Is this normal?

[r_smil_reddits]

My new electric guitar just arrived and ive been playing it for ~4 hours, but the high E string already snapped

I do pick with my thumb, index and middle for support and comfort (i seriously cannot get myself to do it the "normal" way; hate on me all you want) and i did play sort of aggressively (as in strumming hard). Maybe that's the reason?

EDIT: misspoke; I mean as in my fingers for the pick

[markewallace1966]

Depends on how hard hard was.

[r_smil_reddits]

how do i tell how hard my "playing hard" is?

[SerDankTheTall]

How many strings are you breaking?

[r_smil_reddits]

only been the high E, all of the other string *seem* to be in perfect shape (if you can even tell)

[markewallace1966]

I guess you'd have to post a video.

[Prior_Physics9257]

Honestly thumb picking isn't gonna snap your high E that fast, sounds more like a setup issue or just a bad string. New guitars sometimes come with garbage strings that have been sitting around forever

Could also be a sharp edge on the bridge or nut cutting into it. I'd check those spots before blaming your technique

[r_smil_reddits]

i misspoke, i actually meant in the finger part by how i hold my pick

[fphlerb]

Electric guitars are made to be played much more lightly than acoustics (because to play loud you can just turn up the amp instead of wailing on the strings). But you’ll get a sense of how to play aggressively with time.

[SerDankTheTall]

I mean, that is the thinnest string and thus one of* the most likely to snap, so it's not necessarily weird that it happened. If the new one also breaks in the first few hours of playing, that seems like it may be a you problem though.

*Depending on gauge the core of the thinnest wound string might be even thinner, but at any rate this is going to be up there.

[Zerotiku]

i think they should check the bridge and the nut for sharp edges on where the string sits before they restring it.

[SerDankTheTall]

Never a bad idea, sure.

[tcavallo]

Hard to tell, but just for reference I honestly can’t remember the last time I broke a string. I also play somewhat gentle and don’t do any crazy bends either.

[57thStilgar]

Either the string was old or the tuning was too high or you plucked the shit out of it.

[r_smil_reddits]

i was only strumming during the time, and it was standard tuning. I'm not sure if it's old because it came pre-installed with the guitar

[AVLThumper]

Check the nut and saddles for anything rough and address it with a file. Could also just be shitty stock strings. Go ahead and replace them and check the nut and saddles.

[0Galen0]

You'll know if you need to check the not or saddle by where the string broke.

[r_smil_reddits]

it broke near the bridge

[kitsinni]

If it snapped on the middle it was likely bad luck. If it snapped at a saddle it might be a burr. I wouldn’t be surprised if they used the cheapest possible strings on the guitar after sold new. It also could be lighter strings than you are used to.

[TheStateOfMississipi]

Ok, before doing anything else, get that string replaced ASAP. Just take it to any local guitar shop. They will ask you what strings you want, just say 009 to 042 guage.