Why do guitar strings matter for beginners. How can Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinky strings improve playing experience. What are the benefits of investing in quality guitar strings. How do these strings compare to stock strings on beginner guitars. Are Ernie Ball strings suitable for novice guitarists.
The Quest for Comfortable Guitar Playing: A Beginner’s Tale
Guitar playing is a journey filled with excitement, challenges, and continuous learning. For one beginner, the path to musical proficiency began just three months ago with the purchase of a suitable starter guitar from a local music shop. Despite the enthusiasm, a persistent issue arose – finger pain during practice sessions.
Initially dismissed as part of the learning curve, the discomfort persisted, prompting further investigation. Research revealed an often-overlooked culprit: the guitar strings. This discovery led to a consultation with a guitar instructor, who recommended the Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinky Electric Guitar Strings.
The Challenge of Finding Practice Time
Finding time to practice is a common hurdle for many aspiring guitarists, especially those with young children. Our beginner found that evenings, after the kids’ dinner, provided the best opportunity for practice. However, the energy of 4 and 6-year-olds can create a distracting environment. To combat this, the instructor suggested using specialized earplugs designed to filter out background noise, allowing for better focus during practice sessions.
Ernie Ball Strings: Availability and Value
The journey to acquire these recommended strings took an unexpected turn when they were unavailable at the local music store. Undeterred, our guitarist turned to Amazon for the purchase. Despite not having a Prime membership, the wait was worthwhile, especially considering the sale price.
- One pack contains three sets of strings
- Priced under $15 during the sale
- Perceived as a good value for money
For a beginner, the affordability of quality strings can be a pleasant surprise. Are guitar strings typically expensive? While prices can vary, many high-quality strings, like these Ernie Ball sets, are reasonably priced, making them accessible to players at all levels.
Quality and Origin: Made in the USA
As a first-time string buyer, our guitarist couldn’t make direct comparisons to other brands. However, the perceived quality was high, with the “Made in the USA” label on the packaging providing additional reassurance. This origin can be an indicator of quality control and manufacturing standards.
Why does the manufacturing location matter for guitar strings? Strings made in countries with strict quality control standards often exhibit consistent quality, durability, and sound characteristics. The USA has a long history of musical instrument and accessory production, contributing to the reputation of American-made strings.
The String Replacement Process: A Learning Experience
Changing guitar strings for the first time can be a daunting task for beginners. Our guitarist found the process time-consuming, but this was attributed to inexperience rather than any issue with the product itself. This highlights an important aspect of guitar maintenance that all players must learn.
Tips for First-Time String Changers
- Watch tutorial videos before attempting the change
- Have the necessary tools ready (string winder, wire cutters)
- Take your time and be patient
- Change strings one at a time to maintain neck tension
- Properly stretch new strings to improve tuning stability
The Impact of New Strings: Comfort and Sound Quality
Upon installation, the Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinky strings immediately showcased their qualities. The most notable improvement was in playing comfort, with a significant reduction in finger pain. This change can be transformative for beginners, allowing for longer, more enjoyable practice sessions.
How do these strings achieve improved comfort? The “Skinny Top” part of the name refers to lighter gauge strings for the higher notes, which are easier on the fingers. The “Heavy Bottom” provides fuller tone for lower notes without sacrificing playability.
Beyond comfort, the strings delivered a balanced sound, living up to their reputation for producing superior tone. This enhancement in sound quality can be particularly motivating for new players, as it allows them to better appreciate the fruits of their practice.
Packaging Considerations: Practicality vs. Convenience
While the overall experience with the Ernie Ball strings was positive, our guitarist noted one potential drawback: the packaging. Each set comes in a non-resealable plastic bag, necessitating the use of all strings at once or finding a secure storage solution for unused strings.
- Neon yellow packaging is visually appealing
- Non-resealable design may be inconvenient for partial set replacements
- Packaging encourages full set changes, which is often beneficial
Is it necessary to change all guitar strings at once? While it’s possible to replace individual strings, changing the full set ensures consistent tone and wear across all strings. It also provides an opportunity to clean and maintain other parts of the guitar during the process.
Long-Term Value and Repeatability
The affordability of the Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinky strings, combined with their quality and performance, presents an attractive option for regular string replacements. Our beginner guitarist expressed willingness to repurchase these strings in the future, based on the positive initial experience.
How often should guitar strings be changed? The frequency of string changes depends on various factors, including:
- Frequency and duration of playing
- Playing style (aggressive vs. gentle)
- Environmental conditions (humidity, temperature)
- Personal preference for tone and feel
On average, regular players might change strings every 1-3 months, while less frequent players might stretch this to 3-6 months or longer. Signs that strings need changing include dull tone, difficulty staying in tune, and visible wear or discoloration.
A Beginner’s Recommendation: Caution and Enthusiasm
Despite the overall positive experience, our guitarist hesitated to make a strong recommendation, acknowledging the limited basis for comparison and the vast knowledge possessed by more experienced players. This humble approach reflects the learning mindset essential for musical growth.
However, the noticeable improvements in comfort and sound quality provide a solid foundation for a positive review. For other beginners facing similar challenges with finger pain or unsatisfactory tone, the Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinky strings could offer a viable solution.
Key Takeaways for Beginners Considering These Strings
- Potential for reduced finger pain during play
- Improved tone and sound balance
- Affordable price point for quality strings
- Made in the USA, suggesting consistent quality
- Suitable for those new to changing strings
Can changing strings significantly impact a beginner’s playing experience? Absolutely. Quality strings can enhance comfort, improve tone, and ultimately contribute to more enjoyable and productive practice sessions. While they won’t instantly transform a novice into an expert, they can remove unnecessary obstacles in the learning process.
As with any aspect of learning an instrument, personal experience and preference play crucial roles. What works well for one player may not suit another. Beginners are encouraged to experiment with different string types and gauges as they develop their playing style and preferences.
The journey of learning guitar is filled with small discoveries and improvements. From finding the right practice time to selecting appropriate accessories like strings and earplugs, each step contributes to overall progress. The experience shared by our beginner guitarist with the Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinky strings illustrates how attention to these details can enhance the learning process, making it more comfortable and enjoyable.
Amazon.com: Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinky Electric Guitar Strings
I started playing the guitar 3 months ago. I bought one that’s suitable for beginners at my local music shop and have been using that ever since. I try to practice whenever I can, usually in the evenings after the kids have had dinner. It can be distracting if they’re being hyper (my 4 & 6 year olds never seem to run out of energy), but it’s the only time I can really play. My fingers would hurt but I thought it was just a matter of having to get used to it. Well that problem never went away so I did some research and found out that it might be due to my strings.
I asked my guitar instructor for some recommendations and he told me to get these strings. He also told me about
these earplugs
which help filter out background noise so I can focus – they actually do seem to help. Anyways I tried to get these strings locally but they didn’t have it at the store that I usually go to so I bought it online from amazon.
I don’t have prime membership so it took a few days to get here but I was okay with that since I managed to get it while it was on sale. One pack comes with three sets and I got it for under $15 so I feel like I got a pretty good deal.
I’ve never bought any type of guitar string before aside from the ones that came with my instrument so I can’t compare them that well with others but from what I can tell the quality is great. I also noticed on the packaging that it’s made in the USA so that’s always a good sign. It took me a little while to switch the strings but that’s just me being an amateur and has nothing to do with the actual product.
Once I put them on, they had a nice balanced sound. There’s a noticeable difference on how they feel compared to the old ones I had. It makes such a big difference when I’m practicing…my fingers don’t hurt nearly as bad. People say that they also produce a better tone and I believe it.
The only thing I didn’t like about it was the packaging.
The neon yellow color is nice but each set comes in a plastic bag that you have to tear apart. It’s not a zip lock design or anything so you’re kind of forced to use all of the strings at once once you’ve opened them. This wasn’t a problem for me since I was replacing all of mine anyway but I can see how it can be annoying for someone who only wants to replace one. You’d need to find a secure place to put it or something.
Overall however I am still happy with my purchase. I was worried that guitar strings would be expensive but fortunately that wasn’t the case and they’re actually pretty affordable. I don’t know how long these ones will last me but if everything is good I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another pack when I have to. Would I recommend them? Yes…but I’m not sure I’m in a position to actually recommend anything yet. There are probably a lot more people out there who know more about these products than me. From my experience so far however, they work great.
Amazon.
com: Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinky Electric Guitar Strings 3-Pack
I started playing the guitar 3 months ago. I bought one that’s suitable for beginners at my local music shop and have been using that ever since. I try to practice whenever I can, usually in the evenings after the kids have had dinner. It can be distracting if they’re being hyper (my 4 & 6 year olds never seem to run out of energy), but it’s the only time I can really play. My fingers would hurt but I thought it was just a matter of having to get used to it. Well that problem never went away so I did some research and found out that it might be due to my strings.
I asked my guitar instructor for some recommendations and he told me to get these strings. He also told me about
these earplugs
which help filter out background noise so I can focus – they actually do seem to help. Anyways I tried to get these strings locally but they didn’t have it at the store that I usually go to so I bought it online from amazon.
I don’t have prime membership so it took a few days to get here but I was okay with that since I managed to get it while it was on sale. One pack comes with three sets and I got it for under $15 so I feel like I got a pretty good deal.
I’ve never bought any type of guitar string before aside from the ones that came with my instrument so I can’t compare them that well with others but from what I can tell the quality is great. I also noticed on the packaging that it’s made in the USA so that’s always a good sign. It took me a little while to switch the strings but that’s just me being an amateur and has nothing to do with the actual product.
Once I put them on, they had a nice balanced sound. There’s a noticeable difference on how they feel compared to the old ones I had. It makes such a big difference when I’m practicing…my fingers don’t hurt nearly as bad. People say that they also produce a better tone and I believe it.
The only thing I didn’t like about it was the packaging.
The neon yellow color is nice but each set comes in a plastic bag that you have to tear apart. It’s not a zip lock design or anything so you’re kind of forced to use all of the strings at once once you’ve opened them. This wasn’t a problem for me since I was replacing all of mine anyway but I can see how it can be annoying for someone who only wants to replace one. You’d need to find a secure place to put it or something.
Overall however I am still happy with my purchase. I was worried that guitar strings would be expensive but fortunately that wasn’t the case and they’re actually pretty affordable. I don’t know how long these ones will last me but if everything is good I wouldn’t hesitate to buy another pack when I have to. Would I recommend them? Yes…but I’m not sure I’m in a position to actually recommend anything yet. There are probably a lot more people out there who know more about these products than me. From my experience so far however, they work great.
Ernie Ball 2215 Nickel Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom Electric Guitar Strings
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Overview
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The Story of Ernie Ball
History and Innovation of Ernie Ball
Ernie Ball 2215 Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom Slinky Electric Guitar Strings are the perfect hybrid set for those who like thick bottom strings without sacrificing the ability to solo on smaller strings.
The wound strings are made from nickel-plated, steel wire wrapped around a hex-shaped steel core wire. The plain strings are made of specially tempered, tin-plated, high-carbon steel, producing a well-balanced tone for your guitar.
All Ernie Ball strings are precision manufactured to the highest standards and the most exacting specs to assure consistency, optimum performance, and long life.
Ernie Ball is a pioneer of rock and roll guitar strings. Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Steve Vai, and Slash are among the long list of Slinky players.
Gauges: 10-13-17-30-42-52.
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Ernie Ball 3 Pack 2215 Nickel Skinny Top/Heavy Bottom Electric Guitar Strings Bundle
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Guitar String Gauge: What Should You Use?
What is String Gauge?
Guitar strings are very thin in diameter, so require a digestible measurement for the regular player to understand what they’re looking at.
The smaller the number, the thinner the string. The higher the number, the thicker it is.
For example, a .008 string is extremely light and would generally be used for the thinnest string on an electric guitar. A .056 is very thick and would be the thickest on a six-string.
Lots of companies refer to their string packs by the thinnest string. The most common packs you’ll encounter are 9s, 10s and 11s. Some brands give general names to their packs like light, medium, or thick, respectively.
However, different brands will vary the thickness of equivalent strings. You might see that Ernie Ball make a set almost identical to a pack from D’Addario, but one set’s third thinnest string is .018, while the other is .016. That is why it’s important to understand what you’re buying and what’s changing when you buy a new set.
Why String Gauge Matters
Guitar strings determine more in your music and how you approach the instrument than you might think. Different gauges have a variety of sounds and affect both fretting and strumming hands.
Let’s compare two sets of strings:
.009 .011 .016 .024 .032 .042
.011 .015 .018 .026 .036 .050
Notice how the first set is thinner across every string than the first. That means, in general, they’ll be easier to play for many beginner guitarists because they require less finger strength. They don’t require as much force but do require more accuracy. Thicker strings certainly help build up both picking strength and endurance in your fretting hand. As you gradually improve as a player, you’ll notice how much more effort you have to put into fretting and picking in comparison to a thinner set.
Thick strings are great for rock and metal music which require fatter tones and incorporate drop tunings. They fit the popular musical attributes of the genres.
Thinner strings are easier to bend, pick, perform legato and arpeggios and to add flavour to your playing. The downside is they don’t sound quite as chunky or produce as much power as their thicker equivalents, especially on the lower-tuned strings.
There are ways to get around this with hybrid packs, which we’ll get into later.
String Gauges by Music Genre
It’s worth stating that string gauge preference is extremely subjective and you could use almost any gauge for any genre. However, there are some general guidelines you can follow if you want to create a classically associated sound to a musical style.
Thin Strings
Country and folk music often involves a lot of finger picking. Thinner strings provide better clarity and speed for the picking hand. Pop music suits lighter strings, too, as the sound is more focused on higher middle and treble frequencies than they are bass.
Blues styles favour a lot of string bending. This is easiest to achieve using thinner strings. The thicker a string is, the more tension it holds. So if you want to incorporate lots of bends into your playing, light string will be your best bet. On the other hand, famous blues guitarists like Stevie Ray Vaughan favoured thick strings to get warmer tone.
Contemporary jazz guitar usually involves a lot of technical, fast playing and advanced techniques. A thin string gauge is ideal because you don’t have to put as much effort into fretting. Great if you’re playing lots of notes in quick succession.
Medium & Hybrid Strings
Medium string gauges are a versatile pick for almost any genre. Great for rock and blues, as you can dig in and get chunky sounds out the low tuned strings whilst retaining the flexibility for solos.
Hybrid packs usually comprise of thicker low strings and lighter higher strings. You essentially get the best of both worlds – a meatier tone for riffing with the bonus fretting ease on the thinner, upper strings. Hybrid strings don’t really suit any genre of music, in particular, but are a popular choice for many guitarists who need the versatility.
Thick Strings
You’ll find thicker strings help maintain tension when you tune down from standard, or for extended range guitars.
Thin gauges become very floppy and harm your tone’s crispness, as well as make it more difficult to play. That’s why these are the pick for metal and more old school tones.
Very thick gauge strings (with the thickest string being 48 and heavier) tend to suit tunings from drop C and beyond.
Acoustic guitarists generally favour thicker strings as they provide more volume, warmth and resonance – key requirements for an acoustic instrument. It’s also less popular to bend strings, therefore sacrifice flexibility for tension.
Popular Guitar String Brands
The biggest name in the guitar string industry is easily Ernie Ball. They standardised string gauges with their all-purpose nickel-wound Slinky string packs.
Here’s a guide to their popular range:
- Extra Slinky: 8-38
- Super Slinky: 9-42
- Regular Slinky: 10-46
- Power Slinky: 11-48
- Beefy Slinky: 11-54
- Not Even Slinky: 12-56
They also make a variety of hybrid sets to bridge the gaps between the main packs in the range.
This is to cater for some players that like the tightness of the low strings but want to relieve the tension on the high strings, and vice versa. These include a 9-46 Hybrid Slinky, 10-48 Ultra Slinky, 10-52 Skinny Top, Heavy Bottom and 11-52 Burly Slinky.
Other popular brands include D’Addario, Elixir, Rotosound, Fender, Dunlop and newcomers Curt Mangan. Each company has a different take on string gauge combinations. It’s down to you to test them out and work out your favourites. After all, string gauge is 90% preference.
The Best String Gauge For You
A good starting place is to find out what your favourite guitarists use, or what musicians use in the genre you play. Follow the general guidelines outlined and you can’t go far wrong.
From here, it’s time to experiment. Every player has a natural preference in tone and, most important of all, feel. Don’t be afraid to switch brands, as one company might have a couple of strings with different gauges in similar packs you prefer.
They might also make their strings out of materials like steel, cobalt and titanium, which further expand the tonal and texture possibilities. You can find out more info about string material in our ultimate Andertons guide.
If you enjoyed this read, check out more of our Learn articles!
Featured Gear
Guitar String Differences: Need to Knows
If you’re a beginner guitarist, the many different guitar strings available might bewilder you – here’s a mini-guide
If you visit any Dawsons store, one of the first things you’ll notice behind the counter is guitar strings – lots of them. If you’re a beginner, you might find this choice a little bit intimidating. You probably wonder what the difference is between them, too. Here, we’ll explain what the different gauges offer, and how some of the different types of strings differ.
You might be interested in…
String Gauge = Thickness
In this article, we’ll be referring to guitar strings for electric guitars and steel-strung acoustic guitars (classical guitars are not generally sold with same measured gauges, etc).
You might well have heard strings referred to in terms of ‘a set of 9s’ or ‘a set of 10s’ (the two most popular ‘standard’ string sets). This relates to the measurements given to individual strings. Essentially, the thickness of each string is measured in inches. In a set of 9s, the thinnest ‘E’ string is 0.009 of an inch, and in a set of 10s, you guessed it, the thin ‘E’ is 0.010 of an inch.
- A typical set of 9s will run from a 0.009 string, to a 0.042 string (9, 11, 16, 24, 32 42).
- A typical set of 10s will run from 0.010 to 0.046 (10, 13, 17, 26, 36, 46).
A set of 9s will often be referred to as a ‘light’ electric guitar set, with 10s referred to as ‘medium’. A new electric guitar will usually be strung with one of these two gauges. Popular sets include Ernie Ball Slinky and Super Slinky, and D’Addario XL 9s and 10s. Acoustic guitar strings tend to be a bit thicker. As such, a ‘medium’ set for an acoustic guitar will generally be set of 12s or 13s, depending on the brand.
A new acoustic guitar will usually be strung with one of these two gauges. Popular sets include Martin Lights and Mediums, and D’Addario Phosphor Bronze Lights and Mediums. These days there are lots of different variations in gauges to choose from, including ‘custom’ sets that have heavier bass strings with skinnier upper stringed, or the reverse. (Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom, Martin Custom Lights, for example)
What difference does it make?
You might be wondering why there are so many different string varieties if they, essentially, do the same thing. Firstly, as a beginner, thinner strings can be easier on the fingers. When you start to play, the skin on the fingertips is soft, and can become sore from pressure on the strings. Having a lighter string reduces the tension, and the pressure on the tip as a result. In addition, the reduced tension makes string bends easier, too.
Thicker strings produce a bigger, fuller and more powerful tone, however.
As a result, many more experienced guitarists prefer heavier strings. It requires greater finger strength, but for many prefer the extra tension in the strings, and the ‘beefier’ tone they yield. One of the other key reasons for using higher gauge guitar strings is for alternate, lower pitched tunings. The additional tension offered by thicker strings will stop the guitar tone from being loose and thin.
Different types of strings
So, there are different gauges of guitar strings, which result in different tone. There are lots of different brands and string types available, however. What differences do these make? Well, ignoring brand (this tends to be a matter of personal taste), electric and acoustic guitar strings can be divided into two main categories: coated and uncoated. Coated strings are a relatively recent development. The main factor that limits the lifespan of guitar strings is the exposure to air, and the sweat and grime from fingertips.
This causes the metal used to tarnish and corrode.
By applying a microscopically thin coating to strings, the metal is protected from these elements, and the strings remain bright and retain their full sustain for longer. Whilst coated strings tend to cost a little more than an uncoated set, they have a far longer lifespan- usually lasting 3-5 times as long. The most popular ranges of coated strings are Elixir, D’Addario EXP and Martin SP.
These are the basics of picking the guitar strings that are right for you. Of course, the bigger part of making the choice is down to experience, playing style, and taste. Trying a few different sets over time will make finding your string type a bit easier, however.
Check out the string section in our online store to see what is available.
You might be interested in…
Skinny strings | Archery Interchange
Skinny strings are probbaly the cheapest way to boost FPS.
We supply 16 strand as thats what the bulk of nocks fit.
..
20 strands of dacron at 50lbs break strain per strand = 1000lbs.
Most modern materials are approx 100lbs break strain per strand which means 10 strands = the same 1000lbs. so if 6 strands will go to 50lbs then thats 600lbs break strain, showing that even a 20 strand dacron is Over built.
So, what other effects will you have:
Nock fit will be a problem. Fine, add in the correct number of strands at the centre serving to take your 10 strand up to 16 strands and serve as normal.
Then, you have glove/tab interaction. Skinny string will dig into your tab more, so either toughen up your tab face or go back to where you know you shoot best, IE boost the serving back to 16 strands again…. same solution fixes 2 problems. BUT, you still have problems of the extra speed… this will mean you need a retune of spine.
So, where to head to now… lets look at the energy levels. Bows that have a recomended gpp (grains per pound of bow weight) means that below this point the maker thinks your dry fireing your bow.
Lets think of a limb/string having a terminal velocity, which would be a dry fire. Longer draws means more prone to reaching this terminal velocity. Lighter strings will also achive this try fire faster,
So lets say 250fps is a dry fire. and 6gpp for a 50lbs bow at 28″ witha 16strand string gets you 230fps. thats what the maker states is safe.
Reduce strand count and exceed the safety zone,
Reduce arrow weight and exceed the safety zone,
increase draw length and increase energy and exceed the safety zone.
but this changes in each bow design. for example a 17lbs at 28″ can be dry fired all day, Never going to achive the energy needed.
50lbs at 28 would be 6.5gpp, and 100lbs would be 8gpp, since a 7000lbs bow at 28″ would probably exceed the shock resistance of the wood itself let alone glue joints, ect at 7gpp…
so, you can play with these… within reason…
for example 6gpp on a 40lbs bow at 28″ will be fine with an 18 strand string, yet 6.5 gpp will be fine with 8stand string, or 6.
5gpp with 18 strands at 32″.
in other words hit limits all round and increase the chances of problems, back off on one or two and be much safer.
these numbers are not set in stone… they are just for example.
but yeah, skinny strings are good and fine, but dont exceed the string material type, and observe the bow manufacturers recomendations with an educated guess…
90,000 Everything you need to know about seven- and eight-string guitars
Ibanez unveiled the world’s first seven-string solid-body electric guitar, launched in 1990: the Universe UV7 was developed in collaboration with one of the brand’s key artists, Steve Vai. Although most guitarists liked the innovation that extended the instrument’s range, to everyone’s surprise, Ibanez discontinued the model just four years later. Some of the big players in the music market then considered seven-string electric guitars to be nothing more than a passing fad that would not have a key impact on the guitar industry.
Ibanez discontinued the UV7 at the wrong time, as interest in seven-string guitars had just begun to gain momentum. In the mid-90s, a huge number of different guitarists, including members of Cannibal Corpse, Deftones, Dream Theater, Fear Factory, Korn, Meshuggah, Morbid Angel, Nevermore, Uli Jon Roth, Voivod and many other bands, made the heavy sound of the seven-string electric guitar popular. The number of musicians interested in purchasing such an instrument grew rapidly, so in 1997 Ibanez resumed production of the seven-string model.Several other guitar makers also introduced seven-string models some time later, but it was a decade before extended-range guitars such as Ibanez were firmly established in the base line. The market for seven-stringed instruments has changed from that time beyond recognition, as has the appearance of most models. Today the guitarist has a choice of several hundred different models, which differ in appearance, pickup configuration and other important characteristics.
At a time when seven-string electric guitars finally took their rightful place among traditional models, several guitar manufacturers entered the market with the production of eight-string electric guitars, thus offering another seductive alternative to guitarists who wanted a wider than six-string models. sound range instrument. Over time, seven-string models with an elongated scale were developed, for which alternative scales were used, which made the process of choosing the first instrument quite difficult for both beginners and experienced guitarists.
Although the basic features of seven- and eight-stringed electric guitars practically do not differ from traditional six-stringed guitars, the musician needs to pay more attention to them depending on what tasks he sets for this instrument (is he going to play riffs, solos, chords, rhythm parts, or all together), as well as depending on which scale he is going to use (standard, lowered, or some of the alternative).
Fortunately, the high price is no longer a problem if you are thinking about buying a seven-string electric guitar, since there are a large number of budget models of all kinds of colors and configurations available on the market, as well as a sufficient number of more top-end instruments are available, some of which can even be customized for requests. a certain guitarist.
In order to make it easier for you to choose among potential favorites of seven- or eight-string models of electric guitars, we have highlighted several key features in this article that we advise you to pay attention to.In some respects, seven- and eight-string models are virtually unexplored instruments, but the difference between them and a traditional six-string electric guitar is not as significant as, for example, the difference between a six-string electric guitar and a bass guitar. Once you figure out what to look for first, buying an instrument with a lot of strings will be as easy as picking another guitar for your growing collection.
Scale length
The scale length of modern six-string electric guitars, including Ibanez guitars, is 99% in the 24 range.5 – 25.5 inches. The range of possible scale length of a seven-string guitar is much wider, and can range from 25.5 to 27 inches, and in some individual cases even more. Eight-stringed instruments are typically scaled to a minimum of 27 inches, with some guitars as large as 29.5 inches, such as the signature model of guitarist Meshuggah Ibanez M80M. For a guitarist accustomed to playing on a short scale such as 24.75 inches (Les Paul type guitars), playing an instrument with a scale that is one and a half inches longer or more can be challenging.
A seven-string electric guitar with a scale length of 25.5 inches is the best choice for musicians whose main instrument is a standard six-string guitar. However, instruments with a longer scale length often have certain advantages, especially when it comes to playing in low tunings: the lower the tuning, the weaker the string tension, and, thus, lowering the tuning on a guitar with a shorter scale length you risk in some moment to get the feeling of “macaroni” instead of strings.
Moreover, due to too little string tension, you simply will not be able to get the correct notes. Some musicians solve this problem by using thicker strings, but in this situation the intonation of the instrument may suffer.
If you tune the guitars to the same tuning, the string tension on a guitar with a longer scale will be correspondingly higher. This way, you can use thinner strings, which tend to be more comfortable to play (especially the upper E), instead of heavy gauges to compensate for the lack of tension on short scale instruments.Heavy gauge strings can also be played on extended scale guitars for a comfortable playing experience.
Among the seven-stringed, and especially among the eight-stringed electric guitars, such a thing as “multi-ening” is especially common. Its essence is that the nut, bridge and frets are at different, specially calculated angles, and not perpendicular to the strings, as on traditional guitars. These instruments combine the best of both worlds: a shortened scale for high strings and an elongated scale for low strings, so that there is no uncomfortable feeling when playing the upper strings, and the low strings do not lose their brightness and intelligibility.
Multi-gauge instruments are usually 25.5 inches high and 26.5-27 inches low. If we are talking about an eight-stringed instrument, then the scale on the low strings is usually about 28 inches.
Neck Width at Nut
The rule of thumb for seven- and eight-stringed instruments is practically the same as the rule for six-stringed guitars: narrow-necked guitars are good for people with small hands, while wide-necked guitars are for people with large hands or musicians who a greater distance between the strings is required to comfortably play individual notes.
Depending on the width of the fretboard at the nut, adding one or two extra strings can cause the strings to be too close together, or vice versa – to the fact that the neck is too wide. In both cases, playing on such a fretboard will be uncomfortable for many musicians. This is why we advise you to try different neck widths before purchasing an instrument.
Some seven-string models have a 42 or 43 mm neck at the nut, which is almost the same width as a standard six-string electric guitar: the strings on such an instrument will be close enough to each other.
Musicians looking for a seven-stringed instrument with the same pitch as their six-string electric guitar should look for models with a neck width of about 47-48mm at the nut. However, if you often play in a low tuning, we recommend trying a wider neck (49-51 mm), which gives the bass strings more room to wobble, and you will be more comfortable playing the heavy gauge strings.
The width of the nut at the nut is a characteristic that is especially important to consider when it comes to eight-string instruments, as some musicians can find it difficult to play a guitar with a large gap between the strings, most often when it comes to low strings.The usual distance between strings on a six-string guitar in this case may not be applicable to an eight-stringed instrument, as this distance will make the neck too wide. In this case, you should pay attention to the models with a narrower neck.
Try playing riffs and chords along the entire length of the neck of the instrument you’re interested in, paying attention to its width and how you feel.
You will most likely have to adjust a little to a new instrument – this is fine, but if you feel uncomfortable in your left hand after a few minutes of playing – you should probably try a model with a narrower or wider neck.Test different variations until you find one that you really feel comfortable playing on.
Neck Profile & Fingerboard Radius
Due to the fact that the neck of most seven- and eight-string electric guitars is wider than the neck of a standard six-string electric guitar, it can feel like the fretboard radius and neck profile have a much larger radius. In general, most seven-string and especially eight-string electric guitars have thin and relatively flat necks.The neck of this profile allows you to comfortably play high-speed passages, but for some musicians, especially for those who are used to the C-profile, it may be unusual at first.
The fretboard of most seven- and eight-string electric guitars is a flatter radius than the fingerboard of a six-string guitar: the usual fretboard radius (about 12 inches) will feel too sharp on these instruments.
For a similar feel to a standard six-string guitar, try a seven- or eight-string electric guitar with a 15-inch or larger pickguard radius.Many models also feature necks with a so-called “compound radius”: the fretboard radius is larger on the lower frets and smaller on the upper frets.
String Gauge
One of the important characteristics that musicians often do not pay enough attention to is the string gauge for which this or that instrument was created. Not every set of strings will work for a particular seven- or eight-string electric guitar. For example, if, playing a seven-string guitar, you feel that the tension on the lowest string is not enough for you, it would be logical to try using a larger gauge string, but not every guitar fittings are suitable for strings thicker than 60.The tuning fork hole may not be wide enough for heavy gauge strings; the string may also be too thick to fit into the lateral nut, bridge or tremolo holes. Moreover, guitar saddles with a relatively small scale may not have enough distance for correct intonation, and the bridge will have to be removed and moved further from the neck. On some guitars, the string heights can be too low if you use strings that are too thick: this will lead to unwanted ringing and some other problems that are difficult to correct with a standard bridge or truss trim.
The fittings can always be replaced with a suitable one, however, we recommend that you immediately look at the instrument on which the strings of the caliber you need are installed from the factory. Replacing fittings is a complex process that carries many risks: new fittings may simply not fit, and as a result, you will get an instrument with poorly readable sound. Today’s market for seven- and eight-stringed instruments is so wide that we are confident that you can find a model to your liking, which does not require additional modifications.
Build
The most popular seven-string tuning is B-E-A-D-G-B-E (7th string to 1st string). For the eight-string, the same, and the eighth string is tuned in F #. Some musicians who require a particularly low pitch tune the seventh string to A or the eighth string to E.
Not all 7- and 8-string instruments are necessarily designed for use in these tunings. Some electric guitars, especially those with a longer scale and / or heavy string gauge, are designed for use in lower tunings.Also, don’t forget about the thick-stringed baritones, which are better suited for playing riffs and chords than solos and suspenders.
Before visiting a music store, check out the factory tuning of the instruments that interest you. Just in case, take a tuner with you to the store or install the appropriate application on your phone in order to make sure that the instrument you are trying is in the factory tuning.
Ergonomics
Due to the fact that many seven- and eight-string electric guitars have long and wide necks, many musicians worry that it may not be balanced against the body.To find out if the balance of a particular guitar suits you, try playing it while standing, using a strap: the headstock should not outweigh it when you are not supporting the neck with your left hand.
Ideally, the guitar should remain in the same position, whether you play while sitting or standing.
Many 7- and 8-string models also have wider bodies, so we recommend that you test a few instruments to see which size will be the most comfortable for you to play.At Ibanez, we do our best to make the most ergonomic tools, painstakingly working on the contours of each case: among our developments, you can find the profile that will be most convenient for you. Thru-neck guitars lack the traditional neck-to-body attachment, while glued-in and bolted-neck guitars stand out. Thus, if you play a lot at the top frets (above 15th), a thru-neck instrument may be more comfortable for you, although many guitarists do not suffer much from the heel of the fretboard on guitars with other types of necks.As always, we recommend that you try several different models to determine which one is more suitable for your purposes.
Seven- and eight-string electric guitars usually weigh about the same or slightly more when compared to six-string models.
Don’t worry if the model you like feels significantly more weight than your six-stringed instrument: just use a wider strap and hang the guitar slightly higher than usual to help compensate for the difference in weight when standing.
Pickups
When testing a seven- or eight-string guitar, try playing it through the same amp as in your home or the one you plan to purchase. Pay close attention to the low bass response when playing with both wedge and distortion to see if a particular instrument sounds clear and readable enough for you.
If bass notes sound too dull or sluggish, or if they distort too quickly compared to notes of other frequencies, try connecting to a different amplifier, or try using an instrument with similar characteristics with different pickups.
Passive pickups have a versatile sound, but some of their characteristics that work great on six-string instruments (amount of winding, shape and strength of the magnetic field, etc.
) sometimes do not catch the low frequencies of seven- and eight-stringed instruments well enough. Active pickups have a cleaner sound throughout the entire sound range, and the attack on them is faster and more readable (which, of course, has both pros and cons).
The choice of pickup type primarily depends on what kind of sound you prefer. If you like warm, fat sound with lots of mids and great response, passive pickups will suit you better. If you are a fan of the purest and brightest sound throughout the entire frequency range – try an instrument with active pickups.
Keep in mind that pickup configurations on 7- and 8-string instruments are most often limited to the humbucker-humbucker option, although the Ibanez AZ Series has HSS configurations, which is quite a rarity on the market.Many HH models, however, have a cut-off function so they can sound as close to singles as possible.
Amplifiers & Effects Pedals
Most modern amps do a great job of handling the extra low end of seven- and eight-string instruments, especially if you’re playing distortion. On the other hand, a lot of distortion enhances the high-pitched bass notes, so the overall sound may not be as deep and powerful as you might imagine.
If you want the bass to sound powerful and punchy, you don’t need to crank the gain as you would normally with six-string electric guitars. Instead, try using an amplifier with more headroom: these amps tend to have a cleaner sound and a more readable attack.
It is important to consider the speaker size of the amplifier, as most 10 and 12 inch drivers will produce a pronounced midrange, while clipping low frequencies in the 70-100 Hz region.Since the 7th string, tuned to B, has a frequency of about 62 Hz, it can sound 10-20 dB quieter than the 6th string tuned to E. We recommend using speakers with a wide frequency range for seven- and eight-string electric guitars. A subwoofer will also be a good option in order to additionally sound the low frequencies.
Alternatives
Depending on what and how you plan to play, you do not necessarily need a seven- or eight-string electric guitar: sometimes you just need to use the low tuning on your six-string guitar, or choose a six-string guitar with an extended scale (baritone).
A seven-string electric guitar tuned in B adds seemingly only five extra notes, but that’s enough to make a big difference to your sound (especially if you try to play chords on the low four strings). Keep in mind that you will likely need some time and some practice to get used to an instrument with more strings and a longer scale.
If you have your own band and have two guitarists in it, we advise you to choose a baritone as your rhythm guitar and a standard guitar as a lead guitar if you want to play both riffs and full solos, but you need richer low frequencies for harmonious sound of the whole team.If you play mostly only low or high strings, you probably don’t need a guitar with a lot of strings and a quest to learn new fingerings on the fretboard.
On the other hand, if you are constantly playing across the entire frequency range of an instrument and want to expand it, then a seven- or eight-string electric guitar is your choice. Instruments with extra range can also help a musician get out of his creative crisis by making him think and compose a little differently, while a six-string baritone is unlikely to do the same.Additional strings provide certain features (for example, you can play both the bass part and the melody part at the same time) that you will not get with a six-string instrument, so for some purposes such instruments are the only correct choice.
The Ibanez line includes a variety of seven- and eight-string (and even nine-string!) Instruments in a variety of shapes and colors at any price point. You can go to the catalog on our website to familiarize yourself with these models in more detail.
90,000 Children’s voice – the thin strings of your baby’s soul
At an appointment with a phoniatrist
Children’s voice – the thin strings of your child’s soul
“My child has constant hoarseness, although he does not have a cold and does not have any chronic diseases. Advise what to do and which specialist you need to contact “
Natalia Zaitseva, Rostov
Parents are asking more and more questions about why our children have problems with their voice and how to solve these problems.And the number of children with altered timbre – from mild hoarseness-hypernasality, to pronounced violations of tonality and the strength of the sound of the voice, is constantly growing. What is the reason for this and how to help the child in such cases? These questions are answered today by Nadezhda Filonenko, leading specialist of the OKDC, otorhinolaryngologist – phoniatrist of the highest category.
Caution – Voice!
It must be admitted that voice overloads associated with raising a child in preschool institutions, classes in vocal and choral groups, where there are often no experienced teachers, environmental and social problems, lead to the fact that children suffering from diseases of the vocal apparatus, the doctor we have to face it more and more often.
Unfortunately, both teachers and parents themselves rarely remember that the respiratory organs in children differ in some peculiarities. The nasal passages, pharynx, larynx, trachea and bronchi in a child are relatively narrow and covered with a delicate mucous membrane, the muscle tissue of these organs is poorly developed, the cartilage of the larynx is soft and easily compressed. Since the rib cage in children is as it were raised, and the ribs cannot descend during breathing as low as in adults, children are not able to take deep breaths, which, of course, limits the strength of the voice and the duration of the sound.
Our child is growing and constantly changing. But this process is uneven. This also applies to the voice apparatus. If the growth of the nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses basically ends by the period of puberty, by the age of 12-14, then all other organs complete their growth only with the end of this period – conditionally by the age of 18-19.
Why is “silvery” lost?
Every 2-3 years the child’s voice changes its qualities.From “silvery” with a sounding range of 5-6 notes, it becomes saturated, acquires a full sound, a “metallic” hue. Its range gradually increases, in adolescents it can be equal to two octaves.
As a rule, the formation of a voice is formed by imitation at the age of up to 7 years, and depends on what the voice was and how it was used by others – parents, teachers, educators, peers. Process
The development of the voice in children goes through 4 periods:
- Preschool (6-7 years old)
- Domuting (7-12 years old)
- Mutational (12-15 years old)
- Postmutational (15-19 years old)
The preschool period is characterized by the fact that the child’s larynx, compared to adults, has a rather high position.In addition, in all parts of the larynx, a large number of mucous glands, lymphatic and connective tissue, they seem to replace some of the missing internal muscles of the larynx.
The vocal muscles, located in the thickness of the vocal folds, in the form of separate bundles, begin to form from the age of 5 and develop by about 11-12 years, that is, already in the second period – the home period. Therefore, in children under 10 years of age, a falsetto mechanism of voice formation is noted. Their vocal folds never close completely, forming a gap in the form of a triangle or a linear shape.This is falsetto.
By the age of 11-12, the vocal muscle begins to form into an independent one and take part in the process of voice formation. At this age, another phonation mechanism appears – chest. At the lower tones of the range, a chest sound of the voice appears, at the high tones, falsetto remains. At the same time, at low tones, the vocal folds close completely, at high tones, a narrow linear slit is noted, characteristic of the falsetto.
Then comes the actual mutation – a period of voice change, a physiological state associated with a change in the function of the larynx and the whole body during puberty.Usually this period passes imperceptibly for the child and his parents and is not accompanied by any violations, if the process proceeds slowly, gradually. In the acute course of the mutation, abrupt changes in the voice occur – breakdowns, the appearance of low sounds, a sudden “jumping off to the fistula”. Such changes are noticeable for both the child and his parents. Singing children especially feel these symptoms. In some adolescents, the voice becomes rough, hoarse, without modulation.
Adolescent difficulties
Mutation occurs at the age of 12-15 years.Moreover, this is typical not only for boys, but also for girls. Although in girls, voice changes usually proceed smoothly, without jumps, without painful sensations in the larynx. During this period, secondary sexual characteristics appear. The child is extremely nervous. There are pronounced anatomical changes in the larynx: the cartilage of the larynx increases in size (in boys in the longitudinal direction, and in girls in the transverse direction). There is a rapid growth of the vocal folds; during the mutation period, their length in boys increases 1.5 times, and in girls only by one third.
The teenager’s voice drops by almost an octave. Its timbre also changes: the voice from the alto goes to tenor, baritone or bass. In girls, there is an expansion of the range both towards low and towards high frequencies.
The mutation period lasts, as a rule, 1-2 years, but sometimes it can be very short (several days-weeks) or drag on for several years. There are frequent cases of exceptionally fast voice changes: a boy who speaks the day before in a child’s voice suddenly reveals the voice of an adult man.Children who were ill a lot in childhood, poorly developed physically, puberty is late. At the same time, the vocal apparatus also significantly lags behind in development. In these cases, the voice can remain infantile for a long time, even at the age of an adult male.
The reasons for the change in voice during the mutation period are considered to be a violation of the coordination of the function of the external and internal muscles of the larynx and the lack of coordination between breathing and phonation. Singing children during this period show a slight lowering of the voice, some narrowing of its range, high notes, which were previously taken easily, are given with difficulty.The vocal folds may thicken, blush, and there is an abundance of mucus on them. This is manifested by hoarseness of varying severity, rapid fatigue of the voice, and the occurrence of unexpected voice breakdowns when singing. In girls during the mutation period, pronounced voice changes are not often observed, in about 40% of cases. On the days of menstruation, it is better to free the fairer sex from singing. The practical experience of phoniatrists and vocal teachers has shown that most children during the mutation period can sing.However, this requires strict adherence to the “protective regime” – it is not recommended to use the repertoire of adult singers. You should not practice singing if there are obvious changes in your voice. And, most importantly, we must remember that adolescents who are engaged in vocals need an experienced and attentive teacher.
The doctor will help you
Childhood and adolescence is characterized by instability of the nervous system. And it’s no secret that the post-migration period is characterized by a special vulnerability.At this age, the vocal apparatus quickly “gets tired”. Excessively loud singing, screaming, non-observance of the age range – singing “adult” songs, solo performances on the stage, singing during a respiratory illness, all this can lead to significant voice disorders and the development of diseases such as nodules, polyps and cysts of the vocal folds, chronic laryngitis, submucosal hematoma of the larynx, hemorrhage in the vocal fold.
Children with an increased temperament, about whom they say that they do not sit still for a minute, talk a lot, scream, often suffer from nodules of the vocal folds (“screamer’s nodules”).By the evening, their voice “sits down”, wheezes, the child speaks in a whisper. Stressful situations, fear, fear, anxiety, especially in girls, can cause psychogenic aphonia. Various diseases of other organs contribute to the occurrence of voice disorders in children: rhinosinusitis, pharyngitis, tonsillitis, hearing loss, chronic bronchitis and tracheitis, diseases of the cardiovascular system, endocrine diseases.
Any voice disorder, especially if it persists for a long time, requires a thorough examination of the child.This requires consultation with an otorhinolaryngologist-phoniatrist with a mandatory examination of the larynx. In the OKDC, various techniques are used for such diagnostics, ranging from simple laryngoscopy using a laryngeal mirror to optical endoscopy of the larynx.
Optical endoscopy of the larynx can be performed both with a rigid endoscope and with a fiberscope. Both techniques are highly informative. However, only a stroboscopy of the larynx allows to reveal the smallest changes in the vibratory activity of the vocal folds, which is very important in singing children, especially during the period of mutation.
During stroboscopic examination of the larynx (special examination of the larynx in pulsed light mode) during phonation (pronunciation or singing of vowel sounds), the vibrations of the vocal folds become visible, which makes it possible to clarify the nature of vocal disorders. It is possible to examine the larynx with these methods from the age of 7-8 years, due to the emotional and behavioral characteristics of the little patient. At an earlier age, such a procedure can only be performed under general anesthesia, under light anesthesia, which is safe for the body.
Everyone knows that any disease is easier to prevent than to cure. The same can be said about voice disorders. Studies have shown that singing has a beneficial effect not only on the larynx, but also on the child’s body as a whole, and on his intellect. But the repertoire should be correctly selected according to the range, the text is understandable for the child, and the duration of singing lessons should not exceed 30-45 minutes.
For the prevention of persistent voice disorders in a child, it is necessary to observe voice hygiene, sanitation of foci of chronic respiratory tract infection, and in case of a voice disorder in the form of hoarseness, rudeness or hoarseness, a timely appeal to a phoniatrist.
Strings Forte Ultracoat / add-ons / Jablog.Ru
You know, choosing strings is a bit like choosing clothes. It’s like your favorite model of jeans – having chosen once, you already know for sure that they will fit on you exactly as needed. It’s another matter if you wanted something new. This is where it begins … Everything seems to be fine, but something is wrong: color, cut, stupid pockets.Too narrow, or vice versa. In general, until you choose what suits you, you will get tired.
Here with strings is about the same. We each have a favorite brand and a favorite caliber. For me, for example, this is Ernie Ball, both on acoustics and on an electric guitar. I don’t know why, but that’s how it happened.
But no, no, and I’m tempted to try something new, then I’ll put on GHS, then Dunlop, then something else. In the end, I always go back to Ernie Ball. I really don’t know why. Probably something at the level of sensations.
But today I would like to talk about Forte strings, yes, yes – these are our strings, which are produced near St. Petersburg. To be honest, I would never have tried them if they hadn’t been offered to me for a test.
And for the test I was offered them due to the fact that Forte began to produce polymer-coated strings (no, not like Elexir’s). I’ll explain now what the matter is.
First, a little digression into production problems. The main problem in the production of strings in our country is the lack of nickel alloy wire, so all Forte strings are steel.Of course, this affects both the sound and the feel of the game.
If everything is rather complicated with the sound, because there are too many factors, both purely hardware (pickups, guitar, apparatus) and gustatory (like this sound, but not like this, playing style, etc.), but the feeling from the game is somewhat easier. The main problem with all steel strings is that they do not slide well under the fingers. It feels like the strings “stick”, and it’s not so pleasant to make bands. In strings that use a nickel alloy, this is not a problem, but as I said, there is no nickel wire suitable for strings in our country.
Therefore, Forte engineers decided to approach from the other side and made an Ultracoat polymer coating on the strings. Once again, no not like Elexir. If the Elixirs, roughly speaking, are sealed in a rather thick polymer “condom”, which also “shaggy” over time when playing with a pick, the Forte’s coating is very thin and invisible.
Actually, I have two sets of strings with Ultracoat: for acoustics, and for electric guitar. But I had time to try only one – acoustic. They have been with me for a month.I will talk about them.
Well? Overall, I liked the strings. They slide under the fingers really well. They “sit down” well, there are no problems with setting up. The only thing I would like to reproach is that the strings without a braid are not covered with a polymer coating and this is very noticeable, especially in contrast to the Dunlop I had before. There, for some reason, the strings without winding were “faster” or something.
I will just say a few words about the sound. Again, compared to Dunlop. Forte seemed to me less bright, but at the same time deeper.While in Dunlop the fundamental harmonic was masked by overtones, in Forte it is more pronounced.
In conclusion. Although, lately, I play quite rarely, but the strings have been with me for a month and I personally have not noticed that they have somehow noticeably degraded, which is undoubtedly pleasing.
So, in general, you can use it.
Broken heart syndrome: a disease “out of the head” from which you can die
Photo author, Getty Images
Your heart may suffer after some sad event, and is responsible for your “broken the heart “will most likely be your brain,” experts say.
Swiss scientists are conducting research on the so-called “broken heart syndrome”.
Psychological stress can cause acute transient left ventricular dysfunction. The syndrome is manifested by the sudden development of heart failure or chest pain, combined with changes in the ECG, characteristic of myocardial infarction of the anterior wall of the left ventricle.
Most often this syndrome develops against the background of stressful situations that cause strong, often sharply negative, emotions.Such events can be the death of a loved one or separation.
Scientists do not yet have complete clarity as to how this happens. In a publication by scientists in the medical journal European Heart Journal, it is suggested that the syndrome is triggered by the brain’s response to stress.
For the first time “broken heart syndrome” was described by the Japanese scientist Hikaru Sato in 1990 and received the name “takotsubo cardiomyopathy” (from the Japanese “takotsubo” – a ceramic pot with a round base and a narrow neck).
Photo Credit, Getty Images
This syndrome is different from a “normal” heart attack, where blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked. Blocking of blood flow to the heart occurs when there is a blood clot in the coronary arteries.
However, the symptoms of broken heart syndrome and heart attack are very similar: first of all, it is shortness of breath and chest pain.
Often a sad event is a kind of trigger that provokes the onset of the syndrome.However, joyful events that cause strong emotions can also lead to the development of broken heart syndrome. For example, getting married or getting a new job.
Broken heart syndrome can be temporary, in which case the heart muscle will recover in a few days, weeks or months, and in some cases, the development of the syndrome can be fatal.
In Britain, broken heart syndrome is diagnosed in approximately 2,500 patients each year.
Photo author, Christian Templin, University Hospital Zurich
Caption,
X-ray of the heart of a person diagnosed with takotsubo syndrome
Scientists do not know the exact cause of broken heart syndrome.However, it is speculated that this syndrome may be associated with increased levels of stress hormones such as adrenaline.
Elena Gadri from the University Hospital Zurich and her colleagues studied the brain activity of 15 patients diagnosed with broken heart syndrome.
The tomography data showed significant differences in the brain activity of these patients from the picture that was observed in 39 participants of the control group, who were healthy.
Much less association was noted between the areas of the brain responsible for controlling emotions and the body’s unconscious (automatic) responses (such as the heartbeat).
“Emotions are formed in the brain, so it is possible that disease forms in the brain. And then the brain sends the appropriate signals to the heart,” says Gadri.
In order to understand the mechanism of the syndrome formation, further research is needed.
Nature of the Syndrome
The Swiss researchers who conducted the study did not have CT scans of the patients before they were diagnosed with broken heart syndrome.Therefore, researchers cannot argue that the reduction in connections between different parts of the brain was a consequence of the development of the syndrome, or the syndrome developed due to a reduction in connections.
“This is a very important piece of research, it will help us better understand the nature of this syndrome, which is often overlooked, and it continues to be a mystery to us,” – says the head of the UK organization “Cardiomyopathy” Joel Rose.
“These studies will help us understand what role the brain plays in the formation of the syndrome and why some people are susceptible to the disease and others are not,” says Joel Rose.
“These observations confirm our long-standing assumptions about the special role of the brain-heart connection in the formation of takotsubo cardiomyopathy,” says Dana Dawson, a researcher at the British Heart Foundation.
Guitar course from Maxim Chigintsev
In this chapter, I will explain the basic principles of left hand placement when playing classical technique on the classical guitar.
I am making this explanation on purpose, since the setting will be different when playing different types of guitars.
