Why are my guitar strings are hard to push down?

Question

Ive played guitar for a while (Acoustic) and have gotten pretty good. The problem is that my strings are hard to push down. my friends acoustic guitar strings are easy to push down, and my playing sounds a lot better on his guitar. we have the same steel strings, but mine suck. I tried re-stringing it, but it is still hard to push down. what can I do to loosen up the strings?

Answer 1

Hi Kim

First of all, when you buy strings, get .009 extra light gauge. This is easier for the neck and it will soften your action considerably. You won't have to press hard and the response will be great. Also, your neck may be warped which is what I suspect.

The neck is bowed and the truss rod needs to be turned 1 turn clockwise so as to straighten the neck. By adjusting the truss rod, the neck straightens automatically and lowers the action as well.

If you are not sure about the truss rod, pay $10 to get it done by a guitar that knows guitars. I am sure that it is bowed by the way you describe it.

Answer 2

It could be that the string action on your fret board is high which will make it harder to press down.  Could also mean that the neck needs a slight adjustment.  look down the neck of your guitar and see if it looks straight

Answer 3

Guitar strings are made with different gages that will affect the "feeling" of the strings as you play them - Most (if not all) manufacturers of strings made them labeled as "light" "medium or normal" and "heavy"

.

The "heavy or hard" sets are a little heavier and you will fill a

little more (not much) noticiable resistance when striking them

but the sound projected will be a bit "stronger".

To the other extreme the "light" set will be prone to less resistance. Many of my guitar-playing friends do not like this "lighter" gage strings because according to them the sound is "anemic".

I myself use "medium or normal" strings in my guitars and do not have personal experience with the other two types.

Another possible reason for the "problem" you discribe is that

the neck / fretboard is slightly damage OR the "action" is

not adjusted properly.

The "action"is the distance accross the fret board to the strings of the guitar. This could be adjusted (almost always) by a guitar tech.

In any case I will recommend that you take the guitar to your local guitar store and tell the tech the problem you are now finding.

He/She could easily determine (after inspecting the guitar) what the

solution could be and quote you the cost for the repair/adjustment.

I live in the SF/Bay Area and over here you may be looking at a

minimum cost of $40. I am sure that other areas can do it for less.

If the cost is going to be more than half of what you paid for the

guitar I will pass on it and try to find another guitar.

Wish you the best of luck

Answer 4

You might need to lower them and maybe get a better set of strings. I would definitely try Elicsir strings. They cost more but they are so worth it. I would definitley lower the strings from both the nut and bridge. Also.... try guitar lube. That will soften the strings up. Hope this helps.