Guitar Strings: Where the Guitar Sound Originates

The guitar is an old, dynamic instrument with a history marked by incremental changes in both technology and musical composition. Guitars have been modified to properly resonate and sound great, and the modern instrument is the result of years of evolution. While their bodies and playing techniques have changed through the years, the most important component of the guitar remains its strings. Here are some facts about how the guitar's strings have changed through the years:

The history of the guitar

Stringed instruments were first developed in ancient times. China and the rest of East Asia have a long and storied history with a variety of stringed instruments; many of these instruments are still played at a virtuoso level today. The Middle East also has a long history with stringed instruments, and a range of instruments have survived to today.

One of these instruments, the lute, eventually spread to Europe and has a long history there. It is not clear exactly what instrument the guitar developed from, but many suspect it was the lute because it is not played with a bow but is instead plucked. Some detractors argue that the guitar itself was first developed in the Middle East while others argue that the guitar emerged from instruments of earlier European invention.

How the guitar works

Plucked strings on an acoustic guitar originate the sound. The strings' vibrations create compression waves that travel to the listeners' ears. The body of the instrument is crucial for amplifying the sound and creating overtones that define the instrument's timbre or sound quality.

The player uses his or her finger to change the effective length of the strings; this action changes the vibration frequency of the strings and creates different pitches. Electric guitars work differently. Their metal strings create electrical disturbances that are translated into sound.

Guitar strings on modern instruments

Properly maintained guitars can last for an indefinite length of time, and many guitars that are hundreds of years old are still used today. Strings, however, are a different story; strings inevitably break and must be replaced regularly. Once of the first lessons students learn is how to properly string and tune guitars. Guitar players often buy guitar strings in bulk so that they can quickly replace their strings and resume practicing and performing. Fortunately, the cost of these strings are low, and the maintenance costs are much lower than for other instruments.

Guitar players often experiment with alternative strings to change the sound of their instruments. The rest of the body is a merely a resonator and support structure on which the strings function, and a string change can transform the sound radically.

The guitar's versatility allows it to be played with folk bands of any makeup, classical orchestras and as a solo instrument. Those who learn to play it will have a lifelong hobby that allows them to play wonderful, diverse music for themselves, friends, family members and even paying audiences. By learning how the string functions, proper guitar maintenance and correct technique, students can begin their journey to guitar proficiency.