How often should I be changing my strings?

[UKPete24]

Hey everyone, I’ve been playing a few times a week for a while now, and I’m starting to wonder how often I should really be changing my strings. I’ve heard everything from once a week to once a month, and it’s all a bit confusing. I tend to sweat quite a bit when I play, and I’ve noticed my strings lose their brightness pretty quickly. I’m using standard uncoated strings right now, but I’ve seen some recommendations for coated ones that apparently last longer. Should I make the switch or just stick to changing them more frequently? What do you all think works best for you?

[GearNerd]

Hey UKPete24, the general rule of thumb is to change your strings every 1-2 weeks if you’re playing regularly, especially if you sweat a lot. The sweat can really wear them down. Coated strings might be worth a try since they tend to last longer and resist sweat better, but they can feel a bit different under your fingers. If you prefer the uncoated feel, just keep an eye on their brightness and change them when they start sounding dull.

[Olly]

I used to play a lot and also found my fingers would sweat a lot. I found that I was having to change strings almost every week. Because I was young and money was very tight this led me to buy cheaper strings which I would imagine would have worsened the issue.

These days I am mainly playing acoustic guitar and I use some of the Elixr coated strings or the D'Addario XS and even though these are quite expensive strings, I do find that they last months even with quite regular playing.

So it might be worth giving them a go and see how they work out for you.