string2000's Ultimate Guitar String Snapping Thread!

[GreatDaneRock]

I had a covers band in Vietnam and we were playing some Zack Wylde stuff. There were so many pinch harmonics with wide vibratos it was hilarious (I loved it). Very hot weather too.

Long story short, I didn't quite cut a string -- but what happened was that after a while, I hit a pinched harmonic with crazy vibrato...

.. And suddenly the low E string ended up like a spaghetti. It literally expanded, hanging like a wet noodle. And it hadn't come off the (locking) tuning pegs or anything. No, the string seemed to have come unwound somehow, perhaps (!) and also gotten much, much longer. I had never seen this before, anywhere.

And I still don't really know what happened exactly. Not a string expert. But it was quite funny.

These days, there's times I expect it happening again, but I've toned down my pinched harmonic/vibrato mix a little, so we're fine so far.

You snapped the core, hence the wraps came undone and expanded the length of string. It's pretty simple actually.

 

[strings2000]

Is the fear of string breakage overblown?

 

[Dimiguitar]

Is the fear of string breakage overblown?

Do you mean whether it's an unreasonable fear to have or whether it's overblown how common we think this fear is?

 

[Badonkey Kong]

Idk WTF it is, but I'm on my 2nd Majesty that breaks high e strings with too much regularity for it to be my fault.

My Enchanted Forest did it when new, and someone on the Fractal forum told me about abrasive cord, which after a few tries, fixed the problem, which I assume was a burr. Lately it's been happening on my Blue Honu. Same deal.

And my cat, for some strange reason, comes running when he hears the string snap, and wants to play with it. I suppose the first time he was close by, he saw the light reflecting off the loose string, and it caught his eye.

So now he associates that sound with it.

Does your cat have account here? Hmmmm....

 

[AutomationBias]

Is the fear of string breakage overblown?

I think it depends on the guitar and the player! I hardly ever break strings on my electrics. They get frequent string changes and lots of attention. I only seem to break strings on our much-neglected (and not as nice) acoustic guitars.

 

[strings2000]

rom Chatgpt
Here are the most common overlooked signs a string is about to snap:

---

1.​

• What it looks like: Dark spots, dull finish, or orangey rust (especially near the bridge or nut).
• Why it matters: Corrosion weakens the metal, making it more brittle.

Overlooked because: You get used to the color change slowly over time, especially under dim lighting or if your strings are already a darker metal.

---

2.​

• What it looks like: The winding is coming loose, or you see tiny fibers or coils unraveling.
• Where to check: Especially near the bridge and fret areas.
• Common on: Wound strings like the low E, A, and D.

Overlooked because: The damage may be on the underside of the string, hidden from plain view.

---

3.​

• What it looks like: Small dents or flattened areas where the string touches frets most often.
• Why it matters: Repeated bending and fretting stresses those points, causing weak spots.

Overlooked because: It requires close inspection under good lighting or running your fingers along the string.

---

4.​

• What happens: The string won’t stay in tune as well as the others.
• Why it matters: A string under internal stress is more prone to breakage.

Overlooked because: Many players blame the tuner or nut — but it could be the string itself weakening.

---

️ 5.​

• What to feel for: Small burrs or notches where the string sits.
• Why it matters: Over time, they act like wire cutters.

Overlooked because: You assume it's a string issue, not hardware — but sometimes it’s both.

You don’t always see the wear — tiny metal fatigue or micro-fraying can go unnoticed.

 

[spawnofthesith]

I’ve yet to break a string live, but it is one of my fears

I have broken several at rehearsals so I feel it’s a numbers game at this point. I am paranoid enough to make sure I always have a fresh pack close by at gigs

This is one of the big reasons I prefer locking tuners. I know a lot of dudes are like “who needs locking tuners it doesn’t help tuning stability that much”

Well that’s not why I prefer them… it objectively IS quicker to change a string with locking tuners. A lot of people say it’s a matter of 30-60 seconds with an additional tuner but 30-60 seconds on stage is a big deal in my mind. I’d rather pull/tighten/tube than have bust out an additional tool and make sure I have my over under winds right, especially under dim light and stage anxiety

 

[strings2000]

What happens if you put tape on the string next to the tuning post. Would still snap?

 

[spawnofthesith]

What happens if you put tape on the string next to the tuning post. Would still snap?

I don’t think I’ve ever had a string snap at the point of the tuning post…. Usually at the bridge and some times somewhere in the middle

 

[strings2000]

I don’t think I’ve ever had a string snap at the point of the tuning post…. Usually at the bridge and some times somewhere in the middle

Let's say I tape it at a weak point?

 

[spawnofthesith]

Let's say I tape it at a weak point?

I don’t think tape is going to stop metal from breaking from a physics standpoint point… also tape either at the bridge or somewhere in the middle will deaden the string almost entirely I’d think

 

[TSJMajesty]

What happens if you put tape on the string next to the tuning post. Would still snap?

Most every string I break, breaks at the bridge. Very rarely, when it's been on too long, it'll break in the middle somewhere. Never at the tuner.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Let's say I tape it at a weak point?

Defenitely worth a try. I'm doing it all the time.

 

[strings2000]

Defenitely worth a try. I'm doing it all the time.

View attachment 51424

How did it work out?

 

[Sascha Franck]

How did it work out?

Sorry, but I wasn't exactly being serious.

 

[mbenigni]

I can't believe how much traction this thread got. @strings2000 totally made "fetch" happen.

 

[TSJMajesty]

I think he's got most everybody fooled.

 

[mbenigni]

The app will tell you how close a string is to breaking

Definitely a bot.

 

[mbenigni]

HOW and dry seems appropriate

Poll needs a "how and why" option.

And possibly a "hot and heavy" for the OP.

 

[mbenigni]

Nah. Seriously, you don't do that. There's a fundamental difference whether your strong hand is guiding (aka the picking hand, at least in 90% of all cases) or following (aka the fingering hand).
I had two decent leftie students in my teaching career. Both of them started playing right handed and were pretty decent already when they came to me. One of them took the plunge and re-learned from start, hence playing left handed, the other one didn't. The one who changed made rapid progress. The other one (which is still a friend of mine) still at least sort of regrets not having changed.

Sure, there's exceptions. There's players that can play in any orientation and even on stock and upside-down stringed instruments. But in the vast majority of cases, it's the best idea when your strong hand does the picking.

"Like" all related posts because they're interesting, whichever conclusion is accurate. But I've heard this before regarding the dominant hand picking. Closely related to the fact that drummers cross hands in order to drive the hi-hat with their dominant hand.