Today's NYT Strands is live for Monday, February 23, 2026 (Puzzle #722). Stuck on today's Strands? We've got progressive hints, from gentle nudges to full solutions, so you can solve at your own pace.
How Strands Works (New Players Start Here)
Strands hides themed words inside a 6x8 letter grid. Your mission: find every word connected to the day's theme. Letters link in any direction (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) and words can twist and turn. Every letter gets used exactly once.
The spangram is the key word or phrase that captures the theme and stretches across the entire board, touching opposite edges.
Need a boost? Find any 4+ letter word (even non-theme words) three times, and the game reveals a hint highlighting theme word letters.
Theme Decoder
Today's Theme Prompt: "Strike a chord"
What It Really Means
This musical phrase points directly to guitar parts and components. You're looking for the physical pieces that make up a stringed instrument.
Think About...
- Parts of a guitar you can see and touch
- Components that affect sound production
- Structural elements from top to bottom
Spangram Clues
Orientation: Diagonal upwards then to the right
Letter Count: 6 letters
Starting Zone: First letter of the fourth row
Progressive Spangram Hints
Hint 1 (Gentle): The instrument that perfectly embodies today's theme
Hint 2 (Warmer): A six-stringed instrument that produces chords
Hint 3 (Almost There): First letter is G, last letter is R
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GUITAR
Word-by-Word Hints
Solve as many as you can before peeking. Each word includes escalating clues.
Word 1
Vague: Top section where tuning happens
Closer: Where the tuning pegs are mounted
Letter Clue: Starts with H, 9 letters total
Answer
HEADSTOCK
Word 2
Vague: Long, thin connecting piece
Closer: The part between body and headstock
Letter Clue: Starts with N, 4 letters total
Answer
NECK
Word 3
Vague: Small cylindrical adjusters
Closer: Used for tuning each string
Letter Clue: Starts with P, 4 letters total
Answer
PEGS
Word 4
Vague: Vibrating element that produces sound
Closer: Thin metal wire under tension
Letter Clue: Starts with S, 6 letters total
Answer
STRING
Word 5
Vague: Main, largest section
Closer: Hollow part that amplifies sound
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 4 letters total
Answer
BODY
Word 6
Vague: Connection point for strings
Closer: Where strings attach to the body
Letter Clue: Starts with B, 6 letters total
Answer
BRIDGE
Word 7
Vague: Playing surface with markers
Closer: Where you press strings to change pitch
Letter Clue: Starts with F, 9 letters total
Answer
FRETBOARD
Full Answers
Spangram: GUITAR
Theme Words:
- HEADSTOCK
- NECK
- PEGS
- STRING
- BODY
- BRIDGE
- FRETBOARD
Puzzle Debrief
Difficulty Rating: Moderate
Trickiest Word: FRETBOARD (Less common term that casual players might not know)
Our Take: A clean, logical theme that guitar players will ace. The spangram placement requires diagonal thinking, but the component words follow a natural top-to-bottom progression. Solid Monday puzzle with educational value for non-musicians.
