The original order for this stipulated Nylon strings but changed to steel strings just before we started to make it. It would have worked either way. It's interesting how well such a small instrument sounds and plays. It's the same "tension" as a standard guitar, because string length and tuning are the same as having a capo on the 5th fret. The neck is much the same at the nut, and almost identical at the bridge, so adapting to it is very easy.