tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140232930378188483.post6817364150026461300..comments2024-03-17T06:33:48.874+08:00Comments on Jawmunji - Fingerstyle Guitar Resources: Nylon vs SteelJAWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12568512025089300220noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140232930378188483.post-6470286826434977762019-11-07T13:30:34.100+08:002019-11-07T13:30:34.100+08:00Naudo Rodrigues lives in Tenerife and is a genius....Naudo Rodrigues lives in Tenerife and is a genius. Words cannot describe him, you must see for yourself. Fortunately his mate Juan has recorded hundreds of his fingerstyle covers, set aside some time and go here https://www.youtube.com/user/juanignaciomoreno<br /><br />Naudo is my number 1 inspiration, I am the guitarist I am today from seeing what he is able to do and trying it for myself http://www.jawmunji.com/2009/03/why-naudo-is-best.htmlJAWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07318003562454008338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140232930378188483.post-45980702657094335842019-11-07T04:57:15.268+08:002019-11-07T04:57:15.268+08:00Great post! Who is Naudo?Great post! Who is Naudo?Oslerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00759611936427762144noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140232930378188483.post-54509681557659967822013-06-14T10:47:36.326+08:002013-06-14T10:47:36.326+08:00thanks for the tips, i have started on a Strat ele...thanks for the tips, i have started on a Strat electric, but over time i want to play all, Gibson, nylon and steel.Kalebhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00010489965618600317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140232930378188483.post-16236234312867752942011-05-02T13:13:58.673+08:002011-05-02T13:13:58.673+08:00Well, there are plenty of great players - in fact,...Well, there are plenty of great players - in fact, probably the most well know players - who play steel. I started out on nylon, but progressed to steel. But then realised there was something about nylon that just plain worked (Naudo rammed that home). I played my old classical a bit, but after steel it didn't feel right, so I went to the hybrid/crossover. Which was fine for a year, until I realised that yeah it was the classical I really wanted.<br /><br />And then - ouch - the price goes up exponentially as your palate for tone matures :)<br /><br />Lead guitar - eh, you don't need nylon for that IHMO. And yeah, you won't be doing great big bends on nylon.<br /><br />I recommend borrowing a nylon for a while and seeing how you go. I needed a year before I realised a full classical is what I wanted.<br />JAWJAWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12568512025089300220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140232930378188483.post-72650113157340755742011-04-27T20:33:21.802+08:002011-04-27T20:33:21.802+08:00This dilemma is bigger than ever now inside me!
I ...This dilemma is bigger than ever now inside me!<br />I have a 400$ acoustic and 150$ classical I barely play and I feel ready to upgrade to high end stuff. But I have to make up my mind!<br /><br />I've been doing fine playing steel up to now.<br />But the way you wrote it out, nylon seems to be more appropiate for fingerstyle. For instance, the wider fretboard and specially the easier dynamics are really important points.<br /><br />On the other hand, here in Spain for every acoustic guitar there are 20 classical ones. I like to stand out with my fender with its strat shaped headstock and its brighter sound.<br />Moreover, I like to play lead guitar too and hope to join a band sooner or later. You did not mention in the article (I think) that classical guitars usually have less 'clean' frets, preventing to reach the highest notes. That, and no bending makes nylon non-viable for lead guitar...<br />I appreaciate not having to change nylon strings as well.<br /><br />humm :(<br /><br />NilAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140232930378188483.post-86706059966180754302010-12-03T14:43:21.000+08:002010-12-03T14:43:21.000+08:00Great post! I play both nylon (custom built classi...Great post! I play both nylon (custom built classical) and steel string (1958 Martin 00-15 mahogany), you are spot on with your descriptions of both! Students often ask, "Which is best?" I tell them exactly what you said :) <br><br>For newbies, I've found that ball-end nylon strings on a steel string guitar gives them the advantage of a thinner neck and easier strings to learn on. Not the best tone--but you mentioned that dynamics is the last thing students learn to listen for--right again!TJnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140232930378188483.post-67194306332816453022010-12-19T18:40:15.000+08:002010-12-19T18:40:15.000+08:00C.:Well, truss rod may prevent neck bow, but besid...C.:<br>Well, truss rod may prevent neck bow, but besides that the extra tension can tear the bridge off (they say it's pretty shocking to wake up to that big bang), or bend the top (especially solid top, laminated is tougher), because the bracing is different. The fretting of classical's neck is usually made of softer metal, so the steel string can wear that off. Oh, the plastic tuning rollers will also hate the metal.<br>Some guys on a forum has calculated the difference between D'addario's Nylon and Silk and Steel strings tension: it's 35.2 lbs, 16 kg.<br>It's okay, if it works for you, but let's make it clear: it's absolutely dangerous to put steel on a classical.<br><br>Show us your vid when it's posted!L3ftynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140232930378188483.post-6272264380675817952010-12-04T16:18:56.000+08:002010-12-04T16:18:56.000+08:00Thanks for the article. Great, I would have forgot...Thanks for the article. Great, I would have forgotten some aspects, had I written it myself :-)<br><br>I play nylon as well, as you know, but I started and played on steel for a few years. I switched to nylon originally as a cheap option, as it is often possible to find second hand nylon string guitars for cheaper than steel string guitars (regardless of quality), 10 pounds is quite common for nylon. <br><br>All you said is right, Jaw. Just one thing.<br>Nails. If nylon strings are almost exclusively played with nails (they are called classical guitars after all), and steel strings are globally most often used with plectrums, steel strings can equally be played with nails, and often are in many styles such as folk fingerpicking, some blues...<br>Maybe the only thing you didn't mention, is that whether steel strings are considered good for fingerstyle or not, they are better for strumming (with or without a spectrum), at least for rock/pop music (flamenco is another matter), I think the fact that the neck is narrow and the strings have more tension just make it easier to hit them all at once, it lends itself to a more rhythmic playing style.Roman Agenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140232930378188483.post-52831728366164560342010-12-15T23:14:58.000+08:002010-12-15T23:14:58.000+08:00I really enjoy your commitment and way with words ...I really enjoy your commitment and way with words about this stuff, so I thought I'd put in my 2 cents.<br><br>I'm another guy who likes to go back and forth from steel to nylon. I feel it helps me keep from stagnating by switching it up a little. <br><br>I've heard a million times that you cannot put steel strings on a nylon guitar. I guess it's in my nature to try things people tell me can't be done. So let me preface this by saying I wouldn't try it on an expensive classical guitar. I've done it on my relatively low-end Cordoba classical guitar for about a year and haven't had any kind of negative effects on the neck or bridge. The secret is that you must have a classical guitar with an adjustable truss rod (not all of them do) and you must use pretty light steel strings. I use Martin "Silk & Steel" strings. <br><br>I think it makes for a good hybrid as the S&S strings don't feel like they exert much more tension than high tension D'Addario nylon strings, but you are able to wail on it a little harder than on nylon and natural harmonics are much easier to pull off. However, it still feels much lighter than playing a regular steel string with light gauge strings. <br><br>The S&S strings have a silk wrapping on the ball end which I have to remove on the low E string for it pull through the bridge. All of the other strings thread through with plenty of space and the silk helps keep it from wearing on the bridge. Other than that, it works way better than I expected. I like to use it when learning a new arrangement because it doesn't wear me out as much as my Martin OMC can after extended playing time, but still gives me a steel sound. I never even had to adjust the truss rod. One of these days I'll probably work up the courage to make some YouTube videos and I'll use it for some. <br><br>A comment about string spacing on steel strings for fingerstyle playing: I'd add that a steel string guitar with 1 3/4" nut works better for fingerstyle than one with 1 11/16" if you have bigger hands.<br><br>A comment about fingernail wear and tear on steel: I suppose that varies by individual and playing intensity as some people have thicker nails than others. It is also important to keep them filed to a reasonable length on a regular basis.<br><br>And one last thing that is an important difference is that most steel string guitars expose the 12th fret before the body of the guitar allowing you to reach the higher frets easier (especially with a cutaway). Classical guitars have the 12th fret at the body which makes it much harder to reach the higher frets.<br><br>OK, that's all I've got.<br><br>CheersC. Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140232930378188483.post-33264282361381488142010-12-16T15:15:13.000+08:002010-12-16T15:15:13.000+08:00Re expression: I had the chance to see Tommy E pla...Re expression: I had the chance to see Tommy E play the other day at the Penang Jazz festival - that man can put a lot of expression into his playing. He just gives it everything and still makes no mistakes. I saw him playing up close and he has absolutely enormous hands, no wonder the over the neck stuff works so well.<br><br>I still prefer nylon mind you - especially classical stuff ;-) Nylon fingerstyle can be a bit more more of a muddy mess of sound than steel string I think.Olivernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140232930378188483.post-62553874515358361262011-01-21T22:49:07.000+08:002011-01-21T22:49:07.000+08:00L3fty,I can't make a video now because the bri...L3fty,<br><br>I can't make a video now because the bridge popped off and took out my eye. j/k I'm sure you're right, it's probably not the best idea I ever had. I'm not really in love with that particular guitar so I figured what the hey. I don't really notice any wear on the frets, but I did remove the plastic rollers and milled out some little plastic inserts to receive the metal shaft on the inside edge. Not really because I was afraid of the plastic wearing out, but because the smaller diameter makes it easier to tune the steel strings. Thanks for the data on the difference in string tension. That's definitely good info. Anyways, if anyone reads this, I'd stick to Jaw and L3fty's advice and leave this experiment to people with too much spare time and an extra crappy guitar.C. Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2140232930378188483.post-50875415711893922192011-01-22T09:06:36.000+08:002011-01-22T09:06:36.000+08:00this comparsion was great and useful!next time.. t...this comparsion was great and useful!<br><br>next time.. thumb vs thumb-pick? :PNilnoreply@blogger.com