Alright, my first build is done, except for the high G string. It keeps breaking. I can't get past about a quarter step up from F before the horrendous "ping" of a broken string. I just got home from guitar center where I bought some Ernie Ball super slinky 11 gauge strings, tried to put one on, "PING". I have two more left, one in the pack, and one on the guitar resting at a quarter step down from F. What do I do?
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There are a lot of ways to get gdg tuning but my favorite is the 345 strings. The strings are close to their "natural " tension when using a scale around 25".
I prefer the 25" scale myself. Easier to bend strings on scales shorter than 25.5", but harmonics are better above 24.5". So the 25" scale is a good compromise.
I always use a pitch pipe to tune unless I was tuning before a gig. It helps train your ear to hear those notes better.
High G can sometimes be a real pain when trying to tune up, particularly if you are using a .09."
There are a couple of things you can do here, the first would be to examine the break angle of the string at the nut and the bridge. If it is too severe, it can cause additional pressure to the string which will cause it to snap.
If you want that higher pitch sound, try finding a string gauge in a .08". with that thickness you should be able to tune it up to G without worrying about breakage.
Also check out the article listed below. It can help explain some of the string gauges, why they are used, and what to use for different octaves.
https://www.cigarboxguitar.com/knowledge-base/open-g-gdg-tuning-on-...
I've broken stings trying to tune an octave too high so I went and found a tuner app that displays the note name, frequency and octave number, no problems since.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bork.dsp.datuna&a...
Standard guitar tuning is: E2 A2 D3 G3 B3 E4.
Like Richard says, use a .009 for the high G and it should work fine. If that breaks then you have a sharp edge somewhere.
I was tuning up a string, (low C from a cello string) and I was E-flat and going upwards and I got to thinking. Man, I've got a ways to go. So I found a "cello tuning" video on YouTube and, yeah, I was going for the octave above!
So check the dumb things first.
Sounds like you may have a sharp point somewhere. I would look for sharp edges especially around the tail piece.
Depending on the sound you want, if your just after a GDg, why not use the A,D,G strings, just stop at G before arriving at A, for the base string, and the other 2 are designed to achieve the correct pitch. I do believe like stated by Daryl, your going past one g and heading for the next. And if you use the Ernie Ball strings, your g will be an unwound string still. When I use their strings, I use their custom/hybrid light strings, which starts at .009, I've actually went past the first g (using the .009) and actually hit the next one without breaking, but it was awful tight and hard on the fingers which is how I figured out what I did.
Thanks Richard, I should be heading out in the next few days to get a 12 string acoustic guitar, I'll be sure to grab a pack of strings when I do and give the ADG a shot .
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