Electric Guitar String Gauge: What Should You Use?

So, you’ve played through your current set of guitar strings. You’ve worn them down over a couple of months (or more!) and now they’re dull and dirty. It’s time for a change. What next? You’ll need to pick up another set with a suitable string gauge that matches your instrument, playing style, and musical genre.

Choosing a set of guitar strings is simple when you know what you’re looking for, and you probably won’t change much once you’ve settled on the right ones. But until you’ve figured out your strings of choice, the many combinations of gauges and brands can be a real headache – but we can cure it! In this guide, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about guitar strings, including gauge size, the best electric guitar strings for different genres, and why you might want to consider coated strings.

Table of Contents

• String Gauges In A Nutshell
• What Is String Gauge
• Why String Gauge Matters
• String Gauges and Music Genres
• A Word on Coated Guitar Strings
• Popular Guitar String Brands
• The Best String Gauge for You
• Electric Guitar String Gauge: FAQs
• Further Reading

String Gauges In A Nutshell

• String gauge is the thickness/diameter of a guitar string.
• It’s measured in 1/1000th of an inch. For example, a 10-gauge string is 0.010 inches.
• Guitar string packs are usually referred to by their thinnest string, e.g. 10s.
• Strings are commonly made of stainless steel, nickel, cobalt or copper.
• Thicker strings create more bass frequencies and put up more resistance to your fingers; thinner strings produce more treble and feel slinkier.

What is String Gauge?

If you’ve ever so much as seen a guitar, you’ll already know that guitar strings are really thin. So thin, in fact, that string manufacturers need to provide a quantifiable measurement for us regular players to understand. The smaller the number, the thinner the string. The higher the number, the thicker it is.

For example, a .008-inch string is extremely light and would generally be used as the thinnest string on an electric guitar. A .056-inch string, on the other hand, is very thick and would likely be the largest on a six-string electric guitar. Lots of companies refer to their packs of strings by the thinnest string in that set. The most common sets you’ll encounter are 9s, 10s and 11s. For ease of understanding, some brands also give generic names to their string sets, like light, medium, or heavy.

However, the thickness of equivalent strings will vary from brand to brand. For example, you might see Ernie Ball make a set almost identical to D’Addario, but one has a third string measuring in at .018 inches, while the other is .016 inches. That’s why it’s important to understand exactly what you’re buying – and what’s changing when you buy a new set of strings.

Why String Gauge Matters

Guitar strings have a bigger effect on tone and playability than you might think. Different gauges provide a variety of sounds and affect both fretting and strumming hands. Let’s quickly compare two common sets of strings:

.009        .011        .016        .024        .032        .042

.011        .015        .018        .026        .036        .050

The first set is thinner across every string than the second. That means that they’ll typically be “easier” to play for beginner guitarists, because they demand less finger strength to fret and bend. On the other hand, they do require more precision to really add character to your playing and master techniques like a delicate vibrato, legato or arpeggios.

Thicker strings hold more tension across the fretboard, making them feel taut and deliberate to strum, but they’re also tougher to bend. The more you use them, the more they’ll help you build up finger strength and picking endurance. But before you swap out your light strings for something a bit beefier, you may have to build your finger strength up to a certain level before you try them out. You’ll also need to familiarise yourself with guitar setup to adjust your string height, especially if you’re replacing thin strings. That’s because larger strings set up at a lower action will likely give you some fret buzz from the strings hitting the frets in front of the ones you’re playing.

String Gauges and Music Genres

If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then string gauge preference is in the fingers of the guitarist. Whatever genre you play, and however you play it, there isn’t really any such thing as the right string gauge to use – you could use almost any gauge for any genre. That said, if you want to reproduce the iconic tones of your favourite musicians, there are a few general guidelines you might want to follow.

Thin Guitar Strings

“Thin strings” generally refer to a pack of 9-44 gauge or thinner.

Let’s start with country and folk music: these genres often incorporate a lot of finger picking with bright, twangy tones. Thinner strings provide good clarity and speed for the picking hand as you let each string ring out true. Pop music suits lighter strings, too, as the guitar player’s focus in this role leans towards the higher middle and treble frequencies for pristine, clear chords.

Contemporary jazz guitar usually involves a lot of technical, fast playing and advanced techniques, so you may want to opt for a thin string gauge to keep fretting light and nimble, especially if you’re hitting lots of notes in quick succession.

Blues guitarists love a big string bend, and it’s easiest to achieve them using thinner strings. It’s true that the likes of Stevie Ray Vaughan did prefer thick strings for their warmer tone, despite the extra effort those characterful bends demand. But essentially, you can go either way here – although thin strings will make things a lot easier!

Across the spectrum of genres, many great guitarists have been known to prefer light gauge strings, such as Jimi Hendrix, Brian May, Billy Gibbons, and B.B. King.

Medium/Hybrid Strings

Medium string gauges (generally referring to 10 or 11-gauge) are a versatile pick for almost any genre. They’re great for rock and blues, as you can really dig in and get chunky sounds out of low-tuned strings while still retaining the flexibility for solos.

Hybrid packs usually comprise thicker low strings and lighter higher strings. You essentially get the best of both worlds: a meatier tone for riffing with the bonus fretting ease on the thinner, upper strings. Hybrid strings aren’t specific to any genre of music in particular, but they’re a popular choice for many guitarists who perform both rhythm and lead duties.

Thick Strings

Thicker strings of 11-gauge or higher are great at maintaining tension when you tune down from the standard EADGBE tuning to drop D, D standard, drop C and lower, or for extended range guitars. Thin gauges get very difficult to play at lower tunings, fluctuating in and out of pitch when you play them. That’s why heavier gauges are pretty much a requirement for metal and old school warm tones. Very thick gauge strings (with the thickest string being 52 and heavier) tend to suit tunings of drop B or lower.

Thick strings are great for rock and metal music, which usually favour bassy tones and drop tunings; they’ll retain that all-important tension while still allowing some manageable string slack for easier playability when tuning down to lower notes. This is a major point in opting for thick strings over thin strings, which don’t sound quite as chunky or produce the power to accompany lower tunings. 

Because thicker strings tend to provide more volume, warmth, and resonance, they’re also a popular choice for acoustic guitarists. It’s also not quite so common to bend acoustic strings, so it’s okay to sacrifice some elasticity for tension. That’s not to say you can’t bend on heavier strings – just take Stevie Ray Vaughan or Josh Smith as an example – but it’ll take a lot of practice to get that level of finger strength!

String Gauge Comparison

A Word on Coated Guitar Strings

In recent years, coated guitar strings have continued to grow in popularity, but what exactly are they? Essentially, they’re regular strings that have been finished with a thin protective polymer layer over the metal winding. This coating helps prevent dirt, sweat, and oils from corroding the strings, making them last significantly longer than uncoated alternatives. These coated strings were once a premium niche product, but they’re now widely available and used by players of all levels who want to maximise the life of their strings.

One common concern with coated strings is that they can feel slightly different to play. Some guitarists say the coating gives the strings a slicker, smoother surface that reduces finger noise, while others feel that it slightly dulls their tone or affects the natural feel of the string. These differences are fairly subtle, though, and largely come down to your own personal preference and the brand you choose.

The two biggest names in the coated string world are Elixir and D’Addario. Elixir’s strings use a proprietary Nanoweb or Polyweb coating, depending on the feel and tone you’re after. Nanowebs have a lighter touch and brighter tone, while Polywebs are warmer and even more durable. Then there’s the EXP and XS coated lines from D’Addario. The XS range is ultra-thin and almost indistinguishable from uncoated strings in both tone and feel.

If you regularly gig, live in a humid climate, or just really, really hate restringing your guitar, then coated strings are well worth a try. They might cost a bit more up front, but their longer lifespan often makes them better value in the long run.

Popular Guitar String Brands

The biggest guitar string maker is Ernie Ball. They standardised string gauges with their all-purpose nickel-wound Slinky packs.

Here’s a guide to their popular range:

• Extra Slinky: 8-38
• Super Slinky: 9-42
• Regular Slinky: 10-46
• Power Slinky: 11-48
• Beefy Slinky: 11-54
• Not Even Slinky: 12-56

Ernie Ball also make a variety of hybrid sets to bridge the gaps between the main packs in the range. This is to cater for some players that like the tightness of the low strings but want to relieve the tension on the high strings, and vice versa. These include a 9-46 Hybrid Slinky, 10-48 Ultra Slinky, 10-52 Skinny Top, Heavy Bottom and 11-52 Burly Slinky. If you’re looking for something in between those, you’re in the right place. Ernie Ball cover various middling 9.5-gauge and 10.5 gauge packs.

Ernie Ball Guitar Strings

Other popular brands include D’Addario, Elixir, Rotosound, Fender, Dunlop and relative newcomers Curt Mangan. Each company has a different take on string gauge combinations. It’s down to you to test them out and work out your favourites. After all, string gauge is 90% preference.

The Best String Gauge For You

One of the best ways to find your ideal string gauge is to research what your favourite guitarists use, or what other musicians who play the same genre of music gravitate towards.

From here, it’s time to experiment. Every player has a natural preference for the tone and feel of guitar strings. Don’t be afraid to switch between brands, as you might prefer the size of a couple of strings in similar packs to the ones you currently use. Strings are also made of all sorts of materials like steel, cobalt and titanium, which can determine how long they last and will change the tonal complexities of your sound. You can find out more about string material in our ultimate guide to strings. 

Ready to put your newfound knowledge of guitar string gauge to good use? Then head over to our online shop and check out our massive selection of electric guitar strings today.

Electric Guitar String Gauge: FAQs

Can I put heavier strings on my guitar without modifying it?

Yes, but with caution! Switching to heavier strings will increase string tension, which may require a truss rod adjustment and possibly nut widening, especially if you’re jumping up a gauge or two. You also might need to tweak your guitar’s intonation and action to avoid fret buzz or tuning instability.

Do string gauges affect tuning stability?

They can do. Heavier strings tend to hold tuning better due to the increased tension, especially for more aggressive players or those who favour low tunings. Conversely, if you’re constantly bending notes or playing dynamically, thinner strings might go sharp or flat more easily.

What’s the best string gauge for beginners?

Most beginners get along well with 9s or 10s. These gauges strike a nice balance between playability and tone. Lighter strings are easier on the fingers and great for building strength and technique without discomfort or strain.

Will changing string gauge change my tone?

Yes – thicker strings generally produce a fuller, warmer sound with more bass and sustain. Thinner strings can sound brighter and snappier but with less low-end presence. Your amp and pickups also play a major role, but your string gauge choice will make a noticeable difference.

How often should I change my strings?

That depends on how much you play. Gigging musicians or daily players might change strings every 1-2 weeks. For casual use, every 1-2 months is more typical. As a loose guide, if your strings feel rough, sound dull, or won’t stay in tune, it’s probably time to swap them.

Can I mix and match string gauges?

Yes, many guitarists use custom sets or hybrid strings that better suit their playing style. For example, you might want thicker bass strings for heavy riffing but lighter treble strings for easier bends and solos. Just be mindful of the overall tension on your neck.

Do coated strings feel different from regular ones?

There can be some slight differences between coated vs uncoated guitar strings. Coated strings often feel smoother and slightly slick, which can reduce finger noise. Some players may notice a slight difference in tone (usually a touch mellower), but it’s largely down to personal taste and the brand you choose.

Will heavier strings damage my guitar?

Not if you set them up properly! That said, extreme increases in tension, like jumping from 9s to 13s, could put stress on your neck, nut, and bridge. Always make sure your guitar is properly adjusted, and if you’re in any doubt, get help from an experienced guitar tech.

Further Reading

If you enjoyed this read, check out more of our Learn articles:

When Should You Change Your Guitar Strings?

What Are Hybrid Guitar Strings?

What’s The Best Method For Changing Guitar Strings?

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