Acoustic Strings - Newbie Mistake

I should have spent more time reading the Forum before I ran out to buy new strings !

I have been playing just over 1 month on a used Yamaha I found for $100 bucks. I showed it to a friend who plays and said it had good action and decent sound; but suggested I get new strings. He highly recommended the Elixir brand.

I looked at strings online briefly then went to the Music Store, stepped up to the counter and confidently asked for Elixir Acoustic Mediums. Came home, watched 3 or 4 videos on 'How to Change Strings' and started to work.

I tuned up each string and it sounded great! Then I started playing the open chords that I had memorized and most had dead sounds and lots of buzzing. My lightly calloused fingers were aching in no time. I kept trying for two days but got to the point I didn't want to pickup the guitar - It sounded bad and it hurt.

I did more research through the Forum and found that Medium strings on an Acoustic are actually quite Heavy. I thought Medium should be middle weight - Average - The Norm. Evidently NOT!

Back to the music shop with some humility and asked for Light gauge strings. I was recommended to buy D'Addario Custom Light .011 - .052.

Well I can play again:) but it has cost me $26 bucks to learn this lesson (1/4 of what I paid for the Instrument) I hope other new players might read this and save themselves some time, trouble and CA$H.

Lovin' Guitar Tricks - Great Lessons and Info.

Regards,
Richard

Great post!

I'm glad you're able to have at least a bit of a sense of humor about it.

:)

Jon

Get those fingers into shape! Just don't blame Elixir. :D

Arguing string brand is like any other brand argument (little value, never settled) but Elixir Nanoweb Light (.012 - .053) are my favs for acoustic.

Welcome to the forum!

Oh - I didn't mean to blame Elixir at all. The strings sounded great and felt pretty neat sliding under my fingers.

It was the gauge grading that I admittedly did not understand.
Extra Light > Custom Light > Light > Light-Medium > Medium Is not intuitive at all. Where else is 'Medium' at the top of the scale?

I have a lot to learn.

Meh, it's not really much of a mistake man. Every piece of a guitar has a small or large say so on the tone. It really depends on what sounds you are looking for or your preference on the feel when you play. You spent a little bit extra money to figure out what you don't like as well as teach yourself how to change strings. I like Martin lights or custom lights :)