

Stretching happens all the time with nylon strings, no matter the brand. Slipping is not to be confused with stretching. Get yourself some string beads Telltale sign of the string that slips.But first – how can you tell if you have a problem at all? There are a few tricks to get this slippage issue resolved. I already knew the carbons were physically of thinner diameter, and now I saw proof they were also smooth as butter/spaghetti. It pulled itself out of the knot effortlessly. When I turned the tuning peg to tighten the string it just came undone like butter, or more like spaghetti being sucked in. I put on the first string (E treble) with the bridge knot tied in my usual pattern practiced over many years. I remember my first foray into the exciting world of carbon strings.

Being thin and smooth causes these strings to unravel at the bridge when the tension is increased by turning the tuning pegs even though the knotting may have been proper. The reason is that both the nylon E string and the carbon trebles are thinner in diameter than other strings and smoother in texture. String slippage at the bridge end occurs mainly with treble strings, particularly carbon, and if nylon, it is invariably the first (E) string. Why does a classical guitar string slip while tuning? String slippage occurs at the headstock end when a string is tied insecurely over the capstan.
#Classical guitar nylon free
In worst cases, the string comes free of its knot at the bridge with such force that it nicks the soundboard with a visible gash – an event poetically known as a ‘string ding’. As you re-string your guitar and bring it up to pitch, the tightening string suddenly ‘slips’ and loses its tension and pitch.

It happens to every classical guitar player at some time.
