Guitar Strings and How to Choose Them, Pt. 2

Did you miss Part 1? Check it out over here!

So, you’ve begun the search for your strings but you’re still not quite sure where to start. First, what genre of music are you playing? Let’s start there.

Country - Bright, Crisp, and Clean

Rock - Dark, Heavy, Distorted.

Blues - Warm, Mellow, Slightly Distorted

Pop - Warm/Bright, Many Effects

Many packs of strings will give you a description of what the tone quality will be, D’Addario is great about this. Remember that little chart I showed you in the Music Minute Monday video? That’s a great place to start.

Another thing that determines your tone is the gauge or size of your strings. The heavier (bigger) gauge, the warmer the tone. The thinner (smaller) the gauge, the brighter the tone. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Heavier gauges can be harder to play, because the strings aren’t as malleable when trying to bend them. However, they do produce more sound. Lightweight strings don’t require a large amount of finger strength, but they can wear down quicker, and break relatively easily if you’re a heavy-handed player. However, they are much easier to bend.

Just remember, it’s more about what sounds good to YOUR EAR, and the goal you have for your tone. So, try as many of them out as possible.

For further understanding, check out the really helpful charts on yourguitarbrain.com. Their explanation is very visual and insightful!