The acoustic guitar is one of the most popular instruments out there today and you won’t find one that sounds exactly the same as another. Sometimes when you play you may feel like your guitar isn’t producing the sound you want it to. If you want to know how to make acoustic guitar sound warmer, you’re in the right place.
There are a few things you can try out and we’re going to be discussing these in this article. We’ll talk about why your guitar sounds the way it does right now and then give you advice on how you can make a guitar sound warmer. Let’s get to it!
How Does a Guitar Make a Sound?
Before we jump into making the guitar sound warmer you have to understand how a guitar actually produces the sound in the first place. It may sound like a complicated part of the process but it is, in fact, quite straightforward.
The sound that comes out of an acoustic guitar is made through vibrations. The acoustic guitar strings run from the guitar’s body all the way up to the neck and will be strung slightly so there is tension. When one of these guitar strings is plucked, a vibration is created which is then sent to the saddle of the instrument. From there it goes to the soundboard.
Every one of these vibrations on the strings resonates all around the guitar. The air that is inside the body of the guitar thanks to the soundhole amplifies these vibrations. The sound that you hear comes out of this hole.
The way that your guitar has been made will play a part in how it sounds. Because of this there is a lot of different ways you can change the way it sounds, and one of these ways is to make it sound warmer.
A guitar that doesn’t have a warm sound will produce a noise that is brighter and more tinny. It won’t have that full bodied tone that you really should be looking for. So what can you do to make it different? We’re going to go over some different ways you can make it sound warmer below so make sure to carry on reading.
1. Use a Different Pick
The first and easiest thing you can do to make a guitar sound warmer is to change the type of pick or plectrum you are using to play with. A heavier, thicker pick, like one that is made out of wood, or one that has a rounded tip instead of a pointed one that most picks have, all will help to take away some of the colder tones of your guitar. In turn, this mellows out the sound and makes the guitar much warmer as you play the strings.
You may also want to choose a plectrum that is made from a softer material. Swapping to a pick made from something like acetal instead of opting for plastic can also add warmth into the sound that your guitar is producing.
Best Picks for a Warmer Tone
Dunlop Tortex Standard Guitar Picks
The Tortex is a great beginner pick and it has a medium shape that will help you achieve the warm tone. It can be a blank slate for all music genres and is an essential basic for guitar players. It has a powdery chalk finish that gives it that soft effect on the strings and is available in a lot of different gauges.
Gives you great tone A truly classic pick Made from a durable material
Doesn’t excel in one music genre
Dunlop Kirk Hammett Jazz Guitar Pick
The lead guitarist from Metallica switched to these picks a few years ago after a specific request to Dunlop. The design is unique with the v-shape cutout which enhances your grip. The thickness is what’s great for warmth when playing your instrument and the bevelled edges mean that your playing is precise.
Good for grip Great for fast picking
No light gauge choices Shape not to everyone’s taste
Dunlop Primetone Standard Grip
This is a thicker pick that have been made from ultex which is a highly durable material. It is also softer than your standard plastic so is brilliant for warm tones. The price is slightly higher because of the price but the experience you will have using this will be much better and smoother. There is lower resistance on the strings thanks to the burnished edges and there’s lots of little details that make this a standout pick.
Very comfortable Smooth edges make for warmer playing Ultex material is durable
No thinner gauges
The 351 pick from Fender is made from celluloid material and it’s a great classic choice for guitar players. The wavelength pattern gives the pick some grooves that will provide extra grip during playing. Because of the material the pick is thinner but gives you the same action as if the pick was heavier. This will give you a warmer string noise when playing and brightens up the guitar’s tone.
Produces warmer tones Got a good grip and feel to it
Not as durable as other picks Some may prefer a more classic style
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The next acoustic guitar pick we have for that warm sounding effect is the Dava Grip Tips. They are made from molded rubber which has then been laid over Delrin for a more consistent sound. There are three weights available and how you grip it will have an effect on your tone. Gripping near the tip of the pick will give you a warm sounding, precise playing action which may require you to change your playing style.
Non slip pick Very versatile
Can be difficult to keep your hand relaxed Small picking surface area
2. Change the Position of Your Picking Hand
Another simple ways of changing the way your guitar sounds is to change the position that your picking hand is in as you play the strings.
Playing too close to the saddle and nut of the instrument which are towards the bottom of the guitar can make the overall sound tinny and bright. If you move your hand so that you are playing closer to the neck of the instrument will produce a much warmer sound from the guitar. Just make sure you are still playing over the soundhole though.
3. Change the Guitar Strings
The way that your guitar has been built such as the materials that the body and neck have been made from have a massive influence on the sound it will produce. The strings also play a big part in how the instrument will sound.
Before you begin modifying other parts of the guitar you may want to opt for some new guitar strings to achieve a warm tone. Below we are going to discuss the aspects of acoustic guitar strings which can influence the guitar’s sound overall.
String Gauge
The string gauge refers to the weight or diameter of the guitar strings. Acoustic guitars are different from electric guitar strings. They usually have been categorized into the terms extra light, light, medium and heavy. They also go by the thinnest string of the set. For an acoustic guitar a thirteen set is considered to be the medium strings.
If you want to achieve a warmer tone from your guitar then you may want to switch the strings you currently have to ones that are heavier. Acoustic guitars that have light strings can be switched out for heavier or medium strings. If you are already using medium strings and are not getting the desired acoustic guitar tone then replace them for some heavy gauge strings. Lighter strings will have a brighter sound so you will want to move away from these.
Heavier gauge strings have a higher tension point than the lighter ones which means they produce a full bodies and warmer sound. A set of light strings will sound brittle and thin when compared to these.
String Material
The material that the strings are made from can play an important part in the sound that the instrument makes. There are so many varieties out there so there’s a lot of choice when it comes to sound and achieving that warmer tone. It’s great to have so much choice because it means you can get the desired sound from an acoustic or electric guitar.
To get that warm sound from the guitar then you may consider upgrading to some phosphor bronze strings. Silk and steel strings are also an excellent option. Both of these materials are known for their warm tones and come highly recommended if this is the sound you want to achieve from your instrument.
You will probably find that phosphor bronze strings are the most recommended ones out there because they give you a warm sound and are quite affordable too. If you opt for silk and steel strings then you will get a mellow tone because they have lower tension. They will be less harsh on your fingers than phosphor bronze strings but will cost you a bit extra.
When considering new strings it’s worth doing your research first to see what gauge and material is going to give you the desired sound you are looking for.
Best Acoustic Guitar Strings for a Warmer Sound
Every person you ask will have a different opinion on what strings will create a warmer sound for you on your guitar. We want to stick our two cents in as well by giving you some of the best acoustic guitar strings for achieving those warm tones.
These are strings that have been crafted from a combination of metals including magnesium, zinc, copper and nickel to name a few. There are also a few other elements thrown in there which makes these strings resistant to saltwater which comes off your fingers in the form of sweat during playing. The reviews for these strings praise the earthy tone they produce and they bring out the wood tones of the instrument.
As we recommended earlier in our guide, these are phosphor bronze strings that give you that warm tone and are a well-rounded option for those looking for an affordable choice.
Ernie Ball is known for producing strings that are clear, full sounding and warm. Plus they come in at a good price point. It doesn’t matter here whether you choose the steel or phosphor strings. We would recommend going for the heavier gauge strings though.
These are probably at the higher end of the scale in terms of price, being some of the more expensive strings available. They definitely live up to how much they cost though. Originally they were intended for studio recordings which means they produce a very high-quality tone. However, they can be a bit hard on your fingers compared to the other strings we have suggested in our guide.
4. Change the Saddle and Nut Material
Something else you may want to change on your guitar if you’re still not getting a warm sound is to change out the saddle and nut of the guitar. Going for ones made of a softer material will change the tone of the instrument completely. Most acoustic guitars come with a saddle and nut that has been made from plastic. If you change these out for ones made from materials such as buffalo horn or ebony, your guitar will get that desired nice warm tone.
5. Change Your Amp Settings
Yes, we are still talking about acoustic and not electric guitar here. There are amps out there available for acoustic guitars so we haven’t gone mad. Transistor and solid-state amps tend to have colder tones compared to tube amps. When you setup an amp, keep the gain low and turn the volume up to achieve a warmer sound. Be practical about this step and adjust the settings until they are in a place that suits your musical preference.
6. Get a Technician to Setup the Guitar
The last option you should consider when trying to get a warmer tone is to seek out a technician. If none of the steps we’ve given you above work, this is a last resort. A technician will be able to give the guitar a proper setup which will probably solve your problem.
You will need to go to a local music shop or luthier’s who has experience in dealing with this problem. Let them know what tone you want to achieve and they should be able to do this for you.
If you know how to setup a guitar without using the help of a technician there are some things you should consider. The saddle, bridge pin and nut materials all make a difference to the overall tone. If you have plastic bridge pins and then swap them out for a softer material, you’re going to get a warmer sound from your guitar. Don’t experiment with this kind of thing if you don’t understand what you’re doing. Trust in the experts.
Conclusion
Even though guitars are one of the most popular instruments in the world today, you still have to go through some steps to get it to sound how you want it to. Knowing the basics of how the guitar works and how it produces sound is a great first step in achieving a warmer sound. Knowing these things and the different parts of the guitar allows you to adjust the instrument until it produces a sound that you want. Remember we have other guides here on our website for advice on other parts of your instrument, such as the best bridge pins for acoustic guitar so make sure to check these out too.