Higher string tension = tighter playing.

[abt]

Okay, that could be the worst thread title ever. Bare with me.

I like to tune a semi tone down. I always have. I like the way it feels more than the way it sounds. Occasionally I tune back up to standard which makes the tension higher. When I do this it seems as though my playing is tighter. I guess it's stings not getting pulled out of tune as much. Maybe I just think that because it sounds different.

After a while I feel fatigued because I'm not used to it. Does anyone have any idea what I'm trying to say? Is there any validity to my poorly constructed rant?

 

[hoehlentroll]

What I notice is that I play tighter with string tension I am used to. I use .010PH2 .013P .017P .030W .044W .052W tuned to D. It feels like .010 .013 .017 .026 .036 .046 tuned to E for the E, A, D string, while the G, B and E' string feel really nice for solo play and espacially for bendings. Tuned to Eb you might consider the .010PH2 .013P .017P .030W .044W .052W strings or 011, 014, 018, 028, 038, 048.
good to hear there are some "old school tuners" on this board, not only drop a players

 

[Brandon E.]

Definitely there is a correlation. Heavier strings A. sound best, B. feel best, and C. I can hit them HARD without tuning issues. I use 11s in Eb/E standard and 12s in D standard, and I have not heard my guitars sound better with any other set up. I used to play in B standard with 13-68 but sorry, guitars just dont sound best down there. Instrument is not made for it.

 

[Trevoire520]

Also keep in mind that if you pick hard a lighter string is going to move with the pick, whereas a heavier string wont move as much, so it can be easier to play tighter.

 

[Wohma]

I actually found out that 10-52 is the best gauge for me (D standard). Went from 11-54 and did not hear any tonal difference, but since it allows me to play with a thicker pick without adjusting my picking style, it actually turns out to be better when it comes to tightness. But this is such a personal thing that I would not make any kind of generalizations.
As a side note, using lighter gauge is a good prevention of tendon problems.

 

[AllanD]

I disagree. I can't do fast alternating palm mutes on tighter strings worth SHIT.

 

[hoehlentroll]

then you need to strenghten your hands/arms

 

[Uros]

I like me some tighter strings. Like that resistance you get from strings that way.

 

[Terminus]

For me, big ol' strings = win.

 

[Robert W]

I've found that heavier gauge strings have a tendency to sound more "round," if that makes any sense.

I notice this especially on 7 and 8 strings, where the lower, thicker strings react much differently than the higher 6 do.

I got so tired of trying to work around this that I just went back to a 6 string.

 

[abt]

This may be a better way describe what I'm talking about. Everyone has there own preference, some like the strings tight, I prefer them a bit looser. 10-52 tuned down a semi tone is what I like the feel of but when I tune to standard the tone it self doesn't seem to improve but the performance seems to sound tighter.

I think we all agree that heavy strings tend to sound better. I'm talking more about the way string tension effects perceived performance. It's this perceive, performance or tightness that I'm curious about, whether this is actually real or I'm just imagining it. The ideas about tuning and the string moving with the pick that some of you have put foreword sound most likely to be the cause.

Has anyone increased the string tension and noticed this?

 

[Robert W]

If you feel it, then it's real.

 

[Mm1066]

It also gives way better and more defined tone IMO

 

[Robert W]

Tight string tension lends itself to a certain type of riff, fast technical stuff for instance.

Looser string tension seems to be better for slower, more emotive type of riffs.

 

[AD Chaos]

I go .010-.052 for C standard. Other times, .012-0.52. Although that one gives me more tension, I don't like having thick unwound strings (the top three). Especially not if I'm bending.

10-52 feels softer -more comfortable- but not as tight. Maybe tuning a semitone up to C#, or even to D would be the perfect solution. Too bad I have a lot of stuff on C and open strings

 

[spiderjazz]

What sort of gauges are people using for bass? I'm using a 0.5 - 0.110 set for drop C at the moment, but the low C is still a bit floppy, you can hear it going a bit sharp when you go in hard with the attack. I'm thinking now of getting a 5 string set (0.45-0.130), dropping the 0.45 and using the rest. Hopefully the higher tension will be better for tuning during recording as well.

 

[Clark Kent]

I thought this was common knowledge... like gravity.



Seriously, IMO the whole point of choosing string gauges is to have a guitar in a certain tuning with the right amount of string tension.

 

[Zozobra]

I thought this was common knowledge... like gravity.



Seriously, IMO the whole point of choosing string gauges is to have a guitar in a certain tuning with the right amount of string tension.

The question is whats the right amount of string tension?

I was really surprised to find out that Paul Ryan from Origin uses 10-52s in drop B (through a triaxis with the gain on 10 ). Meanwhile karl sanders from nile uses 10-70 in drop A. Two of the best guitarist in metal today (maybe ever). Clearly, it works for them.

Much (much much much much) further down the skill ladder, I'm in between and use 12-56 with thick cores (for higher tension for no more mass, and therefore no more tubby boom) in drop B. I use the same for C/Drop A#/B/drop A occasionally. You have to play differently. Less force driving through the string, more of a quick attack, not holding the pick as hard.

Getting a good sound, and definition and clarity, out of high or low tension strings is all just technique. Just go with what feels and sounds best to you.

 

[Brandon E.]

karl sanders from nile uses 10-70 in drop A. Two of the best guitarist in metal today (maybe ever).

hmm...

For RHYTHM playing I can't imagine any benefits for loose strings. Whatever feels best is best I suppose, but when I'm playing rhythm on loose strings and picking so hard that all my notes are sharp, that is no good. Also I feel you can get a more aggressive sounding performance out of really fighting a set of tight strings. I think feeling the string fight back can help you stay in time too, and you will know the second you make any mistake.

 

[Zozobra]

hmm...

For RHYTHM playing I can't imagine any benefits for loose strings. Whatever feels best is best I suppose, but when I'm playing rhythm on loose strings and picking so hard that all my notes are sharp, that is no good. Also I feel you can get a more aggressive sounding performance out of really fighting a set of tight strings. I think feeling the string fight back can help you stay in time too, and you will know the second you make any mistake.

Paul and karl, I mean. The point was they have contrasting setups - paul in drop B with a 52, which is slack as fuck, karl a tone lower than that but WAY heavier with 70. Dallas also uses a 70 but likes thicker strings on the whole guitar (still quite slack on the treble side for the tuning though - 13-70).

I dont think the capacity of any of those guys to play rhythm is really in question.