Contemporary Music Instruction and Mentoring
Acoustic Guitar Strings
There are four things to consider when
buying acoustic guitar strings: gauge, metal composition,
coating, and brand.
GAUGE
The gauge of the strings tells you how thick they are. All string makers offer strings in a variety of gauges. The thicker the strings are, the louder they are and the better they sound… but they hurt fingers more because they are more difficult to press down onto the fretboard.
String thickness/gauge is measured in 1/1000ths of an inch. For example, many steel string acoustic guitars come from the factory with Medium gauge strings, which are usually .013 gauge (meaning 13/1000ths of an inch) on the thinnest high E string (#1 string) and .056 gauge (meaning 56/1000ths of an inch) on the thickest low E string (#6 string). Guitar players often refer to string sets using the numbers rather than the names, but they drop decimals. So Medium gauge strings are often referred to as "13-56's". Sometimes we get lazy and just say the number of the thinnest string; so Medium gauge strings are sometimes just called "13's".
"Medium" gauge strings (.013-.056) are loud, with a solid tone, but are hard to press, and many people find them painful and difficult to play. They are preferred by advanced players with strong fingers who want the most volume and best tone. But most players find barre chords very hard to play, and bending strings is near impossible with these monster strings.
“Light” gauge strings (.012-.053) are a good compromise between good tone versus ease of playing. Many intermediate and advanced players prefer Light Gauge strings, and many guitars come from the factory with light gauge strings. This is the gauge I personally use on all of my guitars.
“Custom Light” gauge strings (.011-.052) are even lighter. They don’t create as much volume but are easy on the fingers. Many beginners like them because they can play for longer stretches of time while fingers are getting stronger and their callouses are building up. This is the gauge I used for many years because playing barre chords was so much easier, and my fingers and wrists didn't hurt as much.
“Extra Light” or “Slinky” strings (.010-.047) are the thinnest strings. They are super easy on the fingers, but they don’t create much volume and are thin sounding.
METAL COMPOSITION
On an acoustic guitar, the two thinnest/highest strings are made of steel. The other four strings also have thin steel core wires, but with a softer metal alloy wire wound around the outside of the core wires. Most string manufacturers offer a choice between two types of alloy that are used to make the windings on these strings: “80/20 Bronze” and “Phosphor Bronze”. These two different alloys result in very different sounds.
“80/20 Bronze” (80% copper and 20% zinc) strings are OEM on most lower priced acoustic guitars. They are the “standard” sounding strings. They have a good tone from top to bottom. They have a “punch” when you first hit them with a pick, then as they fade they become mellow after the initial punch. 80/20 Bronze offers a bright and articulate sound while maintaining a bell-like projection with scooped mids. On most guitars, these strings sound great when using a pick. They really cut through the mix when they are new. Their weakness is that 80/20s tend to mellow out rather quickly, and before long they sound dull. (By the way, guitar players and string manufacturers call them "80/20 Bronze" but that is a misnomer; copper and zinc are actually brass, not bronze. If you don't believe me, look it up. Copper and Zinc alloys are the definition of Brass. So the correct name for these strings should actually be "80/20 Brass.")
“Phosphor Bronze” (92% copper and 8% tin plus a trace amount of phosphorous) strings come OEM on some high end acoustic guitars. The higher copper content gives them more complexities in the overtones/harmonics. Phosphor Bronze strings have a full, warm and complex tone with rich midrange harmonics, that sits well in the mix. Their weakness is that they do not have as much punch, and they make the guitar sound thinner on the bottom end. Because they have a richer tone when played softly, these strings sound great when finger picking.
"Nickel Bronze" is a relatively new alloy, recently introduced by D'Addario, that has a different flavor than either 80/20 Bonze or Phosphor Bronze. The windings are made of phosphor bronze that has been coated with a thin coat of nickel. Nickel Bronze offers an uncolored and natural tone that can be described as more organic, while maintaining natural overtones and great projection. With Nickel Bronze strings, you hear the natural sound of the guitar’s wood without as much coloration from the strings. The tone is clear and focused, with articulate highs and mids and a tight and responsive low-end.
There’s no right or wrong; it is a matter of individual taste. I personally use Phosphor Bronze on all my acoustic guitars except my 12-string, which has 80/20 strings.
COATINGS
Normal (non-coated) strings sound good for a short time, then oxygen in the air attacks the bronze, and oil and sweat and dirt from your fingers seeps through the windings, which dulls the sound. Most players can get several weeks of playing before the strings start sounding bad, but some people with oily or sweaty hands have to change strings every day. A few professionals even change strings halfway through a show! Fortunately, string manufacturers offer strings that last longer because they are nano-coated with a microscopic layer of a polymer (usually PTFE / Teflon) that keeps oxygen from attacking the bronze and keeps finger sweat/oil out of the windings. Although coated strings cost a little more, they last much longer, so they are extremely cost effective.
In addition to long life, there are two other benefits of coated strings: First, the coating makes the string feel smoother to your fingers and, second, the coating reduces "finger noise" when sliding your fingers across them.
Not all guitarists like coated strings. There are two reasons why some players dislike them. First, some don't like the smoother feel of the strings (they say they feel "slimy"... I personally think they are nuts; I love the smoother feel and reduced squeaking). More importantly, coating a string always dulls its sound. In my opinion, a coating on 80/20 strings ruins them. The coating takes away the "chime" and "punch" of the 80/20's right from the start. To me, brand-new coated 80/20's sound similar to used 80/20 strings that have been on the guitar for several weeks or months and are starting to sound dull. They just don't "sing" as well and don't have that clear bell-like sound that characterizes 80/20's.
In contrast, in my opinion, coating Phosphor Bronze strings does not ruin them. Perhaps that is because Phosphor Bronze has such rich harmonics to begin with. I love coated Phosphor Bronze strings. They feel great, they sound great, and they stay sounding great for a very long time.
Nickel Bronze strings are are not offered with a coating, so I don't know how their sound would be affected by a coating. I suspect they would be too dull, which is probably why D'Addario doesn't offer them with a coating.
Not all coatings are equal. Most manufacturers coat the winding wire before winding it onto the core wire. Elixir Nanowebs and D'Addario XS strings are the only ones that coat the entire string after it has been wound, which better seals the spaces between the windings to keep oils and contaminants out.
BRAND OF STRINGS
BEST SOUND AND LONGEST LIFE: Elixir is my favorite string for general, everyday use, because they sound better and last longer than any other strings I have tried. Elixir makes two kinds of coatings: Nanoweb and Polyweb. I recommend Nanowebs. Polywebs last longer than Nanowebs but I do not recommend them because they are too dull sounding.
MOST RESISTANT TO BREAKING: D'Addario XS strings sound almost as good and last almost as long as Elixir Nanoweb's, and their "NY Steel" core makes them 13% more resistant to breaking. They seem to be a bit brighter than Nanowebs but they are also squeakier. They are my second favorite string for general, everyday use.
EASIEST TO PLAY: One more option that I only recommend in very unusual cases is Zager EZ-Play "Pillow Touch" strings. These strings are made from a softer steel that flexes more easily, which makes them much easier to press. FAR easier. The difference is quite remarkable; they require 50% less finger pressure than other strings to form chords. In fact, on a well set up guitar, they are as easy to play as nylon strings! BUT (and this is a big "but"), the trade-off is that they are not great sounding strings. So I don't recommend them for most students. However, for young children with small fingers, and also for anyone else with a physical disability such as weak fingers, arthritis, carpel tunnel, or similar conditions that result in finger or wrist weakness or pain, these are the strings for you. Zager offers them coated or uncoated, and of course I recommend the coated version.
There are many other brands, and I like some of them, but the above three are the brands I recommend.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MY STUDENTS
For most intermediate and advanced students using a full sized guitar, I recommend Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze strings in the Light gauge (.012-.053) (product code ELX_16052).
For most intermediate and advanced students using a GS Mini guitar, I recommend Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze strings in the Medium Gauge (.013-.056) (product code ELX_16102)].
For most beginner students using a full-sized guitar, I recommend Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze strings in the Custom Light gauge (.011-.052) (product code ELX_16027).
For most beginner students using a GS Mini guitar, I recommend Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze strings in the Light gauge (.012-.053) (product code ELX_16052).
For young teens or adults using a full-sized guitar who have difficulty with string buzzing or wrist/finger pain using the above recommended strings, I recommend Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze strings in the Extra Light Gauge (.010-.047) (product code ELX_16002).
For young teens or adults using a GS Mini guitar who have difficulty with string buzzing or wrist/finger pain using the above recommended strings, I recommend Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze strings in the Custom Light gauge (.011-.052) (product code ELX_16027).
For young children, and also for adults with finger or wrist disabilities who need a softer string than recommended above, I recommend Zager EZ-Play Pillow Touch coated strings.
WHERE TO BUY STRINGS
The local music stores usually have some, but not all, of the strings listed above in stock. If the stores don’t have the set you want, don’t let them talk you into buying what they have on hand. You can ask them to please order the strings you want, or you can always purchase strings at sweetwater.com, stringsandbeyond.com, or juststrings.com, all three of which are very good, honest companies.
Do not ever buy strings on Ebay, and be careful on Amazon. Beware of fake, counterfeit, knock off "Elixir" strings for super cheap prices on Ebay and other online retailers (usually around 1/3 the price of real Elixirs). They are NOT real. They are NOT made by Elixir, they are NOT made of the right alloy, they are NOT wound with quality equipment and workmanship, and they are NOT even coated at all. They are made by Chinese scumbags who should be banned from Ebay for violating USA trademark and patent laws. Anyone who sells them is a scammer who is trying to sell garbage to unsuspecting customers.
Zager strings are available only directly from the manufacturer. (LINK HERE to order Zager strings).
HOW TO RESTRING YOUR GUITAR
There are various methods for changing strings, and there are a lot of strongly held but wrong opinions among guitarists as to which is the "best" way. I have tried them all, and have found that the method recommended by Taylor Guitars is by far the easiest, fastest, cleanest, and most tuning-stable of them all. LINK HERE for information on how to correctly install strings.
In most cases, you can change brands and brass types and coatings without re-adjusting your guitar's action, but if you change gauge of strings, or if you change to Zager strings, you will need to adjust the truss rod in the neck to compensate for the different tension the strings place on the neck. LINK HERE for information on how to adjust the truss rod.
GAUGE
The gauge of the strings tells you how thick they are. All string makers offer strings in a variety of gauges. The thicker the strings are, the louder they are and the better they sound… but they hurt fingers more because they are more difficult to press down onto the fretboard.
String thickness/gauge is measured in 1/1000ths of an inch. For example, many steel string acoustic guitars come from the factory with Medium gauge strings, which are usually .013 gauge (meaning 13/1000ths of an inch) on the thinnest high E string (#1 string) and .056 gauge (meaning 56/1000ths of an inch) on the thickest low E string (#6 string). Guitar players often refer to string sets using the numbers rather than the names, but they drop decimals. So Medium gauge strings are often referred to as "13-56's". Sometimes we get lazy and just say the number of the thinnest string; so Medium gauge strings are sometimes just called "13's".
"Medium" gauge strings (.013-.056) are loud, with a solid tone, but are hard to press, and many people find them painful and difficult to play. They are preferred by advanced players with strong fingers who want the most volume and best tone. But most players find barre chords very hard to play, and bending strings is near impossible with these monster strings.
“Light” gauge strings (.012-.053) are a good compromise between good tone versus ease of playing. Many intermediate and advanced players prefer Light Gauge strings, and many guitars come from the factory with light gauge strings. This is the gauge I personally use on all of my guitars.
“Custom Light” gauge strings (.011-.052) are even lighter. They don’t create as much volume but are easy on the fingers. Many beginners like them because they can play for longer stretches of time while fingers are getting stronger and their callouses are building up. This is the gauge I used for many years because playing barre chords was so much easier, and my fingers and wrists didn't hurt as much.
“Extra Light” or “Slinky” strings (.010-.047) are the thinnest strings. They are super easy on the fingers, but they don’t create much volume and are thin sounding.
METAL COMPOSITION
On an acoustic guitar, the two thinnest/highest strings are made of steel. The other four strings also have thin steel core wires, but with a softer metal alloy wire wound around the outside of the core wires. Most string manufacturers offer a choice between two types of alloy that are used to make the windings on these strings: “80/20 Bronze” and “Phosphor Bronze”. These two different alloys result in very different sounds.
“80/20 Bronze” (80% copper and 20% zinc) strings are OEM on most lower priced acoustic guitars. They are the “standard” sounding strings. They have a good tone from top to bottom. They have a “punch” when you first hit them with a pick, then as they fade they become mellow after the initial punch. 80/20 Bronze offers a bright and articulate sound while maintaining a bell-like projection with scooped mids. On most guitars, these strings sound great when using a pick. They really cut through the mix when they are new. Their weakness is that 80/20s tend to mellow out rather quickly, and before long they sound dull. (By the way, guitar players and string manufacturers call them "80/20 Bronze" but that is a misnomer; copper and zinc are actually brass, not bronze. If you don't believe me, look it up. Copper and Zinc alloys are the definition of Brass. So the correct name for these strings should actually be "80/20 Brass.")
“Phosphor Bronze” (92% copper and 8% tin plus a trace amount of phosphorous) strings come OEM on some high end acoustic guitars. The higher copper content gives them more complexities in the overtones/harmonics. Phosphor Bronze strings have a full, warm and complex tone with rich midrange harmonics, that sits well in the mix. Their weakness is that they do not have as much punch, and they make the guitar sound thinner on the bottom end. Because they have a richer tone when played softly, these strings sound great when finger picking.
"Nickel Bronze" is a relatively new alloy, recently introduced by D'Addario, that has a different flavor than either 80/20 Bonze or Phosphor Bronze. The windings are made of phosphor bronze that has been coated with a thin coat of nickel. Nickel Bronze offers an uncolored and natural tone that can be described as more organic, while maintaining natural overtones and great projection. With Nickel Bronze strings, you hear the natural sound of the guitar’s wood without as much coloration from the strings. The tone is clear and focused, with articulate highs and mids and a tight and responsive low-end.
There’s no right or wrong; it is a matter of individual taste. I personally use Phosphor Bronze on all my acoustic guitars except my 12-string, which has 80/20 strings.
COATINGS
Normal (non-coated) strings sound good for a short time, then oxygen in the air attacks the bronze, and oil and sweat and dirt from your fingers seeps through the windings, which dulls the sound. Most players can get several weeks of playing before the strings start sounding bad, but some people with oily or sweaty hands have to change strings every day. A few professionals even change strings halfway through a show! Fortunately, string manufacturers offer strings that last longer because they are nano-coated with a microscopic layer of a polymer (usually PTFE / Teflon) that keeps oxygen from attacking the bronze and keeps finger sweat/oil out of the windings. Although coated strings cost a little more, they last much longer, so they are extremely cost effective.
In addition to long life, there are two other benefits of coated strings: First, the coating makes the string feel smoother to your fingers and, second, the coating reduces "finger noise" when sliding your fingers across them.
Not all guitarists like coated strings. There are two reasons why some players dislike them. First, some don't like the smoother feel of the strings (they say they feel "slimy"... I personally think they are nuts; I love the smoother feel and reduced squeaking). More importantly, coating a string always dulls its sound. In my opinion, a coating on 80/20 strings ruins them. The coating takes away the "chime" and "punch" of the 80/20's right from the start. To me, brand-new coated 80/20's sound similar to used 80/20 strings that have been on the guitar for several weeks or months and are starting to sound dull. They just don't "sing" as well and don't have that clear bell-like sound that characterizes 80/20's.
In contrast, in my opinion, coating Phosphor Bronze strings does not ruin them. Perhaps that is because Phosphor Bronze has such rich harmonics to begin with. I love coated Phosphor Bronze strings. They feel great, they sound great, and they stay sounding great for a very long time.
Nickel Bronze strings are are not offered with a coating, so I don't know how their sound would be affected by a coating. I suspect they would be too dull, which is probably why D'Addario doesn't offer them with a coating.
Not all coatings are equal. Most manufacturers coat the winding wire before winding it onto the core wire. Elixir Nanowebs and D'Addario XS strings are the only ones that coat the entire string after it has been wound, which better seals the spaces between the windings to keep oils and contaminants out.
BRAND OF STRINGS
BEST SOUND AND LONGEST LIFE: Elixir is my favorite string for general, everyday use, because they sound better and last longer than any other strings I have tried. Elixir makes two kinds of coatings: Nanoweb and Polyweb. I recommend Nanowebs. Polywebs last longer than Nanowebs but I do not recommend them because they are too dull sounding.
MOST RESISTANT TO BREAKING: D'Addario XS strings sound almost as good and last almost as long as Elixir Nanoweb's, and their "NY Steel" core makes them 13% more resistant to breaking. They seem to be a bit brighter than Nanowebs but they are also squeakier. They are my second favorite string for general, everyday use.
EASIEST TO PLAY: One more option that I only recommend in very unusual cases is Zager EZ-Play "Pillow Touch" strings. These strings are made from a softer steel that flexes more easily, which makes them much easier to press. FAR easier. The difference is quite remarkable; they require 50% less finger pressure than other strings to form chords. In fact, on a well set up guitar, they are as easy to play as nylon strings! BUT (and this is a big "but"), the trade-off is that they are not great sounding strings. So I don't recommend them for most students. However, for young children with small fingers, and also for anyone else with a physical disability such as weak fingers, arthritis, carpel tunnel, or similar conditions that result in finger or wrist weakness or pain, these are the strings for you. Zager offers them coated or uncoated, and of course I recommend the coated version.
There are many other brands, and I like some of them, but the above three are the brands I recommend.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MY STUDENTS
For most intermediate and advanced students using a full sized guitar, I recommend Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze strings in the Light gauge (.012-.053) (product code ELX_16052).
For most intermediate and advanced students using a GS Mini guitar, I recommend Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze strings in the Medium Gauge (.013-.056) (product code ELX_16102)].
For most beginner students using a full-sized guitar, I recommend Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze strings in the Custom Light gauge (.011-.052) (product code ELX_16027).
For most beginner students using a GS Mini guitar, I recommend Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze strings in the Light gauge (.012-.053) (product code ELX_16052).
For young teens or adults using a full-sized guitar who have difficulty with string buzzing or wrist/finger pain using the above recommended strings, I recommend Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze strings in the Extra Light Gauge (.010-.047) (product code ELX_16002).
For young teens or adults using a GS Mini guitar who have difficulty with string buzzing or wrist/finger pain using the above recommended strings, I recommend Elixir Nanoweb Phosphor Bronze strings in the Custom Light gauge (.011-.052) (product code ELX_16027).
For young children, and also for adults with finger or wrist disabilities who need a softer string than recommended above, I recommend Zager EZ-Play Pillow Touch coated strings.
WHERE TO BUY STRINGS
The local music stores usually have some, but not all, of the strings listed above in stock. If the stores don’t have the set you want, don’t let them talk you into buying what they have on hand. You can ask them to please order the strings you want, or you can always purchase strings at sweetwater.com, stringsandbeyond.com, or juststrings.com, all three of which are very good, honest companies.
Do not ever buy strings on Ebay, and be careful on Amazon. Beware of fake, counterfeit, knock off "Elixir" strings for super cheap prices on Ebay and other online retailers (usually around 1/3 the price of real Elixirs). They are NOT real. They are NOT made by Elixir, they are NOT made of the right alloy, they are NOT wound with quality equipment and workmanship, and they are NOT even coated at all. They are made by Chinese scumbags who should be banned from Ebay for violating USA trademark and patent laws. Anyone who sells them is a scammer who is trying to sell garbage to unsuspecting customers.
Zager strings are available only directly from the manufacturer. (LINK HERE to order Zager strings).
HOW TO RESTRING YOUR GUITAR
There are various methods for changing strings, and there are a lot of strongly held but wrong opinions among guitarists as to which is the "best" way. I have tried them all, and have found that the method recommended by Taylor Guitars is by far the easiest, fastest, cleanest, and most tuning-stable of them all. LINK HERE for information on how to correctly install strings.
In most cases, you can change brands and brass types and coatings without re-adjusting your guitar's action, but if you change gauge of strings, or if you change to Zager strings, you will need to adjust the truss rod in the neck to compensate for the different tension the strings place on the neck. LINK HERE for information on how to adjust the truss rod.