is it because i have cheap strings? if so, which ones do you prefer? i have an epiphone electric guitar. funny thing is i just replaced the same string because it broke while i was playing a solo and bending it lol. i’m learning solos so if you have any guitar strings to recommend please let me know!
thanks in advanced ;D
Best answer about why do my electric guitar strings keep breaking?
Answer by Raiga harasuki
my strings only break if im to high on tuning, are you using a guitar tuner or a piano to help you tune you guitar into the right tuning? and by taht i mean.. the very correct note..
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Top ten reasons for breaking guitar strings.
1) How long have the strings been in use? The longer strings have been on your instrument the greater chance there is of them breaking.
2) The strings are over tightened and there is too much tension on them.
3) If a string has a bend or kink in it then the possibility of breakage is increased.
4) If you have a heavy hand when you strum this can cause the durability of the guitar strings to be lessoned.
5) Using the wrong pick weight may be causing trouble.
6) What string size are you using, light, medium or heavy gauge?
7) If you put too much pressure on the strings when you are stretching them.
The brand of guitar strings makes all the difference in the world.
9) If you have a rough spot on your bridge or sharp edges on the tuning pegs this can cause the strings to be weekend.
10) Twelve string style guitars have extra light gauge wires.
Honestly, it might be something as simple as you just bent the hell out of the string and it couldn’t stand up to the pressure! I’m not sure what guage strings you’re using, but you might want to try .10′s if you’re using a lower guage set.
It’s a combination of two things really….
You’re partially right, you could just be using cheap strings. Try using Ernie Ball Super Slinky’s, which are designed for easy bending, or Elixir’s. If you can’t afford those, than D’addario’s aren’t too expensive, and they’re top notch under those. It could also be the gauge of the strings you’re using, ask for standard gauge strings and the clerk should be able to help.
The other factor is how much slack you’re giving the string before you get the tension higher. Give the string about 2 feet (might be less for a guitar, I’m not too sure, I play bass) of extra room when you’re putting it on the guitar.You want to actually have some of the string wrapped up around the knot on the tuning head so the tension holds better. This will make your string feel a bit stronger, and less likely to snap under pressure.
Also, if you’re bending too high, that could be why you’re popping your string as well. It’s not an exact science, but most of the time, a string will only bend until the note is equal to a whole step higher than itself. So if you’re bending a C, the most the string will bend to will be a D. Any more than that and you’re really putting your string at risk usually. Keep that as a general rule of thumb in the back of your head when you’re playing.
It could also be a truss rod issue with your guitar. If nothing else has helped that I’ve said, than this is probably the problem, which means your neck is a bit out of alignment with the body, and it’s putting more pressure on the strings than it should be doing. To fix this, bring it into your local shop and have them repair it for you. You CAN do it yourself, but I HIGHLY, HIGHLY advise against it. The truss rod is the spine of the neck, and adjusting it is adjusting it’s forward/backward alignment with the body, and unless you’re someone who REALLY knows the instrument well after years of playing it, or is around fixing up guitars every day of your life, you usually can’t do it right. I did this once with my bass when I was a novice, and it took me 3 and a half hours to get back into the correct position. Later I took it to the local guitar dealership, and he fixed it for me in less than 5 minutes.