FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: Classical Guitar String

Question:
Anyone know how the string tension of a classical guitar(650 mm scale) compares to a acoustic steel string guitar with a 25.4 scale I like to fingerpick in standard tuning and I find that long scale acoustic guitars in standard tuning have too much string tension. I could get a short scale Gibson( am extremely cautiuos after reading so much trashing of Gibson on the internet).

Answer:
I don't know what the exact numbers are, but I can tell you that any nylon string guitar is going to have _much_ lower tension than a steel string. But have you tried lighter guages of string on your guitar? Going to the expense of a brand new guitar just to get lower string tension seems a bit extreme -- after all, lots of people fingerpick quite nicely on steel strings, so it isn't as if it is a Hurculean feat. Nylon string guitars have -- generally -- much higher action to facilitate the great amplitude of the vibrating strings. Some people find this to be a huge distraction and dislike playing nylon stringed guitars for this reason. I do like the wider fretboard on my classical. My steel string el- cheapo Norman is cramped in comparison.