Instrument question

[PennLady]

No, not that instrument.

If you were writing about a string on a guitar, would it be:

G-string
g-string
G string
g string

I went with option three but don't know if it's correct. And it's more fun to ask than look it up. Plus, I'm bad at searching stuff like that.

Thanks.

 

[want24nik8]

No, not that instrument.

If you were writing about a string on a guitar, would it be:

G-string
g-string
G string
g string

I went with option three but don't know if it's correct. And it's more fun to ask than look it up. Plus, I'm bad at searching stuff like that.

Thanks.

Yes, I would say G string.... Although somehow I'm not thinking about guitars any more...

 

[sr71plt]

It's not in Webster's (or the American Heritage) or covered in CMS. At that point, I'd goggle it and see what the options in current use were. You'll see variations in use, but the most authoritative sources cap "G." The most authoritative sources also don't use a hyphen (like Bach's "Air on a G String"). The word "string" would normally be lowercased unless part of a formal title. So, I'd then feel safe going with "G string" in text.

Of course, used as an adjective (e.g., G-string guitar), it would be hyphenated as a combined adjective.

 

[PennLady]

Yes, I would say G string.... Although somehow I'm not thinking about guitars any more...

Well I was making a bit of a pun, or trying to.

 

[PennLady]

It's not in Webster's (or the American Heritage) or covered in CMS. At that point, I'd goggle it and see what the options in current use were. You'll see variations in use, but the most authoritative sources cap "G." The most authoritative sources also don't use a hyphen (like Bach's "Air on a G String"). The word "string" would normally be lowercased unless part of a formal title. So, I'd then feel safe going with "G string" in text.

Of course, used as an adjective (e.g., G-string guitar), it would be hyphenated as a combined adjective.

Thanks, I'll see what I can do. And yes, for the adjective, I'd hyphenate it but I'm just using the noun.

 

[want24nik8]

Well I was making a bit of a pun, or trying to.

Oh, I know, I know....

 

[PennLady]

Oh, I know, I know....

I just hope everyone else thinks it's funny. Or at least amusing.

 

[want24nik8]

I just hope everyone else thinks it's funny. Or at least amusing.

I'll pluck your G string anytime, PennLady!

 

[The_Fool]

*smirk*

 

[PennLady]

I'll pluck your G string anytime, PennLady!

LOL, thanks, but it's taken care of.

 

[Dual_Triode]

No, not that instrument.

If you were writing about a string on a guitar, would it be:

G-string
g-string
G string
g string

I went with option three but don't know if it's correct. And it's more fun to ask than look it up. Plus, I'm bad at searching stuff like that.

Thanks.

Option three is correct: G string. There is no hyphen because the letter G is the name of the pitch to which the string tuned. On the other hand, it is proper to use hyphens for the six-string and twelve-string adjectives for different types of guitars.

As an aside, the pitch names do change case as the notes rise above middle C on the piano keyboard. So, you can accurately claim that your six-string guitar's G string is tuned to g.

I'm now anxious to hear how your protagonist plucked her G string, using their palm to induce wild pinched harmonics!

 

[PennLady]

I'm now anxious to hear how your protagonist plucked her G string, using their palm to induce wild pinched harmonics!

Hahaha. Actually, that's not how it was used. Different joke, but that's funny.

"Pinched" harmonics? LMAO

 

[estragon]

Concur, option 3, capitalize the "G", omit the hyphen.

 

[litfan10]

just want to add another "vote" on option three. Musicians reference standard octave notes as capital letters and the strings' names references the note that sounds when struck open. And the pun involved with that particular string will never get old.

 

[PennLady]

Thanks, everybody. Knew I'd get the answer here.

Now I just hope the joke is humorous enough in the story...

 

[JackLuis]

"Don't tune your G string too flat, Mildrid"

 

[PennLady]

"Don't tune your G string too flat, Mildrid"

If anyone gets the joke right, I'll admit it, but that's not it. Good one, though.