Choosing bass strings

The joke about the bass player who stands on the sidelines and "plucked 2 strings" never gets old among musicians. And in fact, other people do not understand why bass is needed in music until they listen to how the melody sounds without the rhythm of the lower range. Without a compositional foundation that outlines the rhythm and emphasizes the drums, allowing the musicians to better navigate, any song sounds incomplete. That is why the bass guitar is one of the main instruments in bands of any style.

The leading role in the sounding of the bass is played not only by the talent and skill of the musician, but also by the strings - they determine the timbre and tonality of the sounds of the lower register.

Bass strings are distinguished by their impressive thickness: only a true craftsman can subordinate them to a pick, which is why beginners are content exclusively with their fingers. Arranged in four (or five) slender rows, they are tuned in the same way as the double bass strings - after all, it was this instrument that was the progenitor of this type of guitar. The length of the scale is also one of the decisive differences: it is increased and can reach 30-36 inches.

Usually the bass guitar is used as an accompanying instrument, so most of the compositions are performed on it no higher than the 12th fretalthough the number of frets ranges from 20 to 24.

Bass strings are never made of one solid wire: it is their "layering" that gives the instrument that very charm. The core of a string is called a core, and the brightness of sounds directly depends on its thickness - the thinner it is, the higher the sounds.Deep and surround sound will only give a thickened core, but much also depends on its shape: round or hexagonal. The round core - soft and flexible - allows a high-pitched sound to be produced from the guitar, while the hexagonal core emits a deeper tone, which is achieved due to the air slots formed between the winding and the core.

The winding also affects a lot. For example, if the inner layer, made mainly of steel or alloys of several metals, is wound on the core in the same way for all types of strings, then the outer layer is flat, semicircular and round.

Depending on the braid, the strings will not only sound differently, but also stretch: a metal core with a flat winding will be flexible, melodious, while a round winding requires strength in the hands - it is rigid and unyielding.

The main materials from which strings are made are:

• nickel;
• nickel alloys;
• stainless steel;
• copper alloys.

Nickel strings are considered to be among the earliest among musicians. This is the sound of the old school, the atmosphere of the 60s when bass guitars first hit the market, blues, romantic rock or pop.

Nickel alloys sound different from pure nickel alloys: they are universal for any musical style and are very popular among modern creators. Lovers of heavier music will choose stainless steel - the instrument sounds brighter and louder with it, and copper alloys are ideal for acoustic music due to the large number of overtones.

To protect the strings from corrosion and wear, some use a polymer coating. This does not affect the sound too much, but it all depends on the manufacturer.

Sometimes musicians use nylon strings to play the instrument. But they are short-lived because of their softness, although they serve as a good alternative to all-metal ones. Nylon strands are thin, so silver, brass and phosphor bronze are used as windings for them.

Not so long ago, neon and colored strings began to come into fashion. Bright neon will make the sound of music even more melodic, turning the performance into a real show. Such strings glow both in daylight and in the dark - under ultraviolet rays. They are made mainly of nickel alloys, which is why they differ from simply coated with color, the most suitable material for which is stainless steel.

The color option is a great solution for those who take proper care of their guitar. Due to the lack of any maintenance, the strings tend to change color with use. Wearing, rubbing off, and absorbing moisture, they turn yellow and dark, which can spoil the overall pleasure of playing the instrument.

Among the golden trinity of guitar string makers of all stripes are the following giants:

• Italian company D'Addario;
• Californian firm Ernie Ball;
• Chinese tycoon Alice.

D'Addario is a pioneer in this business. Already in the 17th century, they twisted their strings from the intestines of cattle. Behind them are many years of experience, guaranteed quality and renowned musicians.

Ernie Ball, one of the world leaders in the production of musical accessories, is steadily stepping on their heels. This brand widely uses nickel, bronze, titanium, nylon, phosphorus, aluminum, cobalt, copper and stainless steel in its production. Their assortment includes strings for every instrument, taste and color.

The Alice workhorse, on the other hand, is great for beginners: strings from a Chinese manufacturer are very cheap at cost, since the process of their creation is fully automated.

To choose the right strings for a bass guitar, you need to know exactly what kind of music it will accompany.

Depending on the thickness of the strings, which is actually calculated in thousandths of an inch and is marked with an integer on the packaging, the sound of the same guitar can be very different.

There are such sizes as:

• ultra-thin;
• thin;
• medium;
• thick;
• super thick.

The thicker the guitar strings, the harder they are to clamp. For a beginner, an average set of 4 pieces with calibers is suitable:

• G45 (1st string);
• D60 (2nd string);
• A80 (3rd string);
• E105 (4th).

For a 5-string guitar, an additional H is required, the thickness of which is from 125 to 145. For a 6-string guitar, another thin one is added - C (with a size range from 28 to 35).

The following lengths are distinguished:

• up to 32 inches (short),
• up to 34 inches (medium),
• up to 36 inches (long),
• up to 38 inches (extra long).

In addition, an important characteristic is the tension, which is influenced by the mass, length, diameter of the string, the size of its core, the material and type of winding, as well as the frequency of its tuning. The tension can be light, medium and heavy - the volume of the instrument and the brightness of its sound depend on the increase in the degree.

If the sound satisfies its quality, and the guitar is comfortable to play, then the strings were chosen correctly.

Factory strings that are already plugged into the guitar can be of pretty good quality. Many manufacturers partner with brands, thus increasing the price of the tool. However, no one in the store will tell you how long the guitar was there, so the strings could be damaged from a long period of inactivity.

There are many "recipes" for how to properly place the strings on a bass guitar - every musician has his own. However, you can still isolate common tips by making ideal step-by-step instructions out of them.

To replace the element and not damage the neck due to voltage drops, it is recommended to pull the strings out one at a time.

First of all, the E string is removed. Its end is cut off, and it is pulled out through the bridge mechanism. A new string is inserted in its place, threaded through the hole on the back of the bridge. It goes through the entire mechanism to the pegs, where its end is inserted into the hole, after which it is wound using the mechanism to its limit. The strings must always be taut. To lock it properly, you need to push it near the bridge until about a semitone is left until the end of the tuning.

All the same steps must be repeated for the remaining three strings.

There is no exact timetable for replacing these elements of the guitar. You need to focus solely on the frequency of playing the instrument and the sound. If the bass stops being deep, saturated, loses overtones, sounds dull, then it's time to buy a new set.

To change strings less often, you need to properly care for them.

Do not play with wet hands: this not only can damage the skin, but also can lead to rust. Humidity is the weak point of any instrument, therefore, depending on the season, it must be either reduced or increased artificially. Oil, on the other hand, can save the instrument: they need to lubricate the fretboard after each string change, and the tuning machine once a season.

See the video below for an overview of D'Addario strings.