Cape Cod Acoustics
  • Home
  • Your Lessons
  • Performance services offered
  • About Gene
  • Contact
  • Guitars, Ukes & Accessories
  • Acoustic Guitar Blog
  • Tips for guitarists
  • Guitar Gallery
  • More...

Nylon strings vs. steel strings

3/13/2013

7 Comments

 
Some novice guitarists, or those who are considering learning to play are intimidated by the prospect of sore fingers as a consequence of playing steel strings. They may have been told that guitars with nylon strings are easier on tender fingertips or perhaps they’ve done research that suggests this is the case. In the most basic sense this may be true but there are other, very important considerations.

Way back in the early 1960s when I first began playing I bought into this premise for a couple reasons. My first guitar was a Stella – a plywood beast with a rounded, narrow neck that had resided in my grandfather’s attic for some amount of time and was barely playable up to about the third fret; beyond there the warped neck made pressing down on the strings a lost cause. Those old Stellas and their close cousins, Silvertones, were sold by Sears and Montgomery Ward and cost about $25 and were all many young aspiring guitarists could afford. Even when brand new they featured sharp fret edges, horrible intonation and sounded little better than a cigar box with strings. (Footnote here: for reasons that entirely escape me, examples of these clunkers that have survived are now actually being sold on EBay and Craigslist as “vintage” instruments. Amazing. They were little better than firewood then and my guess is that they’re worse now. But I digress…)

Basically, if you could survive learning a few chords on those awful things, you were a guitar player! So the only alternative in inexpensive guitars were nylon string classical guitars, and yes, they were easier to play even if they didn’t sound very good. From my perspective, my first hero’s – Peter, Paul and Mary – played nylon string guitars so I was pretty sure that was the right choice for me. My first decent (i.e., playable) guitar was a cheap classical made by Harmony. It was not great but I played it for a couple years in junior high and I managed to learn lots of PP&M and Dylan songs on it. But then my friend Barry bought a Martin 00-18.

Yes, the steel strings were harder to press down than the nylon ones on my Harmony – but not that much harder. And the narrower neck more than made up for temporary discomfort. I wanted one!

So here’s the take-away. Yes, steel strings require more strength to press down than nylon but when you factor in the narrower neck (classical guitars are typically 2 inches wide at the nut, or more; steel string guitars are usually 1 11/16 or 1 ¾ inches) and most of all the sound, your choice is clear if you’re playing almost any form of popular music. Someone playing pure classical style needs that wider neck because of technique demands – he or she play with fingernails, sometimes with great force, and strings closer together just won’t work. With nylon however, it is very difficult to replicate the tonality of guitars used in most forms of popular music.

There are exceptions of course. In jazz, many famous players such as Charlie Byrd have used nylon string guitars, and in bossa nova the nylon string sound is essential to be authentic. Many manufacturers make “crossover” nylon string guitars with on-board electronics, narrower necks and cutaway bodies that sound just great for certain styles of pop music and jazz. But all things considered, it just makes more sense to go with a steel string guitar if you’re going to play popular music and you are going to own just one guitar. Sore fingers are easier to get over than an unsatisfying sound.

Having said that, I try to keep one nylon string guitar (usually a crossover) on hand because there is something very warm and inviting about the sound of nylon strings when finger picked. If you can afford it, consider having a good quality steel string as your primary instrument and a good nylon string for a back up. I really believe that playing a couple different guitars on a regular basis can be inspirational and will improve your technique.

Peace & good music,
Gene

7 Comments
Al Long
3/15/2014 05:10:15 am

Don't forget Willie Nelson, he uses nylon strings. So nylon strings create less tension/stress on the neck and body of a guitar? Thanks for the info!

Reply
Gene
3/20/2014 06:50:39 am

Hi - yes, generally nylon strings create less tension than steel strings but my guess is that Willie uses the higher tension nylon strings that are available (but still lower tension that steel). Considering how hard he plays - the hole in the front of the guitar being evidence! - and that he plays with a pick he would probably HAVE to use them! Gene

Reply
Ed
11/17/2014 08:48:03 am

Great article well written! I did have something to say about the harmony guitars they're some very good sounding ones out there. I know a few musicians that use them. From what I know it's hit or miss on those guitars.

Reply
Gene
11/21/2014 08:42:32 am

Hi Ed - yes, I know some people still do use Harmony guitars, the Sovereign still has fans and the one that is 000 size (model name escapes me right now). Unfortunately, most of the cheap ones were pretty awful - plywood, with really bad action, rough frets and thick, baseball bat-like necks. But hey, they were cheap (about $30 back in the day). My first decent guitar however was a Harmony nylon string that served pretty well for a few years. At the very least, they made me appreciate Martins ;~)

Reply
Bob
4/20/2016 04:53:11 pm

If you're going to be a serious guitarist you really need a steel string and a nylon string guitar. Both have advantages and disadvantages relative to the music you're playing. A good steel string guitar will not not hurt your fingers and be easy to play. A good nylon string guitar will be plenty loud and able to project.

Reply
Gene
4/21/2016 12:46:18 am

While I agree with your basic points Bob I wrote this for the beginning guitarist who may only be able to afford one guitar and is interested in learning a particular style of music. From that person's perspective, sorry but I don't agree that steel strings will not hurt your fingers regardless of how "good" a steel string guitar may be. A beginner's fingers are going to hurt, no matter what! For a while anyway. A guitar with correct neck relief and good action, strung with light gauge strings is the starting point for sure. Nylon string guitars with spruce tops (vs cedar) have a decent amount of projection but to a certain degree the amount of projection and clarity has as much to do with good playing technique as anything else. The overall point of this post was to help the beginner consider some important factors when buying just ONE guitar.

Reply
Bob
4/21/2016 09:36:59 am

Gene, I did not know the implied audience was primarily beginners. But I stand by the comment that *down the road a ways* it is perfectly natural to pick up the "other" kind of guitar. Sometimes people agonize over making the correct choice for that first guitar. My point is, hey, in time you can have the best of both worlds.




Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Gene Bourque

    Archives

    June 2022
    May 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed