Why do strings break?

Sometimes a string breaks simply because it is old and has become brittle. Did you ever take a piece of metal wire and bend it back and forth, back and forth, until it finally just snapped? That same type of thing can happen to a guitar string over time.

Sometimes a string breaks because it is being tuned up too high. As you tune a string higher and higher, the string is pulled tighter and tighter. Tighten it more than it can handle, and it may snap.

Similarly, a string may break if you play the guitar very aggressively. Overstress the strings, and they can snap. If you like to play very aggressively and don’t want to break strings so readily, you might try going to a heavier gauge string that can take more punishment.

Occasionally, the guitar itself can be the cause of a string breaking. If there is any roughness at the point(s) of contact between the string and the guitar (at the saddle, at the nut, or at the tuning peg), the string may actually fray or become worn to the point of breakage at that contact point. You may be able to gently sand or file down a rough spot if you detect or suspect one. Or, take the guitar to a pro and have them look for the cause if you seem to chronically break the same string over and over.

Sometimes, strings just break. Fact of life. Keep a spare set on hand. If you tend to break one particular string more often than others (the high E string is a favorite breaker, perhaps because it’s the most delicate), you can buy a few single high E strings at the music store to have on hand in case you need them.

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