5 Simple Steps to Get the Most Life Out of Your Guitar Strings

As guitarists, we all struggle with the seemingly constant need to have fresh sounding strings. This inevitable fact of the craft has haunted guitarists for ages. However, there are a few ways of getting the most out of your strings.

Step 1. Wash Your Hands.

Make an effort to play with clean hands. Give your hands a good washing before hand to remove the oils and dirt we naturally gather during the day. Just make sure to thoroughly dry them before sitting down and playing.

Step 2. Wipe Your Strings

Clean your strings. Do it immediately after playing your guitar, and have it become a routine. Keep a spare cloth or old T-shirt around to wipe your strings down with after playing. Pinch each string and run the cloth from top to bottom. Try to get underneath the strings as well when wiping.

Step 3. Clean Your Strings

Use Alcohol… no, we do not mean have a beer first. Pour alcohol on your cloth, wipe away, and bring your strings back to life!

Step 4. Choice of Strings

Use coated strings, as they will protect the strings from the grease on your fingers.

Step 5. Just In Case.

Try and keep your guitar in its case and away from humid or harsh environments. Just like most metals, Guitar strings rust when exposed to the elements.

Stay tuned. Next article we will talk about 5 ways to keep your strings from breaking unnecessarily! (Another obviously great way to extend the life of your strings!) Sneak peak

Music History - 20 Years Ago - May

Music History - 20 Years Ago - May

Music History - 20 Years - May 1991

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Timeline

May 4 - The Eurovision Song Contest 1991 is held in Rome, Italy and, after a highly controversial voting segment, Sweden's Fångad av en stormvind by Carola is declared the winner.

May 7 - In Macon, Georgia, a judge dismisses a wrongful death lawsuit against Ozzy Osbourne. The suit was filed by a local couple that believed their son was inspired to attempt suicide by Osbourne's music.

Ozzy Crazy Train

May 10 - Truth or Dare, a documentary chronicling singer Madonna's 1990 Blond Ambition Tour, is released to theatres.

May 24 - Guns N' Roses kicked off their 26 months world tour Use Your Illusion Tour in Alpine Valley in East Troy.

May 25 - The Billboard 200 album chart starts incorporating electronically monitored sales data provided by Nielsen SoundScan, thus beginning what chart aficionados tag as the "SoundScan era".