To reach a given pitch, heavier strings need to be put under more tension. Although they typically give a bolder sound, it takes more pressure to fret and bend notes. With light strings, the reverse is true. When choosing the gauge that suits you, remember in addition to offering a range of standard sets, Elixir Strings are also available as single strings, so you can build your own custom set.
Now follow the links below for advice on choosing the best acoustic strings, electric strings or bass strings for you. So whether you are about to string up your first instrument or frustrated with your current brand, here are four key factors to remember: Choose coated guitar strings for tone that lasts Most strings are uncoated.
Great tone starts with the right string material The metal alloy used for a guitar string's wrap wire has a huge impact on tone and feel, so find the material that suits your songs and playing style. Roundwound, Half Round or Flatwound? String gauge — the magic number String gauge is the measurement of a string's thickness and tells you the tone and feel you can expect.
In our experience, this is certainly true. These strings last longer than uncoated strings do, yet at no point will make you feel like you're compromising tone in order to achieve this durability. A noticeable reduction in the dreaded 'finger squeak' was also noticed, making these a highly playable, great sounding string.
When the company produces acoustic guitars as legendary as the J and Hummingbird, it's only right that Gibson also has a range of strings that live up to that same reputation. The Gibson Acoustic Strings do just that. Continuing the phosphor bronze theme, these strings do run slightly thicker than equivalents from other brands.
But the tone you get matches clarity and purity of tone with longevity, to create a potent package for any player. We're all for a bit of innovation here at Guitar World, hence why we were naturally drawn towards including the Dean Markley Blue Steel strings in this round-up.
The Blue Steel range is unique in that the strings are cryogenically frozen using liquid nitrogen to degrees prior to packaging. This, the manufacturer states, tightens the molecules and minimizes the microscopic gaps into which gunk and sweat can hide. The jury's still out on whether the science yields noticeable results on this one, however these strings sound great and in our tests lasted noticeably longer than regular uncoated strings.
D'Addario is a company known for its dedication to innovation in guitar strings, and the XT line-up boasts its most advanced yet. These meticulously designed strings combine all of D'Addario's bright ideas - including high-carbon NY Steel, fusion twist technology and, of course, those irresistible colored ball ends - and adds a new string coating that not only triples the lifespan of the string but feels identical to uncoated strings. We couldn't miss out an option for the sweatier palmed among us.
The DR Strings Dragon Skin sets feature a unique coating which the firm says is both ultra-hard, and doesn't dampen vibration. DR believes softer coatings can dampen your tone, or add in unwanted overtones, which is exactly the opposite of what you want to happen.
The result is a range of strings which are almost impervious to corrosion, yet retain clarity and articulation. Choosing the best acoustic guitar strings for you can be quite personal and will vary from player to player.
They project nicely, and they sound clear and balanced - definitely one of the best acoustic guitar strings on the market. Acoustic experts Martin also make a range of strings to suit quite literally any style of player.
Acoustic guitar strings are essentially a metal core - usually stainless steel, with the thickest four strings wrapped in thinner metal windings. This differs from electric guitar strings which are usually wound with steel, or nickel so that they work better with the magnetic field created by the pickups.
Phosphor bronze is simply bronze, with phosphor added to the alloy. Whilst this all might sound a little boring, the two types of string do actually make quite a difference to the sound of your acoustic guitar. Phosphor bronze on the other hand are often mellower, and slightly warmer sounding.
Heavier gauges are generally better for :. Lighter gauges are generally better for :. These are intended for players who use a good mix of picking and strumming. With electric strings , the 3 most common metals used are:. Other less-common metals for electric strings include titanium , cobalt , chrome and copper. With acoustic strings , the 3 most popular options are:. With classical strings , the most common materials used are:.
Beneath the outer winding of the bass strings E6 , A5 , D4 and sometimes G3 …. There is a solid core wire that comes in 1 of 2 varieties :. Check out the diagram above to see how they look from a cross-section view.
This part refers only to electric and acoustic strings…not classical. NOTE : One key detail to remember with round core strings is…you must tune them up to pitch before trimming them.
Otherwise, the outer wrapping will slip and unravel. The wire that wraps around the solid core comes in 1 of 3 varieties :. Of the 3, roundwounds are the most popular by far. Flatwounds are 2nd most popular, but are usually more expensive. Halfrounds are the least popular, and you can pretty much disregard them when shopping for strings.
NOTE : While not in the scope of this article, you might care to know that with bass guitars , flatwound strings are more popular. Back in , the Elixir company revolutionized the guitar string industry….
They created a barrier that protected the metal from damaging substances such as oil , sweat , dirt , and skin. But rather than try to explain it in words, check out the cool visuals in this Elixir promo video:. Personally I love this, because it makes the buying process much simpler. Apologies if I left out your favorite brand here. Remember the size and shape of your guitar will usually represent the type of music you want to play and the sound you want to achieve, the strings also play their part too.
Play heavier? Go for heavier strings. Are you a softer more gentle player? Then stick with a lighter gauge. The material with which acoustic strings are made from or coated in also makes a huge difference in sound, longevity as well as overall feel. Each material a string is made from carries specific sound qualities, and just like music, they appeal to different people.
The most common are:. This creates a more natural feel for the player and makes the strings last longer. Again, I suggest trying them out to see which set works and feels best to you. At the end of the day, playing the guitar is all about experimentation. Experiment with a wide variety of different strings until you find your "brand" or the set that you feel most comfortable with. Who knows, you might decide that it takes a mixture of different sets to get your ideal sound, or you could find the perfect gauge and brand the first time.
Enjoy the journey and remember, you can always change them around - you're never locked into one style.
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