Strings, like shoes, are designed with a particular purpose in mind. So, while students require strings that yield an easy response and consistent tuning, professionals often prefer strings that offer more nuanced musical expression. Your preferred musical style also affects string selection, thus classical players may opt for gut-core strings while non-classical players typically stick with steel or synthetic core strings.
Also, it's important for students to remember that your instrument's strings work in partnership with the bow. When you are a beginning string player, the bow can be the most difficult component to master, so it is important to choose the right strings for your proficiency - strings that are forgiving enough to create an easy bow response.
As a student, the best strings choice will be steel or, if budget allows, synthetic core options. Both of these string types allow for that easy bow response and sound production important as you develop your musical ear and playing technique. Steel and student-specific synthetic core strings maintain stable pitch and tuning, and they settle quickly.
Steel core strings have a more direct, but likely less rich, sound than synthetic core strings. This is why they're the ideal strings for beginners or non-classical professionals who desire a brighter sound. Once you've progressed a bit, mastering bow technique and strokes, it will be time to experiment with the tone richness of synthetic core strings and explore how to manage higher/lower tension strings based on preference between projection and richness of sound.
When it comes to string instruments, tone production is all about nuances. Check out Thomastik-Infeld Sound Charts – for Violin, Viola and Cello. This chart can help you find your sound by identifying where a string set’s qualities fall on the spectrum – measuring broad versus focused and warm versus brilliant attributes.
If we revisit the shoe analogy, it makes no sense to buy hiking shoes if the aim is to walk on sidewalks. Similarly, the decision for intermediate and more advanced students, regarding which string-grade to select, should be driven by:
It's difficult to set a rule regarding when to replace your strings, as the string approach varies from one musician to the other. When re-strung properly, quality strings rarely break, but their tone will eventually fade. Within the same brand, some professional musicians will choose to change strings every three weeks, while others will get six-months out of them.
If you play your instrument an average of 30-minutes per day, change your strings at least once a year. If you play an average of one-hour a day, it's better to change your strings every three- to six- months.
Thinking about changing the strings on your instrument? Watch, The Short Story of Changing Strings, and then How to Have Your String Instrument Stay in Tune.
The string manufacturing industry is not immune to innovation. Thomastik-Infeld has been the leader in string innovation and recently developed Alphayue strings - designed specifically with students in mind to allow for greater sound and playability – a synthetic core string at a fantastic, affordable cost.
These synthetic core strings have the right tension and easy bow response to allow students to explore tone, while benefiting from ease of playing.
Once you feel you understand how to partner with it in producing a beautiful sound, Peter Infeld Strings (p) will offer a brilliant tone, great stability and longevity for a professional tension set, while Vision Solo will provide you with a warmer, denser sound. Your teacher can help you determine when you're ready to take this important step.
Ultimately, the decision regarding whether or not to use student or professional grade strings comes down to experience level, bowing technique and the quality of tone you want to create. The choice is yours.
Sponsored by Thomastik-Infeld.