Considering the number of electric guitar string choices available, navigating the differences between materials, treatments, and gauges can be pretty overwhelming. If you’re ready for a change or just wondering what your options are, follow these simple steps to help you decide what the best electric guitar strings are for your needs.
Top Sellers
.009 String Sets
.010 String Sets
.011 String Sets
Find Your Ideal String Gauge
A guitar string’s gauge refers to its physical size, measured in inches. This is the most significant factor in how your guitar actually feels to play.
| Guage | Common Set | Best For… | Tone & Feel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra-light | .009 – .042 | Beginners, shredders, and heavy string bending. | Bright and easy to play; slightly less tuning stability. |
| Light | .010 – .046 | The industry standard. Fits most players and styles. | Balanced Tension, volume, and playability. |
| Medium | 0.11 – .048 | Blues, Jazz, or “Drop” tunings. | Thick, warm tone; requires more finger strength to bend. |
The .010-.046 gauge set is the most popular choice for 6-string electric guitars because it offers an ideal balance of tension, playability, and tone for standard tunings and scale lengths.
If you have a light touch, want super-low action, or seek the ability to do crazy string bending, then .009-.042 is your gauge. It’s my go-to gauge on most of my electrics for those reasons, not to mention that smaller string gauges are easier on your hands if you play guitar for multiple hours daily. The decreased tension does come with a few drawbacks, however. Tuning and intonation are a bit less stable and something to keep a closer watch on. Fret buzz or “fretting out” will be more likely as well, especially since you’ll be tempted to set your action lower. Control in both hands is the key with lighter-gauge strings.
Moving up a gauge to .011–.048 does exactly the opposite; the greater tension allows you to dig in and play harder, but the thicker strings are also harder to bend and fret. This gauge set offers the option of a third string that is either plain or wound like the 4th, 5th, and 6th strings. The wound 3rd string is darker sounding and much more difficult to bend, changing the entire tonal complexion of the guitar. There are hybrid, “light top/heavy bottom” sets that mix string gauges and offer a compromise, so you can attack the low strings and bend the high strings. Typically, a heavier string offers a slightly darker tone than a lighter gauge of similar materials. Heavier string gauges are also more favorable for drop tunings and alternate tunings, due to the increased tension. Guitar string gauges above .011 are usually used for either extra-low tunings or for their warmer tone, for example, on jazz guitars.
General Notes on String Gauges
Staying with pre-packaged string gauges is best for experimenting. These will offer the most balanced feel, tone, and neck tension. If you find, however, that you prefer a heavier 4th string, for example, move up incrementally; small changes have a large impact. The same is true for changing gauges, up or down, in string sets. You may also notice that changing string gauge will require a neck or bridge adjustment. If you don’t feel capable of doing this yourself, please get a qualified repair tech to do it for you. Frankly, changing your bridge or truss rod can cause a big mess if you’re not sure what you’re doing.
Choosing Your String Material
Electric guitar strings are made of some form of steel. The plain, or unwound, strings and the core of the wound strings are the same within a given set. Different manufacturers offer slight variations, such as tin plating, but this part of the string is fairly consistent across the board. Where the real differences exist is in the wrap. Experimentation with various materials is as simple as changing strings.
- Nickel-Plated Steel: The most popular choice. It offers a balanced, snappy sound that works for almost any genre.
- Pure Nickel: Offers a “vintage” vibe. It is warmer, smoother, and less bright than nickel-plated steel.
- Stainless Steel: The brightest and most aggressive option. These strings are highly resistant to corrosion and excel at “cutting” through a mix.
- Flatwound Strings: These feature a smooth outer ribbon. They produce a mellow, thumpy tone and are a staple for traditional jazz and slide guitar.
Experimentation with various materials is as simple as changing strings. No adjustments are necessary, and every manufacturer’s process and formula yield a slightly different result.
Selecting a Brand
Since every manufacturer’s process and formula yield a slightly different result, choosing a brand that feels and sounds right to you is an important step. Even when two different manufacturers offer strings with the same gauge and wrap, they may appear identical, but slight variations in the metals and wrapping process can create two completely different sets of strings in terms of feel and tone. Again, experimentation is the only way to know for sure what you’ll like best. However, sticking with well-known brands can help ensure better consistency. In my many thousands of string changes, I’ve had very few bad strings, which is important when you’re counting on those strings during a performance.
Experimenting with these top brands is the best way to find your signature feel:
- D’Addario & Ernie Ball: Reliable, industry-standard choices.
- Elixir Strings: Feature a thin protective coating to extend life.
- DR Strings & Fender: Specialized options for various tonal textures.
Pro Tip: The way the chemical composition of your hands interacts with the string materials will affect the feel and lifespan of your strings. Different people need different strings, so go out and find your favorites!
Finding Your Perfect Match
Finding the best electric guitar strings for you is, of course, highly personal, and experimentation is the only way to get there. I have found that I like different string brands, gauges, and materials for different guitars. After you know what you like and how all of the differences feel and sound, the guitar will help dictate the right choice. One final comment: the way the chemical composition of your hands interacts with the string material will affect the feel and lifespan of your strings. Different people need different strings, so go out and find your favorites!
Sweetwater stocks hundreds of different types of guitar and bass strings. Browse our huge selection or call us and talk to one of our expertly trained Sweetwater Sales Engineers at (800) 222-4700 if you need help choosing just the right strings for you. With our massive inventory and FREE shipping, there’s no easier way to get the strings you need.