Stretching guitar strings

1. Are you supposed to stretch guitar strings?
2. How long does it take for guitar strings to stretch?

Are you supposed to stretch guitar strings?

Strings really do stretch. They need a little bit of time to hit their optimal point at which their going to intonate really well, and they're not going to lose their tuning or pitch over time. The good news is this really doesn't take very long to take place.

How long does it take for guitar strings to stretch?

Electric guitar strings take the least time. Depending on usage, they roughly take 1-2 hours of constant playing to break in and settle allowing them to stabilize and stay in tune. Depending on usage, it may take 3-7 days to loose the 'bright' and 'tinny' sound associated with new strings.