A guitar without strings is much less useful than one with them - though you may be able to use an acoustic model as a percussion instrument. It’s important, then, to get the best strings for your choice of body, so that you can make the most of its capabilities.
Guitar strings differ depending on which type of instrument you want to use them on, and the tone you want to produce. What works for one musician might not work for another, so it can be important to try out different strings to see what effect they have before settling on a favourite set.
Strings come in different thicknesses, known as gauges, which are measured in thousandths of an inch. When you buy a pack of strings, it’s often labelled by the gauge of the thinnest string, so packs with higher numbers on them will be heavier strings. Beginners may like to look for lower-numbered packs, as they take less strength in the fingers to play, while blues and rock guitarists will look for heavier gauges as they can produce lower frequencies without becoming loose.
Strings for electric and acoustic guitars are often made from different materials - the electric strings are expected to interact with the pickups, while acoustic strings are looking for good resonance. They can also come in coated and uncoated varieties - an extra layer of protection can be added that reduces corrosion and helps prevent the build-up of dirt, and while they can sound different to uncoated strings, they keep their sound for longer and don’t need to be changed as often.
Choice of guitar strings is an immensely personal thing, and once you’ve settled on a type that produces a sound you like, you’re likely to stay with it for some time. Here, then, are some of the best string choices out there today.
Best guitar strings at a glance:
Ernie Ball Slinky
Best for: uncoated electric guitar strings
Some of the best-selling electric guitar strings in the world, and played by the likes of Slash and Jimmy Page, the Regular Slinkys come in 10 to 46 gauge and offer a consistent bright and punchy tone.
Although uncoated, they’re smooth to the touch and hold tuning well, resisting breakage even when played regularly. If the Regular gauge isn’t for you, then Slinkys come in a number of other weights, with heavier and lighter gauges available.
Buy now £18.00, Amazon
Legacy Tru-Tone Phosphor Bronze
Best for: acoustic guitar beginners
UK-made and available at a very reasonable price, these acoustic guitar strings come in a light gauge that doesn’t require too much strength to play and won’t leave your fingers hurting too much afterwards - they’re ideal for those starting out and getting used to playing guitar, and if you like the sound there's no reason you can’t keep on using them as you become more proficient.
Buy now £6.00, Strings Direct
Elixir Optiweb
Best for: coated electric guitar strings
Made from nickel-plated steel wrapped around a wire core, these electric guitar strings come with Elixir’s thinnest coating, which makes them feel closer to uncoated strings in use. Despite this, they still come with the benefits of coated strings - they pick up grime less easily, and won’t corrode if your fingers get sweaty while playing.
Coated strings are more expensive than uncoated ones, but the fact they last longer between changes can make them more economical especially if, as with these strings from Elixir, the sound they produce is close to that of uncoated strings.
Buy now £14.00, Amazon
C.F. Martin MM-12
Best for: finger-picking acoustic guitar
Uncoated nickel-copper strings like these produce a warm tone that lends itself to acoustic guitar playing. A slightly heavier Tony Rice Bluegrass set is available from the same manufacturer if you’re looking for a louder sound, but these light strings are a good choice for general use.
The nickel-copper alloy wrap is naturally corrosion resistant without needing a polymer, and the lighter weight will be easier on your fingers than heavier choices.
Buy now £13.00, Amazon
D’Addario NYXL Nickel Wound
Best for: heavy metal
With their heavy 12-54 gauge, these uncoated strings enhance the mid-range and offer greater presence and crunch to your sound. With a steel core, they’re stronger than many other strings, and can take a bit more punishment with a pick as well as being bent up to two steps higher without breaking.
Another benefit of heavier strings is that they can be downtuned more easily without losing their sound, making them ideal for doom or goth that requires a deeper tone.
Buy now £13.37, Amazon
Gibson Vintage Reissue
Best for: a retro ultra-light electric string
With a steel core beneath a pure nickel wrap, these strings are made in the same way they were at the Gibson factory in Kalamazoo, Michigan, for sale at the Gibson Custom Shop in Nashville, as developed at Gibson in the 1950s.
They bring clarity and warmth from a bygone age to your playing, the ultra-light weight allowing easier bending and faster playing, with extra vibrato and expression.
Buy now £8.00, Reverb
Fender Original 150’s
Best for: playing the blues
Many electric guitar strings use a nickel wrap over a steel core, but these retro strings from Fender use 100 per cent nickel in their manufacture. This gives them a smoother sound, with plenty of warmth and enough brightness without sounding harsh.
They’re also good for achieving that bluesy twang, with a natural-sounding vibrato, and keeping finger noise to a minimum.
Buy now £8.49, Fender
D’Addario EJ45 Pro-Arte
Best for: nylon acoustic strings
Think of a classical guitar sound, and you’re probably imagining the tone created by nylon strings. These bright and reliable acoustic guitar strings aren’t the cheapest out there, but are a good all-purpose set with a multi-filament nylon core for the lower strings for extra warmth, and treble strings that provide a sweet and mellow sound. Available in a variety of tensions for different instruments, these New York-manufactured strings are among the top selling acoustic strings available.
Buy now £12.99, Amazon
Verdict
While a new set of guitar strings isn’t going to make up for ability or hours of practice, it can bring new life to a tired-sounding guitar. Whether you play an electric or acoustic model, changing the strings once they’ve been played for a while, and have begun to lose their tuning or become caked in grime from constant exposure to your fingers, is part and parcel of being a guitarist.
The strings we’ve highlighted here, such as the Ernie Ball Slinky set, are so well-liked by professionals, and offer good tone and a range of musical applications.
