String guage

[LarryUK]

I play a lot watching TV, unplugged and just noodling. But I've began to notice that when I plug into an amp, the strings feel like rubber bands. I'm over bending too. I use 10's but I'm thinking I need to go up to 11's. Has anyone else noticed this with their playing?

[SteveFord]

Yep but in my case it was from playing a lot of acoustic guitar.

[surfpup]

Yep but in my case it was from playing a lot of acoustic guitar.

 

This

 

I used 11s for years to counteract my kung fu like grip. Lately I have gone down to 10s and even occasianlay 9s but it took time to lighten up. Or maybe my hands are just getting weaker with age.

[rct]

I used 9's from 1976 or so. In 2015 at 55, I went to 10's on all my electrics.

 

rct

[kidblast]

There's no harm in trying right? Not sure of your physical set, but if you're a big due, with big hands, 11s are probably going to suit you fine.

 

I used 9s for a long time, but eventually I found that 10s are right for me for solid bodies. I do use 11s on my archtops, and acoustic, 12s are a good compromise.

[kelly campbell]

Sounds like the effects of LSD. Is it only when you plug in to amp the strings feel like rubber bands?

 

 

Oh The good ole days..!!!!

[kidblast]

nah it's normal

 

I think it's actually not a great idea to spend a lot of time playing electrics unplugged.. I think you lose the whole touch/dynamics if too much time is spent playing like this.

 

I used to encourage my students not to invest too much time doing this. Rather find an relatively affordable acoustic, and use that..

 

There's a few articles I've read that support this too. But I don't want to start any pissing contests. If Larry is happy doing that, then jump up a string gauge is probably a good idea. And then, well... play on!

[merciful-evans]

I've done 99% of my home playing exactly like you.

 

Bends aside, the plugged-in-sound is altering your perception of how the strings feel.

Can you be positive that there is no lag in your signal? If there is a small delay, it could change the way you fret. That might make it feel different.

 

Or, are you alternating picking fast? Anything other than a pointy pick will induce a small lag.

[Twang Gang]

Since you are playing an electric unplugged and the TV is going at the same time, you are probably playing harder than you would if your guitar was plugged in, you could hear it, and weren't trying to play over something. Nothing wrong with going to a heavier gauge string since this practice method has apparently made you a little more heavy handed.