick and will let you know when it’s time for a change. A worn-out pick can affect your playing habits, so it’s important to keep it shipshape!

Your guitar pick is going, going… gone!

In reality, a guitar pick can last anywhere from a few days to several months, depending on your playing style. An aggressive speed metal guitarist will wear out picks much faster than a disciplined student with a lighter touch. Because wear and tear vary greatly between players, time isn’t the best indicator for when to replace a pick. Instead, it’s important to regularly check its condition.

If you’re using a Vinnie Classroom guitar pick, knowing when to change it is easy—the printed logo acts as a visual guide to track its lifespan. Ideally, you shouldn’t wait until the logo has completely worn off before replacing your pick!

when should you replace your guitar pick?

Pay close attention to the wear pattern on both sides of your pick. Some students tend to hold their pick the same way every time, leading to uneven wear. In the left photo, pick 3 (from left to right) appears more worn, while in the right photo, pick 2 shows more significant wear. However, these are actually the same picks—I simply flipped them around for the photos!

Guitar pick wear and tear pattern explained

guitar pick worn out area

Every style of music creates a different wear pattern on the guitar pick. However, there are just mainly 2 areas that will be worn out. While my list will not have every genre of guitar music, it should cover most of them and give you a general idea!

Wear area 1 alone

Strum and Sing guitarists
Flat picking country guitarists
Hybrid picking fingerstyle guitarists
Electric guitar students taking Rockschool grade 1 to 3

Wear areas 1 and 2 together

Blues, Jazz, Metal and Rock Guitarists
Guitar students who have embarked on their alternate picking journey
Electric guitar students taking Rockschool grade 4 and higher

However, regardless of your playing style and guitar skill level, you should not allow your pick to wear enough to affect your picking accuracies and habits.

Consistency is key!

As I mentioned earlier, it wasn’t until I joined a full-time band that I realized how crucial a good pick is for maintaining performance consistency. You’ve probably seen guitarists on stage tossing their picks into the crowd—while it’s a fun fan service, it’s also likely because those picks are too worn out to use anymore. Just ask my students, and they’ll tell you—I have a section of my table covered in worn-out picks!

Speaking of consistency, many guitarists and students tend to collect picks of different shapes, thicknesses, and materials. While it’s exciting to experiment, constantly switching between picks can hinder muscle memory and prevent the development of a consistent playing habit. After an initial exploration phase, buying picks in bulk can be a game-changer. If you’re unsure about your choice, starting with a pack of 10 is a great way to test them out. Once you find the perfect pick, consider buying them in batches of 100 or even 1,000!

Read about how to choose the right guitar pick here!

Guitar pick shape

Conclusion

In conclusion, a guitarist should change their pick when it shows visible wear, such as rounded edges, uneven surfaces, or reduced grip. If the pick starts feeling different while playing, it’s time for a replacement.

However, if you still need help, talk to us. Taking guitar lessons can help you understand more about guitar picks!

Consider taking a Trial Lesson with us! I am sure with our decade-long experience, we will be of valuable help to you. Contact us through these easy channels! 🙂

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Feb 03 2025

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Guitar Part Name translate from English to Chinese

Guitar parts name translation: English to Chinese | 吉他英语翻译华语

By Vinnie Mah Music Articles No Comments

Guitar parts name translation: English to Chinese | 吉他英语翻译华语

Guitar parts name in English can’t always be easily translated into Chinese using translators. With more Chinese-speaking students enrolling in our music school for guitar lessons, we, as educators in English-speaking Singapore, recognize the need to enhance our understanding of guitar part names with accurate translations. In this article, we aim to provide a comprehensive list of guitar parts translated from English to Chinese. If you’re looking for such a resource, let’s dive in and learn together!

Why is it important to learn the guitar part’s name in either English or Chinese?

If you haven’t attended guitar lessons, you might not see the importance of learning the names of guitar parts in English, Chinese, or any language. However, knowing these names is essential for clear communication. Imagine wanting to borrow a ruler from a classmate but not knowing the word for it—you’d likely spend a lot of time describing it before they understand. The same applies to guitar lessons; being able to identify guitar parts correctly ensures that students and teachers are on the same page throughout the learning process.

If you’re into comedy, I love the sketch by VLDL about the “Flat Clicker“. It highlights the importance of knowing the item names through a funny scenario.

Taking guitar lessons can help you learn the name of guitar parts!

Guitar lessons are the definitive way to learn about the names of the guitar parts and more. You will be enriched with all the information you need to play and understand the guitar through proper and structured guitar lessons.

We are a music school in Singapore offering guitar lessons at Upper Thomson Road. Signing up for guitar lessons with us means learning from a team with over 10 years of experience running a successful music school in Singapore. Over the years, we have refined our teaching methods to ensure they are engaging, effective, and tailored to suit students of all ages and skill levels. Our commitment to excellence goes beyond lessons—we organize annual recitals! It allows our guitar students to showcase their progress, build confidence, and experience the joy of performing.

List of guitar parts translated from English to Chinese (with Hanyu Pinyin)

As you go through this list, keep in mind that these are not direct translations from Google Translate. Instead, these are terms we’ve learned from our Chinese-speaking students from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and beyond. We understand that different parts of the world may have their own variations for the same guitar parts, so we’d love to hear how you name them in your part of the world—share your thoughts in the comments below! 🙂

parts of a guitar in Chinese

Guitar: 吉他 jí tā
Guitar: 六弦琴 liù xián qín
Capo: 变调夹 biàn diào jiā
Pick: 破片 pō piàn
Pickup: 拾音器 shí yīn qì
Headstock: 琴头 qín tóu
Tuner: 弦钮 xián niǔ
Neck: 琴颈 qín jǐng
Fret: 品格 pǐn gé
Fretwire: 品线 pǐn xiàn
Fingerboard/Fretboard: 指板 zhǐ bǎn
Nut: 上弦枕 shàng xián zhěn
Saddle: 下弦枕 xià xián zhěn
Soundhole: 音孔 yīn kǒng
Bridge: 琴桥 qín qiáo
Body: 琴身 qín shēn

Conclusion

Learning the names of guitar parts in both English and Chinese is essential for effective communication between students and teachers, especially in a multilingual learning environment. It ensures clarity in instructions, minimizes misunderstandings, and helps students follow lessons more efficiently. Whether discussing techniques, troubleshooting issues, or simply understanding feedback, knowing the correct terms in both languages enhances the learning experience. By bridging the language gap, students can focus more on developing their skills and enjoying their musical journey with confidence.

Taking guitar lessons can help you understand more about the guitar! Consider taking a Trial Lesson with us! I am sure with our decade-long experience, we will be of valuable help to you. Contact us through these easy channels! 🙂

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Jan 16 2025

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5 things to look out for when buying an acoustic guitar

By Vinnie Mah Music Articles No Comments

5 things to look out for when buying an acoustic guitar

There are so many things to look out for when buying an acoustic guitar! Especially if you are a beginner thinking about signing up for guitar lessons in Singapore. The options available in our local guitar shops can be rather overwhelming. Through this article, we aim to help answer all the burning questions you have about buying your acoustic guitar. So let’s dive in!

Steel strings or Nylon strings

Steel string or Nylon string guitar

Beginner guitar students often struggle to choose between steel strings or nylon strings guitar. Both are classified as an acoustic guitar with the same tuning and note system on the fretboard and typically use 6 strings. However, they are also vastly different. Here’s a quick comparison chart to help you understand better.

Steel String Guitar	Nylon String Guitar
A little painful for beginners to press	Gentle on the fingers for beginners
Bright tone	Mellow tone
Preferred by Pop, Rock, and Fingerstyle guitarists	Preferred by Classical, Spanish, and Polyphia guitarists
Narrower fretboard width	Wider fretboard width
Curved fretboard surface	Flat fretboard surface

Wait, I realize the table might make things more confusing for beginner guitarists. Here’s our simplest recommendation: if the guitar student is a very young child, go for a nylon string guitar. It’s much easier for them to press the strings and produce clear notes. On the other hand, if you’re a teenager or older and prefer genres like Pop, Rock, or Fingerstyle, a steel string guitar would be a better fit.

At Vinnie Classroom, we don’t restrict the type of guitar you use for lessons—the same techniques can be learned on both nylon and steel string guitars. Many families have a hand-me-down nylon string guitar, but their child might prefer the look of a steel string guitar. Our advice? Stick with the nylon string guitar for building a solid foundation, then transition to a new guitar of your choice later on.

Acoustic guitar body shape

acoustic guitar body shapes

On of the things to look out for when buying an acoustic guitar is definitely the body shape! While the nylon string guitars are often made in the same guitar body shape, the steel string guitar has a wider range of options. Here’s the list of their body shape along with the descriptions.

Parlour – Small and narrow body. The fretboard meets the body at the 12th fret, unlike the standard 14th fret for acoustic guitar. Brighter tone with strong mids.
000 – Similar shapes include Auditorium, Concert, and OM. It has the most balanced tone for guitar plucking. Favored by fingerstyle guitarists.
Dreadnought – It has a much bigger body as compared to Parlour and 000 guitar shape. This shape produces a tight and bright treble and deep bass tones. Due to the lack of mid-tones, it is commonly used for strumming and singing. Note-picking using a guitar pick is well-liked too.
Rounded Shoulder – Also known as slope shoulder Dreadnought. This is a variant of the standard Dreadnought guitar body shape. The rounded shoulder helps reduce the treble tone, resulting in a strong, deep, and tight bass frequency response.
Jumbo – As the name implies, this body shape is the biggest of all. You get a much louder sound out of this guitar and definitely a much deeper bass. However, this guitar is not suitable for everyone due to its massive size.

Should your guitar have a cutaway?

acoustic guitar cut-away or no cut-away

Most beginner guitar students don’t need a guitar with a cutaway, and likely won’t for a long time! Cutaways are designed for acoustic guitarists who want easier access to higher-pitched notes. Without a cutaway, reaching those notes involves stretching fingers over the guitar body, which can be challenging. However, very few songs require such high notes, and even when they do, many professional guitarists manage just fine without a cutaway.

It’s also worth noting that cutaways can alter the guitar’s tone, often making it sound slightly less full. To illustrate, here are two videos of guitarists playing high-pitched notes on standard guitar bodies.[/vc_column_text]

Full solid, Solid top, Veneer, or Laminated Acoustic Guitar?

front, sides and back of an acoustic guitar

This is perhaps the most important things to look out for when buying an acoustic guitar. Guitar stores typically have a big tag on their acoustic guitar that reads “Solid Top”, or “Full Solid”. But are they the same? Well, acoustic guitars can be categorized into 4 main types of wood, and here is their description.

Full Solid – The front, sides, and back are all made with solid pieces of wood. By saying solid wood, the guitar manufacturer means that what you see is what you get, with nothing glued in between anywhere.
Solid Top – This means the front part of the guitar body is made of solid pieces of wood. Typically acoustic guitars are made with one solid piece of wood that is sliced into 2 equal thicknesses to create the mirror effect.
Veneer – This refers to gluing a very thin piece of the said wood onto the laminated wood to create the required thickness. This helps with getting the aesthetic of the guitar right but provides almost nothing to help with the tone of the guitar.
Laminate – The common word is plywood. This means the thickness of the pieces of wood is formed by gluing multiple layers of scrap wood together. Like how a tissue gets its thickness.

Tonewood has been a subject of debate in the guitar community for decades. Some argue that the type of wood has no effect on a guitar’s tone, while others believe that the right wood is key to achieving their desired sound. Regardless of this debate, one thing is clear: solid top acoustic guitars generally sound better than those with veneer or laminated tops. This is because a solid piece of wood vibrates more effectively than multiple layers glued together. However, solid tops are also more sensitive to environmental factors and require proper care to avoid damage.

Acoustic Guitar Pickup Options

types of acoustic pickup

There are various ways to amplify an acoustic guitar through a sound system, which is why there are many types of pickups available. Here, we’ve outlined the 8 most commonly used pickups and how they perform. We hope this guide helps you choose the one that best suits your needs.

Magnetic Soundhole Pickup – These works like those seen on electric guitars. They are mounted easily by securing them onto the soundhole. This also means that you can easily remove them and mount them onto the next guitar.
Under Soundboard Transducer – Having such a transducer allows the sound of the surface of the guitar to be picked up. This is great if you intend to play in the style of Marcin or similar.
Under Saddle Piezo – This is the most commonly found pickup style for acoustic guitar as it can be hidden under the saddle and not affect the look of the guitar. However, the quality of these pickups can greatly affect the tone.
Under-string transducer – This works similarly to those under the saddle without the need to drill holes into your guitar. However, they can be rather fragile and will break if not handled carefully.
Internal Microphone – These condenser microphone helps capturing the most natural sound from your acoustic guitar. However, they typically need to be used with a soundhole cover or risk the possibility of feedback with the sound system.
Contact Microphone – These are rather inexpensive solutions to pick up the sound of your acoustic guitar. The position of the pickup affects the tone captured.
iRig soundhole pickup – These are simply hung onto the soundhole and work both like a microphone and a magnetic pickup. They come with a specially designed preamp with feedback cancellation capability.
External Condensor Microphone – These are professional options that don’t come cheap and are able to capture the very clear tone of the acoustic guitar. However, as with any microphone, there will always be a need to monitor the feedback risk.

Acoustic Guitar Preamp Options

types of acoustic guitar preamp

Most acoustic guitars with pickup options come equipped with an onboard preamp, often including an equalizer and tuner. However, modern designs are moving toward simpler systems, typically featuring just volume and basic tone controls. For more advanced sound customization, you can pair your guitar with preamps in pedal or software plug-in formats. Keep an eye out for IR (Impulse Response) technology, which can make your guitar sound like a much higher-end instrument! The topic of acoustic guitar pickups and preamps deserves a dedicated discussion, so stay tuned for a more in-depth article in the future! In this article, we shall focus on things to look out for when buying an acoustic guitar.

Do you need an acoustic guitar with a pickup?

The most common response to this question is, ‘Do you perform often?’ While that’s one way to approach the decision, performing isn’t the only reason to consider a pickup. At Vinnie Classroom, we hold annual recitals and regularly conduct video recording sessions. For this reason, we recommend that all our students opt for an acoustic guitar with a built-in pickup.

Conclusion

Choosing the right acoustic guitar is essential, as it sets the foundation for your learning experience and ensures comfort and playability. In Singapore, where recitals and recordings are common in music lessons, having an acoustic guitar with a built-in pickup is vital for versatility and seamless participation in such activities.

However, if you still have some questions, talk to us. Taking guitar lessons can help you shop for the right acoustic guitar!

Consider taking a Trial Lesson with us! I am sure with our decade-long experience, we will be of valuable help to you. Contact us through these easy channels! 🙂

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Dec 24 2024

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4 Levels of Christmas Songs (Guitar and Ukulele)

By Vinnie Mah Music Articles No Comments

4 Levels of Christmas Songs (Guitar and Ukulele)

Christmas song on ukulele and guitar

We tasked 3 groups of students at different levels of their guitar and ukulele lesson on a Christmas song challenge. The idea is to showcase the fun of playing the instrument regardless of their competency! It’s the most wonderful time of the year indeed!

Entry Level – Ukulele Christmas Duet!

Chord changes on the ukulele or guitar can be quite challenging, especially when tackling difficult chords like E Major and E Minor, as Ethan and Evan were doing. In fact, struggling with chord transitions is one of the main reasons people eventually give up on guitar or ukulele lessons. Many feel stuck, unable to see progress despite attending lessons for an extended period. The key to overcoming this hurdle lies in consistency, with time as our greatest ally. While we can’t fast-forward through the learning process, technology offers us a glimpse of what dedicated practice can achieve. Here’s Ethan and Evan performing “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”!

Beginner Level – Ukulele Christmas Duet With A Clone!

Fingerstyle arrangements enable us to play both harmony and melody simultaneously, but this can be quite challenging for most beginners. In our ukulele lessons, we prioritize building our students’ confidence in both harmony and melody separately. Once again, we leverage technology to help students understand how the individual parts come together as a whole. Here’s Matthias performing “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”!

Intermediate Level – High-Speed Ukulele~

Everyone enjoys playing fast on their instrument—a common tendency not just at our music school but likely everywhere in Singapore. However, playing at a faster tempo demands greater accuracy, which means dedicating more time to self-practice beyond music lessons. That said, the results are incredibly rewarding and satisfying! Here’s Matthias (once again) with the Christmas classic, “I Saw Three Ships.”

Advance Level – Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar for Christmas!

The ukulele is an excellent starting instrument for anyone looking to transition to the guitar, and Zachary is a perfect example of this. After successfully completing his Grade 8 Rockschool Ukulele examination, Zachary maintained his passion and seamlessly transitioned to the acoustic guitar. Thanks to the transferable skills between the ukulele and guitar, it didn’t take him long to master complex guitar techniques as well. We often receive inquiries from parents about guitar lessons for their young children, but many hesitate when we suggest starting with the ukulele. Hopefully, this article will provide clarity and insight for parents considering this progression!

Conclusion

This Christmas, we celebrate the progress of our guitar and ukulele students as they bring festive tunes to life. From mastering chords to exploring fingerstyle, their dedication shines bright. Let’s continue to nurture the joy of music and inspire growth in every strum. Merry Christmas from all of us at Vinnie Classroom!

If you wish to join us for music lessons, consider taking a Trial Lesson with us! I am sure with our decade-long experience, we will be of valuable help to you. Contact us through these easy channels! 🙂

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Nov 30 2024

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How do you choose the right guitar strings?

By Vinnie Mah Music Articles, Music Instruments 2 Comments

How do you choose the right guitar strings?

how to choose guitar strings

I’m sure you’d know how destructive it would be if you did not choose the right guitar string. Your guitar will play differently due to the change in tension. Some parts of your guitar might get damaged in the process. You could even snap a fresh string and cut yourself! In short, being ignorant about your guitar strings is never a good idea. So how do we choose the right set of guitar strings? Let’s dive deep!

Should I sign up for guitar lessons to learn about string changing?

It is a ridiculous statement to suggest that you should sign up for guitar lessons to learn about string changing. However, guitar string changing IS part of guitar lessons in most music schools in Singapore. String changing is not an easy task!

However, if you are capable of changing strings on your own but need guidance in guitar playing, we are here to help! We are a music school in Singapore offering guitar lessons at Upper Thomson Road. Signing up for guitar lessons with us means learning from a team with over 10 years of experience running a successful music school in Singapore. Over the years, we have refined our teaching methods to ensure they are engaging, effective, and tailored to suit students of all ages and skill levels. Our commitment to excellence goes beyond lessons—we organize annual recitals! It provides our guitar students with the opportunity to showcase their progress, build confidence, and experience the joy of performing.

What are the things I need to know about guitar strings?

Thankfully, you need to know just a few things about guitar strings before buying a pack! Let’s take a look at typical string packaging and the information present.

Gauge

The thickness of the strings. Most strings are labeled with just the thinnest and thickest strings on the front of the packaging for faster shopping. The rest of the specs are usually printed at the back of the packaging. Here are some common string gauges.

Acoustic: (a) 0.011 to 0.052, (b) 0.012 to 0.053
Electric: (a) 0.009 to 0.042, (b) 0.010 to 0.046
Ukulele: G (0.028), C (0.032), E (0.040), A (0.028)
Classical: Medium tension (recommended)
Bass: 0.045, 0.065, 0.085, 0.105

What happens if I use the wrong gauge?

Typically, the retail staff will recommend you some safer options should you be unaware of the current gauge of your strings. While there are no formal industry standards, most major brands ships their instruments with the same few options of string thickness! You can also go to the product website and have a look at the spec sheet. But ok let’s talk about the what ifs.

Too light – Your strings may start hitting onto your fretboard easily and cause notes to make an unpleasant buzzing sound. If you happened to restring way too light, the tension of the strings may not be enough to create enough clearance between the strings and the fretboard. You may end up with a guitar that has strings sitting flat on the fretboard.
Too heavy – Your strings will pull the neck in a tension more than it can handle and causing it to bow more than it should. If you are on a floating bridge, it will be tilted forward instead of sitting balanced and flat. You might break your bridge off the guitar if you are on a fixed bridge setup. Indeed, you can break your guitar when stringing them with strings that are way too heavy for it to handle.

Guitarists are fussy and hence the reason for the wide variety of string gauge. To change your string gauge to something different, you can send your guitar into a qualified tech (such as GuitarGeeksSG ) and these professionals will be able re-setup your guitar based on your new string gauge. It is a complicated process to fine tune the guitar. However, a right setup will mean that you will be enjoying your guitar more than before!

Material

The material of the string can reshape your guitar’s tone drastically. It is also the most common reason why there are so many different types out there! However, not every has the patience to try out every different types of materials out there. Hence, we usually refer to the description on the packaging, word of mouth or simply follow what our favourite guitarist(s) are using. To help you shorten your search for the best tone, here are some of the common materials and their characteristics.

Electric Guitar
- Nickel-plated steel – Balance and smooth tone
- Pure Nickel – Warmer tone
- Stainless Steel – Bright and strong tone
Acoustic Guitar
- 80/20 Bronze – Bright tone with a strong bass
- Phosphor Bronze – Warm and smooth tone
Ukulele
- Nylon – default ukulele string material
- Fluorocarbon – Fishing line rebranded as premium ukulele strings. Thinner than nylon and brighter tone
  - Read more about Fluoroucarbon here
Classica Guitar
- Medium Tension – Balance tone
- High Tension – Stronger attack and punchier bass tone
Bass Guitar
- Steel – Brightest tone
- Nickel/Steel Alloy – Bright tone
- Pure Nickel – Warm and smooth tone

One more thing to note about string material is that the characteristic of the tone does not remain consistent throughout its lifespan on your instrument. As you play, the string gets stretched out, aged, tarnished, and even rusted. There are simply too many reasons why the tone doesn’t stay the same as day one. However, that’s not really an issue for musicians of certain genres. Some bassists believes they should never change their strings, only to boil them in hot water to clean them before reusing them. They believe this will allow them to have that warm tone they desire. Some guitarists would do a monthly string changing because they prefer the bright tone from a fresh set of strings. During one of Tommy Emmanuel’s clinics in Singapore many years ago, he mentioned that his strings are changed before every show! I do wonder how true and consistent could that be. Regardless, I should remind you that Tone Is In The Fingers!

Coating

Simply put, while coated strings are usually 2-3 times more expensive than non-coated versions, the coating makes your strings last longer and hence makes more monetary sense. Of course, your guitar has to have good-quality hardware and has been set up perfectly to reduce the chance of string breakage while playing. A set of coated strings from popular brands can last you anywhere from 2-3 months to more than 6 months. There are a few common factors that will cause even the coated strings to rust. If you have any of these following, your best bet is to stick to coated strings.

Sweaty palms and fingers
You’re in a place with high humidity
You practice aggressively on a very regular basis and cause high wear and tear
Changing strings regularly is not something you want to do
Buying new strings regularly will affect your budgeting

Still unsure about how to choose your guitar strings?

The last thing anybody wants is to damage their guitar because of a wrong set of strings. Choosing the right set of strings is only part of the equation, let’s not forget about the right technique for restringing a guitar. Restringing your guitar the wrong way can also cause significant damage. If you are unsure, we strongly recommend you leave it to the professionals.

There are quite a few very established and reputable guitar techs in Singapore. Most of them are very reliable and offer great value for their service. One of them is Guitar Geeks Sg and they can be reachable here.

But if guitar lessons are what you need, we are ready to help you become the guitarist you wish to be. Consider taking a Trial Lesson with us! I am sure with our decade-long experience, we will be of valuable help to you.

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