I play my uke times a week, and more when I have a gig. I have been wondering when they would break from wear. I guess that's the wrong question. Changing strings today! Please leave me a comment! Want To Say Thank You? A common question I am often asked - how often should I change my ukulele strings?
Firstly, the answer to the question does of course totally depend on how often you play your ukulele, and how aggressive your playing style is. Steel, silver, and other metals used in guitar strings immediately begin oxidizing when exposed to air and from the oils from your skin.
Therefore, it is recommended to change the string on the guitar as often as once per month to maintain an optimal tone. Equally, frequent guitar string changes prevent wear on the frets caused by corrosion on the strings, which can act as a nail file on the metal frets. No need to worry about these factors on most ukuleles as they feature durable nylon strings. It is essential that to note it is standard for a soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles to feature all-nylon strings.
Baritone ukuleles and some soprano ukuleles are an exception. Because Baritone ukuleles utilize a combination of plain or non-wound strings and wound strings, similar to classical guitar strings. Furthermore, there are also some soprano ukulele string sets that have low wound G and C strings which need to be replaced more often. The wound strings are installed in the same fashion as plain, non-wound strings. The ukulele gets a bad rap as beginners can trouble keeping it in tune.
The truth is that the nylon strings stretch quite a bit more than you might expect and they take time to settle. Hence, if you have a new ukulele that is not staying in tune, you may try to pre-stretch your strings and we can help.
Since most nylon strings have a lifespan of years, the general rule is to change your strings when you start to see signs of wear, fraying, discoloration, or loss of tone. Changing your strings is also good if you are looking to experiment with the different ukulele tones or sounds.
Aquila Nylgut strings are the most popular strings. Used on many beginner ukulele models due to the full, voluminous, tone and easy-to-play medium tension. As a result, Aquila Nylgut is perfect for strumming chords and a wide variety of applications on almost any ukulele model. These synthetic strings are made to replicate the sound and feel of vintage gut strings and are recognizable by their solid white appearance.
These strings offer a classical guitar-like tone with more clarity and a greater separation of timbre between notes. For most vintage instruments we recommend using these types of strings because they retain a more vintage look. The bold white Aquila strings have only been introduced in the past decade. On vintage instruments, you may find the nut and bridge needs to be re-fitted to accommodate the thicker gauge of the Aquila strings.
We invite you to check out reviews on different types of strings and experiment to find out what sounds best for you! First, check your ukulele to see what kind of bridge you have because it will determine what type of knot to use. The 2 most common types are a tie-bar ukulele bridge or a slotted ukulele bridge. The tie-bar bridge has a hole bored through it so the string can be inserted into and then looped back around itself and secured with a knot.
Step 10 is the most crucial step to ensure the string does not slip. Be sure to tuck the end of the string against the back of the bridge. In the image, you will see the string end at the back of the bridge the same surface the thumb is touching. That way the string will become more secure as added tension locks the knot in pace. Some manufacturers tuck the tail end of the string into the loop of the adjacent string. This is not a requirement and is ultimately a personal preference as either way will secure the strings.
The slotted bridge requires a knot to be tied at the end of each string. The knot fits snugly in the end cavity and the string runs through the thinner slot. This style bridge is used by many vintage and contemporary ukulele manufacturers such as Martin, Gibson, Gretsch, and Kamaka, for example. Occasionally, a slotted bridge can allow the string to slip through once the knot is compressed.
Ukuleles come pre-strung with nylon strings which have never been brought up to pitch! They will go out of tune immediately due to the elasticity of the nylon and the looseness of the knot holding it in place. Many players will keep re-tuning endlessly until the strings get broken in. This is an excellent exercise to practice. However, it may take weeks for the strings to settle. What if you had to change your strings for a concert later that day, or if you have a full classroom set of ukuleles to tune?
For soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles this is G, C, E, and A. For now, as you will need to do this several times until the strings have stretched and settle in. TIP: You might opt to use a peg winder to speed up this part of the process, such as:. Place the palm of your right hand on the bridge and wrap your fingers around a single string and pivot your fingers upward to apply upward pressure on the string gently. You only want to affect the string. The objective here is to allow the string to stretch without creating unnecessary tension on the body and neck.
This action will help lock the bridge knot.
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