Loosening guitar strings...

Inazuma · 18 Sep 2008 at 18:34

Hello,
I'm not sure why I'm asking this here but...
I'd like to know if there is a way to make guitar strings more able to stay bent? I mean they are made of nylon or aluminium I believe, so does anyone know any general techniques to make them lose their affinity to being straight?

Sorry I'm not very good at wording questions.

Basically I want it so if I bend the strings, they won't immediately snap back to being straight after I let go of them.

Maccy · 18 Sep 2008 at 18:36

Definitely should've gone in the music section!

Back on topic, you need to let them settle in properly for a bit before going at them hard, when tuning always go a bit under and then tune up to the proper pitch, don't go over and then back down.
Strum some chords into them before going into guitar hero mode and playing blitzing solos too!

Nitefly · 18 Sep 2008 at 18:43

Inazuma said:
Basically I want it so if I bend the strings, they won't immediately snap back to being straight after I let go of them.

The trick is not letting go of them.

You have to bend back to the note slowly. This is hard and takes time to get right.

SexyGreyFox · 18 Sep 2008 at 18:45

Inazuma said:
Basically I want it so if I bend the strings, they won't immediately snap back to being straight after I let go of them.

If I've read your question right you want the laws of Physics changing.

Inazuma · 18 Sep 2008 at 18:46

Sorry guys, I forgot to say I am not actually using the strings in a guitar! They are for an art project.

So please move the topic back to GD.

Nitefly · 18 Sep 2008 at 18:49

Hahaha

helmet · 18 Sep 2008 at 18:52

Genius lol

.

They do bend but it's more of a kink than a bend, can't you use something else?
Wire coat hangers? Strip of solder?

Inazuma · 18 Sep 2008 at 18:54

Nope I specifically need to use guitar strings for this specific project

If it can't be done then I'll think of another project.

SexyGreyFox · 18 Sep 2008 at 18:55

How about a big magnet?

Robosapien · 18 Sep 2008 at 19:09

What is this art project?

Pestilence · 19 Sep 2008 at 01:29

Not sure it can be achieved without kinking the strings or as dmpoole has mentioned using some kind of magnet to keep them held in a fluid bent position.

Perhaps set the project up in such a way that when you bend the strings down, flat objects at either end move slightly in to provide pressure at both ends, thus keeping the strings bent.

riddlermarc · 19 Sep 2008 at 04:15

You could probably make a permanent bend in the string by grabbing each end and rubbing the entire string over the end of a table (a bit like flossing your teeth) - do it fairly heavily a few times and it should give you a little bit of a permanent kink/bend in the string? I'm not sure if I have read your requirements correctly