The thicker the winding, the lower the pitch without raising string tension. The thicker the winding, the more off the higher frequencies become so most guitar players don't use the high frets on the bottom strings much because of the shift in pitch and the timbre.

I used to play piano, flute, coronet, and guitar as a teenager. I recently listened to a lecture on strings given by Victor Wooten when he visited a friend of mine. Whenever he shows up people ask him the strangest questions and yours was one of them! I'm surprised I remember his response. I'm assuming it is correct, but you never know.


>Why do the lower gauge steel guitar stings need to be wound? Is it for flexibility? I'm playing more lately and the winding on the strings is tearing up my fingers. I know, once the blisters are gone I'll get my calluses back, but it got me wondering why they couldn't all just be straight gauge steel.