Broke D string trying to cross tune

[ldnichls]

Was following a you tube tune where it had me crank my D up to an E and the string broke, a new string. What is the consensus of making strings tighter, how far can they go, is there a max of one note up or 2 notes up, thanks

[Willie Poole]

I have cranked up all strings except the E strings to at least one higher note...I even installed a set of mandolin strings on a Mandola, all except the E strings made the higher setting but the E`s all broke....You may have had a defective string to start with or was it an old string that has been on the instrument for some time? Also what gauge were you using?, light gauge might not allow you to go very high...

Willie

[Zach Wilson]

Did you lubricate the nut with graphite or other before trying the new tuning?

[ldnichls]

Did you lubricate the nut with graphite or other before trying the new tuning?

Thanks Zach. That is a new one for me!

[Zach Wilson]

It's good to do that during every string change. There are products on the market but I prefer good old pencil graphite.

[Jess L.]

... light gauge might not allow you to go very high...

Hmm... My experience has been the opposite. Light gauge strings can be tuned up to higher pitches before breaking, than heavier gauge strings. The only time I've ever broken strings in alternate tunings (some really odd tunings I used to use) is when I was using heavy gauge strings years ago.

This is assuming, of course, no binding in the nut slots or sharp edges on the tailpiece where the hooks are, etc, and that the only factor affecting the string is just the string tension alone.