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→Strings
|Guitar Parts and Functions#Strings|Strings}}
<u>Strings</u> are the tense wires or cords that extend from the bridge to the headstock. Their resonance is the primary source of the guitar's sound. They are numbered 1-6 (on a six-string guitar), with 1 being the thinnest and 6 being the thickest. Sometimes they are called by their open pitch in standard tuning (covered in [[Tuning and Harmonics]]). Ex. the 2nd string is also called the B string. Since there are two open E strings in standard tuning, they are called "high E string" or "low E string". High/Low refers to pitch, so "high E" is 1st string; "low E" is 6th string.
Electric guitar strings are typically made from nickel-plated steel. A typical set of electric strings has 6 strings - 3 wound and 3 unwound. Wound strings have a straight "core" string with another string wound/wrapped around it - this adds mass and lowers the string's resonant pitch while maintaining higher elasticity than simply using a single thicker solid string. Strings typically have one end with a metal or plastic "ball" ending with the other side being simply cut. The ball ending is used to hold the string in place in the guitar's tailpiece/bridge, while the cut end is placed through the tuner and wound tight.