+ Can I put acoustic strings on my electric or classical strings on my acoustic?

No. The string tensions are different between the guitars so putting on the wrong strings could damage the neck and bridge of the guitar and will certainly not sound good at all. Classical guitar strings don't have a ball on the tip (unlike acoustic and electric strings) so will physically not work on acoustic or electric guitars.

+ What size/gauge strings should I use?

Thinner strings are easier on the fingers and have a lower action but can break easier and can sound quieter than thicker strings. On an electric guitar, a string-set which is 0.09-0.40 are considered thin (these are called 9’s) and strings which are 0.12-0.50 are thick strings (these are called 12’s).

Most guitars come with either 9’s or 10’s. Guitars come set up for certain gauge strings so be aware that if you put thicker strings on, it may affect the action and playability of the guitar (particularly on a guitar with a Floyd Rose bridge).

+ What's the difference between stainless steel, nylon, phosphor bronze, cobalt, and nickel strings?

Nickel strings are the most popular electric guitar string and have a more mellow tone than stainless steel, they're smoother on your fingers and some argue that nickel has slightly stronger magnetic properties (this fact is debatable) - which would lead to a stronger signal and a better tone. Nickel is less susceptible to oxidisation than steel so nickle strings won't rust as quickly as stainless steel strings. However, it's rare but some people do have an allergic reaction to nickel so do not re-buy them if you notice small, itchy blisters on your fingers.

Stainless steel is a bright-sounding metal used in guitar strings and is used on acoustic and electric guitars and basses. Stainless steel strings sound brighter than nickel, the steel can be slightly tougher on your frets and your fingers though.

Nylon strings are used for classical guitar. The three thick strings (E, A and D) are usually steel wound around a nylon core, and the three thin stings (G, B and high E) are made of solid nylon.

Phosphor bronze strings are used in acoustic guitars - they have a rich, warm sound, but bronze is not as magnetic as steel so the strings are not good to use on electric guitars. The bronze strings are infused with red phosphorus to help to prevent oxidisation.

Cobalt strings are used on electric guitars and consist of a cobalt-infused steel wrapped around a steel core. Cobalt is a very corrosion-resistant metal and has stronger magnetic properties than steel and nickle, meaning you can theoretically achieve a fuller tone, louder sound, and richer harmonics. Cobalt is a hard alloy though so will wear out your frets and fingers faster than stainless steel or nickel strings.

There is no 'correct' string to buy, every guitarist has their own preferences. These are the most common prefrences:

• Electric guitar - Nickel
• Acoustic guitar - Phosphor bronze
• Classical guitar - Nylon
• Bass guitar - Stainless steel

+ What's the difference between roundwound, flatwound, and halfwound strings?

Guitar and bass strings are made using a metal central core with metal wire tightly wrapped around it. Roundwound/flatwound/halfwound refers to how the wire is prepared before wire is wrapped around the core.

• Roundwounds consists of a round wire wrapped around the core
• Flatwounds have a flattened-out wire (like a ribbon) wrapped around the core
• Halfwounds are flattened on one side, so they look almost like triangles - the round corner goes against the core and the flat side is on the outside meaning they are smooth to the touch.

Roundwounds are much bright-sounding, flatwounds are described as sounding 'dead', this 'dead' sound can be very useful for rhythm guitars or basses however. Flatwounds almost never need changing - the main reason people change their strings is the string has lost it's brightness, hence you do not need to worry about that with flatwounds. Flatwounds are smooth to touch, you are less prone to blisters using flatwounds. Flatwounds are gentle on frets and fingerboards, they are used a lot on fretless basses because the strings won't eat into the fingerboard. Roundwounds are more flexible that flatwounds - it's difficult to bend a string if flatwounds are on the guitar. Halfwounds incorporate both properties of roundwounds and flatwounds; the string feels smooth like flatwounds, but is brighter and has more flexibility.

+ What are 'coated strings?'

This is where the string has a coating around it to keep it cleaner and to keep it's brightness for longer by stopping the oxygen from getting to the string so it cannot rust while the coating is intact. It is typically coated with Teflon and became popular with guitarists because the strings stay brighter for longer and don't need changing as often.

A couple of problems with coated strings is that the Teflon makes the strings feel slippery and the coating will flake off after a while. Also, because Teflon is non-magnetic, the guitar's pickups have a harder time detecting the vibrations of the strings which can result in a slightly quieter, less dynamic sound.

Cleartone have developed a 'treated string' which uses nanotechnology to apply an extremely thin layer of protection to the string which is usually only one micron thick. This layer cannot be seen or felt, but actively repels oxygen, moisture, and dirt from the string, does not flake off, and does not feel slippery to touch. Treated strings are more expensive but will typically last three to five times longer than untreated strings.

+ How do I know when it’s time to change my strings?

When the shine goes from the strings is a good indication, look at the strings on the headstock and compare them to the fingerboard, if the strings are noticeably duller and have a lot of finger gunk on them it may be time to change them. On a classical guitar, you will probably notice the steel wrap separating over the frets, exposing the nylon core.

Remember, if you have a rosewood fingerboard, clean and condition it with lemon oil.

New strings will take a wile to hold their tuning after you have put them on so remember to buy an electric tuner and use it regularly.

+ Can I change strings myself or do I need a professional to do it?

Yes, but it's best to use a tutorial video to help you the first couple of times you change them, this will make sure you change them correctly and the guitar will stay in tune and work correctly.