Detect a touch to the threads

Hello. I have a lot of threads stretched vertically. I want to detect the touch them. So that you can then play them like a guitar for example).

What is the easiest way to do it (detect touch, not to make a guitar)?
What kind of sensors could you recommend for that?

This may give you a few ideas

and here

http://www.arduino.cc/playground/Code/CapacitiveSensor

Are your threads conductive?
If they are then it is relatively simple using the high impedance of a cmos logic gate.
If not then it is much more difficult.
Attaching the threads to springs and measuring the displacement of the string might work.
Capacitive sensors will not.