Do I have to use Flamenco strings on a Flamenco guitar?

A recent question of some frequency: Do I need to be using "Flamenco" labeled strings on my flamenco guitar?
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[@dayodayo256]

Simple, down to earth explanations in your videos. Awesome. Thank you!

[@martinreid5018]

Great advice David, and thanks for both the recommendation and the examples you give of tone!

[@Rocky-hw9dv]

Thanks for good advice and welcome back.

[@DVSPress]

Rocky Thanks for watching!

[@jgrossma]

Good video. One potential difference between "flamenco" and standard strings is that some makers used colored nylon for their flamenco treble strings. For example the D'Addario flamenco trebles are black, LaBella are red, etc. To me, considerations of tone, feel, cost, and durability are WAY more important than cosmetic appearance, but all else being equal, if you like the way they look why not?

[@jgrossma]

Other than the color of the strings, some of the makers (including D'Addario) claim that they use specific nylon formulations for their flamenco strings, to give them more attack, brighter sound, etc. How much of a real difference there is, or whether or not these are really better for flamenco is questionable, but its not necessarily the case that the classical and flamenco strings are the exact same strings in different packages.

[@ghfhftguytyty5099]

I know Paco de Lucia used '' Omega'', as far as I remember. Please refresh my memory. Thanks.

[@ItssAnAliProduction]

What strings do you use, or what would you recommend for flamenco? I've been playing for over 5 years now, but can't decide what brand is the best. Why would you recommend?

[@DVSPress]

+Ali I use Savarez alliance high tension on both guitars. They work well for my sound. Strings are a matter of personal preference for the most part, so try a few sets out to see what feels and sounds the best for you!

[@ItssAnAliProduction]

David Stewart Awesome, cheers for the reply man!

[@DVSPress]

Of course!

[@131313407]

Wonderful. Intuitively, I use the exact same strings for both classical and flamenco. How about that? Cool.

[@MrJosehermoza]

Hi David , I learned so much in every video, is incredible,...would you prefer high tension as oppose to normal tension? , whats your view on that ? thanks again Jose

[@DVSPress]

Jose H I personally prefer high tension strings because they roll less under the hands and make slurs a bit snappier, but it is a personal preference, so go with what you prefer! Thanks for watching!

[@mrblister8359]

annie lennox would argue classical strings sound diffrent to flamenco strings not the guitar. has anyone recorded on the same guitar classical strings vs flamenco vs carbon strings. i cant find any videos on this

[@TranceNotes]

I appreciate your videos v.much. Can I ask your opinion ? I have a dreadnought that I want to string up for flamenco playing. Obviously, the usual steel/bronze strings are not very suitable. Can you suggest what else I could try? A High tension classical set, perhaps? The guitar has a solid sittka spruce top and solid rosewood back & sides. I have not been using it because the body is really too subtle for typical dreadnought work, but I have a hunch it would work great for flamenco, given the right strings. Being a dreadnought, the neck is longer than the typical Spanish guitar. Many thanks!

[@DVSPress]

The problem with using a dreadnought style guitar is not the string type, but the neck shape. It's not really wide enough nor are the strings spaced adequately for most right hand work. You can try a ball-end classical guitar set (Ernie ball makes a decent set) if you want to use nylon strings on a pin-bridge setup.

[@TranceNotes]

Thanks David. It may end up being a passing experiment. It may not result in a suitable sound anyway. It's just that I've been playing fingerstyle on dreadnoughts for 40+ years, and getting used to a flat, wide classical fretboard is proving a bit of a challenge, so I just have to try it. I have smallish hands, which doesn't help. :)

[@DVSPress]

Give it a shot. You can also look at some of Cordoba's guitars (if you are looking to buy) and they have some narrower spacing options. Carvin also offers an electric classical with a feel closer to a steel string. I think it's a little difficult to do rasqueado on narrow strings and with a bridge that isn't flat, but you can always give it a shot.

[@TranceNotes]

Wow a Cordoba or Carvin would be nice! Unfortunately that would only be in my dreams at present due to my financial situation. I'm down in the realm of cheap guitars at present. But one way or another, things will work out. :)

[@TheRichie213]

Do you think flamenco strings go out of tune easier than classical strings? I have a flamenco guitar. It had regular classical strings on it and stayed in tune perfect. I put on some La Bella hard tension flamenco strings on it. Now it doesn't stay in tune as well as it used to but it sounds way better and louder. I think classical strings are less stress and easier on the guitar resulting to better sustain tuning. What's your take?

[@emiii4346]

Hello! Which strings will fail faster under Hard tension, normal or light?

[@D0CBEE]

Can anyone recommend strings for a Yamaha CG182SF? I just got mine today and the lows are quite tinny on the stock strings. I have a spare pack of D'Addario EJ45 Pro-Arte Normal (.028-.043) Classical Guitar Strings. They were nice and warm on my cheap Classical guitar.

[@DVSPress]

Strings will affect the tone of your guitar less than the guitar itself or your technique. If you find the D'Addario strings to be too bright try out Labella or Galli, which have darker basses to my ears. You also will need to keep in mind it takes some amount of play for a guitar to "open up" to its full tone. Usually several months. FYI I use Savarez Alliance HT Classic strings, which are quite brilliant, but never sound "tinny" to me.

[@D0CBEE]

Thanks for the great informative reply! I've left the stock strings on for now as I realise they have to settle in so I will see how they sound for a couple of weeks. They definitely warming up a bit and not as tinny from when I first bought them. What is the advantage of having high tension to low or medium tension?

[@persiaguitar]

I used ej45 daddario for a long time and recently switched to Savarez 540R Alliance both are normal tensions but Savarez 540R Alliance seems to be harder for my fingers and the resquado seems to be harsher . What is your opinion about it?

[@DVSPress]

Alliance is usually brighter due to the smaller string diameter. I prefer it, as it is easier to remove brightness with technique than to add it and maintain a full tone. I use high tension Savarez, 540J, I think.

[@the61919]

Hi David I would like to ask you how long these savarez strings last? I currently use D'Addario but they wear out very easily, thanks!

[@DVSPress]

It really depends on how often you play, how hard you play, and (weirdly) what your body chemistry is. I would say the Savarez trebles give me 3x-4x the life of D'Addario, and the bases about 2x the life. I change my bases two times for every time I change my trebles. I recently used D'Addario on my Godin and they seemed to lose their tone after about two weeks.

[@siemekkisiel8963]

What do you think about Savarez Flamencita?

[@soulvaccination8679]

I want a flamenco tone.Should I use classical strings or flamenco strings

[@DVSPress]

Actually doesn't matter. I use the same strings on both. Use what you prefer the feel and tone of.

[@soulvaccination8679]

@@DVSPress ok thank you very much

[@eeeo2196]

I hope you see this and reply soon.. would using flamingo strings on a classical guitar makes the classical sound more like a flamingo? 🥺👉🏼👈🏼 or mb close? EJ25B

[@DVSPress]

Flamenco strings are just a marketing thing. They want to change the sound of your guitar very much. In fact, most flamenco players I've known use "classical" strings. The materials are the same.

[@eeeo2196]

David Stewart So it would be useless then to try n make my classical guitar sound more like a Flamenco.. thank you soo much!! That was so much of a help ❤️

[@DVSPress]

You'd get closer to the sound cutting down the the bridge.

[@eeeo2196]

David Stewart umm sorry, I didn’t get what you meant, got confused

[@jonathancollins9057]

o flamenco guitars have lower string action than classical guitars so you'd want to shave the bridge down in order to do so. Typically at the 12th fret the string action height is 2.7mm, at least, that's a reasonable height. Also adding a golpeador or "tap plate" would be efficient when you want to do golpes.

[@Eidosgod]

What gauge do you recommend?

[@DVSPress]

I do not recommend any gauge or tension. That is up to personal preference and the qualities of your guitar. If you want to know what I use, I use Savarez Alliance HT Classic strings on both my flamenco and classical guitars.

[@Eidosgod]

Oh thank you. What is giving me a headache is the flamenco tresillo. PAP, the last stroke doesnt comes right. I though that with lighter strings would be easier.

[@DVSPress]

Try to keep the last joint of your thumb very loose throughout and that will make the pattern easier. I also do that rasqueado p-m-p

[@Eidosgod]

TY

[@acousticambiance945]

so is the lucero lfn 200sce really a flamenco guitar?

[@DVSPress]

It's advertised as a classical, but you could always put a top guard on it to use it as a flamenco, and probably drop the action.

[@acousticambiance945]

David Stewart Thank you!