You're jamming away at a gig and broke a string!

Likewise.

If you choose to replace the broken string between songs, make sure to tell the audience that you broke your "G-string".

No matter what string you really broke.

If the rest of the band is quick on the uptake they can play a few bars of "the stripper" or something while you're busy spinning your tuning peg.

At least you'll get a cheap laugh from the audience. :wink:

What do you do? What DO you do?

1. Stop what you're doing and change to your "B" guitar in the middle of the song?
2. Soldier your way through the song and switch to your "B" in between songs?
3. You don't have a "B" so you have to re-string at your earliest opportunity
4. None of the above

I have a "B" guitar for a backup which I play the rest of the set. Then re-string during the next break

I'll take door number two unless there's an extended period during the song where I'm not playing or singing.

at casual jams I stop and change the string. here are usually plenty of players going at it and I am not missed. however, at gigs, I always brought a backup guitar. it is on a stand next to me. never broke a string on a gig.

I'd probably go with #2, but turn down the volume on your guitar so it's less obvious theres 'something missing' from your sound.

There is a video on YouTube somewhere of an acoustic version of Going Under by Evanecsence, in the middle of which the guitarist snaps 2 strings - they do soldier on for a bit, but it gets too funny and they have to stop.

The crowd had a good laugh about it with them :lol:

Pete

EDIT: found the video :lol: :lol: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0FU58v80j00

Definitely keep playing. Change the string between songs (with joke). Continue on as if nothing happened.

Luckily, I've never had a string break at a gig, either, but some of my bandmates have and they did exactly as stated above!

:D

Unless it's a guitar with floating trem, keep on playing.

I think we should defer to the pros, like Strvie Ray Vaughn for the ultimate answer.

I think we should defer to the pros, like Strvie Ray Vaughn for the ultimate answer.

nice clip. yeah that's what I do. I just nod to my roadie for another guitar.
in my dreams. :)

If my guitar is still in tune (LP and SG), I finish the song and go to my backup guitar. If it's my Strat, which will always go way out of tune I will switch immediately to the backup. But we have a 2nd guitarist who can cover for me. :D

At break I will change the string.

if you hadn't beat me to it, I would have posted that Stevie Ray clip too...I love that bit.

ha! thats brilliant, totally flawless! it would have been hard to notice

I play solo and acoustic so there's nowhere to hide. I play gigs once a month and change strings the day before which helps to avoid the situation. I have often broken strings in sessions and open mic's and will play on without the broken string wherever possible.

I always play Copperhead Road just before a break. This is the one that breaks the most strings for me!

You could just pull out a harp and start blowing it, I suppose. :D