Are NYLON or STEEL Strings better for BEGINNER Guitarists?

[abaneyone]

I prefer nylon, it's what I learned on. I love the wider neck. I also cannot play with a pick, my thumb is my pick.

[bigtj]

props for playing that last song, i was really wondering if that song sounds better on nylon strings and i now i think it do

[flori]

really depends on what you want to play because if you eant to play classical music definitely go with the classical guitar. i personally believe that classical guitar is kind of underappreciated.

[c-flat]

Nylon are better for finger plucking style, due to the strings being slightly further apart so easier to get your fingers between them to pluck individually.

[poolbwoy]

practice on both. if theres chords on the electric/acoustic you aren't getting easily, force yourself to learn it on the classical. once it becomes easy on the classical, should hopefully make it way easier on thinner necks. has helped me a lot.

[DGUD]

Agreed! I think that most people would benefit from simply choosing a really light string gauge at first to build calluses without slicing their fingers open and maybe going for a smaller body shape like a parlor!

[Mendrawza]

I have long fingers. Steel strings's narrow fretboard gives me hand cramps. Classical style guitars are comfortable and beautiful.

[TheOutsider]

Also, nylon strings are significantly lower tension which can cause beginners to develop bad habits of bending and stretching the strings unintentionally, causing tonality shifts. Which also has the side effect of making what you play not sound as good which can be discouraging. Unless you're specifically aware of the strengths and benefits of classical/nylon guitars and plan to mostly play that kind of music, I would suggest a steel string.

Plus, the finger pain is overblown. You quickly develop callouses.

[strummercash]

Oh! I really do love that sound of finger style on nylon strings. Just that snippet was soothing.
I enjoy these shorts y’all produce!
I was gifted a Yamaha classical from a yoga student.
It’s entry level, however, he bought it in Japan on his way home after serving in Vietnam, so, it has a cool legacy. This video inspires me to pull it out and give it the playing attention it deserves.

[VilkasG]

well the wider fretboard is actually a good thing. it's easier not to mistake one string for another. i've started on a classical and it's actually easier to play

[pritambauri]

Love the nylon finger style classical guitar 😍❤

[grsimpson]

I started with steel, playing Irish folk and country. As I got interested in Spanish music, I made the change to nylon. Just start with nylon. Your technique will be a lot better due to the wider fretboard. And I'm not sure how steel is a more iconic sound considering all country and folk used to be done on classical guitars (Ronnie Drew and Willie Nelson played on nylon), and jazz, bossa nova, flamenco, which is the quintessential guitar genre, are usually done on nylon

[datsunlambchops]

It is whatever sound inspires you most.
Facts.

[EviMlcak]

I love percussive guitar style. I'm looking into the Alhambra cross-over guitars due to watching Karlijn's version of 'Beat It'. Thanks to her it's possible to rock a nylon string guitar.

[rdalbum]

The best thing I did in my guitar journey was learn classical. Without it, I probably wouldn't be able to read music and translate it to guitar. I probably also wouldn't be able to play fingerstyle half as well without doing classical guitar lessons.

The second best thing I did in my guitar journey was buy a steel string acoustic with a pickup, enabling me to play different types of music amplified in front of others, which forced me to address problems I had ignored with my classical playing.

I'd honestly recommend that you take classical lessons on a classical guitar, but also buy some sort of steel string acoustic with a pickup as well. Doesnt have to be expensive, get a Yamaha as they are very playable for not much money. But get both.

[mandiluis]

I learned on a classical, still have it 22 years later :)

[mddreher]

Agreed. Pickt the guitar you want to learn. Nylon, steel or even electric. After you are able to play some finger patterns and to hit some chords, you can also shift between the different guitars. What matters is the fun, the motivation and you spend with your instrument.

[Lakitu]

Thanks for shedding light onto this misconception, the best beginner strings are the strings that the beginner will stick with.

[sobrecanto]

I started learning with a Classical, but I love the sound of steel strings. I definetely think it's a good idea to play both, because there are songs that sounds better in one or the other.

[newfake]

you could also lighten the fact that nylonstrings exists for folks guitars and steel string exists for classical guitar, so even if it's alraddy specific, if someone really want soft strings on a thiner fretboard, t's possible ! :)