Playing the electric guitar is a dream come true for many aspiring musicians. But when pressing down on those strings, you may wonder if you have to put some muscle into it. I’ll explore the age-old question: Do you have to press hard on electric guitar strings? Additionally, discuss the factors contributing to how hard you should press and provide tips on the correct technique to improve your play.
Read on to find out what you need to know about pressing down on those electric guitar strings, whether you are a beginner or an experienced player.
Why Do Beginners Tend To Press Too Hard?
This means that people who switch from acoustics to electrics will likely push too hard on the strings, making their lives a lot harder. This shouldn’t stop people just starting to learn how to play an acoustic because the challenge can help you learn faster. Anyone starting needs help hitting too hard, not just people learning about electrics.
Anyone can make this mistake, even people just starting out with an electric guitar. While practicing on an electric guitar that isn’t put in may be easier because it doesn’t make noise and won’t bother anyone, it can be hard to get a good feel for your tone.
Why Are Electric Guitars Easier To Play Than Acoustic?
Those who have tried both will know that acoustic guitars are more challenging than electric guitars. Some guitarists learn all their songs on a hearing first because they think playing on an electric will be accessible later.
This is because the strings of an electric guitar need to be under a lot of pressure for them to sound good.
Lower Action
Electrics are more accessible to play in part because of their decreased motion. A guitar’s action is the distance between its fretboard and strings. High action demands guitarists to press down significantly harder while playing, which can be challenging even for experienced players.
Thinner Strings
Its thinner strings are another factor contributing to an electric’s ease of play. Electric strings typically have gauges ranging from 011 to 050 (measured in thousands of an inch). Acoustics, on the other hand, are typically gauged from 013 to 056. While this may appear insignificant, practicing for hours on your much softer fingertips can make a significant difference!
Electrics are far more forgiving, and while you’ll still build the callouses required to play properly, learning on one may be less painful.
Acoustics Have No Effects
One crucial thing that electric guitars have that acoustics need to be added is amps and effects pedals. There’s not as much need to press down on an electric guitar because the sound is picked up by distortion and the speakers’ power.
The hollow bodies of acoustics help them spread sound. This is why you need to be careful and robust when you press down on acoustic strings.
Do You Have To Press Hard On Electric Guitar Strings?
No. You do not press hard electric guitar strings. Many beginners and seasoned guitarists wonder if they must push hard on electric guitar strings to generate clear notes and chords. But they may need to acclimate to what constitutes “normal” pressure.
If you still have trouble pressing down on the strings, you should look at your action. The amount of pressure necessary to fret the strings can considerably impact your playing comfort, technique, and enjoyment.
Factors that impact how hard you need to push on electric guitar strings
String Gauge:
The gauge of the strings you use might affect how much pressure is required to fret them. Strings with a lower gauge (e.g., 9-42 or 10-46) need less tension and are often simpler to press down. Heavier gauge strings (for example, 11-49 or 12-54) have more pressure and may require more finger muscle to fret successfully.
Guitar Setup:
The setup of your electric guitar determines how firmly you must press on the strings. A well-adjusted guitar with a suitable action (string height above the fretboard) will simplify fretting. If the step is excessively high, it may be necessary to use more significant finger pressure to fret the strings comfortably.
Finger Strength and Technique:
Your finger strength and fretting technique will improve as you play more often and gain experience. You can fret with less effort if you place your fingers correctly, use the tips of your fingers, and keep your finger arches straight.
Neck Relief:
How much neck relief (curvature) in the guitar neck changes the string height and can change how much plucking pressure is needed. If you set the truss rod correctly, the neck relief will be better, and fretting will be more comfortable.
Finger Calluses:
Getting calluses on the hand you use to fret the strings can make pressing them more comfy. When you play regularly, calluses form on your hands, making them less sensitive and painful.
Fret Condition:
If the frets are worn or uneven, the string height can change along the neck, changing how much fretting pressure is needed. Keeping up with upkeep and fret dressing can help ensure the string height is even.
Why Are My Guitar Strings So Hard To Press Down?
High Action
The space between the fretboard and the strings on a guitar is known as the action. A high action will necessitate more significant pressure on the strings before the lines make contact with the frets, and this is the most common reason you’ll need to push harder on the strings for a crisper sound.
Several factors contribute to high action, including shallow nut slots, high bridges, and warped necks. Fortunately, a competent guitar technician can repair any of these issues.
Nut Slot Issues
The nut slots on a guitar are located at the neck of the instrument. The grooves carved into the strip keep the strings in place. Holding the strings taught and straight is assisted by this angle between the machine heads and the fretboard.
The strings will be inclined higher above the fretboard if the nut slots are too shallow, giving increased action. An expert can change the nut slots to make the strings parallel to the fretboard again.
Saddle and Bridge Issues
A high saddle or bridge on a guitar is a typical issue that adds to increased action. The bridge is the guitar region at the bottom, where plugs hold the strings. The saddle is where the strings rest to keep them horizontal with the guitar’s neck.
Shaving the saddle, which lowers the strings, is the remedy to the saddle’s contribution to excessive action. Saddles might grow too low due to wear over time or excessive shaving. If this happens, you can have the bridge cut to restore saddle clearance.
If the saddle and bridge are both low, but the action is still excessively high, the guitar neck should be examined to see if it is deformed. It is always advisable to take the instrument to a guitar technician for appropriate diagnosis or to have the shaving procedure performed.
Warped Neck
If the nut slots and bridge are in good condition, the next thing to look for is a warped neck. It may be missed, but it should be evident upon closer inspection.
Examine the guitar’s action to determine if it has a warped neck. The movement should be even from the neck to the bridge, and the strings should be parallel to the fretboard. Your guitar’s neck is deformed if the strings are not similar.
A bent neck could cause increased action in the center of the neck. If you suspect this, have a technician inspect the instrument and execute a straightening process.
String Thickness
The string thickness is measured in inches and gauge or diameter.”heavy” refers to thick strings. In contrast, “light” refers to thin strings, though medium strings are also available.
Heavy strings are not recommended for novices since the more pressure necessary to drive them down, the more serious the string.
Heavy strings give a louder, “thicker” tone, which is preferred by metal guitarists or guitarists seeking a more vintage, unique sound.
Medium-gauge guitar strings generate a balanced sound and are suitable for any genre. This size is ideal for blues and rock, where a more muscular tone is required while still requiring some light-handed guitar handling.
Light strings demand far less strain and produce a more tinny sound than thicker strings. There are three types of strings: light, super-light, and extra-super-light.
Lighter strings are ideal for novices and genres such as folk, country, jazz, and blues.
How do you learn how hard it is to press on strings?
Chords can sound funny when you press on guitar strings incorrectly or with too much force, and your fingers can get sore. Breaking bad habits is hard, and they can affect many parts of playing the guitar.
If you want to avoid bad music habits, learn the right way.
Signs You're Not Using the Right Pressure
Using incorrect string pressure while playing guitar is typically a newbie error or an unresolved bad habit. Playing notes that sound out of tune, even on a recently tuned guitar, is the most prevalent symptom of incorrect pressure. Beginners may miss this, so having lessons with a skilled teacher is crucial for all aspiring guitarists.
Hand, wrist, and finger pain when playing is another standard indicator of incorrect string pressing. Pressing down on the strings with an incorrect hand position or too much pressure will place additional strain on the hand.
Pain and strain during playing or afterward might be frustrating. This is a fantastic incentive to learn the best position for the least effort and pressure.
Another clue that you’re applying too much strain is that you’re playing slowly. Many guitarists want to learn to play faster and more efficiently, so address errors like this to move things ahead.
Practice Proper Pressure
The most important advice for newcomers is to practice regularly and consistently. Consistent practice will make playing guitar much more enjoyable in the long run and help you improve faster.
The more you play, the faster your wrists, hands, and fingers adapt to the new movements.
Pressing lightly down on the string while picking it until it generates sound is a reliable technique to practice. This technique will expose how much pressure is required before the guitar makes a sound, greatly enhancing your guitar feel.
Learn to play with just enough pressure to hear notes clearly; you’ll use less elbow grease and play more sustainably and enjoyable.
Guitarists with experience can play without pain or blisters. Many beginners lose before reaching this stage because they believe suffering will always be a part of the game.
Finger exercises and stretches are an excellent approach to increase playing proficiency and comfort while alleviating pain in a beginning guitarist’s hands. Exercise your fingers to improve your playing ability, leading to more challenging tunes.
They relax stiff finger muscles and can considerably improve finger reach and range while preventing finger stiffness later.
Finger exercises make the fingers significantly more agile and swift, allowing for rapid skill level advancement while toughening the fingertips more effectively than ordinary playing.
Problems With Pressing Too Hard On Guitar Strings
Sometimes, more than knowing how much pressure your guitar strings should take is needed for people who tend to press too hard on them. Another important thing is understanding why you should refrain from doing this and breaking this habit.
You Might Damage Your Guitar
If you push your strings against the fretboard in the wrong direction or forcefully, the frets and the fretboard itself will wear out over time.
This will only happen after a single session, and I hope you’re not squeezing your strings too hard! But, joking aside, constantly pushing your strings this way can harm the neck and decrease the life of your guitar.
You Might Hurt Yourself
Playing your guitar can cause not only damage to your guitar but also to your hand, particularly your wrist and fingers.
You are applying incorrect string pressure when playing, which most beginners do at first. Still, it can become a nasty habit if you’re self-taught or need to be more diligent with your tutor’s instructions.
I should mention that we’ve all had aching fingers at the outset of our guitar journey. As newcomers, we must put in a lot of effort to improve our finger range and reach.
It takes time for calluses to develop on our fingers, and our muscles are still learning something new; nevertheless, applying excessive pressure will likely result in more pain.
In fact, according to a study, the fretting hand was the most commonly reported region of playing-related pain (41.8%).
Furthermore, repeatedly pressing down hard on thin metal or nylon strings can cause blunt damage to your fingertips, strain your finger tendons, and develop inflammatory disorders such as tendinopathy and tendonitis.
I realize this sounds extreme, but it might happen, and even if you don’t damage yourself, the constant agony and discomfort will most certainly cause you to lose interest in playing the guitar.
It Slows Down Your Playing
Too much pressure on your guitar strings is unpleasant and detrimental. You’ll only end up slowing yourself down.
Most of the time, your hands should move in a smooth and rapid motion, which you can do by reducing the pressure you apply to the strings.
It Affects Your Sound
The added pressure will also affect the sound, making the notes you play seem strange and uneven.
Even if you have a perfectly tuned guitar, pressing too hard might cause it to sound out of tune.
How To Make Your Electric Guitar Easier To Play?
The first thing you need to do is figure out why it’s so hard for you to play guitar, especially when pressing down on the strings on the fingerboard.
You can look at the options below once you know what caused the problem.
Adjust Your Action Height
The first thing you should do is make sure your instrument is correctly set up. In this scenario, you must examine the action and any factors contributing to excessively high activity.
If the strings are difficult to press due to the high action, tune the action just enough to press the strings comfortably but low enough that you don’t hear the buzz when they meet the fretboard.
This could imply that you need to trim the saddle or replace the bridge entirely or that you need to loosen the truss rod, correct the nut, or replace it.
If you’ve never done this before, you should take your guitar to a professional, but if you’re an expert guitarist, you can experiment with different action heights until you find one that’s easy to press down and creates the desired tone for you.
Detune Your Guitar Strings
If the strings are too hard to press, you could tune your guitar strings lower than the normal sound.
The most comprehensive E string on a traditional guitar plays the notes E, A, D, G, B, and E. If you want to drop two semitones, the standard notes will change to D-G-C-F-A-D.
To make playing the guitar more accessible for beginners, detune it. This will make the strings less tight, making them easier to bend and play.
Your guitar’s tuning may have been too high, so you’ve had trouble pressing them against the neck. If that’s the case, all you have to do is detune it to its normal tuning.
Use Lighter Strings
Choosing a smaller gauge is possible to avoid strain on your fingers. That’s why lighter strings are great for people who are just starting to play the guitar or want to get back into it after a long break.
Lighter strings are not only easier to press down, but they are also more bendable, which means they are easier to bend than thicker strings.
To make it easy to push down on your guitar strings, you should also pick strings made of a suitable material for your guitar. Again, we’ve already discussed how much softer nylon strings are than steel strings. Players with weak fingers will love them.
Also, ensure you get good-quality strings that won’t rust or rust and have a lot of give. This will, of course, depend on your income. You can spend little on guitar strings, but look for good brands.
Switch To An Electric Guitar
Many people suggest starting with an acoustic guitar and then moving on to an electric guitar to improve your hands and fingers. Electric guitars are the best choice because their smaller bodies, thinner necks, and lighter thickness make them easier to play.
Ultimately, it depends on what you like better since both instruments have problems. Crazy, I know, but I’ve known people who never wanted to learn how to play the electric guitar and people who did.
Alternatively, choose an acoustic guitar with an electric action and heavier steel strings instead of an acoustic guitar with high action. You should learn both instruments.
Warm-up Before Playing
You should stretch before you work out and do the same thing before playing the guitar.
Warming up will get your body and mind ready for the activity. Most importantly, raising the temperature of 34 muscles in your hands will keep you from getting hurt. This will make you more flexible and improve your overall performance.
To get ready, all you have to do is rub and stretch your hands and fingers. Again, don’t be too hard on yourself. A few light stretches should be enough to make you more flexible and loosen up too-tight muscles.
I’m going to tell you about the worst thing about my life! My hands are always cold, this time of year. If you have cold hands, too, I must warn you that the stiffness will make it harder to move and feel your fingers.
It’s easy to push harder when your fingers are cold and feel like wood, making them less sensitive. Before I stretch, I usually run my hands under warm water to get more blood flowing.
It’s also essential to warm up with an easy exercise before moving on to something more challenging. Your guitar teacher will show you some exercises that will help you warm up both hands. But don’t worry if you don’t have a teacher; the internet is full of helpful lessons that can help you.
Improve Your Finger Strength
When first starting out, it can be hard to understand that playing the guitar should feel smooth, easy, and natural.
This will make the strings feel tighter, making you want to press harder. But a light touch will work just fine.
You need to practice to get this light touch, and as you work on strengthening your fingers, you’ll notice that you don’t have to press the strings as hard but can play faster instead.
Initially, you may use just one finger to play the strings. This means you will need to put more pressure on them. Instead, use more than one finger and try to use the muscles in your wrist.
You must press down on the strings with a certain amount of force to make the right sound. As you practice and your fingers get calluses, they become more robust and flexible; this force will feel less intense.
But remember to give your fingers time to rest. It’s great that you’re excited about it, and playing the guitar every day for 30 minutes to an hour is a great way to speed up the process. Just don’t overdo it or play the guitar with sore fingers.
Take Your Guitar To A Technician
When setting up your guitar, I’ve already mentioned its importance. However, it’s best to let a professional do it if you’re a beginner player just starting.
A guitar tech can change the action, neck, bridge, and anything else that needs to be changed so that you can play your guitar and strings.
They can also tell you what strings will work best with your guitar and tune it to your specifications. There’s a good chance the setup on your brand-new guitar from a well-known company could be better.
To begin, everyone has a different idea of what the best setup is, so be ready to make some minor changes. Things like the surroundings, the shipping conditions, and your tastes can all lead to a wrong design.
So, take your guitar to a nearby store or ask your teacher to show you how to make simple fixes.
Final Words On Do You Have To Press Hard On Electric Guitar Strings
Pressing hard on electric guitar strings is optional and can hinder your playing. While it’s important to apply enough pressure to make the strings contact the frets, excessive force can cause unnecessary strain on your fingers and lead to fatigue or injury over time.
Instead, focus on finding the right balance of pressure that allows the strings to ring out clearly without straining your hand. Experiment with different finger positions and techniques to find what works best for you.
Remember, it’s all about finding a comfortable and efficient approach that allows you to play quickly and expressively. So, next time you pick up your electric guitar, remember to apply enough pressure for a clean sound but do what is necessary.
FAQs
Is it hard to put on guitar strings?
It is easy to change the strings on your acoustic guitar if you follow the right procedure. Take your time placing the strings on the bridge – it’s. Still, many easy people, including professionals, must learn this trick.
How much tension should a string be on an electric guitar?
34.0 lbs on a short scale, 35.7 lbs. on a medium scale 40.3 kg. On the long scale Scale that is extra long – 45.2 lbs. You can see that the tension changes based on the length of the instrument’s scale, even if the strings are all the same gauge and tuned to the same pitch.
Are electric guitar strings easier?
The lower string gauge makes them easy to play in general. Before reading this piece, you should know about the different kinds of guitar strings that are out there so that you can buy the right ones!