Acoustic guitar strings are an often undervalued piece of the equation for people who are new to the instrument. Strings can make a huge deal of difference in overall comfort and playability, and most players prefer to swap them out on a semi-regular basis to keep their guitar sounding and feeling fresh. If you’re wondering which strings are right for you, we’ll talk about common features to look for and provide a list of popular options on the market.
Much of the decision comes down to personal preference. Thickness, feel, sound, and durability all play a role in deciding which strings are best for you. In my opinion, gauge (thickness) is going to be the most important factor for the majority of players. I think it’s a good idea to first discover a gauge which feels right under your fingers, and then test out a variety of brands to work out which combination of other features is right for you.
We measure guitar strings in thousandths of an inch in diameter. Packs are listed as a range of values from the highest string to the lowest — for example, 12-54 (.012 to .054 inches in diameter from the high E string to the low E string), which is a typical “light” acoustic guitar gauge. As shorthand, we call strings by their first number, so when someone says they play “12s, ” we understand right away what they mean. The bigger the first number, the thicker the strings.
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Higher gauges can sound bigger and fuller, but they also increase tension. Beginners may struggle to fret thicker strings, and they’re much tougher to bend. This is where play style comes in. If you do a lot of strumming, then thicker, fuller sounding strings are great for that. If you do a lot of delicate fingerstyle playing or soloing with lots of bends, then thinner gauges make it easier to do that.
Tuning also plays a role in deciding which gauge is best. If you play in standard, then a typical set of acoustic 12s is a good place to start. If you down tune, you may want to consider thicker strings to create the same tension you’d get in standard tuning.
Acoustic guitar strings usually consist of a stainless steel core with the bottom four strings wrapped in bronze, copper, or an alloy (wound). Acoustic strings are significantly different than electric ones, which employ nickel or steel windings to be more electrically conductive with pickups. Classical acoustic guitars use nylon strings.
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Coated strings last longer than uncoated ones by preventing sweat, oil, and dead skin from corroding the strings as quickly. They’re more expensive since they last longer, but if you’re one who likes to procrastinate between string changes, then coatings can be very convenient.
The 10 Best Acoustic Guitar Strings for Any Ability Level in 2023 1. Best Overall: Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
Ernie Ball remains one of the top string choices for both acoustic and electric guitarists. These strings come in a variety of gauges and use a blend of copper and aluminum windings over a steel core for full lows and clear highs. These strings aren’t coated, but the aluminum-bronze winding makes them more durable than a pack of phosphor bronze strings.
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These cool throwbacks take cues from the kind of strings people were playing in the 1930s. They use a unique nickel/copper alloy (monel) that has a one-of-a-kind sound and feel. The initial attack is biting, though it rapidly decays to a more mellower tone.
After Ernie Ball, D’Addario is probably the most-played name in acoustic and electric guitar strings. These are relatively neutral sounding set meant to bring out the natural tone of your instrument. They’re made from a nickel/bronze alloy over sturdy steel cores which offer increased durability thanks to D’Addario’s proprietary core formula.
Dunlop 80/20 bronze strings are not only a great value, but they’re also a very versatile string that responds well to any style of playing. That makes them perfect for beginners who are unsure of what to try for the first time. Plus, the Dunlops are quite durable as well, so you can get plenty of life out of them before replacement.
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Elixir 80/20 strings consist of 80% copper and 20% zinc. The premium Nanoweb coating retains the feel of an uncoated string to keep the playing experience natural — the only difference is that these strings will sound new for much longer than the average uncoated string set. They’re slightly pricier than most, yet the durability might offset the cost.
D’Addario Pro-Arte strings are essentially a hybrid between standard steel strings and classical nylon strings. These have a nylon core wrapped in 80/20 bronze meant for restringing classical acoustic guitars.
La Bella strings are a premium imported string. Their proprietary Vapor Shield coating modifies the entire surface of the string during production in a process that does not involve any dipping or spraying the coating onto the string.
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The D’Addario XS line consist of a steel core wrapped in phosphor bronze for a balanced and natural acoustic guitar tone. What sets these apart from other D’Addario acoustic guitar strings is the super-fine thin coating that keeps them crispy and pristine for as long as possible.
Earthwood Phosphor Bronze strings are 92% copper wound around a steel core. Their tone is warm yet clear — something any style of acoustic guitarist would love. They are an excellent value and also a great choice for beginners and veterans alike. Simple, no-frills strings that sound good.
Finally, we have the Fender Dura-Tone 80/20 coated bronze strings. They make a perfect all-around string for multiple playing styles with an enhanced coating that keeps that “out of the pack” feel for up to five times longer than the average uncoated string.I have been writing about and researching music gear for many years, all while serving as a music director at my local church. I engage in guitar playing and singer-songwriter stints, in addition to mentoring young musicians and teaching guitar and bass.
Fender 130 Nylon Ball End Classical Acoustic Guitar Strings
This is a non-standard set of strings that I'm currently using on my Martin OMCPA4. You might find it interesting if you'd like to try something different from the standard gauges featured in the rest of this guide.
This is an extra-light 11-50 gauge set, which is lighter than the 12-54 gauge sets that I'm used to. It has a combination of 80 copper and 20 zinc (percent) alloy windings that shape its bright voicing. It also has a hex core that come standard with many strings.
I'm quite pleased with its smoother and lighter playing feel. I also find its quality and tone to be on par with what I'm used to, albeit with a different trebly flavor.
Fender Cn 140sce Nylon String Acoustic Guitar In Natural
As the label implies, this is a bright sounding set, and while it bothered me at first, I have grown to appreciate its distinct voicing. It may not sound as full as gauge 12 sets, but I like how each string rings with clarity and definition. Chords and solo lines sound noticeably clearer. They have more fidelity, which makes practice, recording and playing solo more enjoyable
On the flip side, I notice that my plugged-in tone is thinner, and easily drowned out when playing with a band. Thankfully, I am able to shave off some of the highs by tweaking the tone settings on my Martin's preamp system. And I ended up liking the result, because I still get the benefit of clarity and focused tone, with less of the unwanted high frequency zing. And since it doesn't have much bass, it also interferes less with the bassist. Still, the bright tonality of this set is more of an acquired taste, especially for those like me who are used to warmer sounding acoustics.
Compared to the 12's that I'm used to, the GHS BB20X is noticeably easier to play. Techniques like bending, sliding, hammer-on and pull-offs are easier to do, even more so when playing simple chords and single line notes. This relaxed playing feel is the main reason why I will most probably continue using this set on my Martin. Due to its lighter playing feel, strumming, plucking and fretting too hard on the strings may cause unwanted buzzing. Sometimes even intonation issues. To avoid these, I had to be more conscious of my playing intensity and avoid going all out.
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In my experience, the GHS BB20X still sounds crisp and fresh after over 3 weeks of use, and this is quite a feat given that this is a non-coated set.
Thanks to the pro setup by my trusted luthier, I never had intonation and tuning stability issues. But if you're inexperienced at string installation and setup, then it is normal to encounter tuning issues. Even more so right after installation, when strings have not yet stretched enough. As they get more corroded, the strings will have intonation problems, especially at the higher frets. This is my cue to swap out the old strings.
If you aren't into trebly tone, and you can't be bothered to tweak your plugged-in sound, then this may not be for you. While
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