Is your guitar drifting out of tune too often? Does your playing suddenly feel random and loose? Plagued with mis-hit notes and poor lifeless tone? Then it could be time to treat your guitar (and your ears) to a new set of strings.

Get ready for seven simple steps to guitar-playing greatness.

When should you change your strings

There’s a whole bunch of tell-tale signs that let you know when it’s time for new strings.

1. Broken strings

Oops. You broke a string. It might be that you knowingly picked it or bent that particular string too far, a bit of over-zealous tuning peg-turning, or it could be a sign of invasive wear and tear all across your guitar.

Either way, you need to replace it and only you will know if it’s a simple matter of swapping out that single string or if it’s high time for an entirely new fresh set.

If you’ve been playing regularly and it’s been six months since you last replaced your strings, take that broken string as an indicator that it’s time to change all six. ‘Upgrade’ one string and chances are you won’t feel or hear the difference. Change ALL your strings and you’re certain to feel (and hear) the benefit.

2. Worn or discoloured strings

Compare the strings on your guitar with a new set (or new-er set on another guitar). If you can SEE a difference then it’s time to change your strings. You may see such symptoms as visible rust, discolouration or corrosion.

Alternatively the strings may feel rough or gritty under your fingers rather than smooth. Putting up with rough strings will not only have a detrimental effect on your ability to play but will produce a dull and lifeless sound.

Also, watch out for a build up of dark gunk under your strings, particularly around the frets. Be under no illusion. This is dead skin and oil from your fingers and it’s a real tone killer (and hygiene turn-off)…

And – believe it or not – you can smell when your strings are worn. If your old strings have a smell then they’re on their way out. New strings smell clean and new because they are exactly that. Let your nose judge!

Smelly, dull, rough strings? Time for a restringing (and a good clean up too).

3. You can hear the difference

New strings will help your guitar sing again. If your guitar is sounding less bright and less ‘lively’ then it’s time for a replacement. Fresh strings have a brighter sound and will sustain notes longer.

Also they will stay in tune for longer (once they’re past their initial wearing-in phase). So if your guitar won’t stay in tune or goes out of tune quickly after tuning it might be that your strings can no longer take the strain.

Alternatively if individual notes sound slightly off even when the open strings are in tune, then your intonation is starting to drift. Tuned up but fretted notes are out of tune? Time for new strings.

4. Maybe it’s just time…

If you want to make sure your guitar is always firing on all cylinders then it could simply be a matter of marking when you last changed your strings on the calendar and then strictly sticking to a string ‘time limit’. I.e. Don’t wait until the signs above start to surface and ruin your performance. Take the pro-active approach instead.

Professional players will consider a new set of strings before every performance or recording session. Regular players should get a new set every three months minimum. While casual players should replace their strings every six months.

Don’t wait to sound bad. Do something about it.

You will need…

A guitar multi-tool will be handy for getting the broken string parts out of the machinehead posts. Such things are available for a few dollars/pounds from your favourite online retailer or trusty local store.

A good guitar multi-tool will combine various sized hex and Allen keys for adjusting the truss rod and bridge saddles, screwdrivers for pickup height adjustment, tightening strap buttons, and turning tuning machine screws

You might even get a string action gauge for measuring the height of strings above the fretboard. And a string winder (either solo or as part of a multi-tool) and a string cutter will come in very handy as well.

You'll also need new guitar strings too, of course.

Picking strings can be quite bewildering for newcomers, but don't worry - your friendly local guitar store will be delighted to serve you with the correct strings. They come in different gauges (thicknesses), which will affect how the guitar sounds and how the strings feel to play.

Generally speaking, most electric guitars will be strung with .009 or .010 gauge strings, which is the thickness of the top (thinnest) E string. The more you play, the more you'll understand string gauges and get a feel for which gauge works for your fingers.

Once you've got all your bits and pieces together, you can get on with the business of re-stringing.

How to restring a guitar: Seven simple steps

Of course, it looks hard but then, with so many moving and delicate mechanical, physical parts, it was always going to. But the good news is that it’s easier than you think and – as discussed above – the benefits are well worth the expense and hassle.

Let’s get started.

Step One: Remove the old strings

Start by loosening your first string using the tuning pegs until it’s completely slack. Once a string is slack you’ll be able to unwind it fully and remove it. Do this one string at a time rather than slackening and then removing all six at once as gently and methodically relieving the tension on the neck is better for your guitar.

On an acoustic guitar, you'll also need to remove the bridge pins (the small pegs holding the strings at the bridge end). If you have a string winder they often have a notch specifically designed for this. Pull them out carefully and don’t lose them as they can be fiddly to keep track of.

On an electric guitar, the strings either feed through the bridge from the back of the body or sit in individual saddles. Have a look at how the old string is attached before you remove it so you know what to do with the new one.

If in doubt, take photos on your phone before you begin, and refer back to them when putting in the new string. If your new string sits in the same place as the old string then you’re on the right track.

Step Two: Clean your fretboard

With the strings off, you’re afforded unfettered access to your guitar’s fretboard. Thus it’s a perfect opportunity to give it a much needed clean.

First, wipe down the fretboard with a slightly damp cloth then focus in on the frets and give each a good rub either with that cloth or brush with an old toothbrush to help dislodge any long-term ‘gunk’.

Maple fretboards should only ever be polished with that slightly damp microfiber cloth, but unfinished woods like Rosewood or Ebony, can come up like-new with a little Naphtha (aka lighter fluid) to remove grime, followed up with a specialized conditioner.

There are all kinds of cleaners and potions to try here and, again, your local guitar shop will be happy to take a look and give you tips and products here.

Step Three: Attach the new string(s) at the bridge

Feed the new string through the bridge in the same way that the old one was attached. On an acoustic, this means inserting the ball end of the string into the hole and replacing the bridge pin firmly on top to hold it in place. Give the string a gentle tug to make sure that it's seated properly.

On an electric, feed the string through the bridge or tailpiece according to your guitar's design.

Step Four: Thread the string through the tuning peg

Pull the string up the neck and thread it through the hole in the appropriate tuning peg. Leave a little slack — about five to eight centimetres of extra string beyond the peg. This gives you enough to wind around the peg several times, which helps keep the string stable and in tune.

Bend the string slightly at the peg to stop it slipping while you start winding.

Step Five: Wind the string

Turn the tuning peg to wind the string on, making sure the string winds neatly onto the peg. Each successive wrap should sit below the previous one. This isn't just for show, having a neat wrap all in a line will help keep the string in tune too.

You’ll find that a string winder makes this process much faster and easier. Wind until the string is roughly in tune.

Step Six: Trim away the excess

Once the string is wound on and roughly up to pitch, use your string cutters to snip off the excess wire close to the tuning peg. Leave just a small amount – about five millimetres. Loose ends left too long can scratch your hand or rattle against the headstock as you play, ruining your recording sessions.

Step Seven: Repeat and tune up

Repeat the process for each string, then tune the whole guitar using your tuner. We’ve an entire article on how to tune your guitar right here.

New strings stretch considerably in the first few days, so don’t be surprised when you have to retune a few days later. You can speed up this settling process by gently stretching each string as you’re placing it on the guitar. Grip it in the middle and pull it away from the fretboard a few times to stretch it, then retune.

And enjoy…

Remember, the first time you restring your guitar will be the hardest. It’s a process that gets easier with practice. And if it’s been a few years before you’ve changed your strings, perhaps don’t leave it so long next time?

Your guitar and your playing will only ever thank you for it!

A different approach

On the face of it, electric guitar strings don’t seem like they should be that engaging a subject, but we guitarists are a very particular bunch, and debating the benefits of one set vs another often inspires fairly impassioned discussion. Preferences are many and varied, but luckily, so is the array of choices.

One proprietor of such options is Ernie Ball. A long-time maker of strings, guitars, and much more, the company has a storied history and an impressive roster of players, with the likes of John Mayer, Slash, Paul McCartney, and Eric Clapton adorning their artists page. Joining them is Polyphia’s Tim Henson with an interesting signature set of strings.

Polyphia are impossible not to mention in any conversation regarding the progression of modern guitar music and how it sits in the current landscape. Intricate composition combined with mind-bending musical chops has, rightly, catapulted the band to fame with G.O.A.T., The Worst, and Playing God being just a few of the songs that have captured the imagination of a new breed of guitar player.

Beyond that, Tim has worked on various projects as a composer, which he discusses with Guitar World's Michael Astley-Brown in a recent interview, and has gotten into the guitar building game with his signature Ibanez electric and nylon-strung acoustic guitars, and now turns his head towards strings.

As he put it in an Ernie Ball promo video, he had a few “unreasonable requests”. A set of strings that are "lighter than a 10, but still retains that stability", having an “air of percussiveness, but not being too shrill” and a “low string that doesn't overpower the harmonics” of the higher string, to name a few of them.

In short, we have a discerning player, impressive in his musical accomplishments and ability, teaming up with a company backed with decades of know-how at the forefront of what they do.

So we can be safe in the certainty that what we have here is going to be a quality product. However, the interesting thing about guitar strings is that it’s a personal choice, without a right or wrong.

My preference has been in 10-46 gauge strings, which I have stuck with for around 15 years, but this doesn’t mean I haven't experimented a bit. Working as a reviewer, guitars frequently come out of their boxes strung with 9s, with the reduction in string tension meaning fluid bends and liquid vibrato coming off the fingers with markedly more ease.

With this and B.B. King's “Why you working so hard?” quote in mind, I have periodically given the lighter gauges a shot, only to come crawling back to 10s for two main reasons.

Firstly, playing live and getting a little carried away at times, it is a lot easier to get that unwanted wobble when hitting an open low E on a thinner gauge. Secondly, once the novelty of the ease has worn off, I find myself wanting a little more resistance when pushing the strings around.

Looking at Tim Hensons' new custom strings from Ernie Ball, we have a thin top, heavy bottom set of 9.5 gauge strings - 9.5, 12, 16, 26, 36, 46. For context, my usual set of 10s consists of 10, 13, 17, 26, 36, 46.

Whilst I am no Tim Henson, on paper, his signature set may give a little of that fluid feel that inspires my infrequent experiments with a lighter gauge, whilst stopping short of being too skinny and retaining the relative stability of 10s on the lower strings. It therefore felt worth a test to see if these strings could change a habit of well over a decade.

The premise is simple. Stick them on the guitar I use most - a Fender Telecaster, live with them for a few weeks, and see if I'm tempted to keep using them.

Road Testing

After restringing the guitar, the strings were worked hard over the two weeks I would usually get out of a new set. Used across my everyday playing, in review for other gear, the little bit of teaching I do outside of reviewing, and for video demo shoots with Guitar World, they had a tough term covering pretty much every genre of music.

The first thing I notice is a bit of surprise. I am used to both 9 and 10 gauge strings, so I expected to feel relatively at home on this set, which is somewhere in between. But for the first few minutes, I didn’t.

Having strings that feel like 10s at the bottom seems to have the effect of putting my fingers into 10s mode. This means that it initially feels a little odd when the B and E strings are looser than my muscle memory is expecting.

This is more of an observation than a criticism, and is something that takes no time at all to get used to. After this adjustment, the slight reduction in tension on the thinner strings does indeed lend itself to that easier feel.

However, the real test in this aspect is whether I miss that extra tension from 10s after getting used to this new gauge. The quick answer is that I don’t. The slightly thinner top strings seem to sit nicely between 9s and 10s for my taste, giving a smooth feel without too much compromise on the little bit of tension that I like.

So far, it’s looking promising. Next, I hit those lower strings to see if they wobble any more than a normal set of 10s. Given that the lower strings of the Tim Henson set are of the same gauge as my usual, I didn’t expect that they would act any differently here, which is indeed the case.

Moving on to how they sound, it’s a little difficult to comment objectively as the small differences between sets of well-made strings result in entirely subjective preferences. What I can say is that they sound great, as you would expect from a company like Ernie Ball.

It’s also worth mentioning that two weeks in, they still sound bright and lively, which is a worthwhile benefit of high-end strings that tend to be a little more expensive, like these ones.

Final thoughts

The question now, then, is, will I keep using them? Yes. It’s not that what I have used up until now falls short in any way, it's just that I enjoy this Ernie Ball Tim Henson Signature set just incrementally more.

At least on a 25.5” scale length guitar, they suit me a little bit better by allowing the thinner strings to be slightly more slinky without getting too skinny, whilst retaining the gauge and stability of the lower strings and therefore solving the issues I mentioned earlier.

Keeping them on the Telecaster is a no-brainer. When it comes to my guitars of a 24 ¾ scale length, however, I don’t want those strings holding any less tension, so I’ll be sticking to my usual there.

What’s happened here, then, is a refinement of a preference rather than a correction of any issue.

Obviously, for fans of Tim Henson or Polyphia, the name will be a draw. However, I would reiterate how personal string choice is, and suggest ignoring the fact that they are signature strings, and instead, thinking about what your preferences are, and whether there is room for refinement in what you are using.

If this thinking leads you to believe your ideal strings may be somewhere in between a set of 9s and 10s, give these a go.

• For more information on Tim Henson's signature sets check out Ernie Ball

Ernie Ball knows a thing or two about making acoustic and electric guitar strings but every now and then it is good to get a consultant in, just to see if it will spark some fresh inspiration, and for its new range of Earthwood strings it brought John Mayer onboard as co-designer.

The Earthwood Bell Bronze acoustic guitar strings, available now in a variety of gauges, are not signature strings. Mayer’s face is not on the packaging – we’re not too sure if his name is even on there, not even in the small print. But he helped steer the design, and is mighty proud of them.

The promo video finds Mayer in typically philosophical form. The strings, themselves, sound great. But then again it’s John Mayer’ playing a Martin guitar and that is always going to help.

Still, Mayer believes you can make your guitar sound divine, too. Maybe it’s all those Grateful Dead songs he’s been playing of late, but he is especially Zen here. This not so much a promo for these new strings as it is a pep talk for anyone pickup up the instrument.

“The only thing you have to feed it are two things, guitar strings and ideas,” he says. “For the most part, acoustic guitars are the great equaliser of ideas. If your idea works here, you can change the world.

“It wasn’t until the last 10 years or so that acoustic guitar has really stood at the forefront of pop culture, of youth culture, of really what I would call like high energy creativity from young people.

“f you pick up an acoustic guitar and you write some songs on it, and you play them for people, there is no stage in the world that's too big for the music that you play on an acoustic guitar. The story begins here, the story is told here, and the story ends here.”

Thank you, John. We needed that. Now, as for the strings, the “Bell Bronze” speaks to the new alloy that they’re comprised of. Forget phosphor/bronze, these are inspired by the same alloys used to make bells and cymbals.

Cymbals? That makes us think high-end musical information. But the frequency profile of the Earthwood Bell Bronze is described as having a similar top end to the 80/20 Bronze set, and a fuller and “richer” low end than the phosphor/bronze without going all dark and muddy on you.

There is a patent-pending on the alloy. But you can grab the Earthwood Bell Bronze acoustic strings now. You can get them in all the popular light to medium gauges, from 10s to 13s. See Ernie Ball for more details. See above for your acoustic guitar pep talk from big bad John.

They say you learn a new thing every day. So here’s yours for today: have you ever wondered why guitar strings are colour-coded? Not really? Anyway, in a recent interview with Billboard, D’ Addario CEO Jim D’Addario has revealed the real reason – and there’s an environmental friendly premise behind it.

"In the early 1990s, a package of strings had an envelope for each of the six strings," Jim recalled. "A paper envelope for each one, identified for each note, in a vinyl pouch with a fancy label. So there was a minimum of eight pieces of packaging."

"Sometimes there was a little advertisement as well," he added. While, a guitar string package might look just like any other, the secrets are on the inside. As D’Addario explained, cutting down on all the unnecessary waste was actually an idea that originated from his daughter.

"My daughter Amy was in high school, and they were studying environmental friendliness and recycling and packaging, and I was changing my strings on the bed and I had all this garbage when I was done. She said, 'You should really do something about that, that's really criminal, you're putting so much junk in the waste-stream just to change a set of strings.’”

So what has this got to do with the colour-coding on the ball end? Well, D’Addario came up with an ingenious ploy: "I came up with a system of colour-coding the ball end on the string a different colour, then coiling those together in one corrosion-resistant plastic bag and having them colour-coded, so the silver one is this note, and the brass one is this note."

In Jim’s estimation, his scheme eliminated around 75% of the packaging. Multiply that by all the thousands of string packages that are sold around the world every day and you have cut out a hell of a lot unwanted packaging waste. Amy D’Addario was doubtless very proud of her dad.

So now you know.

With the Black Friday guitar deals finally arriving today, it’s your chance to pick up bargain guitar gear for less and there is a lot of it flying around. Just at Sweetwater alone they’ve got discounts on over 14,000 items, which means finding the right deal for you could be quite the monumental task.

Thankfully I think I’ve found a deal that will appeal to guitarists of all kinds, with 5 packs of Ernie Ball guitar strings available for just $19.95. Typically costing $34.95, this is a super deal that essentially gives you two packs for free, as well as an extra dollar on top to make the deal that much sweeter. It’s easily one of my favorite deals I’ve come across this Black Friday.

As a guitar player, you’re always going to need fresh guitar strings, whether you’re a bedroom-exclusive player or you’re regularly gigging your local venues. Strings are one of those things you’ll always need more of, which makes this probably the most useful deal I’ve come across this Black Friday. Last year I stocked up on a shedload of my favorite Skinny Top Heavy Bottom string sets and it’s one of the best investments I made in my playing, saving me plenty of time and money in the long run.

I’ve been playing Ernie Ball strings for pretty much my whole playing career and although I’ve had some brief stings trying out other brands, I’ve always ended up with Ernie Ball’s back on my guitars. My picking style is pretty aggressive and whatever it is about Ernie Ball string construction had meant they rarely break with my playing style, lasting long enough for me to need to change them due to the build-up of dirt and grime.

If you’re not an electric guitar aficionado don’t worry, there’s a great selection of Ernie Ball Earthwood acoustic guitar strings available in the sale too. There’s plenty of choice in terms of gauge and you can choose between Phosphor Bronze and 80/20 Bronze sets too. At this price you could even pick up multiple gauges or material types and shoot them out to see if your favorite really is the best for you.

Dave Mustaine has launched his own signature brand of electric guitar strings and straps in association with Gibson.

The Megadeth mainman has worked closely with Gibson to come up with the strings, which, its says here, deliver “the powerful, heavy sound and exceptional playing performance that he requires”. 

The Dave Mustaine Signature String Set is made of nickel-plated steel in the US and is, apparently, the “loudest, best performing” strings he’s ever used. They also feature a reinforced carbon core for exceptional tone, sustain, and durability, and sport alternating black and green ball ends that are useful for easy identification when restringing. And they’re available in all of Mustaine’s preferred gauges - .010, 013, .017, .030, .042 and .052.

Meanwhile, the strap has been especially created for Mustaine’s Gibson, Epiphone and Kramer guitars. It’s a beautiful looking thing too, made of elegant full-grain black leather, embossed with Mustaine’s trademark ‘silhouette’ logo and is adjustable from 44” to 65”. No prices for either the strap or strings have been mentioned as yet by Gibson.

The strings and strap are just the latest items to roll off the Mustaine/ Gibson production line. Since teaming up three years ago the partnership has come up with a whole range of signature guitars, mostly the iconic Flying Vs that the guitarist has always loved. Back in 2021 Mustaine declared that “I feel I am finally at home with Gibson and I am proud of what we’re building together.”

Currently on tour in Europe, Megadeth have an extensive North American jaunt lined up for later this summer. Their 33 date Destroy All Enemies Tour kicks off in Rogers, Arizona on August 2 and trails through most major US cities before winding up in Nashville on September 28.

Their most recent album, The Sick, The Dying...And The Dead! came out in autumn 2022. The album, their 16th in all, was beset by a number of delays, with Mustaine battling throat cancer, the dismissal of long-serving bassist David Elefson over allegations of sexual misconduct and, of course, Covid. Nevertheless, it went Top 5 in both Britain and the US.

For more information on the entire Dave Mustaine/Gibson range go to www.gibson.com. The 62 year old metal icon can also be heard talking about his career and relationship with Gibson here.

We all want our guitar strings to sound great for longer, and with the premium quality of Elixir® Strings you can stay inspired with their long life, bright tone and expressive 'just right' feel.

Check out the selection of string choices with long-lasting tone life at elixirstrings.com. Choose from three options of featherweight coating and a wide range of gauges for your guitar and playing needs. 

All Elixir® Strings feature corrosion resistance and protection from everyday sweat and humidity that can diminish your guitar tone. Its coated strings deliver consistent performance so you can focus on what matters and enjoy your playing.  

• Check out the selection of premium Elixir® Electric Guitar Strings at elixirstrings.com/products and subscribe to the Elixir® Strings YouTube channel to be the first to see new videos.

Can't get no satisfaction from your riffs? Let Mandy Rowden and Elixir® Strings start you up with this Keith Richards-style guitar lesson.

Mandy calls it 'The Keith' – a simple hammer-on technique that can give your chords an unmistakably bluesy Rolling Stones swagger. With this video lesson, guitar tutor, songwriter and Elixir® Strings artist Mandy shows you how to integrate The Keith into A chord shapes up and down the neck. 

Mandy plays Elixir Electric Nickel Plated Steel Strings with OPTIWEB® Coating in Light gauge 10-46.

"Elixir strings give me the polished sound I love and a level, smooth playability I don't get anywhere else," says Mandy. "Plus the long shelf life allows for an ease of maintenance that I've come to depend on."

For more information on the full electric string range, along with acoustic and bass options, visit Elixir® Strings and stay up to date on Instagram and Facebook.   

GUITAR SHOWCASE 2022: Getting your getting in tune, staying in tune and intonating well is the vital first step to a good playing and tone experience. 

There are a number of factors involved – including how you fit the guitar strings, and taking care of the  bridge and nut on your electric guitar. 

Here are 10 simple tips to make your life easier with tuning, strings and more. 

1. Reduce nut friction

If you’re finding that a string suffers from erratic or unstable tuning, it might well be because the string is catching in your guitar’s nut. Sometimes this can necessitate the nut being filed, or even replaced, but before you get extreme, try lubricating your nut slots. 

You can buy bespoke nut lubricants to do this of course, but a quicker, easier method is to use a pencil in the nut slot of the problem string – the graphite in the pencil lead should smooth up the travel of the strings on the nut and improve your tuning stability.

2. Change Strings Faster

It’s a myth that removing all the strings at once damages the guitar's neck, but unless you’re oiling the fretboard or cleaning frets, loosening and snipping off all the strings at once is not the best for speed.

The more time the strings are off the guitar, the more chances there are for the neck to lose tension through movement, taking longer for it to stabilise again. Instead, restring one by one – it’s quicker, and you’ll need less time to retune.

3. Improve tuning stability

Did you know that having too much string on your tuners can cause tuning stability issues, and so can having too little? To reduce the risk of the string slipping when brought up to pitch, aim to have between two to four turns of string on each tuner post, with fewer on the wound strings.

4. Speed up Floyd Rose restringing 

Restringing a Floyd Rose vibrato is one of the most fiddly jobs a guitarist can do, and while some faffing is unavoidable, there is one annoying job you can spare yourself if you’re in a rush. Instead of cutting the ball-ends off your strings to feed them into the vibrato, simply feed the strings backwards so that the ball-end is up at the tuners. This may look ugly, but it saves time and hassle!

5. Intonate yourself 

Having your intonation right is vital – without it chords and riffs at the dusty end will just sound bad! Thankfully, it’s a simple enough to do yourself, provided your electric has adjustable saddles. 

Get your guitar and a guitar tuner, then play a harmonic at the 12th fret. Compare the harmonic’s pitch to the note produced when you fret it normally – if it’s sharper, move the saddle backwards slightly, if it’s flatter, move it forwards (remember FFF: fret, flat, forward). Repeat for the other strings and you’ll be intonated perfectly!

6. Snip your strings without clippers 

Okay, you’ve restrung your guitar but there are no clippers to be found. All is not lost - you can clip your strings with nothing more than your hand and some elbow grease. Firstly, take your loose bit of string and bend it against the machinehead so that it bends sharply against the string hole. Then bend the it back and do the same the opposite way. 

Repeat this a few times until the string snaps, and repeat. This is much easier with the higher strings, wound ones can take some elbow grease, but it will work – it also clips them right at the tuner, meaning no more sharp ends to potentially stab you!

7. Make strings last longer 

To a greater or lesser degree, we all sweat from our hands when we play guitar, and over time if left untouched, this will corrode your strings into a dull, lifeless mess. So, whenever you finish playing, take a dry cloth and rub down your strings to get rid of any moisture, and notice how your strings now stay bright and zingy for longer. 

If you want to be extra conscientious, try washing your hands before you play, too!

8. Get new strings in tune quicker 

How often have you restrung a guitar only to find that the damn thing won’t stay in tune properly? Well, grasshopper, that’s because strings need to stretch and settle for a bit. Annoying, but good news – you can speed the process up yourself easily!

Starting with the low E string, simply grip the string about half way along its length, and pull it up off the fretboard – not too much, it’s not a bow and arrow, just until you feel it get taught – release, and repeat!

Do this a few times on all your strings, and you’ll find your tuning much more stable.

9. Set pickup heights 

To get the best out of your guitar, the pickups need to be set at the right height – the closer they are to the strings, the louder they’ll be, but that’s not what it’s all about. Humbuckers are the simplest – fret the top and bottom E strings at the final fret and using a ruler, adjust the humbucker’s side screws until treble and bass sides both sit evenly 2.5mm beneath the fretted strings. 

Single-coils are more complicated – Strats should be adjusted to sit with the treble side slightly higher than the bass for a good tonal balance.

Fret the two outer strings at the final fret, then adjust the pickups so the polepiece tops sit 2.5mm and 3.5mm from the treble and bass E strings respectively. One thing to watch out for with single-coils is wolf notes – these occur when the pickup’s magnetic field is too close to the string’s field of movement, preventing it from vibrating naturally. If you hear these, back off!

10. Trim strings perfectly 

Knowing how many winds you need is all well and good, but how do you do it right? Well, if you have a Fender-style six-in-a-line headstock you trim your strings to the right length before you even start winding and still get the right number of turns. It simple really – as you fit each string on the headstock, simply measure your excess to the length of the next string’s tuning post and then clip the rest off before winding it on. 

Of course, this trick won’t work with a three-a-side ’stocks…

Learn more: How to set up your guitar: a DIY guide

GUITAR SHOWCASE 2022: Ernie Ball is the world's leading manufacturer of premium electric and acoustic guitar strings, bass strings, and guitar accessories. 

Our strings have been played on many of the best-selling albums of all time and are used by some of history’s greatest musicians including Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Slash, The Rolling Stones, Angus Young, Eagles, Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, Aerosmith, Metallica, and more.

From budding guitarists to seasoned professionals, Ernie Ball has the strings and accessories that are right for your level and sound. Ernie Ball strings are crafted in Coachella Valley, California using premium materials such as bronze, M-steel, titanium, cobalt, nickel,bronze aluminium, nylon, phosphor, stainless steel, and copper. Our guitar strings come in hundreds of combinations of gauges, materials, and set numbers.

Slinky guitar strings

Try the original Slinky guitar strings, the world's #1 electric guitar string. For over 50 years, Ernie Ball Slinky electric guitar strings have been the favourite of musicians across the globe. Or try out the newest addition to the family, Zippy Slinky electric guitar strings, the lightest gauge combination offered by Ernie Ball. 

This combination is perfect for players looking for a snappy set of strings with extra zing that are easy to bend and provide the least amount of tension. For acoustic players, try our classic Earthwood acoustic guitar strings. They are the most popular acoustic guitar strings and provide a crisp, ringing sound with pleasing overtones.

Guitar accessories

You can buy more than just guitar strings. We also manufacture all of the gear you need to get started or complete your guitar rig: guitar picks, pedals, straps, instrument care products, pegwinders, slides, and more. Once you find the strings that are right for you, we have all of the guitar accessories to keep them in top condition and more products to help you in your pursuit of the perfect sound.

If playing Ernie Ball strings isn’t enough for you, be sure to check out our apparel line that features some of our most popular products, such as the iconic Slinky guitar strings pack. You can buy hats, shirts...or even a clock rocking the classic Ernie Ball eagle.

Don’t know where to get started? Wondering how to play guitar? Visit the Forum to connect with other guitar players and learn more about how to string a guitar, tuning your guitar, perfecting your tone, how to play guitar chords and more. Players of all skill levels can find resources to help take their sound to the next level. No matter your question, you’re sure to find an answer in the forums.

• Ernie Ball

60 years ago, guitar teacher Ernie Ball pioneered his light-gauge electric guitar strings.

Named Slinky, these sets have been used by countless guitarists, including some of the world's best-known players such as Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, Paul McCartney, Slash, John Petrucci and Angus Young. 

Made in Coachella, CA, Ernie Ball strings are now carried in thousands of stores in the United States and overseas.

Today, Ernie Ball has announced they will be introducing triple guitar string packs.

The new format will be available across the firm’s popular ranges of electric guitar strings, including Slinky, Slinky Classic Rock N Roll, and Slinky Cobalt, as well as the Earthwood and Ernesto Palla acoustic guitar string brands.

Ernie Ball's new 3-packs will be launched in two stages.

Available now, the first rollout phase comprises 15 sets as follows:

Slinky Nickel Wound

• Extra
• Primo
• Not Even
• Beefy
• Ultra
• Burly
• Mighty
• Mega
• Turbo

Slinky Classic Rock N Roll

• Regular
• Super

Acoustic

• Earthwood Medium Light Phosphor Bronze
• Earthwood Light Phosphor Bronze
• Earthwood Extra Light 80/20 Bronze
• Ernesto Palla Black and Gold Ball End Nylon

The second rollout phase begins 13th September when Ernie Ball is due to release 3-packs in a further 11 different Earthwood sets.

Triple sets of the Power, Extra and Hybrid Slinky Classic Rock N Roll strings will then also become available, as will a Super Slinky Cobalt 3-pack.

Visit the Ernie Ball website for more details.

Jazz comping is simply playing rhythmic chords or melodies to support other musicians. But it can be just as enjoyable to learn to play alone, and this video example by Elixir® Strings player Marc Seal is a great way to get started.

Rhythm is the most important element of playing that you can learn, and provides the foundation for everything else. Rhythmic comping provides the support for other musicians to solo over, and in turn their comping can do the same for your soloing. But regardless of its role in a band, Marc's piece is a great way to work on your solo rhythm chops. 

Marc is using his Taylor acoustic guitar for this video, fitted with his preference of Elixir NANOWEB® Coated Phosphor Bronze acoustic guitar strings in 13-56 medium gauge. 

For his electric guitars Marc chooses Elixir OPTIWEB® Coated 10-46 Light gauge.

"Elixir® Strings always sound stellar and really last!" says Marc. "Because of the coating, they always feel like a new set of strings to me. Honestly, I love them!”

Elixir has also made the comping piece Marc Seal plays available as downloadable tab for players to learn here. 

For more information on the the company's full range of strings, visit Elixir® Strings and keep up to date with the latest news via Instagram and Facebook.

Starting slow is the best way to build up your speed with guitar playing, and this new riff of the day from pro musician Marc Seal and Elixir® Strings is a perfect example. It uses pull-offs to great effect and is an ideal way to build up your technique faster. 

A pull-off is when the player pulls their finger off the fret, while pulling on the string slightly with the finger as they do so and allowing the note to ring.  In the riff above Elixir® Strings artist Marc Seal demonstrates how using pull-offs in succession for a riff can create fast and fluid melodic guitar lines. 

After illustrating the riff played at full speed, Marc then breaks it down with half speed to allow you to follow. Download the tab for the riff here. 

Marc uses Elixir OPTIWEB® Coated 10-46 Light gauge electric guitar strings and NANOWEB® Coated Phosphor Bronze acoustic guitar strings in 12-53 Light gauge. 

"Elixir® Strings always sound stellar and really last!" says Marc. "Because of the coating, they always feel like a new set of strings to me. Honestly, I love them!”

For more information on the full acoustic string range, along with electric and bass options, visit Elixir® Strings and stay up to date on Instagram and Facebook.

When making the choice of the best Elixir® Strings to buy for your acoustic guitar, a common question is what difference there is between the company's Phosphor Bronze and 80/20 Bronze coated string sets. And the best way to find out is hear it for yourself. 

In this video, award-winning guitarist Michael Watts plays both sets in a series of musical examples to find out what effect the two Elixir® String compositions have on the sound and playability of an acoustic guitar. 

Michael goes in-depth to compare a set of NANOWEB® Coated Phosphor Bronze and NANOWEB® Coated 80/20 Bronze Elixir® strings in 12-53 Light gauge, using playing examples with fingerstyle and guitar picks.

"It's no exaggeration to say that these 80/20 Bronze strings were a real gamechanger when they hit the market," says Michael after trying the first set. "Suddenly guitarists were able to do a whole studio session and a gig that night with the same set of strings. 

"The 80/20 Bronze sets have this beautiful full bass response that I really enjoy," he adds. "They've got this shimmer in the top end. It is, admittedly, a slightly scooped sound and if you're looking for something that has a more flat, fundamental character across the range, well that's where the Phosphor Bronze strings come in."

As Michael then demonstrates with his typically sublime playing, Phosphor Bronze Elixir® Strings with NANOWEB® Coating offer a different character in comparison. 

"There's a richness, warmth and balance to Phosphor Bronze strings and I tend to use them in situations like jazz sessions, supporting vocals; anywhere you need that hi-fi sound."

For more information on the full acoustic string range, along with electric and bass options, visit Elixir® Strings and stay up to date on Instagram and Facebook.   

We all want our guitar strings to stay sounding great for longer, but how? British brand Rotosound can help and it's not just about the type of strings they offer, but how they're looked after too. 

Here's four tips for longer-lasting guitar strings with Rotosound…  

1. Check your string contact points

It's vital that your guitar strings can vibrate and resonate as freely as possible when they come into contact with your guitar's saddles, nut slots, string trees and tuning post holes. 

If these points have any sharp edges or dirt they can cause string breakage so check them regularly - ideally when you're changing strings – and try to keep them clean. 

2. Keep your strings clean 

As clean as we might think our hands are day-to-day, dirt and grime finding their way onto your guitar strings is an inevitability. This can make strings sound dull and accelerate their corrosion. But you can help to keep this at bay. 

Wiping down your strings with a clean, dry cloth and using string cleaner after playing will prevent the build-up of dirt and grime. Rotosound SC2 String Cleaner conditions the strings as well as cleaning them, leaving them feeling smooth and lubricated.

3. Use coated strings  

Using coated strings on your guitar is another great way to protect them from grime and moisture. Coated strings use a very thin layer of protective coating over the corrodible metal of the string, helping to prolong their life and keep them sounding good for longer. 

Rotosound Nexus Acoustic and Nexus Bass strings feature a silky smooth polymer coating to help retain clarity for an extended life and reduce unwanted finger noise.  Each string is pre-coated before winding to provide a more natural feel too. 

As an added protection against the unwanted effects of moisture, all Rotosound string packaging is specially designed to keep your strings in new condition for years before use.  

4. Use long-life alloy strings

Consider the type of material used for guitar strings you buy as it can have a huge effect on their response as well as lifespan. 

Rotosound's Ultramag Guitar and Ultramag Bass strings are made with type 52 alloy; a highly magnetic material made from 52% nickel and 48% iron. This combination of metals offers significant advantages for players. Ultramag strings offer more power, sustain, and a longer string life than traditional nickel or steel guitar strings.

5. Change your plain guitar strings more often than the wound strings

You might be used to changing all your strings at the same time, but that's not always necessary. Your plain (thinner) strings can actually corrode faster than the wound strings.

This is because plain guitar strings are almost exclusively made from tin-coated steel. The tin coating will wear away when played over a period of time and allow the string to corrode a lot quicker than the wound strings. 

The simple and inexpensive solution is to replace the plain strings more often than the wound strings. Helpfully, Rotosound sells all of its strings individually, so you can purchase single plain strings as needed. And like Rotosound full sets, they are sealed in airtight, corrosion-resistant packaging.

To find out more about the range of strings and products, head to Rotosound.

The Guitarwrist has teamed up with Gibson’s charitable wing up for a line of sustainable jewellery made from upcycled guitar strings.

Exclusively available via The Guitarwrist, the Gibson Gives Collection might just be the answer to the age-old question: What do you get the guitar fanatic who has got everything?

Well, they could have a bracelet, ring, necklace or earrings made out of old guitar strings salvaged from premium stock of acoustic and electric guitars that populate Gibson’s London showroom. 

This is what The Guitarwrist does. It takes used guitar strings from some of the world’s most-famous guitar players and turns them into sustainable jewellery. And best of all, it is all for charity.  

In this instance, 100 per cent of the proceeds going to Gibson Gives, whose mission is “to create, develop, and support non-profit organisations in their efforts to advance musicians, youth-focused education, music, and health and wellness initiatives across the globe.”

All of the pieces in the Guitarwrist x Gibson collaboration are handmade, incorporate a Gibson logo in the design, and arrive as the fancy Custom Shop instruments typically do in a brown hard-shell case inlaid with pink fur.

The Guitarwrist was established in 2017 by UK music executive Ian Rendall and collaborates with artists to support charities of their choice – and to support sustainability in the music industry. An estimated 700,000 kg of used guitar strings goes into landfill each year.

Halestorm frontwoman and guitarist Lzzy Hale has a signature collection to support Warchild’s efforts to help children in Ukraine. Joanne Shaw Taylor’s stage-played electric guitar strings have been turned into a collection to raise money for Target Ovarian Cancer. Feeder’s Grant Nicholas and Tommy Gleeson have donated their strings in aid of MacMillan Cancer Support. 

To date, over The Guitarwrist has raised over £100,000 for 50-plus charities, and counts over 275 artists as partners. For more details, head over to The Guitarwrist. 

• Interview: Gibson's Cesar Gueikian on the past, present and future of the guitar giant: "We care about the quality, we care about the legacy that we will leave behind"

Although it’s true that bass strings last longer than standard guitar strings, I believe it’s important for the upkeep of your bass to regularly fit it with a fresh set. Not only do regular string changes help keep your bass healthy, but new strings can breathe fresh life into your tone, too.

But, I hear you ask, what are the best bass strings for you? After all, bass guitars come in a wide variety - long scale, short scale, fretless, acoustic, you name it - and the musicians who play these instruments are just as diverse, with styles ranging from acoustic folk to extreme metal

However, don’t panic, as I’ve compiled a handy list of the best bass guitar string sets currently available, that myself and my MusicRadar colleagues have personally played. My guide takes into account the different tones that players are after, alongside considerations for playability, longevity and budget. The right choice will help shape the tone that you’re going for and will be comfortable for you to play.

So, whether you’re a fresh-faced beginner looking to perform your first restring or an experienced bass journeyman looking to inject some inspiration into your playing, there will be something on my list to suit you. With something like choosing strings, it can be easy to just pick the cheapest or most convenient option, but by doing just a bit of research, you’ll find a set that will complement your sound and playing style.

Right now our top recommendation for most modern styles is the Ernie Ball Regular Slinky. They’re affordable and fit perfectly for most pro and rock players. If budget is your biggest concern, Fender’s 7250M Roundwound are our current top pick.

Best modern

Ernie Ball’s Regular Slinky Nickel Bass are a classic set of strings, used by countless pros the world over. You might say they’re something of an industry standard. Renowned for their contemporary sound with growling lows and a bright top end, these Slinkys are best suited to modern rock, pop and metal, rather than warmer vintage tones. I've found they lend themselves well to slap, too.

If you’ve never restrung your bass guitar before, this set of Ernie Balls is a solid starting point; bright, but not overly so, they’re a great low to mid-price string and a benchmark to assess other strings by. In my opinion, these are a decent buy!

Best beginner

In my opinion there’s really very little to dislike about the Fender 7250M bass guitar strings. As budget options, I think these Fender strings feel great, last a respectable amount of time and settle into a ‘sweet spot’ after a few days. Initially I found them to be quite bright and trebly, but the 7250Ms settled down after a few plays and started to sound a lot more rounded.

I have no complaints about the overall feel or playability of these Fender strings and the small price certainly doesn’t reflect the build quality. The 7250M’s will suit most modern music but will particularly feel right at home playing rock or pop, though vintage tone aficionados may want to skip past and find something a little mellower.

Best flatwound

Rotosound’s Jazz Bass 77 strings have been used by the likes of Phil Lynott, Roger Waters, John Deacon, Glen Matlock, Sting and Dee Murray (Elton John), amongst many others. This esteemed selection of players alone should give you some idea of the kind of sounds you can dial in with a set of Rotosound’s classic bass strings.

Brighter and deeper than the traditionally warm sound of flatwounds, it's clear to me that the Roto 77s clearly have a sweet spot for ‘70s rock. But there’s enough juice at the frequency extremes for contemporary blues-rock and modern jazz too. A great balance of flatwound warmth with a nod to the more up-to-date styles.

Best all-rounder

Designed as an all-round bass string with a balanced tone suitable for all styles, the NYXLs are competing in the fiercely fought mid-price market – but, crucially, at a higher price than the perennial Ernie Ball Slinkys.

Well, in my opinion, the D’ads may be just the job if you find Slinkys on the bright side – I found this set to be warmer from the get-go, without too much new string ‘zing’, but with plenty of midrange clarity and harmonic richness. Fairly smooth to the touch, I found finger noise to be fairly low too.

This generally balanced tone makes the NYXLs ideal for the five- or six-string bass player too, where players will be exploring the extended range.

Best flatwound

For acoustic and upright style sounds from a regular electric bass you just can’t beat a set of tapewounds – and these Rotosounds are the real deal. Check out their signature tones on The Beatles’ Abbey Road/ (Paul McCartney), The Jam’s All Mod Cons (Bruce Foxton), David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs and Lou Reed’s Transformer (Herbie Flowers on both).

The Tru Bass 88’s metal core is wrapped in a flatwound nylon winding, which to my ear offers a deep warm tone with a buttery smooth feel, plus increased dynamic range and touch sensitivity that metal strings simply can’t match. I wouldn’t describe these as a versatile string but if it’s an acoustic vibe you’re after, it just has to be a set of tapewounds.

Best coated

Coated strings keep that bright, ’fresh string’ sound for longer and mean you don’t have to replace them as often, so straight away, the D’Addario XTs have you covered if you’re after long-lasting bass strings. Some players are put off by the feel of coated strings. However, D’Addario has managed to pack in all the pros of coated strings whilst retaining most of the feel of uncoated strings. And this was my experience when testing them.

These nickel-plated steel bass strings provide a good balance of warmth and brightness, making them a great all-round string. For players that want to cover a lot of ground musically, or that play in multiple bands, then the D’Addario XTs are ideal. They sound new for longer, they’re resilient and they feel more like an uncoated string - what’s not to love?

Best clarity

Ernie Ball caused quite a stir when they released their Slinky Cobalts a few years ago. So do they live up to the hype? Well yes, by and large. If you want a high output string with deep lows and crystal clear highs with a slight scoop in the midrange, then the Cobalts are a great option. Prog and metal, funk and slap are all on the cards, but think contemporary rather than classic. I've found no vintage warmth here.

In my opinion, the Cobalts play well too. The iron/cobalt alloy feels smoother and, er, slinkier than anything short of a set of flatwounds, making for great progress across the fretboard. However, you do pay quite a price for Ernie Ball’s technological innovation – these are among the most expensive strings in our guide.

Best drop tuning

DR claim their DDT (Drop Down Tuning) strings maintain intonation and offer more natural string tension in drop tunings. Traditionally, you’d bung on a set of heavy gauge strings to drop tune, which, throwing up potential setup issues, isn’t always practical.

The idea here is that you don’t have to – a single set of DDT’s can handle a broad range of tunings, feeling neither too tight in standard or too floppy when drop-tuned.

Best acoustic

Highly respected for their range of coated strings for standard six-string acoustic guitar, Elixir have brought their knowhow to acoustic bass.

I found there to be a crisp, lively tone from the 80/20 (copper/zinc) bronze strings – a tone that’ll be familiar to users of the company’s standard guitar sets.

Elixir’s ultra-thin coating protects the string, preventing grime accumulating between the windings – that means long life and lasting tone. Probably for the best when you’re looking at nearly 40 bucks a set!

Some might say these are over-bright, but I’d argue that’s a matter of taste.

Best short scale

There has been a recent surge in the popularity of short-scale bass guitars, largely driven by models like the Squier and Fender Mustang, as well as the Ibanez Talman. The comfort and playability of these instruments have made them favourites among modern players and beginners alike. But what are the best strings for 30- and 32-inch basses?

In my opinion, it’s the GHS Bass Boomers short-scale strings. Available in two gauges, 45-95 and 50-107, they offer both slightly lighter and heavier options. Both sets feel thicker than standard strings, which helps short-scale bass guitars deliver a much bigger sound than expected.

Tonally, the GHS Bass Boomers lean towards the brighter side, with a noticeable boost in the low-mid frequencies. Offering plenty of punch while remaining articulate, GHS has done a stellar job of bringing out the best in short-scale basses like the Mustang. These strings are highly versatile, making them a great choice for bassists who play across a range of genres.

FAQs

When looking for the best bass strings for you, there are a few things to consider. We’d argue that the most important factors are sound and playability. The material that the string is made from plays the biggest part in what they sound like. Different brands will have their own alloys made up of different ratios etc, but generally, the best bass strings tend to have a steel core with windings on the outside made from either stainless steel, or nickel plated steel.

Do I need roundwound or flatwound bass strings?

Another decision to make in the search for the best bass strings is whether to go for roundwound, flatwound or tapewound – all impart their own characteristics on the sound and feel.

Roundwound - Roundwound bass strings usually sound more balanced – you get plenty of low end, some mids, but they can still be nice and bright. It depends on your personal preference, and there really is no right and wrong option, but rock, blues, pop and metal players would normally opt for roundwounds. You’ll also be able to feel the small ridges between the winds on the strings.

Flatwound - Flatwounds are mellower sounding, with less top end. You normally get a nice, warm, fat low end with some punchy lower mid-thump too. Jazz, R&B and soul players might opt for flatwounds to sit in the mix a little better. As their name suggests, they’re much flatter and smoother under the fingers, allowing you to glide between notes easily, without the string noise you’d get with roundwounds.

Tapewound - Tapewound strings tend to have a nylon coating over them, taking that mellow vintage tone one step further. If you want your electric bass to sound like an acoustic bass, tapewounds are the way to go; they are that mellow. They are incredibly smooth thanks to the nylon coating and you can achieve some fantastic glissando with tapewounds. Paul McCartney, Herbie Flowers and Graham Maby are perhaps the most popular tapewound players, if it’s good enough for them…

How to choose the right string gauge

The gauge is also important when finding the best bass strings for you. A thinner gauge might be better if you’re just starting out, as there’s physically less string to push down on. Funk bassists that slap and pop quite often go for a lighter/medium gauge too. If you’re down-tuning, then you’ll probably want to look at a heavier gauge bass string for better stability.

How we choose products

Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.

When choosing what we believe to be the best bass strings available right now, we combine our hands-on experience with a range of products, alongside user reviews and testimonies. We also engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.

First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability.

Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.

Read more:

• Best bass amps: top choice amplification for bassists
• Smaller budget? Check out the best cheap bass guitars you can buy
• Get started with the best beginner bass guitars
• Get inspired with these gifts for guitarists and bass players

Elixir® Strings is proud to be part of your music, and the video above showcases just some of the great players who trust its range of guitar and bass strings for long-lasting tone. 

From daily practice to recording sessions and live performances, Elixir® Strings offer the longest-lasting tone compared to any other string, coated or uncoated.

 Their featherweight coatings and anti-rust plating protect against tone-sapping sweat, debris and humidity while helping to keep your tuning consistent.

Select the Elixir Strings that are best for your needs; from the bright and smooth tone and feel of NANOWEB® Coated Phosphor Bronze to the warmer tonal character with a slick and fast feel of POLYWEB® Coated 80/20 Bronze  to the crisp and natural experience of OPTIWEB® Coated Electric strings.

All Elixir® Strings will help eliminate the distractions that can plague other strings, and keep you focussed on your playing.

For more information on the full electric and acoustic string range, visit Elixir® Strings and stay up to date on Instagram and Facebook.   

GEAR EXPO SUMMER 2022: Ernie Ball is the world's leading manufacturer of premium electric and acoustic guitar strings, bass strings, and guitar accessories. 

Our strings have been played on many of the best-selling albums of all time and are used by some of history’s greatest musicians including Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Slash, The Rolling Stones, Angus Young, Eagles, Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, Aerosmith, Metallica, and more.

From budding guitarists to seasoned professionals, Ernie Ball has the strings and accessories that are right for your level and sound. Ernie Ball strings are crafted in Coachella Valley, California using premium materials such as bronze, M-steel, titanium, cobalt, nickel,bronze aluminium, nylon, phosphor, stainless steel, and copper. Our guitar strings come in hundreds of combinations of gauges, materials, and set numbers.

Try the original Slinky guitar strings, the world's #1 electric guitar string. For over 50 years, Ernie Ball Slinky electric guitar strings have been the favourite of musicians across the globe. Or try out the newest addition to the family, Zippy Slinky electric guitar strings, the lightest gauge combination offered by Ernie Ball. 

This combination is perfect for players looking for a snappy set of strings with extra zing that are easy to bend and provide the least amount of tension. For acoustic players, try our classic Earthwood acoustic guitar strings. They are the most popular acoustic guitar strings and provide a crisp, ringing sound with pleasing overtones.

More than just strings

You can buy more than just guitar strings. We also manufacture all of the gear you need to get started or complete your guitar rig: guitar picks, pedals, straps, instrument care products, pegwinders, slides, and more. Once you find the strings that are right for you, we have all of the guitar accessories to keep them in top condition and more products to help you in your pursuit of the perfect sound.

If playing Ernie Ball strings isn’t enough for you, be sure to check out our apparel line that features some of our most popular products, such as the iconic Slinky guitar strings pack. You can buy hats, shirts...or even a clock rocking the classic Ernie Ball eagle.

Don’t know where to get started? Wondering how to play guitar? Visit the Forum to connect with other guitar players and learn more about how to string a guitar, tuning your guitar, perfecting your tone, how to play guitar chords and more. Players of all skill levels can find resources to help take their sound to the next level. No matter your question, you’re sure to find an answer in the forums.

Metallica frontman and undisputed champion of heavy metal rhythm guitar James Hetfield has teamed up with Ernie Ball for a limited edition signature set of electric guitar strings.

The Papa Het’s Hardwired Master Core Signature set promises enhanced pitch stability and strength from a hitherto unreleased gauge combo, and they come in a tin with custom artwork from the Metallica man himself.

Hetfield’s new strings run 11, 14, 18p, 28, 38, 50, and look to be an augmented version of Ernie Ball’s hard-waring Paradigm series. Heck, Ernie Ball even makes the description of the technology involved sound pretty darn metal: “Wound strings are wrapped with Paradigm plasma-enhanced nickel plated steel around ultra-high strength tin plated steel hex core” says the release. 

Such is the way with guitar strings, these may well prove to be disposable heroes, but all in good time. These are designed to be played hard. That’s where the Master Core comes in.

Now, this Master Core does not immediately confer knowledge of the many riffs and time changes in Metallica’s 1986 magnum opus, but instead refers to a heavier core to wrap ratio; in short, your wound strings have been working out, building strength to deal with all those pulverising downstrokes. Papa Het sounds delighted. 

“With all the companies we're with, we're super proud to be with Ernie Ball!” said Hetfield. “For them to take on the challenge of, hey I got an idea, can you do this… they have stepped up to the challenge! I'm super proud!”

Even the greatest guitar players love the feeling of a fresh set of strings. Papa Het’s Hardwired Master Core Signature String are available now via Metallica, and worldwide via the usual outlets on 10 May. They are priced $34.99. See Ernie Ball for more details.

• Video lesson: Learn to play Enter Sandman

It's always worth experimenting with new strings because you never know what you might be missing out on. After debuting for acoustic guitar, electric players can now find out if D'Addario XS coated guitar strings live up to the company's claims.

The promise of an 'uncommonly' smooth feel and the "highest level of protection for maximum life" has our fingertips tingling to try them, as anything that could offer less regular string changing without the tonal compromises is good news in our world. 

"Every guitar player loves that joy of a fresh set of strings on the guitar and the concept of the XS string is to be able to provide that for a longer time for the musician," says Chairman of the Board and Chief Innovation Officer, Jim D’Addario. "It's that tone of a fresh string staying with you for a longer time that has been our goal."

To achieve it the company focussed on making the coating extremely thin to have minimum dampening on the string's acoustic performance – a coating that's just 1/10 of the thickness of a human hair. "It wasn't easy to do but I think we've accomplished that," says Jim.

As you'll see in the video above, Alex Skolnick is one pro who has been won over by the results. And we get to hear some of his wonderful jazzy playing with them too, but we'd urge you to check out the extensive testing process D'Addario put these strings through in the video too – suggesting its again put the R&D work in to confidently back up its claims. 

D'Addario XS Electric guitar strings are available in gauges 9-42, 9-46, 10-46,10-52 and 11-49. More info at daddario.com

The Chris Woods Groove Orchestra are just some of the talented musicians who rely on Elixir® Strings wherever their playing takes them. And they choose Elixir® for compelling reasons.

Heat, humidity, sweat and sea breeze quickly reduce the performance and tone life of ordinary guitar strings. With Elixir® Strings, the unique featherweight coating protects your strings from the elements and keeps corrosion away. 

Select the Elixir® String coatings that are best for your needs; from the bright and smooth tone and feel of NANOWEB® to POLYWEB® coating's warmer tonal character with a slick and fast feel, or the crisp and natural experience of OPTIWEB®

Whichever set you choose for your instrument, Elixir® Strings allow you to play whenever and wherever you want. For a long, long time.

For more information on the electric and acoustic string range, visit Elixir® Strings.

Spitfire Audio Abbey Road Two: Iconic Strings Professional: What is it?

Enter into discussion with anyone with an interest in studio history, and the mention of Abbey Road probably won’t take long to arise. The recording studio’s iconic status was sealed many years ago, thanks to a certain band-of-four from Liverpool, but despite the long-time association with the Beatles, as well as an enormous wealth of musical talent from many other musical circles, Abbey Road has also always been associated with film and media scoring. 

And while many fine scores, such as Star Wars, were recorded next door in Studio One, the smaller surrounding of Studio Two provides the latest home for Spitfire’s newest string library.

While the ethos for this library feels more intimate, Studio Two is still quite a large space, and more than capable of housing a small orchestra. Today, though, we’re talking about a string quintet; think of a string quartet of two violins, viola and cello, but add a double bass! This welcome extension deepens the bottom end register nicely.

Iconic Strings Professional operates within Spitfire’s very own player; it adopts a view that we’ve seen before, but with an altered colour and branding to reflect the library. Most seem to agree that the player continues to look inviting, but it does still feel like a lot of space is wasted. You can adapt the plugin’s visual construct, to make the space work for you, and even resize the window, but there’s still a sense that it occupies more screen estate than necessary. 

Operationally, sample patch selection happens from the very top of the window, but it does highlight what feels like an incredibly slow sample loading time. In our tests, we found that even smaller patches of around 500mb could take up to 15 seconds to load, and that’s from a USB-C connected SSD, which normally exhibits loading times of at most half that time, and the Spitfire Player does not support multitimbral operation, arguably extending the loading process further, with multiple deployments.

It’s likely that many of these minor gripes will be cleared up with future updates, but it does serve as a slight distraction when you really want to be thinking more about the sound.

Spitfire Audio Abbey Road Two: Iconic Strings Professional: Performance and verdict

As usual, Spitfire has gone to great lengths to cater for most eventualities; the articulation count is pretty large, with individual instruments offering long, short and legato patch examples. The longer sustained articulations include regular long notes, sul pont, sul tasto, harmonics, trills and tremolos. 

Each of these include realtime control of release time, reverberation, tightness and in many cases, vibrato. These elements run alongside the more usual timbral and expressive dynamic control. Articulations are also open to key-switching, and offer a variety of mix and mic options.

It’s possible to mix and match various mic signals, blending them with room ambience or specific mic colours, such as ribbons. Worth remembering that every time you activate another signal into the resultant chain, you’ll be adding a fresh set of samples, so to assist with RAM allocation and the loading times, Spitfire has prepared some beautiful stereo mixes. 

Two of these can be considered more contemporary and tight, while two vintage mixes use some of the tricks of the Abbey Road trade. These include the use of the REDD mixing desk, vintage compression and the use of the legendary J37 tape machine. There’s plenty of choice, with the mixes providing a great start if you just want to get writing.

Three legato articulation elements are also catered for, but within their own patch, which, given the lack of multi-timbral operation, will require the loading of another instance of the plugin, should you wish to swap from the previously mentioned samples. The legato patches are described as Performance, Slurred and Portamento. They cater for everything from slower, meandering movements, all the way up to full-on runs, and they do so pretty well. 

Bizarrely, there is no independent vibrato control while in legato mode, leaving any emotive element of oscillating expression up to the player. It’s a shame because, in this setting, the purity of the non-vibrato sound can be truly beguiling, but there is nothing to stop the use of the longer patches, without vibrato, albeit without the true legato option.

The available shorter patches include the usual spiccato, staccato and pizzicato articulations, which also offer up to six round robins, in each instance. These can sometimes feel so exacting that they don’t always sound like new samples, which is testimony to the player's consistency, although it can sometimes result in a less believable result.

Plain Iconic or pure Professional?

The folks at Spitfire are a decent bunch! Any orchestral library worth its stripes, is likely to attract a price tag that may make it feel expensive, but the cost to us as the end-users could be deemed as a bargain; the hire of five of the finest string players in the country, not to mention the hire of the engineers and the studio at Abbey Road, for this amount of money, feels like a fair price indeed. 

However, you either have the money, or you don’t, and if there’s one thing Spitfire try to do, it’s encouraging composers and producers, making its products as affordable as possible. Its Labs series is a fine example; an expanding library of free samples, all of which offer something, in their own way. The Soft Piano, previously known as Felt Piano, is an example of a freebie that has entered the pro arena, and still remains a favourite.

Accordingly, you don’t have to plump for the full Professional version of Iconic Strings, as there is a regular version below, coming in at £249. Furthermore, if you have previously purchased the cost-effective Originals: Intimate Strings, Spitfire will offer you 25% off the full price of Iconic Strings. If you’re a student, you’ll get a discount across all of their libraries. Something for everyone, at just about every price point.

Final summing!

Spitfire’s organisation of patches allows for a degree of versatility, from the division of Long, Short and Legato articulations, to its often seen All-In-One patch, which provides a one-stop-shop for the most used articulations. There are omissions here, so you may need to defer to the individual patch configurations. 

There is also the inclusion of a very welcome Ensemble patch, which provides the full frequency range of the included instrumentation. Furthermore, Spitfire has included a useful Multi-voice feature, which allows for user-control of the crossfading between each instrument’s register, within the ensemble domain. Thanks to the generous mic capacity and placement, there’s a lot of control available, with sound generation from über clean to vintage.

You can’t argue with the amount on offer, albeit with limitations in certain areas. The Vintage Abbey Road signal path used in this library endorses its Iconic status, but the clean signal paths are equally stylish and sharp, and incredibly useable. There’s something for everyone, making it ideal for many forms of general music production and media work.

MusicRadar verdict: Feature-laden package, catering for all stringed instruments, providing unique Abbey Road character and clean signals.

Spitfire Audio Abbey Road Two: Iconic Strings Professional: The web says

"Abbey Road Two Iconic Strings is a library unlike any I’ve heard before; it feels real and alive and sounds organic, clean, and detailed. This library is simply fantastic!"
Sample Library Review

Spitfire Audio Abbey Road Two: Iconic Strings Professional: Hands-on demos

Spitfire Audio

Sample Library Review

Guy Michelmore

Spitfire Audio Abbey Road Two: Iconic Strings Professional: Specifications

• 46GB download size. 
• 46GB disk space required during install. 
• Mac OS X 10.10 to OS X 11. Minimum: 2.8GHz i5 minimum (quad-core), 8GB RAM. Recommended: 2.8GHz i7 (six-core), 16GB RAM. M1 Apple computers are supported and 64-bit DAW required. — To use the multi-voice arranger. Minimum: Intel Core i7 (or Xeon from mid 2015 models or newer). 
• Windows 7, Windows 8, or Windows 10 (latest Service Pack, 64-bit). Minimum: Intel Core 2.8GHz i5 (quad-core) or AMD Ryzen 5, 8GB RAM. Recommended: Intel 2.8GHz i7 (six-core) or AMD R7 2700, 16GB RAM. — To use the multi-voice arranger. Minimum: Intel Core i7 7th gen and later or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X. 
• CONTACT: Spitfire Audio

Your acoustic strings matter; the gauge and materials used to make them can have a huge affect on your tone. So choosing the right set for your guitar, playing style and tuning needs will pay dividends in enhancing your sound. But how do you make the right choice?

Renowned UK company Rotosound makes its own electric and acoustic guitar strings in England and offers a comprehensive range that allows you to make the best choice for your tone. Rotosound’s range of acoustic guitar strings helps you to get more from your guitar. 

Before choosing the type of acoustic guitar string to fit you’ll need to consider what string gauge to try; this is the relative thickness of the strings. 

Rotosound offers a wide choice of gauges across its acoustic guitar string ranges including Super Light 9-48, Extra Light 10-50, Light 11-52, Medium Light 12-54, Medium 13-56 and three gauge choices for 12-string sets. 

As a general rule, heavier gauge strings will offer a louder acoustic sound due to a higher tension and will allow you to tune your guitar down without your strings becoming too slack and negatively affecting your tuning stability.

Lighter gauge strings will have less tension on standard scale guitars and make bending easier. Shorter scale guitars, such as travel guitars, tend to benefit from heavier gauge strings to compensate for their smaller size. 

It’s important to consider the type of acoustic string you want for your guitar too; Rotosound offers four distinct types that each offer specific advantages for your playing and tone.

Jumbo King 

• This is Rotosound’s all-rounder and most popular acoustic guitar string

• The cover/wrap wire of Jumbo King strings is made from phosphor bronze, an 92/8 bronze alloy (92% copper, 8% tin) to offer a well-balanced tone that’s great for general acoustic playing in a wide range of styles.

• Available in Super Light 9-48, Extra Light 10-50, Light 11-52, Medium Light 12-54, Medium 13-56 and Super Light, Extra Light and Light 12-string sets. 

Tru Bronze

• These are Rotosound’s strings with a mid-scooped character to create a ‘hi-fi’ tone that accentuates the lows and highs of your guitar.

• The cover wire is made with 80/20 bronze (80% copper, 20% zinc) for clarity and resonance.

• Available in Extra Light, Light and Medium Light.

Nexus Acoustic

• These are Rotosound’s longest-lasting acoustic guitar strings thanks to a cover wire made from polymer-coated phosphor bronze; the result is a mellower sound that lasts four times longer on average.

• The company has created a more natural feel for a coated string compared to competitors by precoating each string before winding which provides a more natural feel over competitors' coated sets and reduced finger noise.

• Available in Extra Light, Light and Medium Light sets.

Super Bronze

• A  unique design from Rotosound and pioneered in 1974 where only the string core touches the saddle to offer a tonal character that sparkles but also sings with sustain.

• The cover wire is made with 92/8 phosphor bronze windings for a brighter tone. 

• Available in Extra Light, Light and Medium gauge sets. 

To find out more about the range, head to Rotosound.

Cort has added three shreddable new electric guitars to its KX series, with a pair of multi-scale 7-string guitars joining a generously spec’d KX700 EverTune.

The release comes hot on the heels of newly upgraded G290 FAT II and X300 models featuring flip-flop polychromatic finishes, with Cort again promising more is to come. 

The new KX700 is the first Cort electric to be fitted with an EverTune bridge, but that’s not where the updates end. The arch-top solidbody has a new top contour that Cort says will enhance comfort, an open-pore finish, and a set of Seymour Duncan Sentient and Nazgul humbuckers.

Altogether, the KX700 EverTune is a premium instrument, comprising a solid mahogany body with an ash top. You can see all the top’s grain under the open-pore finish. It has bolt-on construction with a five-piece maple and walnut neck topped with an ebony fingerboard and 24 wide-and-tall stainless steel frets

The Seymour Duncan humbucker pairing should give your riffs a certain je ne sais quoi, and are sure to make this a formidable metal guitar – just add high-gain guitar amp for maximum chug. The pickups are controlled by a volume and tone pots, and a three-way toggle switch that’s mounted on the lower bout.

Other player-friendly features include a Hotrod spoke nut truss rods for making easy tweaks to neck relief, while Luminlay glow-in-the-dark side dot markers will help you navigate the super-flat 15.75” radius fingerboard in low light situations.

Assisting the EverTune bridge in its efforts to keep this KX700 in perfect tuning, we have a set of staggered locking tuners on the headstock – a headstock that like all these new 2022 electrics features Cort’s snazzy next-gen logo.

Now, to the multi-scale 7-string electrics. This is something of a specialty of Cort’s. We have played and rated Cort's KX500MS for its fair price and high performance, and while the pricing has yet to be released, this new KX307 promises to do something similar at an even more accessible price point.

The KX307MS models come in a choice of Open Pore Mahogany and Open Pore Black, with both instruments’ signature scale lengths measuring 25.5” on the 1st string and 27” on the seventh, with the neutral fret – the one that is non-fanned and parallel as on a regular scale guitar – located at the 8th fret. 

The whole point of the design is to keep the low-end tight and solid for extended-range riffing, while treble strings retain a similar feel to a regular guitar and allow for speedy leads and big ol’ string bends. 

Both KX307MS models have solid mahogany bodies, bolt-on roasted maple necks, roasted maple 15.75” radius fingerboards, and 24 jumbo frets. And their Power Bar pickups offer a passive high-output performance that’s voiced for extended-range instruments. 

Like the KX700 EverTune, the control circuit comprises volume and tone pots, and a three-way toggle, with the KX307MS models kitted out with an individual hardtail bridge as seen on other Cort multi-scale electrics. It’s a neat design to aid intonation and tone, in which each saddle is effectively a bridge unto itself. Again, we’ve got the Hotrod truss rod spoke nut, which is always good to see.

Prices are TBC. For more details, head over to Cort.

BEST OF 2021: Getting your getting in tune, staying in tune and intonating well is the vital first step to a good playing and tone experience. There's a number of factors involved – including how you fit the guitar strings, and taking care of the  bridge and nut on your electric guitar. Here's 10 simple tips to make your life easier with tuning, strings and more. 

1. Reduce nut friction

If you’re finding that a string suffers from erratic or unstable tuning, it might well be because the string is catching in your guitar’s nut. Sometimes this can necessitate the nut being filed, or even replaced, but before you get extreme, try lubricating your nut slots. 

You can buy bespoke nut lubricants to do this of course, but a quicker, easier method is to use a pencil in the nut slot of the problem string – the graphite in the pencil lead should smooth up the travel of the strings on the nut and improve your tuning stability.

2. Change Strings Faster

It’s a myth that removing all the strings at once damages the guitar's neck, but unless you’re oiling the fretboard or cleaning frets, loosening and snipping off all the strings at once is not the best for speed.

The more time the strings are off the guitar, the more chances there are for the neck to lose tension through movement, taking longer for it to stabilise again. Instead, restring one by one – it’s quicker, and you’ll need less time to retune.

3. Improve tuning stability

Did you know that having too much string on your tuners can cause tuning stability issues, and so can having too little? To reduce the risk of the string slipping when brought up to pitch, aim to have between two to four turns of string on each tuner post, with fewer on the wound strings.

4. Speed up Floyd Rose restringing 

Restringing a Floyd Rose vibrato is one of the most fiddly jobs a guitarist can do, and while some faffing is unavoidable, there is one annoying job you can spare yourself if you’re in a rush. Instead of cutting the ball-ends off your strings to feed them into the vibrato, simply feed the strings backwards so that the ball-end is up at the tuners. This may look ugly, but it saves time and hassle!

5. Intonate yourself 

Having your intonation right is vital – without it chords and riffs at the dusty end will just sound bad! Thankfully, it’s a simple enough to do yourself, provided your electric has adjustable saddles. 

Get your guitar and a guitar tuner, then play a harmonic at the 12th fret. Compare the harmonic’s pitch to the note produced when you fret it normally – if it’s sharper, move the saddle backwards slightly, if it’s flatter, move it forwards (remember FFF: fret, flat, forward). Repeat for the other strings and you’ll be intonated perfectly!

6. Snip your strings without clippers 

Okay, you’ve restrung your guitar but there are no clippers to be found. All is not lost - you can clip your strings with nothing more than your hand and some elbow grease. Firstly, take your loose bit of string and bend it against the machinehead so that it bends sharply against the string hole. Then bend the it back and do the same the opposite way. 

Repeat this a few times until the string snaps, and repeat. This is much easier with the higher strings, wound ones can take some elbow grease, but it will work – it also clips them right at the tuner, meaning no more sharp ends to potentially stab you!

7. Make strings last longer 

To a greater or lesser degree, we all sweat from our hands when we play guitar, and over time if left untouched, this will corrode your strings into a dull, lifeless mess. So, whenever you finish playing, take a dry cloth and rub down your strings to get rid of any moisture, and notice how your strings now stay bright and zingy for longer. 

If you want to be extra conscientious, try washing your hands before you play, too!

8. Get new strings in tune quicker 

How often have you restrung a guitar only to find that the damn thing won’t stay in tune properly? Well, grasshopper, that’s because strings need to stretch and settle for a bit. Annoying, but good news – you can speed the process up yourself easily!

Starting with the low E string, simply grip the string about half way along its length, and pull it up off the fretboard – not too much, it’s not a bow and arrow, just until you feel it get taught – release, and repeat!

Do this a few times on all your strings, and you’ll find your tuning much more stable.

9. Set pickup heights 

To get the best out of your guitar, the pickups need to be set at the right height – the closer they are to the strings, the louder they’ll be, but that’s not what it’s all about. Humbuckers are the simplest – fret the top and bottom E strings at the final fret and using a ruler, adjust the humbucker’s side screws until treble and bass sides both sit evenly 2.5mm beneath the fretted strings. 

Single-coils are more complicated – Strats should be adjusted to sit with the treble side slightly higher than the bass for a good tonal balance.

Fret the two outer strings at the final fret, then adjust the pickups so the polepiece tops sit 2.5mm and 3.5mm from the treble and bass E strings respectively. One thing to watch out for with single-coils is wolf notes – these occur when the pickup’s magnetic field is too close to the string’s field of movement, preventing it from vibrating naturally. If you hear these, back off!

10. Trim strings perfectly 

Knowing how many winds you need is all well and good, but how do you do it right? Well, if you have a Fender-style six-in-a-line headstock you trim your strings to the right length before you even start winding and still get the right number of turns. It simple really – as you fit each string on the headstock, simply measure your excess to the length of the next string’s tuning post and then clip the rest off before winding it on. 

Of course, this trick won’t work with a three-a-side ’stocks…

Learn more: How to set up your guitar: a DIY guide

Put the words ‘Abbey Road’ and ‘strings’ together and all kinds of sonic images come to mind. Think The Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby, or all those classic movie scores that were recorded at the grand old studios.

Now Spitfire Audio is attempting to bottle this magic with Abbey Road Two: Iconic Strings, a new instrument that features recordings of five world-class players doing their thing.

Studio Two, of course, is legendary, and to ensure that its sound was accurately captured, Spitfire called in Grammy-Award-winning engineer Sam Okell to create both Vintage and Modern mixes.

The Vintage mixes are designed to recreate what you might think of as the ‘classic’ Studio Two sound, and were recorded using the vintage REDD desk and parallel compression from the EMI/Abbey Road RS124, passed through the much-loved J37 tape machine.

There are also features that are designed to ease the process of creating convincing string sections. The Arranger, for example, enables you to control the instrument ranges within the string band, and there’s an all-new ‘legatos’ programming feature.

Abbey Road Two: Iconic Strings is available in two formats: Core and Professional. The former gives you one vintage and one modern mix, while the latter provides two of each, plus eight mic positioning options so you can customise your sound still further. There are more articulations and legato techniques here, too. Both versions also give you access to the Studio Two Echo Chamber.

Find out more on the Spitfire Audio website. Abbey Road Two: Iconic Strings is available now priced at $229/£199/€229 (Core) and $399/£349/€399 (Pro). This is an introductory offer, with prices set to rise to $299/£249/€299 (Core) and $499/£449/€499 (Pro) in January. 

Newton Faulkner's new album Interference (Of Light) is another testament to one of the UK's greatest roots musicians; an acoustic and electric guitarist who continues to refine and explore his songcraft and playing on his seventh studio record. And Elixir® Strings are still very much part of his evolving musical world.

The clip above features Newton's beautifully roadworn Benjamin acoustic, one of a number built by UK luthier Nick Benjamin that the guitarist uses. Like all his acoustics, they're fitted with Elixir® Acoustic Phosphor Bronze strings with NANOWEB® Coating. "I give them a hard life and they still sound great,” says the musician. 

For more information visit Elixir® Strings . Newton Faulkner tours the UK in September, October and November. 

We all know that Elixir Strings are some of the most well-made, dependable and durable strings out there. But they’re also incredibly versatile and wide-ranging.

Just ask modern guitar phenom Sarah Longfield, who put together this demo video showing off her “two favorite types” of Elixir Strings. And they’re very different strings, indeed.

First up is the Phosphor Bronze NANOWEB 10-47 Extra Light set, which she uses on her acoustic guitars.

The NANOWEB is the only coated string to protect the entire string with an ultra-thin coating, keeping gunk out of the gaps between the windings. The result is extended tone life and consistent performance, with a smooth feel that’s easy on your fingers and enhances playability.

As demonstrated in the video, Sarah’s NANOWEBs offer up plenty of detail and punch, from the lowest string to the highest, whether picking, strumming or even sounding false harmonics.

On the electric side, meanwhile, Sarah goes for the eight-string OPTIWEB 10-74 Nickel-Plated Steel set, which offer the same crisp tone as an uncoated string, only with a nickel-plated steel wrap wire that protects against common corrosion and debris buildup for extended tone life.

Indeed, Sarah says, “One of my favorite things about these strings is the long tone life. Especially for acoustic guitars, with the season changes, where it can be super cold one day and super hot the next. These strings sound the same throughout all of that and I really appreciate it, so I can just pick up my guitar and get back to playing.”

What’s more, “They’re also corrosion resistant, which is great. Especially if you live somewhere where it’s really humid. I’ve played other coated strings and I thought they sounded dead out of the pack. These are not like that at all.”

Sarah’s final verdict on Elixir Strings? “You put them on and they sound great. And they continue to sound great as you play.”

For more information, head to Elixir Strings.

It's not just the big-ticket items that get their prices slashed in the Memorial Day sales - it's possible to find chunky savings on smaller items you'll use all year round too, as with this ace Musician's Friend deal, offering up to 33% off Ernie Ball strings.

Musician's Friend has slashed the price on triple-packs across the Ernie Ball range, with Power Slinky, Nickel Hybrid Slinky, Mega Slinky, Turbo Slinky and many more sets reduced from their regular multi-pack price. There's a selection of Earthwood packs discounted for acoustic players, too. Check your preferred gauge and start saving now!

• Explore more of the best electric guitar strings
• And the best acoustic guitar strings

Here are those discounts in full:

• Ernie Ball Mighty Slinky: Was $17.97, now $11.98
• Ernie Ball Turbo Slinky: Was $14.99, now $11.98
• Ernie Ball Extra Slinky: Was $14.99, now $11.98
• Ernie Ball Primo Slinky: Was $14.99, now $11.98
• Ernie Ball Ultra Slinky: Was $14.99, now $11.98
• Ernie Ball Mega Slinky: Was $14.99, now $11.98
• Ernie Ball Regular Slinky: Was $14.99, now $11.98
• Ernie Ball Power Slinky: Was $14.99, now $11.98
• Ernie Ball Super Slinky: Was $14.99, now $11.98
• Ernie Ball Nickel Hybrid Slinky: Was $14.99, now $11.98
• Ernie Ball Earthwood Extra Light: Was $14.99, now $11.98
• Ernie Ball Earthwood Medium Light: Was $14.99, now $11.98
• Ernie Ball Earthwood Light: Was $14.99, now $11.98

Ok, so strings aren't a particularly glamorous purchase, but you'll be kicking yourself the next time you break a string and don't have any spares. Stock up today and you'll never be caught short, plus you'll have a few extra dollars in your back pocket to put towards some new guitar picks or a fresh guitar cable.

And don't forget, Amazon Prime Day is on the horizon. For all the latest news and the best offers, keep your eye on our Prime Day music deals page. 

Nylon-stringed guitars are a great choice for people who want to play softer, more romantic music, such as classical or flamenco. They’re also ideal for beginners, since the strings tend to be gentler on the fingertips. Speaking of strings, you don’t have to stick with the ones your chosen guitar comes with – there are lots of varieties out there, each with its own set of benefits. To help you choose the right set for you, we’ve put together a guide to the best nylon guitar strings.

The following guide features options from all the top guitar-string manufacturers, including D’Addario, Savarez and Augustine, and also caters for a range of budgets.

Before making your choice, why not take a look at our buying advice further down the page…

• Best classical guitars: nylon-string guitars for all budgets
• Best acoustic guitar strings: get the best from your guitar 

Best nylon guitar strings: Our top picks

D’Addario’s position as a market leader in all categories of guitar-string manufacturing speaks volumes about the innovative processes the New York company has developed over the years. For price and performance, not to mention availability, its Pro-Arté range is the best in the business. The Nylon set that sits at the top of our list comprises nylon-core bass strings wrapped in silver-plated copper, along with nylon monofilament trebles – and they feel and sound fantastic.

Savarez is another globally esteemed string manufacturer, and its Alliance HT Classic High Tension 540J set offers a bright, punchy treble response that’s ideal for live performance, when you need a little more detail in the upper registers. They represent excellent value for money, too.

Best nylon guitar strings: Product guide

There’s a reason why D’Addario is such a ubiquitous presence in the guitar strings industry – it offers high-quality products at a fantastic price. Its Pro-Arté series features a number of different string options, but for warmth and clarity it’s hard to beat the Nylon set.

Wrapped in silver-plated copper, the bass strings feel good under the fingers, while the trebles are laser-machined for consistent intonation and performance. There are various different tensions in the range, too.

The fluorocarbon trebles in this mid-priced set offer an exceptionally bright tone, along with a fast attack – just the thing for presenting your music on a live stage. Some might find them a little harsh, but if you’re playing in a large venue, they’ll get their point across where pure nylon might sound a little polite.

These strings perform well in the recording studio, too, with minimal squeak as you move your hand across the fingerboard.

Played by the likes of Alexandre Bernoud and Damon Buxton, Hannabach strings are ideal for those occasions when you have to squeeze into a tux and perform under a spotlight. Its Goldin 725MHT set takes its name from the gold alloy wrap that makes the bass strings come alive under the fingers.

Bright and forthright, they’ll reward the touch of an expert player. They’re not cheap, but pros and serious amateurs playing a high-end classical guitar won’t begrudge their instrument, or their audience.

Matching Savarez’s more-malleable Corum bass strings with its Alliance fluorocarbon trebles, this set is very comfortable. Those players moving over from steel will find it especially satisfying, as the thinner gauge of the trebles will feel that bit more familiar. The set sounds great, too, with the bass strings wound to offer a level of detail you’d perhaps expect of stiffer strings.

All in all, the 500ARJs make for a well-balanced solution that would otherwise only have been possible through mixing and matching two different string sets.

Played by the likes of João Camarero and Lily Afshar, Augustine’s Regals are the true blue-bloods of the affordable classical strings market. Here you have silver-plated bass strings and plain old nylon trebles, but the performance is supreme. While nylon guitar strings have a reputation for subtlety, on the right guitar these really let the notes pop off the fretboard.

At this price, it would be hard to find anything better for a classic old-school sound, with body and substance across the frequency spectrum, and up-and-at-’em projection.

Titanium nylon strings might be the answer if you’ve been alternating between nylon and carbon trebles, and haven’t quite found the sweet spot. The Pro-Arté Dynacore bass strings have a blended polymer core and are wound in silver-plated copper. But it’s the titanium nylon of the trebles (laser-machined, of course) that’s the USP here.

Since they’re brighter than plain nylon, many find them easier to intonate. They’re a doddle to manipulate, too, and that clarity will help to accentuate your vibrato.

If you’re just starting out or want to stick a set of strings on a budget classical guitar to see how it sounds, Stagg’s cheap-as-chips Classical set won’t disappoint.

There’s nothing fancy in the build, but the results are deeply satisfying. You’ll find clear nylon trebles that strike a nice balance between warmth and lucidity, along with silver-plated bass strings that let the notes bloom.

La Bella offers a couple of black-nylon options, with the main difference between the Flamenco and Folk Singer sets being the latter’s gold-plated windings on the bass strings. In the Flamenco set, the Flamenca Negra treble strings should give your rumba strumming a three-dimensional quality.

What makes black nylon a good choice for both flamenco and folk is that, typically, the guitar will be complementing the human voice, and strumming is inherent to both styles. Hard-tension options will bring that fast attack and treble response you need, and will stand up to aggressive playing styles.

The pre-war classical guitar tone was all but defined by gut strings – they had a bright frequency profile and a fast attack. But in the modern era, not everyone has the stomach for them when there are so many nylon alternatives.

Aquila has combined the best of both worlds with its Super Nylgut polymer trebles. They improve on the original gut-string builds, too, with the polymer being more consistent and longer-lasting, and suffering from fewer intonation issues.

Ball-end strings are something of an outlier in classical guitar, where most string sets are tie-on affairs. There are some hybrid guitars that will take ball-end sets, though, and for beginners this quick and easy way to attach strings makes a lot of sense.

The silver-plated copper bass strings and clear nylon trebles in this Ernie Ball set are an excellent choice for fingerstyle folk music. And the price is very approachable indeed.

Best nylon guitar strings: Buying advice

How to choose the best nylon guitar strings for you

Nylon guitar strings came to fruition during the industrial boom of the post-war period, when cat-gut strings – typically made from cattle intestines – were supplanted by a far more appealing synthetic material. Albert Augustine Ltd (now known as Augustine) was the first company to offer this vegan-friendly alternative, developing nylon strings in collaboration with the great Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia.

Until this point, the treble strings found on classical and flamenco guitars had been made of pure gut, with the bass strings comprising a silk-wound core. The new style would see three plain nylon treble strings complemented by three wound bass strings, typically wrapped with a metal alloy.

Nylon string tension

Today, the best nylon guitar strings are arranged into three categories. Whereas acoustic steel strings are ordered by gauge, or string thickness, nylon strings are ordered by tension: low (light), medium (normal) or high (hard, strong or forte). Low-tension strings tend to have the quietest sound, and you might get a little more fret buzz when using them – but there are benefits. They are easy to manipulate, and while all nylon strings are kinder to inexperienced players’ fingers than steel ones, low-tension strings are particularly approachable. They are also a little kinder to vintage instruments, particularly those without a truss rod.

High-tension strings usually have the loudest sound. Where low-tension strings almost pull your ear in towards them, here the attack is a little more upfront. Those who play with a guitar pick might enjoy the resistance, and if you’re using a hybrid nylon-stringed guitar with an adjustable truss rod, a high-tension string set could give you the sound you’re looking for.

As you might expect, medium-tension strings sit somewhere between the two. For the uninitiated, these are as good a place to start as any. But with some brands offering mixed-tension sets, plus extra-hard and extra-light sets, there’s plenty of opportunity to experiment.

While your instrument might have its own quirks that influence your choice of string, so too will your playing style, and how the strings feel and sound to you is the most important thing. This, after all, is about the business of playing music, and there is no received wisdom that overrules what your hand and ear are telling you.

How we chose the best nylon guitar strings for this guide

Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.

When choosing what we believe to be the best nylon guitar strings available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.

First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best nylon guitar strings on the market right now.

Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.

Find the right strings for you 

• Best guitar strings: a beginner’s guide
• The best electric guitar strings on the planet right now
• The best ukulele strings for beginners to pros
• Best bass strings: vintage and modern sets for every style and budget 

Ever broken a string and got that sinking feeling? Knowing that at best you'll have to replace it with something that doesn't match your set. Good news – British string manufacturer Rotosound is now offering individual string packs from all its acoustic and electric guitar strings product lines that were previously only available to buy in full sets. 

Strings available include British Steel, Pure Nickel, polymer-coated Nexus, and powerful Ultramag guitar and bass sets.

Previously, only the Roto nickel coated guitar strings and Swing Bass 66 ranges were available singularly. Now musicians can enjoy experimenting with custom gauges too. 

All Rotosound strings are sold in air-tight packaging that provides an unparalleled moisture barrier ensuring strings will not tarnish or fade before opening, keeping them factory fresh ready for use.

The single strings are available immediately from Rotosound dealers worldwide. For more info on the company's string ranges, head to rotosound.

You can’t beat that feeling of winding a fresh set of the best electric guitar strings onto your guitar, tuning up and hitting an open chord to hear those notes ring out clear and true.

Sometimes the fresh tone and feel of new electric guitar strings can get you out of a creative rut. Strings are such a crucial component to your sound, and so it's only when they feel and sound right to you, that you can get the best out of your guitar sound.

To help you zero in on the right strings for you, we've scoured the market for the very best sets, with great options from Ernie Ball, Elixir, GHS and more that cater for all budgets and playing styles.

What are the best electric guitar strings?

The much-loved Slinky feel has been given a high-tech update with the Paradigm range, courtesy of Ernie Ball’s patented RPS (Reinforced Plain String) technology increasing the strength of the strings by up to 37 per cent. Ernie Ball were so confident in this that they shot a video of John Petrucci trying to break them – and he couldn’t! That’s not to say they’ll never break, but rest assured they’re tough as old boots, the nanocoating feels natural with that Slinky tone that appeals to players of all styles.

New York-based string titans D’Addario plump for a high-carbon steel core with their NYXL range, around which they judiciously wrap some nickel and promise another super-tough string that won’t go breaking on you when you go for a hero bend. They won’t go dull for ages either. 

As far as uncoated electric guitar strings go, these are impossible to beat, and the second-brightest model D’Addario makes. While a few day’s heavy playing might mellow-out some of that high-end, which a lot of players like, D’Addario promise an enhanced response in the 2-5khz range courtesy of these newly-engineered strings’ magnetic response with your pickups.

How to buy the best electric guitar strings for you

How do I find a good set of electric guitar strings?
Luckily guitar strings are not expensive – your pick will be a cheaper part of your rig – so experimenting with as many different sets as you can is sound advice. Your ears and fingers do the rest, informing you of which strings are doing the business for you. 

There are other considerations, though, such as durability and tuning stability. No string is fully break-proof, but you should be looking for those with a high tensile strength.

Coated or uncoated? A word on guitar string materials…
Coated strings, such as those of Elixir’s, promise to extend the life of your string, repelling the gunk and sweat that builds up quickly when playing. While some players prefer the natural feel of an uncoated string, not to mention the lower price, string coatings have evolved to feel evermore natural. The only difference you might notice is that they stay brighter longer.

That said, the resurgence in popularity of pure nickel strings suggests that players still value that vintage experience, and in terms of warm tone and smooth playability, they are hard to beat. Perhaps the most common spec for the electric guitar string is nickel-wound steel, which offers a little of the warmth of nickel but with a brighter top end. If this doesn’t sound quite your speed, there is, naturally, a 24-carat gold option from Optima.

A word on guitar string gauges
String gauges are measured in 1/1000th of an inch. By gauge we mean the thickness or diameter of the string. Heavy gauge strings (typically those with a high E gauge of .011 and higher, though some might say .011 is still medium) can feel thick enough to tow a trailer, but they were just the thing for Stevie Ray Vaughan, who appreciated their fat, well pronounced bottom end and authoritative tone.

Lighter gauge strings will sound brighter and will be easier to bend; if you are playing lead guitar, a set of .009 or .010 strings will be a more comfortable feel. Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top has a signature set that has a high E of .007, which is really pushing it. It works for him, but then every player is different, and you will only find out what is right for you after trying a variety of gauges and materials. And there is no better time than now to start experimenting.

The best electric guitar strings you can buy today

String sage Ernie Ball reckons it’s made some of the world’s strongest strings with the Paradigm set, which promises longer string life while retaining the company’s iconic Slinky tone and feel. As a result, they top this list of the best electric guitar strings.

Ultra-high strength steel can be found in the wound and plain strings, plus there is some reinforcement at the ball end, enabling them to lock in tune fast and hold up to aggressive styles without popping. Indeed, Ernie Ball claims that their patented RPS (reinforced plain string) technology increases tensile strength by up to 37 per cent, with up to 70 per cent more fatigue strength 

There’s also plasma-enhanced wrap wire for increased corrosion resistance, too, and Ernie Ball promises that its Everlast nanocoating won’t flake nor mess with the string’s natural response.

Claimed to be among the strongest electric guitar strings ever made, D’Addario’s technology offers a high-carbon steel core to resist breakage and refined frequency response to enhance presence and crunch. D'Addario reckons they will "bend farther, sing louder, and stay in tune better than any string you’ve played before” and that’s just what you need. 

These nickel-wrapped steel strings are the second brightest electric guitar strings D’Addario manufacture and come in a wide variety of gauges.

As a company at the forefront of the longer-life coated strings market when it was developed in the '90s, Elixir has continued to refine the technology. 

Optiweb is the company’s latest coating, helping to protect these nickel-plated steel strings from corrosion while offering the same tone as uncoated strings. Elixir coat the whole of the string, too. Belt and braces. 

Readily available discounted online, and like many of the more popular string sets as multipacks, the GHS Boomers represent great value. Boomers are uncoated, roundwound nick-plated steel strings with a round core, and offer a smooth ride for all kinds of styles. 

Those holding a note and bending it won’t be disappointed. They come shipped in an air-tight fresh pack with each string individually wrapped in GHS’s NitroPack.

A number of brands now have sets catering for drop tunings and extended range guitars, but Dunlop says these Heavy Core nickel-wrapped steel strings have the core-to-wrap ratio to rule them all, one that maintains a comfortable and consistent tension in lower tunings. 

That means you can really attack those strings without any of the flab that you might get from tuning down on a regular set. There’s even a seven-string option.

Available in .009, .010 and .011 gauges, these pure nickel strings will partner nicely with your Strat or Tele. They take their name from the bullet-shaped string ends that sit snugly between the bridge block and creates what Fender calls a “sonic coupling”. It enhances stability and sustain, but it could well be a time machine, for the pure nickel experience here – with nickel wrapped around a nickel core – makes for a truly rich, warm tone, perfect for blues, country, and jazz. 

Guitar strings are going two ways right now: one is looking forward to using cobalt, coating strings, new tech, the other is looking at offering players an authentic vintage experience. This is the latter.

SIT is an all-American string company that prides itself on the fact that its strings Stay In Tune. That's all down to their carefully considered construction.

A combination of an 8% nickel-plated steel cover wrap over a hexagonal-shaped core - all sourced in the USA, no less - produces a bright treble response with long string life.

That's made Power Wounds the strings of choice for power players such as The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach, Lamb Of God's Willie Adler and Rammstein's Richard Kruspe.

Gibson’s “bench-tested and builder-approved” nickel strings should on the shortlist for any player looking for that warm nickel tone and smooth feel. 

There’s not that much daylight between these and the Fender Bullets, though these have a more conventional wrap and ball-end construction, and as per Les Paul’s preference these have silk-wrapped ends to cut down on ambient noise, making these ideal for recording situations. And, of course, when it comes to restringing your Les Paul.

These long-life strings from German company Optima are the only 24 carat gold strings in the world (don’t fear, they’re priced in the upper-medium end of the spectrum). This roundwound set is used by May exclusively, with a custom light gauge running from .009, .011, .016, .024, 032, 042.

Expect to get a lot of joy from bends, and a great feel. Tone-wise you are looking at a bright, harmonically dynamic voice. Is it too much to string your electric with gold strings? Hell no! And you don’t have to be rock royalty.

The British string stalwart has been making strings since 1959 and now colour-codes according to gauge as Roto Reds, Pinks, Yellows and Purples. 

The extra first string is a useful addition to these nickel-on-steel sets, especially to players who are prone to snapping that high E – which, when you think about it, is most of us.

There is a good reason for Ernie Ball’s Slinky series of electric guitar strings’ ubiquitous presence in gig bags and cases the world over. Firstly, they sound great. They really pop with a bright clarity, and nice solid midrange. Secondly, they feel great – great to bend, not overly noisy. 

That they come in all kinds of custom gauge options and are cheap as chips just seals the deal. You’ve got Skinny Top Heavy Bottoms, Hybrid Slinky, 7 and 8-string options. Something for everyone!

Traditional sets can sometimes feature vastly different tensions between strings, causing players to compensate with altered techniques. New York string icon D’Addario set out to even the playing field with its Balanced Tension XL sets, which boast mathematically equalised resistance for a similar feel from string to string. 

That means even effort when bending, strumming, plucking and slapping, and even improved dynamic control.

The company’s latest step in the Super Slinky catalogue is the first cobalt string – a material said to provide a stronger magnetic relationship with pickups for higher output, clarity and harmonic response.

Extra light indeed! But these come with great provenance; they’re designed in collaboration with Rev Billy F Gibbons himself. 

Few players will have experimented with a gauge this light, and intonation alternation may be required, but you’ll be surprised at the doors they’ll open in the world of bending and subtle vibrato.

If you really want your guitar strings to stand out as well as your playing does, then these colourful options from DR are a novel eye-catcher. For even more fun, stick them under a UV light and they’ll glow, too! 

They might also serve a practical purpose for beginners, too, as new guitarists can quickly identify specific strings based on their colour.

Slash has been a loyal Slinky man for decades - and Ernie Ball has now awarded him rare signature edition electric guitar strings in return. But they won't be around for long.

The 11-48 gauge strings reflect his preference for Power Slinky sets and are ideal for those who tune a half or even whole step down. But there's more going on with the spec here than just thickness.

The Slash custom wound Slinkys feature a Paradigm core wire and plasma-enhanced nickel-plated steel wrap wire with further strength and tuning stability is provided by heavier brass wire reinforcement at each of the ball ends.

Ernie Ball's Everlast nano treatment over the wound strings also helps to prevent tone killing contaminants between the wrap wire.

The signature strings are available in sets of three in a collectable tin box for $34.99 and can be preordered from Ernie Ball and US retailers including Sweetwater. 

Black Friday music deals: We know how it is, you need electric guitar strings so you buy a pack when your old ones need changing. But how about stocking up and saving money on the world's most popular string set – Ernie Ball Regular Slinky .010 - .046 Nickel Wound are now just $21.99 for six sets in this Amazon Black Friday music deal.

That's just $3.66 per pack!

Best Black Friday deals around the web

• Sweetwater | Up to 70% off in their epic Black Friday sale
• Guitar Center | 15% off qualifying gear with code BLACKFRIDAY15
• Musician’s Friend | Up to 15% off qualifying gear with the code BLACKFRIDAY
• Sam Ash | Up to 15% off with the code BF15 in the Black Friday Now sale
• Reverb | Save up to 60% on thousands of pieces of gear all week long
• Pro Audio Star | Save up to 20% on new gear with the code BF20
• Zzounds | Shop time-limited Black Friday deals
• Amazon | Explore all their latest Black Friday deals on EVERYTHING!
• Waves | Save a massive 60% off all plugins and bundles
• Native Instruments | Save 50% in the Cyber Season Sale
• Plugin Boutique | Black Friday offers from £3.95/$5
• IK Multimedia | Shop all Happy Holideals, up to 50% off
• Loopmasters | Shop all the latest offers

Sweetwater has a useful little Black Friday guitar deal up for grabs right now, offering multipacks of Martin Authentic Superior Performance acoustic guitar strings at a third off their regular price. As part of this deal, you get three packets of fresh, high quality strings for under $14. They’re available in a range of popular sizes, making it the perfect time to stock up for the year.

If you’re not sure whether these are right for you, we’d recommend taking the time to read our guide to the best acoustic guitar strings. If this deal sounds good to you, you’ll need to act fast, as this particular Sweetwater sale ends on Thursday 19 November.

We get that buying acoustic guitar strings isn’t the most exciting purchase you’ll ever make, so it helps to find a sweet deal on them. The Martin Authentic Acoustic Superior Performance 3-packs deliver great quality and Black Friday is the perfect time to fill the cupboard. The Superior Performance sets provide an instant upgrade to your tone, with the extra brightness and resonance ideal for strummers and fingerpickers alike. 

These discounted multipacks come in three sizes – custom light, light and medium – so there’s a set to suit you and your playstyle, and they come in a unique coating which extends their life and keeps them fresh for longer. At just under $14 for a pack of three, it’s well worth keeping a few packs on hand. After all, nobody has ever regretted having spare strings on hand when disaster strikes, particularly when they sound as good as these Martin Authentics.

More great Black Friday sales online right now

• Sweetwater | Save up to 60% off music gear in their early-Black Friday sale
• Guitar Center | Snap up time-limited weekly holiday deals
• Musician’s Friend | Up to 15% off qualifying gear with the code JOY
• Sam Ash | Explore the latest additions to the Black Friday Preshow
• Pro Audio Star | Save up to 15% off select items with the code NOV15
• Zzounds | Shop the latest early-Black Friday deals
• Amazon | Explore all their latest Black Friday deals on EVERYTHING!
• IK Multimedia | Up to 50% off software with their Happy Holideals
• Waves | Up to 91% off plugins with their Black Friday Early Bird deals

While Ernie Ball’s Slinky line might be one of the most common electric guitar string choices, that’s for good reason. Not only do they deliver great sound and performance, but they’re super durable and won’t bust the bank.

If you’re yet to see what the fuss is all about, or you’re running low, Sweetwater is currently selling three-packs of EB's iconic Regular Slinky or Super Slinky strings for just $9.99 as part of it’s Guitar Month deals event. 

Usually you’d pay $16 for this bumper bundle, so this is a considerable saving for something you’re always going to need. In fact, with high E strings a hot (and regularly broken) commodity among most players, it’s worth stocking up while they’re going cheap. Six packs of Ernie Ball strings for $19.98? Sounds like a steal to us!

At this price it’s quite possible that stock of these discounted strings will disappear quickly, so we’d recommend jumping on this deal while it’s still here.

• Shop the full Sweetwater Guitar Month Event

Sweetwater isn't just catering for electric guitarists though. You'll also find deals on acoustic guitar strings and bass strings and we've rounded up the biggest bargains below.

Amazon Prime Day is just around the corner now (all signs point to 13 and 14 October), and we’ll likely see more bargains like this popping up. We'll be posting all the best deals on our Prime Day music deals page.

More great string deals at Sweetwater

• 2x Ernie Ball Earthwood 80/20 3-packs for just $9.99
• Ernie Ball 2003 Medium Light Earthwood 80/20 Bronze 3-Pack – Save 25%
• 2 packs of Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Bass strings – save 10%

One of guitar playing’s simplest joys comes in ringing out a big, open chord and letting the guitar’s strings and tonewoods work their magic. Now imagine that joy, doubled. The best 12-string guitars featured here deliver exactly that: a thicker, fuller sound with more of that glorious harmonic resonance and chime.

12-string guitars aren’t new, but they are a somewhat niche branch of the guitar family tree. Their unique sound won’t suit every style of music, but tonally they do reach the parts a normal 6-string can’t. Here we will discuss what 12-string guitars are, and how they differ from other guitars. We’ll also offer our selection of the best 12-string guitars available today.

Which are the best 12-string guitars right now?

We’ve tried to collate a good balance of acoustic and electric guitars below but, regardless which style you’re looking for, there are some great options open to you. We’re particularly drawn to the Taylor 150e, because it looks and feels great to play, and has a sweet tone which we found hard to put down.

Price-wise, it’s extremely good value, and we’d have no hesitation in recommending it. If the Taylor is a bit too far north of your budget, then thankfully the Epiphone DR-212 is a solid alternative, particularly if it’s your first 12-string or you’re looking for an affordable ‘second’ guitar in your sonic arsenal.

A special mention must go to the Hagstrom Viking Deluxe; this isn’t a guitar that will suit every player or style, but it is just so much fun to hear jangly 12-string riffs played through two meaty humbuckers and a dash of overdrive. It’s a great guitar that embraces its niche appeal and will put a smile on the face of any player.

Best 12-string guitars: buying advice

If you’re used to playing a regular six-string guitar and are looking to dip your toes in the water with 12-stringers, there are a few things you should know. While the base playing experience – e.g. fretting, strumming and picking – will be familiar, there are a few key differences required in your technique.

The extra six strings produce far greater tension on the guitar’s neck, meaning string bends (and soloing in general) will prove difficult, while the relative closeness of the string spacing makes them unforgiving instruments to play intricately.

The history of the 12-string clearly marks it out as an instrument for accompaniment and texture, and if you’ve played one, you’ll understand why. That’s not to say you can’t play speedy legato licks on a 12-string, just that you may need to have fingers carved from granite to keep it up over a period.

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Build-wise, to accommodate the extra strings, 12-string guitars have longer headstocks, wider necks and often flatter fingerboards. The guitar’s body will also be reinforced to keep the top from warping over time from all that added tension.

In terms of tuning; there is no right or wrong way to tune the extra strings. That said, the most common approach sees the lower four pairs (E, A, D, G) tuned an octave apart, with the higher two (B and E) then tuned in unison.

This gives that pleasing ‘shimmer’ effect that 12-strings are renowned for where micro-differences in the tuning between the strings make the overall sound slightly out of phase, giving it a natural chorus effect.

Finally, while it is more common to find 12-strings on an acoustic, there are some famous examples of where the extra strings have been accommodated on electric guitars. You may be familiar with Jimmy Page and his iconic double-neck Gibson, while Rickenbacker has long offered 12-string versions of most of its electric lines.

Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.

The best 12-string guitars available today

If you’re looking for a high-quality, great sounding acoustic guitar, then one of the first places you look is to Taylor. And, in the Taylor 150e, the company offers an almost-perfect intermediate 12-string acoustic. By combining Sitka spruce and walnut, you have the perfect balance of projection and sparkle, while the neck and fingerboard aren’t as wide as they are on other 12-strings so electric players will feel right at home.

We particularly liked the onboard electronics, which we felt gave a true flavour of the 150e’s tonality even when amplified. There’s a lot to like here, and all at a very reasonable price.

Read the full Taylor 150e review

If you’re new to the world of 12-string guitars - or simply need an affordable way to play Hotel California - then you may want a chance to hear what the fuss is about before committing to one of the more expensive models on the list.

The Epiphone DR-212 is the perfect guitar for this. It draws you in with its superb, rounded sound that invites those huge open chords you’d been imagining and, being an Epiphone, has a level of build quality and reliability that you can trust.

There’s a reason the Epiphone DR-212 is one of the best-selling 12-string guitars in the world. It balances sweet, jangly tones with solid build quality, and comes in at a very sensible price. Highly recommended.

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If you’re looking at the top tier for your next 12-string, then you have to consider the Gibson Acoustic Songwriter. For the advanced player, or simply one with a lot of spare cash, this represents one of the finest examples of 12-string guitars available today.

Every detail, from the select tonewoods to the rounded fretboard, is designed to give the best playing experience you can get. Tonally, the Songwriter is both bright and mellow, and we found joy in the upper registers, where high notes and arpeggios rang out brilliantly. It’s a lot of money, sure, but it’s hard not to love where Gibson has taken this guitar.

Now in its third iteration, the Fender Villager is as close to a classic 12-string as there is. While it’s listed as a dreadnought shape, we found it closer to a parlour-style guitar, with its slightly reduced upper body.

The cutaway provides great access to the upper frets, while the onboard electronics from Fishman did a great job at amplifying our sound without sacrificing that shimmer.

The slim C-shaped neck makes it as comfortable as playing 12 strings can be, and the onboard tuner is a nice addition to the overall package. For electric players looking to add a bit of sparkle to their arsenal, the Fender Villager is a sound choice.

• Best acoustic guitar strings: boost your guitar's tone
• On a budget? These are the best cheap acoustic guitars

As the first electric 12-string on the list, we wanted something pretty special. The Danelectro Vintage 12 is certainly that. This semi-hollowbody electric shares some characteristics with its acoustic counterparts, namely in the choice of spruce - unusual for an electric - although the rest of it is classic Dano.

From the soapbar pickups, which naturally accentuate trebles and high-mids, to the choice of colours, this is an era-specific guitar if ever there was one. We loved it, although could quite easily see how it’s not the most versatile for different genres.

The sound of a Rickenbacker is the quintessential electric 12-string tone. George Harrison, Tom Petty and Mike Campbell, Peter Buck, Paul Weller, Johnny Marr and of course, The Byrds’ Roger McGuinn have all employed the distinctive jangle of a Rickenbacker to great effect.

There are a number of 12-strings in the Ricky range, but the 330/12 and its more expensive brother, the 360/12 are arguably the most iconic. Sharing many common features such as the 24-fret neck, hi-gain pickups, and maple body/rosewood fingerboard, the key difference is that the 330/12 has a standard output while the 360/12 features a stereo output.

The stubby neck profile is likely to divide, but the tone is undeniably universal. If you want a no-compromise 12-string electric and can do without the stereo (which is likely most of us), look no further.

Rounding off the list is the Yamaha LL16-12, which is a beautiful jumbo-bodied electro-acoustic. The larger body cavity makes for an enhanced low-end response, perfect for those large, ringing chords, yet we never found it lacking when it came to more intricate playing.

We all know by now about Yamaha’s excellent price-to-performance value proposition and, while this is by no means a cheap guitar, it is certainly one you could see being with you for the long haul.

For playing live, you’re going to need a guitar that can handle being amplified. While there are plenty of electro-acoustics on the market – and on this list – the Ovation ExoticWood Legend 12-String has been designed almost exclusively for live performance.

The combination of a bright maple soundboard on top of Ovation’s famous Lyrachord bowl means notes have clarity and separation at volume, without losing any low-end.

As the name suggests, the ExoticWood features some stunning top woods which, when combined with its other visual flourishes, make for a very attractive instrument. But that would mean nothing if it didn’t sound good and, thanks to all that innovation from Ovation, it thankfully does.

If you’re keen to add that famous 12-string sound to your tonal collection but find acoustics a bit twee then the answer might come in the form of the Hagstrom Viking Deluxe 12-String.

We’ve always liked Hagstrom; they have that cool Norse thing going on, sure, but the whole range is right up there when it comes to tone, playability and value for money. The visual aesthetic is sharp, serious and imposing, but between the comfortable neck profile to the H-50 humbuckers (voiced specifically for 12-strings) we found this guitar to be a lot of fun. It was the only one we’d dare to put through a distortion pedal, and boy were we glad we did.

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When it comes to one of the most important equipment choices a bass player can make, we can be creatures of habit. Your string choice for your bass guitar affects playability and tone. It can be the key factor in getting the best from your instrument and the way you play, but how do you make the right investment when it comes to choosing a new set of strings?

The best place to start is the world's leading manufacturer of strings. Ernie Ball now offers its widest range of bass strings integrating the latest construction technology.  

With carefully honed design and materials, each Ernie Ball string set offers a distinct playing experience for bassists. Here, we'll take a look at each string type to understand which will be be best for your playing needs and style.

There's also a wide selection of string gauges for four, five and even six-string bass players available in the extensive Ernie Ball range; from the lightest gauge Extra Slinky sets, to the heavier Beefy Slinky and custom gauges too. 

Lighter gauges generally tend to be better for slap bass style and fast lead work. A heavier gauge string will give you a meatier tone that can be better for heavier and down-tuned musical styles. 

All Ernie Ball strings are produced and packaged at Ernie Ball's desert headquarters in Coachella, CA in Element Shield sealed bags to deliver factory-fresh performance.

Let's take a look at the differences and key features of each Ernie Ball string set. 

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Nickel 

Ernie Ball's Slinky Bass sets are the classic nickel wound electric bass strings. Made from nickel plated steel wrapped around a hex shaped steel core wire. They are used by professional players all over the world.

Characteristics: Bright, balanced tone

Great for: All bass and playing styles – a great all-round choice 

4-string gauges available: 

Extra Slinky 40-95
Super Slinky 45-100
Super Slinky Short Scale 40-100
Super Slinky Long Scale 45-100
Hybrid Slinky 45-105
Regular Slinky 50-105
Regular Slinky Short Scale 45-105
Power Slinky 55-110
Beefy Slinky 65-130

5-string:

Super Slinky 40-125
Regular Slinky 45-130
Slinky Super Long Scale 45-130
Power Slinky 50-135

6-string:

Long Scale Slinky 32-130

Ernie Ball Slinky Cobalt 

Ernie Ball's trailblazing developments brought Slinky Cobalts to the bass community. Cobalt creates a stronger magnetic relationship between your bass pickups and strings for greater clarity and output. 

Characteristics: Enhanced response and output, superior output with mid scoop

Great for: Prog, modern metal, funk, slap

Four-string gauges available:

40-95
45-100
45-105
50-105
55-110

five-string:

45-130

Slinky Flatwound

Another unique Ernie Ball advancement combines the feel of a flatwound string with the sound of a roundwound for the best of both worlds. While traditional flatwound strings are made from a stainless steel wrap wire. Ernie Ball uses the design of its Cobalt strings and applies it to flatwound. 

Characteristics: Roundwound sound with a flat feel, reduced finger noise 

Great for: Recording, excellent all-rounder 

Four-string gauges available:

Extra Slinky 40-95
Super Slinky 45-100
Regular Slinky 50-105
Power Slinky 55-110
Hybrid Slinky 45-105

Five-string gauge:

45-130

Flatwound

A more traditional approach to flatwound strings with stainless steel wrap wire for those that don't need the higher output and definition of cobalt. 

Characteristics: Warm and mellow tone, reduced unwanted finger noise

Great for: Motown soul, acoustic accompaniment, recording 

Four-string gauges available:

Group I 55-110
Group II 50-105
Group III 45-100
Group IV 40-95 

Five-string gauge:

45-130

Coated Slinky

Ernie Ball Slinky Coated Electric Bass Nickel wound sets use the company's technological advancements in string manufacturing to combine the feel of uncoated strings with resilience to impurities that can negatively impact your tone over time. 

Each string is treated with nanotechnology with a thin enamel coating to repel unwanted moisture and oils to keep your tone vibrant for longer.

Characteristics: Brighter balanced tone, longer life 

Great for: Longevity, fingerstyle players  

Four-string gauges available:

Super Slinky 45-100
Hybrid Slinky 45-105
Regular Slinky 50-105

Five-string gauge:

45-130

Stainless Steel Slinky  

Ernie Ball's stainless steel wrap wire doesn't just make for brighter tonality, it's also more resistant to corrosion from skin moisture to give that its distinct strengths more longevity. It's also a great option for players who experience allergies to nickel. 

Character: Bright, punchy and defined 

Great for: Pick players, rock, metal and funk, any bassist with a nickel allergy  

Four-string gauges available: 

Extra Slinky 40-95
Super Slinky 45-100
Hybrid Slinky 45-105
Regular Slinky 50-105

Earthwood Phosphor Bronze Acoustic 

The premium choice for acoustic bass players. Ernie Ball Earthwood bass string are made from 92% copper, 7.7% tin, 0.3% phosphorus wire wrapped around tin plated hex shaped steel core wire.

These acoustic strings have a light orange, gold colour that reflect their mellow tonality. 

Character: Mellow but defined with ringing clarity

Great for: All acoustic bass styles 

Four-string gauge available:

45-95

For more information of Ernie Ball bass string range, head to ernieball.co.uk

The best ukulele strings for you depends entirely upon which type of uke you have. It’s also important to keep in mind where you are in your ukulele playing journey, as some uke strings are better suited to pros and some are more geared towards beginners. So, whether you’re looking to restring your existing uke or you’re buying a new ukulele and want spare strings to go with it, you’re in the right place with this guide.

For many people, the ukulele represents that first tentative step towards learning a musical instrument, which is why you need to make it as pleasurable as possible from the start – and the best ukulele strings will help with that. We’ve heard the uke described as a kind of gateway drug… first ukuleles, then acoustic guitars, then electric guitars… and before you know it, you’re commanding a 60-piece orchestra. Okay, so that’s a wild exaggeration, but the humble uke is the first stop for many budding players. 

If you’re not familiar with the process of changing strings on a ukulele, it’s actually quite straightforward, and we’ll show you some of the best options to choose from right here. From guitar string kings Ernie Ball and Martin to specialist ukulele brands like Aquila, there’s a set of uke strings for every need here.

Best ukulele strings: MusicRadar’s choice

We’d always advocate using the right products for any situation, and with the Aquila Nylgut ukulele strings we believe we found the perfect balance between tone, playability and durability. That’s not to say they were streets ahead of the competition; indeed, this round-up has shown there is quality and value to be had across the range. 

Hats off to Aquila especially though, particularly considering their color-coded learner set which – child or not – brought a dash of colour to an already colourful little instrument. 

Best ukulele strings: Product guide

It stands to reason that the best products you can get, generally, come from the specialist companies. The ones that dedicate themselves to doing one thing, and doing it really, really well. For ukulele strings, Aquila is that company. 

Its proprietary Nylgut material (a synthesized version of traditional gut strings) promises the tone and playability of gut, but with the durability and resistance to corrosion you get from Nylon. You’ll notice an instant leap in tone once you’ve fitted them, and they should last a good few jam sessions before they need changing.

One of the major benefits of Nylon strings, over steel, is that there’s none of that nasty squeaking sound when you move across the strings. Fretting notes, slides and bends; steel strings are notoriously noisy. Nylon has none of these problems, albeit at the cost of some treble in your tone. 

The GHS H10 Nylon set offers a great upgrade to the set which were on the ukulele when you bought it, and we felt confident they’d stand up to heavy practice without losing their playability. 

Electric guitar players who took their first steps using Nylon-strung acoustics will remember the eureka moment when they first played steel strings. Their tone is much brighter, and projects wonderfully, making Nylons sound dull in comparison.  

The D’Addario Titanium set brings that same clarity and leap in volume to any soprano ukulele. While not solid titanium, the special material used does benefit from resistance to corrosion and can therefore be relied upon for longer.

If you’re new to the ukulele, you may not have come across the process of re-stringing yet. Some string sets require neat threads and ties, which can be daunting to the uninitiated. They’re simple enough when you know what you’re doing, but for the ultimate in simplicity, we highly recommend the Ernie Ball 2329 set. 

These Nylon strings come with a ball end, meaning they simply hook into the bridge of the instrument, ready to be threaded through the tuning pegs at the other end. Ernie Ball is one of the biggest names in guitar strings, and their reputation extends to this set, which we found to be responsive and long-lasting.

In the world of acoustic guitars, Martin is one of the big boys. Its guitars have been played by some of the music world’s biggest names, so on heritage alone their ukulele strings are worth your attention. 

The Martin M600 set is constructed from fluorocarbon, a material Martin claims rivals Nylon for durability, yet with the brightness and projection of traditional gut strings. 

We found them slightly trickier than the others to string up, on account of the string slipping at the tuning peg end, but once in place they sounded terrific.

It’s no secret that the ukulele is the ideal first instrument for kids. It’s small, easy to handle and weighs nothing. You can coax a tune out of it with very little effort, and it’s hugely rewarding to do so. That said, it is still a string instrument, with frets, so there are techniques to be learned. 

The Aquila Kids set aims to help by color-coding its strings. This way, the teacher can refer to the color of the string, helping the learner instantly navigate to where they need to be. It’s hard to find fault with such a simple solution, especially when the Nylgut material used ensures these strings will sound great and last for ages.

While we’re not talking megabucks when it comes to ukulele strings, every little does help. So, if you’re not convinced about shelling out on high quality Nylgut or Titanium strings, the Dean Markley 8500 set might just be perfect for you. 

For a shade under $5 you get a good quality set of Nylon strings that feel great to the touch, and will be an upgrade on those green-tinged strings you’ve been meaning to change for a year now.

We’ve covered nylon and its variants, but with the Dunlop Soprano ukulele strings, we have another material to suggest. This set is produced using a proprietary material it calls VSD-7 Polymer, which it believes provides exceptional tuning stability and touch sensitivity on par with much more expensive sets. 

Your mileage may vary, but we’ve always rated Dunlop’s electric guitar strings, so we would feel confident recommending their ukulele sets too.

Best ukulele strings: Buying advice

Choosing the best ukulele strings for you

Ukuleles come in four main sizes: soprano, concert, tenor and baritone. Unless you’re a dedicated uke player, chances are you have the smaller soprano-sized version. These are the most inexpensive models you find everywhere, and they offer the easiest playing experience for most.

The reason size is important when choosing ukulele strings is that these strings come in certain specific lengths. Choosing longer strings and cutting them to size is an option, but not one we’d recommend due to the issue of fraying. It’s far better to find the uke strings size that fits your instrument well in the first place. 

Once you know the size you need, you’ll need to weigh up what string material is right for your needs. Historically, ukuleles were strung using sheep’s intestines. Thankfully, today’s best ukulele strings are made using more commonly available (and less gross) materials.

FAQs

Does material matter?

Entry-level ukuleles most likely come equipped with a set of nylon strings. These are good all-rounders, as they are more consistent and cheaper, plus they won’t hurt little fingers. For a higher quality playing experience, fluorocarbon may be the best ukulele string choice for you as these uke strings sound brighter and are less sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity.  

Your desired tuning will also play a part in which ukulele strings you pick. Some players prefer the G string – the one nearest the top when you hold it – to be an octave lower, so string packs will offer a suitable gauge to support this.

Finally, most of the big guitar string brands, such as Martin, D’Addario and Ernie Ball, all offer ukulele strings of differing lengths and tunings. Alternatively, Aquila is a more specialist manufacturer of the best ukulele strings and has its own patented, non-animal-derived version of gut strings called Nylgut. 

This uke string material offers the tonal benefits of gut – namely, a brighter sound – with the practicalities of modern production methods and materials.

How we choose the best ukulele strings for this guide

Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides. 

When choosing what we believe to be the best ukulele strings available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.

First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best ukulele strings on the market right now.

How we choose

Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides. 

When choosing what we believe to be the best ukulele strings available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.

First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best ukulele strings on the market right now.

Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.

Related buyer's guides

• Best beginner ukuleles: top entry-level ukes
• The best acoustic guitar strings to get more from your guitar
• The best electric guitar strings for all playing styles
• Need some inspiration? Check out these gifts for guitar players

You will often find us talking about essential pieces of gear, y’know, why you need to have a guitar tuner (you do), or a distortion pedal that’s a pedalboard must-have (hmm, probably). But at the risk of stating the obvious, guitar playing is nothing without strings. No strings, no life, as they say. And that’s why, if you’re not sure where to start, we’ve compiled this guide to the best guitar strings on the planet right now.

Strings are fundamental to guitar playing, but if you are just starting your journey as a guitar player, finding the right set of strings can be a little bewildering. There is a lot of choice to work your way through.

Here we are going to explain the different types of strings – for electric guitar, acoustic guitar and nylon-stringed guitar – what to consider when choosing a set of strings, and, indeed, underscore just how important it is that you think about your strings as a crucial component of your sound and your playing experience.

After all, your choice of guitar string will affect how your instrument will sound, and just as important for a beginner, when you are building strength in your fingers and calluses on fingertips, it affects how your instrument feels. We will also recommend a few sets to help you get started.

Know which guitar strings you’re looking for?

• Here’s our pick of the best acoustic guitar strings…
• And the best electric guitars strings
• Freshen up your uke with the best ukulele strings
• Best nylon guitar strings: top sets for classical, hybrid and flamenco players

Buying advice

Best guitar strings: a primer

In ye olden times, guitar strings were fashioned out of animal guts. You might have heard of the so-called ‘catgut strings’? Well, those were ubiquitous for guitar players until the early 1900s.

The good news is that there’s no need for the feline in your life to get bent out of shape whenever you open the guitar case. For a start, catgut was a euphemism. Typically the first strings were spun from the intestines of cattle, goats and so on (you can climb down off the bookshelf now, Mog). And more to the point, in 2020, string manufacture is down to a fine art using a variety of materials such as various metals, nylon and silk, with all manner of technological advanced treatments and coatings to preserve their life.

Electric vs acoustic vs nylon guitar strings

Guitar strings fall into three categories – electric, acoustic and nylon. Electric guitar strings are made from metal – typically steel or nickel – with the top three strings plain steel and the bottom three featuring a steel core with a metal wrap, often nickel as it has a bright tone and, being softer than steel, is easier on your frets.

Acoustic guitar strings are also made from metal, usually bronze, phosphor bronze, brass, nickel, silk or steel. The top two strings are typically plain steel, with the bottom four a wrapped construction that might typically see a steel core wrapped with bronze. Some sets, such as Ernie Ball’s Earthwood Extra Soft and Le Bella’s Silk And Steel, use silk between the metal core and the wrap to give it a softer feel and reduce string squeak when playing.

Phosphor bronze is a popular choice for acoustic strings. Here, phosphor is added to the alloy to extend the string’s life. Manufacturers have been in an arms race to develop longer-lasting strings. Elixir have staked a reputation for developing coated strings, providing a natural feel and tone but often dramatically extending the life of the strings. These, and sets such as Ernie Ball’s Paradigm and D’Addario’s EXP, offer excellent options for both electric and acoustic players, but they do come at a price.

Nylon strings are a little different. Where the acoustic and electric strings have ball-ends that secure the string to the bridge, nylon strings are looped around the bridge in a simple knot, then looped through the tuning roller at the headstock before bringing them up to pitch.

Nylon strings are used on classical, Flamenco and hybrid guitars. Here, the top three strings are made from clear or rectified nylon, with the bottom three typically using bronze or silver-plated copper wire wrapped around a multi-filament core. They feel softer underneath your fingers and have a more mellow tone.

Just listening to some audio of an electric, an acoustic and a classical guitar will give you an idea of how these strings and their materials affect the instrument’s tone.

Gauges

What guitar string gauges should you use?

In standard tunings, the guitar strings are ordered E A D G B E. The low E, aka the sixth string, is the thickest. The high E, aka the first string, is the thinnest. Because the thickness of the string is related to its tension when it is brought up to pitch, we use thicker strings for low notes and thinner strings for high notes.

If we were to use a high E with a diameter of 0.009 inches for the G string, for example, it would not have the sufficient tension to make it playable when it’s brought up to pitch.

This correlation between the string gauge and tension is worth bearing in mind when considering how gauges affect the guitar’s tone and the instrument’s playability.

String gauges are measured in 1/1000s of an inch and correspond to the diameter of a string. For a light set of electric guitar strings, the string gauges might run high to low, .009 to .042.

These will have an easy feel. There is a little less string tension, less string for your fingertips to manage, and with these advantages it is no surprise that shredders often favour lighter gauge strings; you will find lighter strings easier to bend.

If you are just starting out on the instrument, an extra-light set of “9s” on your electric guitar will be more accommodating to fingers that are yet to develop the strength and calluses on your fingertips. Note: when we talk about sets of strings, typically we refer to them by their lightest string gauge – e.g. “Hello, friendly guitar shop sales assistant! A packet of D’Addario XL 9s please, boss.”

A generic guide to electric guitar string gauges

• Extra light: .008, .010, .015, 021, .030, .038
• Light: .009 .011 .016 .024 .032 .042
• Medium: .010 .013 .017 .026 .036 .046
• Heavy: .011 .015 .022 .030 .042 .054
• Extra heavy: 012, .016 .020, .034, .046, .060

Are there implications for your tone? A little. A set of “10s”, which might run from .010” to .046,” might offer a little more depth, volume and sustain to your tone, and maybe just a smidgen less treble. And comparing a heavy electric set of “12s” to your extra-light “9s” you will notice they are very much harder to manage but there is a bit more oomph in terms of volume and sustain.

These differences are more pronounced on acoustic guitars where the string is doing a lot more work in generating the volume.

With nylon strings, the gauge is typically generalised into light tension, medium tension and hard tension. While nylon is a lot kinder to inexperienced fingers, perhaps a light or medium tension set would be the best starting point. They might sound a little mellower but feel more inviting.

A generic guide to acoustic guitar string gauges

• Extra light: .010 .014 .023 .030 .039 .047
• Custom light: .011 .015 .023 .032 .042 .052
• Light: .012 .016 .025 .032 .042 .054
• Medium: .013 .017 .026 .035 .045 .056
• Heavy: .014 .018 .027 .039 .049 .059

You will find a preference with experience. As ever, the rule with gear is: if it feels good and sounds right, it is right. Once you build up that finger strength, you might opt to go down the Stevie Ray Vaughan route with a heavyweight set on your electric. Or if you intend on downtuning your guitar, a thicker gauge string will help keep your tone solid – D’Addario has a special set of “12s” for tuning down to C. No matter what you want to do with your guitar, there is a gauge for you.

Changing strings

How often should I change my guitar strings?

This is usually a matter of individual preference. Wiping you strings with a dry cloth after each practice session will help keep them fresh. There are also special cleaners – such as GHS’ Fast Fret – that you can use to keep your strings in tip-top condition.

Over time, though, they will lose their brightness, sound a little dull, feel a little grubby, and then it will be time to replace them. When you do, you might have to bear with them. Some players love fresh strings; that is when they are at their brightest. But you might find they play better once they have settled down a little after a few hours of playing.

The key thing is to experiment. The good thing about strings is that, on the whole, they are not expensive. There are plenty of great sets offering plenty of change from a tenner for you to try, and once you find the set you like, well, maybe then you can splurge on one of those fancy schmancy coated strings.

Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.

Recommended products

The best guitar strings for beginners: electric

D’Addario XL’s are everywhere. When you buy a guitar, there is a decent chance they will ship with a set of XL’s on them. Helpfully, they have colour-coded ball ends, making it easy to identify which string is which (hey, we have all made that mistake when starting out).

We have recommended the Super Light set here, but D’Addario makes these in a wide variety of gauges, and you can get lighter if you wish.

Design-wise, your bottom three strings have bright-sounding nickel wraps over high-carbon steel core, plain steel on the top three. The sound lively, with plenty of harmonics, and they feel great. A classic for a reason, and cheap too.

We love Ernie Ball strings. You can find them in all kinds of gauges, but here we are recommending the Hybrid Slinky, because you still have the super light top three strings – again, like the XLs, plain steel – that are easy to bend, but the bottom three strings are a little thicker, making them an excellent choice for drop D tuning, which will no doubt be the first alternative tuning you learn.

Like the D’Addario’s, the Hybrid Slinky set is bright-sounding – perfect for rock ’n’ roll, sure, but really just a nicely made string that will suit all playing styles. And again, they’re great value.

The best guitar strings for beginners: acoustic

As with so many things acoustic, Martin were the pioneers of the steel string, and this Custom Light set – so called because it is a little unconventional with a slightly skinnier sixth string than the Light packs – is an excellent choice for a number of reasons.

First, this set is well-priced. Second, it is very durable, resistant to corrosion, and if you wipe these down they should last you a while. And third, well, they sound huge, bold and brassy. There are also lighter sets in this series should you find these a little too tough. Going down to 10s on your acoustic, you will sacrifice a bit of volume, so do try to persist with the 11s, taking a break whenever the fingertips get sore, and coming back to it. It’s amazing how quickly you build up the strength in your fingers, with the tips firming up and removing discomfort when playing.

The Silk and Steel set from La Bella offers something a little different. They are a little warmer sounding than pure metal strings, and feature an Italian silk filament between the metal wrap and the core to create a soft touch and feel.

While they might lack the upfront brassiness of pure metal strings, they make an excellent choice for young players, especially those playing fingerstyle, and have a warm, sweet tone. They are a little pricier than other entry-level sets, but when you are building up stamina in your fretting hand, every little helps.

The best guitar strings for beginners: nylon

The Ernsto Palla set is an excellent starting point for your nylon-string adventures. They are made in the USA, with the bass strings comprising a silver-plated copper wrap surrounding a multi-filament nylon core, with the three treble strings made from solid monofilament clear nylon.

Tone-wise, these are bang-on, with all that beautiful mellow precision you need from a classical guitar. They are old-school in that you'll tie them at the bridge (some nylon sets these days have ball-ends) and so they will fit almost any classical, flamenco or hybrid guitar.

The Pro-Arté set from D’Addario costs a little bit more but we think it rewards you with superior tone and feel and on balance this is worth the investment. They’ll keep you playing longer, and this light tension set should feel very accessible to younger players.

With nylon strings, pain in the fingertips is less of an issue. There’s less of a physical struggle, but these will help your classical picking drills build up the precision you need to master the classical guitar. There are also half-sets available, which is nice and handy as the nylon strings last that little bit longer than the wound strings.

Guitar string accessories

You don’t necessarily need this but once you start using a handy little tool like this you will never go back to the wire cutter and manual approach again. The winder greatly accelerates the speed with which you can bring the strings up to pitch, while the cutter lets you snip off the loose ends and keep things nice and neat. You can get power winders, too.

Not much needs to be said about this product. Keep a Fast Fret tube in your gigbag at all times and clean your strings after each session. Simply put, this will extend their life.

The agony of choice is a big issue when it comes to picking the best bass strings for you. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of sets on the market, utilising different materials and technologies, each promising varying amounts of improved playability, greater longevity, vintage tones, modern tones and more. So where does the humble purveyor of low end begin?

Right here, of course! In our list of some of the best bass guitar strings currently available, we’ll help you choose a set that’s right for you and your bass guitar. Truthfully, we could’ve listed a hundred sets, but we’ve distilled it down to just ten, each with a few pointers to help you decide whether it’s the right set for you. They’re all available to buy online too, and we’ve found the best prices for you – just follow the links.

What are the best bass strings?

For flatwounds, we’d opt for a set of Rotosound Jazz Bass 77s, their tonal versatility tipping the balance over other strings. However, if you have two basses in your collection, or if you’re looking for pure vintage tones, consider the Tru Bass 88, also from Rotosound.

For roundwound strings, the options are seemingly endless. For a versatile everyday string, we’d be choosing between Ernie Ball’s Regular Slinkys and D’Addario’s NYXLs. Which you choose depends on your tonal requirements – the Slinkys’ top-end has more bite than the warmer sounding D’Ads, but both are great strings.

How to buy the best bass strings for you

Tone and playability are your primary concerns. Let’s deal with tone first. The material a string is made of has the biggest impact on its sound. And, though each company chooses certain alloys, bass strings are made of broadly similar materials.

• Nickel - Pure nickel strings have a warm sound, without too much treble bite or low-end. Perfect for the vintage tones of ‘50s/’60s pop, soul and rock.
• Stainless steel - Tonally speaking the opposite of nickel strings, stainless steel is clear and bright, with clarity throughout the frequency range – great for modern sounds.
• Nickel-plated steel - No surprises, nickel-plated steel offers a compromise between pure nickel or stainless steel. An all-round option for the bassist who plays a bit of everything.

There’s a choice to be made between flatwound and roundwound strings, too. Flatwounds have a smooth, flat surface compared to the ridged feel of roundwounds. Expect vintage style tones, reduced string noise and improved playability from flats (they’re kinder to fretless fingerboards too), but opt for roundwounds for bright, contemporary sounds.

As regards playability, generally lighter gauges are great for slap bass or fast leads, whereas a weightier set will give you fatter tone for heavy metal, modern RnB and for downtuning.

String companies have a few technical tricks up their sleeves too. A thinner core can make the string feel more pliant, and smoother, softer metal alloys can be used on windings to improve feel. Finally, consider coated strings, which, though primarily designed to aid longevity, keep your strings feeling fresh, smooth and easy to play for longer.

The best bass strings available today

Rotosound’s Jazz Bass 77 strings have been used by the likes of Phil Lynott, Roger Waters, John Deacon, Glen Matlock, Sting and Dee Murray (Elton John), amongst many others. This esteemed selection of players alone should give you some idea of the kind of sounds you can dial in with a set of Rotosound’s classic bass strings.

Brighter and deeper than the traditionally warm sound of flatwounds, the Roto 77s clearly have a sweet spot for ‘70s rock. But there’s enough juice at the frequency extremes for contemporary blues-rock and modern jazz too. A great balance of flatwound warmth with a nod to the more up to date styles.

Ernie Ball’s Regular Slinky Nickel Bass are a classic set of strings, used by countless pros the world over. You might say they’re something of an industry standard. Renowned for their contemporary sound with growling lows and a bright top end, these Slinkys are best suited to modern rock, pop and metal, rather than warmer vintage tones. They lend themselves well to slap too.

If you’ve never restrung your bass before, this set of Ernie Balls is a solid starting point; bright, but not overly so, they’re a great low to mid-price string and a benchmark to assess other strings by. A decent buy!

For acoustic and upright style sounds from a regular electric bass you just can’t beat a set of tapewounds – and these Rotosounds are the real deal. Check out their signature tones on The Beatles’ Abbey Roa/ (Paul McCartney), The Jam’s All Mod Cons (Bruce Foxton), David Bowie’s Diamond Dogs and Lou Reed’s Transformer (Herbie Flowers on both).

The Tru Bass 88’s metal core is wrapped in a flatwound nylon winding, offering a deep warm tone with a buttery smooth feel, plus increased dynamic range and touch sensitivity that metal strings simply can’t match. We wouldn’t describe these as a versatile string but if it’s an acoustic vibe you’re after, it just has to be a set of tapewounds.

Designed as an all-round bass string with a balanced tone suitable for all styles, the NYXLs are competing in the fiercely fought mid-price market – but, crucially, at a higher price than the perennial Ernie Ball Slinkys.

Well, the D’ads may be just the job if you find Slinkys on the bright side – this set are warmer from the get go, without too much new string ‘zing’, but with plenty of midrange clarity and harmonic richness. Fairly smooth to the touch, finger noise should be fairly low too. This generally balanced tone makes the NYXLs ideal for the five- or six-string bass player too, where players will be exploring the extended range.

Ernie Ball caused quite a stir when they released their Slinky Cobalts a few years ago. So do they live up to the hype? Well yes, by and large. If you want a high output string with deep lows and crystal clear highs with a slight scoop in the midrange, then the Cobalts are a great option. Prog and metal, funk and slap are all on the cards, but think contemporary rather than classic. There’s no vintage warmth here.

The Cobalts play well too. The iron/cobalt alloy feels smoother and, er, slinkier than anything short of a set of flatwounds, making for great progress across the fretboard. However, you do pay quite a price for Ernie Ball’s technological innovation – these are among the most expensive strings in our list.

Bass players who love to slap, pop and tap will be drawn to this set from DR. With the typical forthright tone of stainless steel, the crystal clear chiming treble makes this a great string for virtuoso techniques. DR say that the higher tension of these strings makes for accurate harmonics as well as great feel for the rigours of slap too. Pair them with an active preamp for a great high end setup.

And they’re not just about the high end. Sting is a Lo-Rider user, their modern tone ideally suited to his late-career material – so these can sure be a versatile everyday option. You might just need to roll off the tone occasionally.

A classic bass string to those in the know, Flatwound La Bellas were the go-to choice of legendary sessionistas James Jamerson and Donald “Duck” Dunn. Opt for a heavy gauge set (as did Jamerson) and make sure to give them at least a couple of months for that new string tone to wear off and their trademark thud to bed in.

They’re in their sweet spot with warmer sounds – so don’t be afraid to roll off your tone pot or follow Jamerson’s lead and jam a piece of foam under the strings beside the bridge for a punchy staccato feel to every note you play. And don’t worry about that high price – you can find them much cheaper online.

DR claim their DDT (Drop Down Tuning) strings maintain intonation and offer more natural string tension in drop tunings. Traditionally, you’d bung on a set of heavy gauge strings to drop tune, which, throwing up potential setup issues, isn’t always practical. The idea here is that you don’t have to – a single set of DDT’s can handle a broad range of tunings, feeling neither too tight in standard or too floppy when drop-tuned.

Getting more out of a set of strings can only be a good thing. If you find yourself regularly changing your tuning there’s a lot to be said for the DDTs. They’re perhaps a little warmer than other stainless steel sets, but it’s no big issue.

Highly respected for their range of coated strings for standard six-string acoustic guitar, Elixir have brought their knowhow to acoustic bass. There’s a crisp, lively tone from the 80/20 (copper/zinc) bronze strings – a tone that’ll be familiar to users of the company’s standard guitar sets.

Elixir’s ultra-thin coating protects the string, preventing grime accumulating between the windings – that means long life and lasting tone. Probably for the best when you’re looking at nearly 40 bucks a set!

Some might say these are over-bright, but we’d argue that’s a matter of taste. We can’t remember the last time we changed the strings on our acoustic bass, so long-lasting tone sounds good to us!

There’s really very little to dislike and plenty to be pleased about with GHS’s budget set of bass strings. A general purpose offering, the Bassics offer a balanced tonal response with extra punch in the low-mids. Don’t expect grinding lows or zingy highs, just a solid all-round tone that’ll see you through any blues, rock, pop or jazz set.

The small-diameter core gives a feel that’s not too stiff. Opt for a medium gauge set and you’ll strike a balance of playability and tone – perfect for beginners or anyone who prefers not to go too far down the tonal rabbit hole. And at this price the Bassics represent a bit of a bargain!

After releasing its first new-gauge guitar strings in over a decade with last year's Ultra and Burly Slinkys, and then Primo, Mega and Mammoth Slinkys, Ernie Ball is wasting no time in offering even more choice for players with eight new sets for 2020, four of which are now available now.

Ernie Ball’s new Turbo, Mondo, Skinny Top Beefy Bottom, and Mighty Slinky sets are all available now. They will offer players custom string gauges from the world-renowned brand for the first time. 

Slinkys are the most popular string line in the world and all the new sets feature Ernie Ball's recipe recipe for the famed Slinky tone and feel; nickel-plated steel wrap wire around a tin-plated hex core.

The Turbo Slinkys (9.5, 12, 16, 26, 36, 46)  fit between Regular Slinkys and Hybrid Slinkys, and serve as an ideal transition for those moving from 9s to 10s or vice versa. 

The Mondo Slinkys (10.5, 13.5, 17.5, 30, 42, 52) are ideal for those who don't want to go to 11s but want to tune lower without things getting flappy. 

The Skinny Top Beefy Bottom Slinkys (10, 13, 17, 32, 44, 54) offer rhythm and riff playing stability with room for bending. They're available in both 6-string and 7-string (10, 13, 17, 30, 42, 52, 62) sets.

On the lighter side are the Mighty Slinkys (8.5, 11, 15, 22w, 30, 40). These sit between the popular Super Slinky and Extra Slinky string sets. They'll offer a fast, finger-friendly tension across all your six strings. 

It looks like Ernie Ball now has pretty much every player need covered with its expanded range. For more information, visit Ernie Ball.

Chicago-raised Shawn James has made a name for himself as a raw, unbridled talent, forging blues and folk with a rock sensibility, as demonstrated in this fiery rendition of Orpheus, taken from new album The Dark And The Light.

As part of the performance, shot in Nashville, Tennessee, James takes the opportunity to detail his gospel and blues influences, and how buying his first guitar made him start writing songs immediately.

He also reveals that switching to Elixir Strings made his touring life easier, reducing string changes and allowing him to play with more confidence.

“I tour about 150-200 days a year, and before, every week I’d have to change a string just for fear of breaking ’em.”

“Elixir Strings are the only brand to fully coat the entire string, which means that you don’t have to change them as much, and the tone lasts longer. I tried ’em out, and I haven’t turned back since.”

James and his band play Optiweb Coated Electric Guitar Strings and Nanoweb Coated Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings.

For more information on the full range of Elixir Strings, visit Elixir Strings.

Shawn James tours the UK throughout March.

Marcus King is one of today’s most respected guitarists - and one listen to the impeccable tone and enviable playing on this intimate performance tells you why.

The leader of the Marcus King Band was filmed performing Side Door live in Austin, Texas, where he not only delivers some of the tastiest licks in guitar today, but also explains how he keeps his vintage Gibsons sounding great night after night: Elixir Optiweb Coated Electric Guitar Strings.

“I’ve been using Elixir Strings for about five or six years, maybe a little longer,” King reveals.

“I like how long the strings last - I have a lot of vintage instruments at the house, and when you get them out of the case, the strings still feel fresh after they’ve been sitting there. You come home off the road, and it’s kind of a pain having to change them all the time.

“We change them fairly regularly on the road, just ’cause of the stress, but they handle the heat and the cold better than any other string.”

King goes on to reveal that he’s even switched his dad over to the coated strings.

“My dad’s a player, Marvin, and my grandfather before him was a player. My dad used another string for years - he’s 66 years old, I got him using Elixir strings, so I recommend ’em to everybody now.”

Marcus King is on tour in Europe now. For more information on Elixir Strings and its coated string innovations, visit Elixir Strings.

D’Addario has revolutionised the guitar string countless times, but its latest creation is its most technologically advanced yet - meet XT.

XT combines all of our favourite D’Addario features – high-carbon NY Steel, fusion twist technology and those instantly recognisable coloured ball ends – with a new and revolutionary life-span treatment applied to every string in the set, to give you a string that lasts up to three times longer than traditional strings.

We know coated strings aren’t for everyone, but the coating on D’Addario XT strings is so thin, they provide a natural feel just like your favourite uncoated strings, with an unnatural lifespan.

This revolutionary new treatment means that you get increased corrosion resistance, teamed with the tone and playability you’ve come to expect from D’Addario.

What’s more, XT strings are up to 42% stronger and stay in tune 131% better than traditional strings, for a performance that never fades away.

XT strings are available this September for acoustic, electric, bass and classical guitar, as well as mandolin and banjo.

To see how XT strings can change the way you play, head over to D’Addario.

As any New Order fan would tell you, Peter Hook has been using Bass Centre Elites for over 25 years, so it’s high time he got his own custom-wound set. 

The Elites Peter Hook Custom set are stainless steel, roundwound with guage mix running: (0.060, 0.065, 0.085, 0.105). They might not let you play like him but Elites  always make for a great set of bass strings and that at least is one part of Hooky's tonal jigsaw. 

The Peter Hook Custom set can be ordered direct from Bass Centre, where they are currently retailing at £19.95. Shipping across the European Union is free and the strings also come with a free microfibre polishing cloth. Who says there aren't bargains still to be had in this world?

Hooky is currently fronting Peter Hook & the Light and is on tour soon. The band have a few UK festival dates left in the summer, playing Cotton Clouds Festival in Oldham on 16 August, with Beautiful Days Festival, Devon, the following day and on 25 August they return to play Watchet Festival, Somerset. 

Peter Hook & the Light will then play a full UK/ROI tour in September, with a set of Joy Division tracks and a selection from New Order’s Technique and Republic. 

See here for all Peter Hook & the Light dates.

SUMMER NAMM 2019: D’Addario has announced its most “technologically advanced” guitar strings yet, D’Addario XT.

XT promises to combine all the company’s innovations in one set, with high-carbon steel cores, D'Addario’s most popular alloys and extended lifespan treatment on every string.

The strings aim to deliver “enhanced break resistance, pitch stability, and long-lasting performance” while retaining the tone and feel of uncoated strings.

XT strings will be available from September for acoustic, electric, bass and classical guitar, as well as mandolin and banjo, starting from $9.99/£14.50.

These sound similar in concept to Elixir’s Optiweb to us. We’ll be intrigued to compare…

See D’Addario Strings for more.

SUMMER NAMM 2019: Gibson is releasing its own line of guitar strings, which it’s dubbing “the best possible strings to adorn a Gibson guitar”, developed and tested by the company’s master luthiers.

Three sets of strings will be available: Vintage Reissue Guitar Strings, Brite Wire ‘Reinforced’ Electric Guitar Strings and Acoustic Guitar Strings.

According to Gibson, its Vintage Reissue Guitar Strings ($11.99) are crafted “exactly the way they were in the ’50s”, made from nickel wrap and core wire, and are even wound “at the perfect speed” for long-lasting quality.

Brite Wire ‘Reinforced’ strings ($9.99), meanwhile, are what you’ll find on guitars coming out of the Gibson USA factory, with a nickel-plated high-strength carbon core - “the best-performing strings for your electric guitar collection”, apparently.

Finally, the company’s Acoustic Guitar Strings ($12.99) promise “high-frequency clarity, perfectly balanced tone and long-lasting performance”.

Gibson guitar strings are available now - head over to the Gibson online store for more info.

The guitar world is currently waiting to hear which boutique guitar builders the company intends to collaborate with as as it launches its Authorized Partnership Program.

PRS is making a serious play for the guitar accessory market with the release of new electric guitar strings and cables.

The company’s Signature Series Strings are nickel-plated with hex-shaped, high-carbon steel core; apparently, their proprietary, reformulated alloy “provides greater magnetic property for louder, brighter tone”, while soldered ends promise longer string life and improved tuning stability.

PRS Signature Series Strings come in the following gauges for $10.99 a pack: 09-42, 9.5-44, 10-46, 10-52, 11-49, 11-49 with a wound G-string, and 12-52.

The company’s “surprisingly affordable” new Classic Series Cables boast “carefully tuned capacitance”, with spiral shielding for low handling noise, as well as wrapped solder joints under the barrel for increased durability.

They’re available in 6” (patch), 5’, 10’, 18’, 25’ lengths with straight to straight or straight to right-angle connectors, starting at $19.99.

Head over to PRS Accessories for more info.