Quick Answer
Classical guitar strings aren’t the same as steel-string acoustic or electric guitar strings. Our Classits sets pair three clear nylon treble strings with three silver-plated wound bass strings, tuned the same as a steel-string guitar, E A D G B E, and are available in Medium and High tension, with tie-end and ball-end options, plus our premium Elite tier for studio and performance use.
This guide covers how classical string sets are built, why the gauges don’t simply get heavier from string to string the way a steel-string set’s do, how Medium and High tension compare, and how to choose between tie end and ball end.
What Is a Classical Guitar String Set?
A classical guitar string set has six strings, tuned E A D G B E from low to high, the same pitches as a standard steel-string acoustic or electric guitar. What’s different is the construction. Strings 1 through 3 (E, B, and G) are plain synthetic strings, most commonly clear nylon, though other synthetic treble materials exist across the classical string market. Strings 4 through 6 (D, A, and low E) are wound, typically a metal wrap over a nylon or composite core rather than the steel core used in acoustic and electric strings.
This construction is a big part of why classical strings aren’t interchangeable with steel-string sets. Classical and steel-string guitars are also built differently overall, including bridge design, bracing, and how the strings anchor at the bridge, on top of the string construction itself.
Is This Guide for Your Guitar?
This guide covers strings built for classical (nylon-string) guitars, including flamenco and other nylon-string acoustic guitars that use the same tuning and string type. It doesn’t cover steel-string acoustic guitars, which use steel-core strings with constructions such as phosphor bronze or 80/20 bronze, or electric guitars, which also use steel-core strings designed for that application.
It also doesn’t cover ukulele strings, which are nylon but tuned and gauged differently for a much smaller instrument. If you’re not sure which category your instrument falls into, check whether your current strings are nylon or metal at the core, since that’s the fastest way to tell.
Classical Guitar String Construction
Our Classits classical sets use clear nylon for the three treble strings and silver-plated copper wire wound over a core for the three bass strings. We describe this combination as producing a warm tonal character with articulate highs and full, resonant lows, though how any given set actually sounds on your guitar also depends on the instrument itself, your technique, and your setup.
Nylon trebles and wound basses is the standard construction for classical strings generally, not something unique to any one brand. What varies between sets and manufacturers is tension, gauge, and the specific wrap material used on the basses.
Why Classical Guitar String Gauges Don’t Increase in a Straight Line
On a steel-string set, gauge generally increases from the thinnest treble to the thickest bass string in a fairly predictable line. Classical sets don’t work that way, and it’s worth understanding why before you look at a gauge chart and assume something’s wrong.
In our Medium tension tie-end set, for example, the 3rd string (plain nylon G) is gauged at .041, while the 4th string (wound D), the first bass string, is gauged at .028. The wound 4th string has a smaller overall diameter than the plain 3rd string sitting right next to it.
That’s not a mistake. Plain nylon and wound strings have very different materials and construction, so their outside diameters can’t be compared directly as a measure of tension. The metal wrap on a wound bass string adds mass while allowing the string to use a different core diameter and construction than a plain nylon treble, which is why a solid nylon G string is genuinely thicker than a wound D string sitting next to it, even though the D is tuned lower.
The practical takeaway: don’t judge a classical string’s tension or role in the set by its gauge number alone, and don’t assume gauge increases string to string the way it does on a steel-string acoustic or electric set.
Medium vs. High Tension
Tension is the main variable S.I.T.’s classical sets are built around, more so than gauge alone. Here’s how our tie-end Medium and High tension sets compare, string by string:
| String | Medium Tension | High Tension |
|---|---|---|
| 1st (E, nylon) | .030 | .030 |
| 2nd (B, nylon) | .033 | .033 |
| 3rd (G, nylon) | .041 | .041 |
| 4th (D, wound) | .028 | .030 |
| 5th (A, wound) | .035 | .037 |
| 6th (E, wound) | .040 | .044 |
In our current Medium and High tension sets, the listed treble gauges are the same, while the High tension set uses heavier gauges for the three wound bass strings. That’s the gauge pattern in our catalog specifically, not a rule that applies to every classical string brand, so don’t assume it holds true if you’re comparing against a different manufacturer’s sets.
A higher-tension classical set is generally designed to provide a firmer feel and more resistance under the fingers, while a lower-tension set generally feels more flexible. Neither is correct for every player or every guitar. Some classical guitars are also built with a particular tension range in mind, so if you’re unsure, checking your guitar’s specifications or asking your luthier is worth doing before committing to a tension level.
Tie End vs. Ball End
Tie-end strings are the traditional choice for classical guitar. The string passes through the bridge and is secured by tying it in place.
Ball-end classical strings add a ball to the bridge end of the string, eliminating the need to tie that end during installation. For players who prefer a quicker or simpler restringing process, ball ends can be a convenient alternative.
Before changing string type, check your instrument’s bridge and manufacturer recommendations to make sure the string is appropriate for your guitar.
How to Choose Classical Guitar Strings
- Confirm your instrument is a classical (nylon-string) guitar. Classical strings aren’t compatible with steel-string acoustic or electric guitars, covered above.
- Confirm your bridge type and manufacturer recommendations. Tie end is the traditional classical design; ball end offers a simpler installation. Check your instrument before switching between the two.
- Choose your tension. Medium or High tension changes feel and resistance under the fingers, covered above. Check your guitar’s specifications if you’re unsure which range it’s built for.
- Consider your tier. We offer our standard Classits line as well as our premium Elite tier for players looking for our studio and performance-oriented option.
- Consider individual strings or a custom set. If you only need to replace one string, or want to build a specific combination, we make individual classical strings for both the treble and bass sides of the set, covered below.
Our Classical Guitar String Options
Classits Tie End, Medium Tension (SCM101) and Tie End, High Tension (SCH102) — clear nylon trebles, silver-plated copper wound basses, tie end.
Good starting point for: players who want a standard classical set and haven’t already committed to Medium or High tension.
Elite Tie End, Medium Tension (ECM101) and Elite Tie End, High Tension (ECH102) — listed at the same gauges as our standard Classits tie-end sets. Elite is our premium classical tier, positioned for studio and performance use.
Good starting point for: players who want our premium classical string option.
Classits Ball End, Medium Tension (SCM101B) and Ball End, High Tension (SCH102B) — clear nylon trebles, silver-plated copper wound basses, ball end.
Good starting point for: players whose bridge is built for ball-end strings, or who want a faster installation without tying a knot.
Building a Custom Set with Classical Singles
You don’t always need to replace a complete classical set when one string breaks or wears out. We make individual tie-end classical strings for both the plain nylon trebles and wound basses, giving you the option to replace individual strings or build a custom combination.
Our Plain Nylon Classits Tie End Clear Singles cover the treble side of the set (1st, 2nd, and 3rd strings), while our Silver Wound Classits Tie End Singles cover the wound bass strings (4th, 5th, and 6th, in Medium and High tension). We also offer Silver Wound Classit Elite Tie End Singles for players using our Elite line, also covering the 4th, 5th, and 6th strings in Medium and High tension. All of our classical singles are tie end.
When replacing an individual string, match the string’s intended position, construction, and tension to the rest of the set rather than choosing by diameter alone. As covered above, classical string gauge doesn’t progress across the instrument the same way it does on a steel-string guitar.
Why New Classical Guitar Strings Keep Going Out of Tune
New nylon strings typically need a settling period after installation. Nylon stretches more than steel initially, so it’s normal to retune repeatedly over the first several days of play, and the wound bass strings and plain nylon trebles may settle at different rates from each other.
After installing a new set, tune the strings to pitch and expect to retune them regularly as they settle. Playing the instrument and continuing to retune over the following days will gradually stabilize the strings. How long that takes varies with the strings, instrument, installation, and how much the guitar is played.
Final Thoughts
Choosing classical guitar strings starts with confirming your instrument actually takes classical strings and which bridge type it’s built for, since those rule out the wrong options immediately. From there, Medium versus High tension comes down to the feel you want under your fingers.
Our Classits line covers both tensions in tie end and ball end, while our premium Elite tier provides our studio and performance-oriented tie-end option. Individual classical strings are also available for players who need a replacement or want to build a specific combination.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are classical guitar strings made of?
The three treble strings in our Classits sets are plain, clear nylon. The three bass strings are wound with silver-plated copper over a core. Classical string construction varies between manufacturers, but plain synthetic trebles paired with wound bass strings are common.
What is a classical guitar tuned to?
E A D G B E, low to high, the same pitches as a standard steel-string acoustic or electric guitar. The tuning is the same; the string construction and tension are not.
Can I put classical guitar strings on a steel-string acoustic guitar?
No. Classical guitars are designed around nylon-string construction and tension. Steel-string acoustics are built differently, including bridge design and bracing, and use strings with steel cores. Use the type of string the instrument was designed for.
Can I put steel strings on a classical guitar?
No. A classical guitar is designed for nylon strings and shouldn’t be restrung with steel-string acoustic or electric guitar strings. The instruments are built around different string constructions and loads, and using the wrong string type can damage the guitar.
Why is the gauge of my classical guitar’s G string thicker than the D string below it?
Because the G string is plain nylon and the D string is wound, and the two constructions can’t be compared by diameter alone. A wound string’s metal wrap adds mass while allowing a different core diameter and construction than a plain nylon string uses. Gauge doesn’t increase in a straight line across a classical set the way it does on a steel-string set. See the section above for more detail.
What’s the difference between Medium and High tension?
In our current sets, the listed treble gauges are the same between Medium and High tension, while the High tension sets use heavier gauges for the three wound bass strings. A higher-tension set is generally designed to provide a firmer feel and more resistance under the fingers, while a lower-tension set generally feels more flexible, but neither is correct for every player or guitar.
How do I know if my guitar needs Medium or High tension?
Check your guitar’s specifications or ask your luthier if you’re unsure, since some classical guitars are built with a particular tension range in mind. Otherwise, it comes down to the feel you prefer under your fingers.
What’s the difference between tie end and ball end strings?
Tie-end strings are the traditional classical design; the string passes through the bridge and is tied in place. Ball-end strings add a ball to the bridge end so you don’t have to tie a knot during installation, which some players find quicker or simpler. Check your instrument’s bridge and manufacturer recommendations before switching between the two.
What is S.I.T.’s Elite classical string line?
Elite is our premium tier of Classits tie-end sets, available in Medium and High tension and listed at the same gauges as our standard tie-end sets. We position Elite as our studio and performance-oriented classical string option.
Can I buy individual classical guitar strings instead of a full set?
Yes. Our Plain Nylon Classits Tie End Clear Singles cover the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd treble strings, and our Silver Wound Classits Tie End Singles and Silver Wound Classit Elite Tie End Singles cover the 4th, 5th, and 6th wound bass strings in Medium and High tension. All of our classical singles are tie end.
Are classical guitar strings the same as ukulele strings?
No. Both commonly use nylon, but they’re built and gauged for different instruments, tunings, and scale lengths. A classical guitar string isn’t a substitute for a ukulele string or the reverse.
Can I use classical guitar strings on a flamenco guitar?
We describe our Classits sets as suited to classical, flamenco, and nylon-string acoustic guitars generally, since those instruments share the same nylon-string construction and tuning.
Why are my classical guitar strings going out of tune so often?
This is normal for new nylon strings during their settling period. Nylon stretches after installation, so new strings commonly require repeated retuning before they stabilize. See the section above for more detail.
How often should I change classical guitar strings?
There isn’t one replacement schedule that works for every player. How quickly classical strings wear depends on playing time, technique, perspiration, storage conditions, and the individual strings. Consider changing them when you notice a meaningful change in tone, feel, intonation, visible wear, or tuning performance rather than relying only on a fixed number of days or weeks.
