Guitar Strings

About Guitar Strings

Our Sales Engineers understand better than anyone that choosing the right set of guitar strings can greatly impact your tone and playing experience. That's why Sweetwater carries a massive selection of different string brands and types, such as D’Addario’s popular XL electric guitar strings, Ernie Ball’s iconic Slinky guitar strings, La Bella’s mandolin strings, and GHS’s banjo string options. The first step in finding the right strings is to know which set will work best for your instrument. With so many options, however, knowing where to start can be tricky. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, Sweetwater makes it easy to shop and learn about guitar strings.

Types of Guitar Strings

Whether you're restringing the family acoustic or freshening up your prized electric, you'll want to keep the following string specs in mind:

• Core shape: The foundation of every guitar string is a core wire. Guitar strings are typically made with a round- or hex-core construction. By and large, manufacturers have switched to using hex-core construction for their guitar strings. This is because hex-core guitar strings are thought to produce a brighter tone, improved clarity, and better attack when playing with a pick.
• Winding: The next component of a guitar string is the winding around the core wire. Roundwound and flatwound strings each have their own advantages. Most solidbody guitars have roundwound strings, which deliver great sustain and overtones. Flatwound strings don’t yield as bright a tone, but they are very comfortable to play and don’t make any string noise when playing across the fretboard. For example, you might use flatwound strings on a hollowbody guitar or fretless bass. Of course, you can get the best of both worlds from halfwound strings, which are roundwound and ground smooth for flatwound-like playability. For bass guitars, you might also use tapewound guitar strings.
• Coating: Guitar strings often use a polymer coating to improve playability and increase the lifespan of your guitar strings by preventing corrosion. You may notice more of a mellow tone than non-coated guitar strings, but the pros often outweigh the cons. Coated guitar strings play and feel great.

For an in-depth look at string construction and materials, see “ What Are Guitar Strings Made Of?”

Understanding Guitar String Order

Standard tuning for a 6-string guitar is E-A-D-G-B-E, from the top of the guitar to the bottom. One way that guitarists remember the order to tune their strings is with a fun mnemonic device like “Elephants And Donkeys Grow Big Ears.” Guitar string packs are often color-coded for simple setup with your instrument. And if you’d like a complete walkthrough, SweetCare and inSync are great resources for learning how to replace guitar strings and hearing for yourself the difference a set of strings can make in our guitar string shootout.

What to Consider When Choosing Your Next Set of Strings

• Application: Many new players are surprised to learn that acoustic, electric, classical, and even bass guitars all require different string types. Said another way, the best strings for your dreadnought acoustic may not be the best options for, or even compatible with, your solidbody electric guitar. There’s no need to overthink it, though — shopping guitar string categories is fast and simple on Sweetwater.com. If you’d like more help choosing the right strings, our Sales Engineers are standing by.
• String Gauge: Choosing a string gauge — or the diameter of each string on your guitar — can be as customized as you’d like. A pack of strings will show the top-string gauge followed by the bottom-string gauge; e.g., 0.10-0.46. If you’re a heavy metal rhythm guitarist playing in drop C, set your sights on a heavier-gauge pack such as 0.12-0.52. If you play lightly or execute plenty of bends in your solos, a lighter-gauge pack such as 0.009-0.42 will do the trick.
• Material: Depending on your instrument, there are many guitar string materials you can choose from. Acoustic guitar strings are often made from 80/20 bronze or phosphor bronze. Electric guitar strings are more assorted, with options like stainless steel, nickel-plated steel, plain nickel, and cobalt. Most electric guitarists are familiar with nickel-plated steel strings, but all materials are a viable option for your instrument.

How Long Do Guitar Strings Last, and When Should I Change Them?

Guitar strings will typically last for 100 hours of playing. How often you need to change them depends on how often you play, how often you clean them, the string material, and whether or not they’re coated. As a rule of thumb, replace your strings whenever one breaks or if you notice an unwanted difference in tone and playability from your guitar.

What Tools Do I Need to Change My Guitar Strings?

Common tools that help replace your guitar strings include peg winders, string cutters, bridge pins, and more. Sweetwater makes it easy to get your guitar tools and other accessories in one place.

Why Shop Guitar Strings at Sweetwater?

With a massive selection of guitar strings, free shipping, and 'round-the-clock access to our award-winning support, Sweetwater gives you more than any other string retailer. If you have any questions about guitar strings, be sure to give your personal Sales Engineer a call. We're here to help you find the string sets that align with your musical goals.