Good guitar strings are not just about how they sound but how much enjoyment they give you. Uncomfortable strings can ruin the whole fun, even if they sound as they’re supposed to. You want every single piece of your guitar to sound and feel as good as possible. Shops like Iron Age provide you with a variety of great guitar accessories, but the final choice is yours because only your personal preferences matter. How to make this choice? Let’s get right into it and find out the ins and outs of the best guitar strings.
Guitar Strings Basics
Nylon strings are soft, while steel strings are hard. Everyone knows as much, but not everyone is aware that there are many more types of strings, and professional musicians choose them according to a wide range of parameters.
It’s better to pick guitar strings after you have bought the guitar or at least decided on its type. The fact is that accessories for classical, acoustic, and electric guitars have different requirements. Classical guitar strings can’t be placed on acoustic guitar and vice versa.
Nevertheless, guitar strings of all types have some parameters in common.
Thickness
The thicker the strings, the “bigger” their sound and the more difficult it will be for you to pinch chords. Therefore, a 0.008″ thickness is recommended for beginners, while the thickest string used by professional guitarists reaches 0.013″. If you are no longer a beginner but have not yet fully mastered the skill, you should consider a thickness of 0.01″.
The other question is the choice of strings for a bass guitar. Such strings should have a very “heavy” and juicy sound, so the thickness can be up to 0.02″.
Winding
Strings are made of different materials. The most common and budget-friendly option is copper, which is often used for strings of acoustic guitars. Silver is more expensive but also looks much more attractive. In addition, silver-plated strings don’t leave dark streaks on the fingers, unlike copper ones. The most durable finishes are phosphor bronze and brass, but they will sound lower than copper or silver ones.
Winding form. For acoustic and classical guitars, it can be round or flat. The sound will be more sonorous in the first case and muffled in the second. Electric guitar strings can have semi-circular or hexagonal winding.
Tension
It can be weak, medium, and hard. The weaker the tension, the easier it will be to press the string against the fingerboard, but the sound will also be less vibrant. Your fingers must be very well trained to use accessories marked hard or extra-hard, but the sound they produce will be the most vibrant, so rock musicians especially love this type of tension.
As you can see, good strings are about sound, convenience, and guitar lifespan. So, don’t neglect these criteria when deciding on a suitable set of strings. Choose one suitable for your type of instrument. If your guitar is used daily, change the strings at least every six months.