String gauge is an important part of playing and getting the best possible sound out of your guitar. Here’s everything you need to know about acoustic guitar string gauges to make an informed decision about what strings are best for you. We’ll cover string materials in a separate article.
Gauge refers to the diameter of a string. Gauges are described in thousandths of an inch according to the high E string and can be found listed on the back of a string pack.
For purposes of this article we’ll refer to anything from extra light to light as “lighter, ” and anything from medium to heavy as “heavier.” While we want this article to be a comprehensive overview of string gauges for acoustic guitars, it is important to note that Martin does not recommend heavy gauge strings for any Martin guitars. We recommend using only extra light through medium gauge strings on our guitars. Heavy strings can cause too much tension on the top which may cause irreversible damage.
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What's the difference between light and medium guitar strings? How do heavy acoustic guitar strings differ from extra light ones? As you consider the best acoustic guitar string gauge for your needs, you need to understand more about each gauge's pros and cons. Here are factors you should know about:
When changing string gauge on acoustic guitar or picking out your first set of strings for a new instrument, you need to consider several factors.
If you’re just starting out, it’s not unusual that your fingers will have to toughen up a little. Lighter gauge strings will be more forgiving on your fingers as you’re learning, but as your dexterity and hand strength improve, you may find you prefer strings with different qualities.
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While string gauge is very much a matter of personal preference based on tone and feel, most manufacturers recommend string gauge based on body size. This is primarily due to the amount of tension exerted on the guitar top by the strings. In general, the larger the body, the more tension it can withstand. Here's how lighter strings compare to heavier strings relating to guitar body size:
Are you playing for yourself in your living room? Or do you need your sound to reach the back of an auditorium? You’ll want to be sure to choose the right string gauge that will help you and your guitar sound the best.
It's important to understand what happens to your guitar when changing to a lighter string gauge or heavier string gauge. Say you start with medium gauge guitar strings — going from medium to light gauge guitar strings will cause your guitar to experience less tension, resulting in the neck relaxing a bit, like a half-opened book opening further. This can lead to fret buzz as your strings might now contact certain frets along the fretboard due to the lower action caused by the relieved tension.
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The opposite happens when changing to a heavier string gauge from a lighter one. The added tension causes the acoustic guitar's neck to bow inward, like a partially closed book. This will increase the action on your strings, increasing the difficulty of pressing strings on the frets to play notes. This can also cause severe damage to your acoustic guitar, especially if your instrument was designed for lighter-gauge strings.
It's wise to know the recommended tension for your acoustic guitar. If you're unsure, you can always contact the manufacturer, read any information included with your guitar or do some research online. Compare this information with the string gauges listed on the back of the packages of strings you're considering.
Here is a string gauge tuning chart to help you better understand your needs based on Martin Guitar's 80/20 bronze acoustic guitar strings:
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If you found yourself aligned with most of the qualities of “lighter” strings outlined here, choosing a string labeled “Light” is a good starting point. If you’re finding finger fatigue is an issue, or you wish it were easier to bend notes, try extra light or custom light gauge strings.
If most of the qualities of heavier strings appealed to you, start with strings that are labeled “Medium.” While Martin does not recommend using heavy gauge strings on Martin guitars, we want to paint a complete picture of string gauge options. Some guitarists use heavy gauge strings for amplification, sustain, drop/down tuning or tuning stability reasons.
One thing to keep in mind when trying out a new string gauge is to make sure your guitar is set up correctly for the gauge you're playing. Things like fret buzz can be a symptom of needing to visit a luthier to have your guitar adjusted.
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Martin Guitar makes our own line of acoustic guitar strings in extra light through medium gauges from a variety of material options to suit every player. All of Martin’s guitars come strung with Martin strings, but they will give any brand of acoustic guitar the tone it deserves.Don’t overthink the decision on which type of acoustic guitar string gauge to buy. Your first choice is either thin, medium, or thick strings. The other choices are the type of metal used and whether or not you want guitar strings that have a coating on the wound strings. I cover the basics of different types of strings and mention my preferred acoustic guitar string brand.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the various types and facts about acoustic guitar string. There are different sizes, different materials, different winding, etc. You don’t need a scientist or engineer to help you decide which string set to buy.
The best thing to do is to buy different types of strings and see which you prefer. The only problem with that method is that you either have to change strings often, or you need more than one acoustic guitar.
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Metal Materials: There are different types of metals used to make guitar strings. The two most popular types are 80% copper & 20% zinc (80/20) which have a bright sound or Phosphor Bronze which have a darker and fuller tone.
Other factors: The wound guitar strings (Low E, A & D) have different cores (hex or round), different winding methods, and some also have coatings.
Lighter gauge strings are easier to play when it comes to fretting chords or bending strings. However, because they are thinner they break easier. They are also known for having less volume and sustain than heavier strings.
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Heavier gauge strings, on the other hand, are harder to play and require more hand and finger strength. As a result, they are not a good choice for beginners. They are louder and have a longer sustain and will not break as easy as thinner strings.
You may want to consider using the string gauge I use, Light or 12’s, as they are in the middle. If they feel too hard to play then try the thinner strings, or go to thicker strings if you want a fuller sound. Start with something in the middle then go thinner or thicker based on your experience.
Your options are extra light, custom light, light, medium, and heavy. In the image below you will also see light-medium which is an additional string gauge that Elixir produces.
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Don’t bother memorizing the size of each string. I only included the sizes for both E strings. You’re not going to be tested to see if you can remember the exact diameters for each gauge.
In general, the diameter of the high E string is used to refer to the entire set of strings. For example, I play light Elixir strings where the high E string has a diameter of .012”, and are referred to as “12’s”. Heavy strings, on the other hand, would be referred to as “14’s”.
I prefer the coated strings made by Elixir, specifically the light gauge. They have coatings named Polyweb and Nanoweb coatings. One of them is a thin coating and the other is thicker. I play both and they sound great to me. Also, they go a long time without breaking!
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One of the most annoying sounds to me is hearing strings squeak when you move position on the 4 wound strings. That is kept to a minimum with their coated strings. I’m fine with the slight loss of tone if it also means little to no squeak.
The choice is yours. You could go middle of the road and buy light gauge guitar strings and size up or down the next time you change strings. As I mentioned above, I prefer the light coated Elixir strings so give them a try.
Check out my article on making a Guitar String Bend map for your guitar and string combination. It’s a great idea to know how far you can bend each string at various fret positions.
Gauging Your Gauge: Acoustic Guitar Strings Explained
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