Guitar Strings - 6 and 12 string guitars

12 string guitar

Top E's (strings 1 & 2) are both the same pitch. The B's (strings 3 & 4) are also the same pitch. The bottom 4 string are all 1 octave apart. The lower-case letters indicate the string is 1 octave higher than its pair... notice the string thickness on the chart above - the higher sounding strings are thinner.

Just remember: Strings 1,3,5,7,9,11 are all the normal guitar strings, with strings 2 and 4 exactly the same pitch as their pairs (1,3). Strings 6,8,10,12 are all 1 octave higher in pitch than their pairs.

Please Note: The Top E's have been written as E/E and the Bottom E's as E/e. This is to prevent confusion with the 6-string chart. The octave above bottom E on the 12 string chart (e), is actually 1 octave below the Top E's... (there is a 2 octave range between bottom E and Top E with 'e' right in the middle)... online 12 string guitar tuner.

↓ Guitar Strings

Wound strings

Material used for wire-winding: This varies, with different types of metal, namely white (silver) and gold (yellow) metals. White metals include stainless steel, silver-plated copper, and nickel alloy, while gold metals include brass, bronze, and other related alloys.

Electric Guitars with magnetic pick-ups: Only white metal strings can be used on these guitars as they are magnetically responsive. Nylon strings and yellow metal strings will not work with magnetic pick-up. Guitars with non-magnetic pick-ups, e.g., piezoelectric pickups etc., can be used with any type of string.

Different types of wound strings

Roundwound Strings:

• by far the most commonly used and the least expensive
• long length of wire is wrapped around a nylon or steel core which is either round or hexagonal (hexcore - less slippage of the windings around the core)
• produce good volume and tone
• excellent clarity when new
• susceptible to 'guitar-squeek' and harder-wearing on the frets and fingerboard due to the bumpy surface profile
• preferred by rock guitarists due to the bright percussive tone
• suitable for acoustic and electric guitars

Flatwound Strings:

• much smoother surface than the roundwound strings, as the winding is made from flat metal tape or ribbon - the core is either round or hexagonal (hexcore)
• less 'guitar-squeek' which occurs as your hand moves up and down the fretboard when it is in contact with the strings
• a more mellow sound than roundwound strings although a little harder to bend
• preferred by jazz players

Groundwound / Half-wound / Pressure-wound Strings:

• combination of roundwound and flatwound strings
• round wire is wrapped round the core which is either round or hexagonal, and then the winding is ground-down to remove any protrusions in the string, leaving a more flattened surface
• different brands are ground down to different degrees
• reduced finger or string noise when moving along the fretboard or changing chords
• results in some of the brighter sound of a roundwound with a smoother feel of the flatwound

Silk & Steel Strings:

• inner core is a combination of steel and silk
• strings 1 & 2 (treble strings) - plain unwound steel
• strings 3 - 6 (bass strings) - the steel core is firstly wrapped with a fine silk layer followed with regular metal winding
• only used on acoustic guitars
• the sound and feel of the guitar string is somewhere between a nylon and steel string guitar.
• Silk & Steel Strings

Guitar String Gauges: typical sets

These are typical gauges with manufacturers offering a variety of in-between gauges. You can also buy strings separately and mix and match your strings to suit your playing style. Gauges are usually calculated as fractions of an inch.

Nylon Strings

• produce a warmer, mellower sound, which is well-suited to classical, flamenco, bossa nova and folk music - also used to good effect by jazz and country artists
• ideal for beginners as they are much easier on the fingers compared to steel string guitars
• strings are made of nylon with strings 4 - 6 wound in metal - usually silver plated copper thread
• only used on acoustic guitars.

The fretboard on these guitars is wider as nylon strings when plucked have a large vibrational range needing more space between strings so that adjacent strings are not hit. This allows more space to play each string without contacting other strings especially when playing a quick succession of notes. Generally there is approximately a 1cm difference between the fretboard width of a nylon vs steel string acoustic guitar.

Nylon String Gauges: typical sets

While steel string guitars are selected in gauges, nylon strings are selected in different tensions, commonly being low, normal and high.

• Low (light) - quieter volume
• easier on the guitar resulting in extended health - ideal for older / vintage guitars
• easier to play especially if your guitar has a high action (distance between the fretboard and the string)
• emphasis on the body of the note rather than the attack into the note
• more susceptible to fret buzz.

• Normal (medium)
• excellent starting point for most players as you may want to go for lower or higher tension strings depending on your playing preference.

• High (strong) - more volume
• better for strumming
• more emphasis on the attack into the note compared to lower tensions
• guitar needs to be set up or designed to take a stronger tension otherwise your guitar will be susceptible to bridge and neck damage
• loosen strings after each practice or session