Are the first three strings of an electric guitar supposed to be loose when they are tuned?

Answer 1

Depends on what you mean by "loose." If they rattle and hit the frets and sound terrible when you hit them, then no, they're not supposed to be that loose. If they're in tune and you don't hear a buzz from the strings hitting the frets, then you're fine.

All of your strings are gonna have a little bit of give to them--so you can do bends and vibrato and stuff like that--but they should be relatively tight.

Answer 2

Electric guitar strings might seem loose at first, especially if you initially learn on an acoustic guitar. If that acoustic guitar is a big old bronze stringed dreadnought, those strings might seem downright flimsy. A typical bronze wound "E" string on a Dreadnought guitar runs between .11 and .13. An electric guitar might use a .10 if the player has really strong fingers, but most of them run between .008 and .009. If you are used to pushing down those acoustic strings, an electric guitar might make you feel as loose as a goose. These strings are more delicate, harder to keep in tune, and much easier to bend. (which is the whole point) Electric guitar is a slightly different animal, depending on how it is set up. Most electric players play power chords, or three or four note chords, up the neck. They also play solos all over the neck, and do all manner of strange things to the strings to pull out the most expression they can get from them. Hammer ons, pull offs, String bends, false harmonics, and tapping, are all common techniques used especially by electric guitarists. Some of them feel that the extra light gauge strings help them to get the most out of these techniques. Some of us "hammer hands" just prefer the feel of a strong sturdy string under our digits. Relax however, what you are experiencing is completely normal. Just trust your tuner, get used to the feel, and see what you can do with it. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

By 'bottom of the guitar', do you mean the bridge end or the headstock end? If it's the headstock end and there are metal bits near the edge, then you probably have a Floyd Rose. Those metal squares (you have three, right?) 'lock' the strings in place, so no matter how much you turn the tuners, your strings will always break. You have to unscrew them first. Guitars with a Floyd Rose are kinda hard to string. And it's even more complicated to explain. I suggest you let a pro do it or you run the risk of ruining the neck tension of your guitar -- not good. If you want to do it yourself, better keep an electric tuner handy. You WILL need it more than when you have an ordinary electric guitar.

Answer 4

Not really, but it sort of depends on the strings and the thickness of them. Some strings bend more easily than others and do feel 'loose'. Make sure they are tuned to the correct pitch as well. If they are tuned an octave low, for example, they will be more loose....

Answer 5

They should be loose before you tune them.
Then you tune 1 by 1 at a time starting with the 6th string
(low E) first. All 6 strings should be tight after you tune them.
Good luck

Answer 6

depends on wot u want, low tuniwill b loose but u needer thicker strings

Answer 7

well the thinner ones are suppose to be tight, and the thick ones are suppose to be lose

Answer 8

no...haha....use a tuner...and set it at (start at fat string)
e. a. d. g. b. e.

Answer 9

NO hahahahaha

Answer 10

no