Trying to tune my electric guitar to middle C, but the 2 bottom strings break? Help needed!!!?

Question

I recently started to learn to play so I'm not knowledgeable on strings and their gauges or the instrument. I want to have my guitar tuned to the note of middle C, which roughly 261 Hertz somewhere in that range on my tuner. I can tune to higher strings (thin) strings to middle C without problem. But the two bottom (thickest) strings become extremely tight and break before I get to the middle C range. What could be the issue of this happening? Are the strings that I'm using are horrible and I need better ones or am I trying something impossible??? All answers and tips are appreciated to help me learn. THANKS!

Answer 1

Why are you trying to tune every string to middle C in the first place? That's not how you tune a guitar!



It wouldn't even be that useful of a tuning unless you're looking to do a bunch of really dense note clusters.



Standard tuning for the guitar goes, from lowest to highest/thickest to thinnest E A D G B E. When tuned properly, A440 will be at the 5th fret of the highest string. Middle C will be at the 5th fret of the G string (3rd highest/thinnest)



If you're still committed to tuning every string to middle C, your best bet is to restring your guitar with one gauge of string for all of them... probably somewhere between a .015 and .010

Answer 2

If I understand you correctly - and frankly I'm not sure that I do - you're trying to tune every single string to the same note, namely middle C. Is that correct? Because if so, it's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Strings are different gauges specifically because they're designed to be tuned to different notes. There's never a problem with strings breaking when you're lowering the pitch of the string since that also lowers the tension, but the opposite is a big problem. Trying to raise the pitch of a string above what it's designed for raises the tension to the point where it breaks, as you have already discovered.



Do I dare ask you why you would want to do this in the first place?



And by the way, raising multiple strings beyond their designed pitch puts more tension on the neck and body of the guitar than it was designed for. This will eventually ruin your guitar.



>>Are the strings that I'm using are horrible ...<<



No - it's your idea that's horrible.

Answer 3

The standard guitar tuning is E A D G B E. I'm sure you know that. But, the octaves are E3 A3 D4 G4 B4 E5. To tune every string to middle C (C5) on the lower strings, that would mean bringing the sixth string up ten full steps. If you were to tune the same string DOWN ten full steps, you would notice the string is fallen off. That should tell you tuning ten steps away from standard isn't a good idea. The gauge is the diameter of the string. The smaller the diameter, the more tension you can put on the string. The higher the diameter, the less tension you can put. Therefor a standard set of strings (9 to 56) cannot go to middle C, nor can really any known set of strings. I have no clue why you would even want to tune your guitar strings all to middle C anyways.

Answer 4

What you're trying to do is impossible and will ruin your instrument. Please do some research on the internet or library about the Guitar itself and common maintenance before attempting any other customizations. Your poor guitar has my sympathies...