just a beginner:)!

[Katette]

Hey guys,

I am a beginner, i'm really keen on learning how to play the acoustic, but i just dont know what strings to get. I have read some post on here i hear martins SPS swedish stainless steals are pretty good and also d'aquisto tony rice nickel sets or something rather...? And the electric D'ddario 10 qauge. I need feedback on them please help:( I have a ramon sanchez model CK-390 BS if that helps or not?

Thanks
Katette:)

[zenkonami]

Well, who are some of your favorite guitarists/artists/bands? It might help a little to know what kind of stuff really influences you to want to play.

Heavier gauge strings (say, 12s) ring out nice and true and are great for really solid, powerful rhythm playing. Lighter gauge (say 10s) are probably better if you're gonna have a more nuanced, technical approach. Just guidelines of course. As far as which brand, that also depends on a lot of factors, I think. How often can you afford to change strings, for one <g>.

Personally, I've always liked D'Aquistos. I use 12s for rhythm playing (like I said) and 10s if I'm doing more lead work. Only downside I've found with them is that they wear my frets down pretty fast, though that may have more to do with how I play and how I have my guitar setup than with the strings.

Really, whatever you choose, just try a few different sets and have fun!

-Zen

[flufhead]

I tend to like the Martin SP Series strings. I am a HEAVY rhythm player and play the 12's. I tried the lighter guages but tend to break too many strings with them. I like like the way "older" strings sound better than new ones, which tend to sound too brite (especially when amplified). so I leave my strings on untill they break. If I have a gig coming up only then I will then replace the whole set a week in advance so they have time to break in, but not yet rust (at the bridge) and they tend to last through the night.

Also when restringing your guitar, be sure to pull on the string when it is almost at pitch so the string pulls tight around the tuning peg. (don't be shy, really yank thoses wound strings, they wont break) It helps the string to reach it's tinsel (sp) point and is much easier to keep in tune as you wont be streatching it as you are playing, and tuning up every other song. When you do this notice the pitch drop after the yank, that is all the excess tuning you are getting rid of

[KevWind]

As has been said it may depend on the style you play and what you like. My self I tend to like the coated Phosphor Bronze I've gone from Elixir to D'Addario now I am using Cleartone which I really like!! mostly 53 to 12 for the six strings and 47 to 10 s for the 12 string. Also a big factor in the sound is the thickness of pic (that is if you use one). I like Dinosaur 0.96mm-- 1.20mm and 1.50mm the lighter 0.96 have more twang or sparkle, where the heavy 1.50mm have a more mellow sound the 120 fit nicely in between good luck... Kev

[FFTT]

If you are just beginning, it may be easier for you to get good clean chords with less effort staring out with lighter guage strings.

It can be quite frustrating trying to play cleanly with heavier strings when your fingers are not strong enough and painful until your calluses have developed.

As your strength and finger tips improve, then maybe try mediums and see how they feel.