Can You Put Nylon Strings On a Steel-String Guitar?

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There are many reasons why one would want to put nylon strings on a steel-string guitar. Perhaps you like the sound of them but don’t want a classical guitar. Maybe you just have a guitar lying around that you want to repurpose. Can you put nylon strings on a steel-string guitar?

Yes, you can put nylon strings on a steel-string acoustic guitar. But getting them to sound and play well might not be easy. There is a tension difference between these string types. This can affect your guitar poorly. It will also be hard to mount nylon strings to a guitar made for steel.

There are things that need to be considered before putting nylon on a guitar. This article aims to provide all the information you need to make the decision, as well as tackle to job!

Physics of Tension

Feature	Steel String Guitar	Nylon String Guitar	The Mismatch Result
Total Tension	~160-180 lbs	~75-85 lbs	The steel guitar’s top won’t vibrate; sound is dead/quiet.
Bracing	Heavy X-Bracing	Light Fan Bracing	Energy is lost in the heavy wood.
Nut Slots	Narrow (for thin wire)	Wide (for thick plastic)	Nylon strings won’t fit in the slots; high action.
Bridge Type	Bridge Pins	Tie-Block	Standard nylon strings have no ball-end to catch the pins.

Can You Put Nylon Strings On a Steel-String Guitar?

Yes, it’s possible to put nylon string on an acoustic made for steel strings. Yet, you might experience issues with neck warping. The tension is much different with nylon strings. Tuning and intonation issues might arise as well. But this isn’t the same with every acoustic guitar.

There are many players who like the sound of nylon strings but don’t care much for the width of a classical guitar neck. The action on the neck and width need some getting used to. But not every player wants to have to relearn the neck just to get the warmer sound that they can give.

And so repurposing a steel-string acoustic guitar is usually easier to do. But these materials don’t behave the same way. Most players see the first challenge immediately. Most nylon strings tie to the bridge of a classical guitar!

This presents a big problem as the ball ends on steel strings are crucial to having them tense properly. Without them, they will slip right off. And not only that, but it’s not possible to tie nylon to some bridges that are made for steel. But don’t lose hope yet, we have some good news for you!

Ball-End Nylon Strings

The good news is that there are nylon strings available with ball ends that solve this dilemma! They are D’Addario Guitar Strings – Folk Nylon Guitar Strings.

These are made for the convenience of not having to tie them around the bridge. They are popular with those who prefer them in place of steel. Even classical players looking for hassle-free installation. 

There are many different types available and brands that make them. There are only so many music stores that carry them. Buying online would be the way to go if you cannot find them locally.

And while they are an easy installation on a classical guitar, there are still a few challenges. If you are putting them in place of steel.

Related Article: Acoustic Vs Classical Guitar.

Are There Risks?

The nylon doesn’t have the tension to do any real damage. The guitar will be a good platform for the strings because it can handle them without issue.

There are no concerns with it hurting the neck. And so tuning should be pretty stable. You will need to adjust the neck to accommodate them at some point and here is why:

The Backbow Problem: Your steel string guitar’s neck is basically a bow under 160 lbs of tension. The Truss Rod is the muscle fighting back. If you drop the tension to 80 lbs (Nylon), the Truss Rod wins.

It will pull the neck backward into a ‘Backbow,’ causing the strings to buzz against the frets. You would need to fully loosen the truss rod to fix this. See “Truss Rod Adjustment” below.

How To Put Nylon Strings On An Acoustic Guitar

Switching from steel to nylon strings on a steel-string guitar involves several steps that require careful attention to detail. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you through the process.

Step 1: Remove Old Strings

• Loosen the tension on the old steel strings using the tuning pegs.
• Cut the strings using wire cutters to make removal easier.
• Remove the strings from the bridge and tuning pegs.

Step 2: Install the Nylon Strings

• Insert the new nylon strings through the bridge.
• Pull the strings through the tuning pegs, leaving some slack for winding.
• Wind the strings onto the tuning pegs, maintaining tension.

Step 3: Stretch and Tune

• Gently stretch the strings by pulling them upward, away from the guitar, to help with tuning stability.
• Use a tuner to bring the strings to their correct pitch.

Step 4: Cut Excess String Length

• Once the strings are tuned and stretched, use wire cutters to remove any excess string length beyond the tuning pegs.

Step 5: Recheck Tuning and Playability

• After cutting the excess, re-tune the guitar.
• Play the guitar to check for any issues with sound or playability.

Precautions

• Ensure that the nylon strings you choose are compatible with steel-string guitars.
• Be cautious when stretching the strings; excessive force can cause them to break.
• If you experience any issues with sound or playability, consult a professional for adjustments.

By following these steps carefully, you can successfully switch from steel to nylon strings on your steel-string guitar. It’s important to note that the change will have various effects on your guitar’s sound and playability, so take the time to familiarize yourself with the new setup.

Nut Groove Size

Another thing to consider is the groove sizes on the nut. If you move to a different string gauge with the nylon, it might be too big. It will be a good idea to make sure your nut is in good shape and can handle the new strings.

If the grooves are too small, this can be remedied by opening them up. If the material is too hard, on the other hand, then you might have to inquire with a technician. Again, not a dealbreaker, but something to look out for.

Tuning Nylon Strings 

If you have not tuned nylon strings before, you will need to know what to expect. With steel, after you put on a new set and adjust the tension, it is quite easy to get it close quickly. They will stretch for a bit, but it’s not a big deal.

With this new material, it will stretch a great deal before even coming close to the right pitch. It could take a few days and 8 to 10 adjustments before they begin to hold proper tuning.

You might think that they are slipping at first, but it could just be that they are stretching to the new tension. And while it could very well be slipping, as we touched on above, you will need to monitor that as well.

If this is the first time you put nylon strings on. Especially a steel-string guitar, just be aware of this rather large difference.

Some players have also tuned down a bit lower from standard with nylon strings. If you find the guitar setup just doesn’t feel right, you might also want to try this.

One would assume that the lower, warmer sound would be what you are expecting. And so to also get the proper feel, tuning down slightly should also help.

Truss Rod Adjustment

With steel-string guitars, the tension is much greater than that of a classical. Nylon strings don’t require as much tension, so your guitar might need an adjustment to the neck.

If you find that there is considerable fret buzz, then you need a change in accuracy.

The steel strings bow the neck differently than nylon would. And so a proper setup of the truss rod will be needed to fix the issue. Planning to have this guitar remain with strings of this new material? Then a trip to see a technician for a full setup is well worth it.

The “Engineer’s Choice”: Silk & Steel Strings

If you are reading this guide because you want a softer feel or a mellower, classical tone, do not force nylon strings onto your steel-string guitar.

There is a specific product designed exactly for this problem: Silk & Steel Strings.

What Are They?

Silk & Steel strings are a hybrid. They use a standard steel core, but it is wrapped in a layer of silk fibers before the final metal winding is added. The plain strings (high E and B) are standard steel, just thinner.

Why They Are Superior to Nylon (For Your Guitar)

From an engineering perspective, these are the “Goldilocks” solution:

Feature	Nylon Strings	Silk & Steel
Tension	~80 lbs (Too Low) The top won’t vibrate enough.	~120 lbs (Perfect) Enough to drive the top, soft enough to play.
Nut Fit	❌ Too thick They sit on top of the nut slots.	✅ Perfect Fit Standard steel diameter fits your nut slots.
Installation	Difficult Requires knots or hard-to-find ball ends.	Easy Standard Ball Ends drop right in.
Sound	Quiet & Dead Thin tone, very low sustain.	Warm & Intimate Mellow folk tone with good sustain.

The Verdict: Before you file your nut slots or mess with your truss rod to accommodate nylon, try a set of Silk & Steel. They give you the “folk” sound and soft touch without compromising your instrument’s mechanics.

FAQs

Can You Put Steel Strings on a Classical Guitar?

No, putting steel strings on a classical guitar will ruin it. This material requires far more tension than nylon does to tune properly to pitch. If you were to put steel on a classical guitar, the neck would break away from the body.

This is because classical guitars are not reinforced to handle the tension. With nylon, there is less tension. So classical guitars are only reinforced enough to handle them. You are better off-putting bass strings on an electric than steel on a flamenco!

Can I Use a Pick on Nylon Strings?

Using a pick with nylon strings is perfectly fine. But keep in mind that they will wear more quickly. This of course depends on how aggressively you strum and the choice of music. The pick will create some friction on them and the nylon will eventually wear away.

But like all strings, this is inevitable anyway and should not be the reason to choose something else. With guitar, always choose what sounds good to your ear.