Banjo lessons aren’t always about playing; sometimes it helps to get an expert opinion on your instrument’s hardware. In this video Tony Trischka breaks down the different types of banjo strings, explains when you should replace them, and shares what’s currently on his instrument.

As with most aspects of your instrument setup, expect your string preference to change as you advance as a player. “Over the years, my opinion on what strings to use has evolved,” says Tony. Recently he has found himself playing the banjo harder, and has adjusted his strings to reflect that. “It’s really great to just get up in people’s faces playing hard, driving bluegrass.”

When it comes to the prime time for swapping out strings, Tony feels sooner is better than later. “I might change my strings every gig if it’s an important gig, or I might let it go three gigs.” Practicality is the reason for this; the longer you keep strings in your instrument, the more difficult banjo tuning becomes.

Check out the video below to hear Tony’s full thoughts on banjo strings.