The Best Acoustic Guitar Strings
Your choice in guitar strings can make a big difference in your sound. Beginners without calluses should be wary of high tension strings that may sound sweet but are tough enough to make their fingers bleed. Even experienced strummers will have a hard time identifying a set of solid strings depending on their preferences. While some acoustic guitars may benefit from the mellow timbre of light-gauge silk and steel, others may shine with the fullness and depth of heavier-gauge nickel or bronze. To help you out, we've strung together a list of some of the best acoustic guitar strings on the market. Read on to fine-tune your ear and eye for what might suit your strumming best.
D’Addario Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
Bronze Is Best
These phosphor guitar strings from D’Addario outshine the competition. Just talking about strumming with these beauties gets us in the musical mood. Though these strings are a great choice for beginners because of their longevity and full tone, they’re equally beloved by experienced players for the very same reasons. D’Addario offers a range of gauges and string styles. Here, we’ve highlighted the Bluegrass strings (0.012–0.056), which are popular due to their exceptional balance. Hexagonal carbon steel cores with corrosion-resistant coated exteriors will keep you playing measure after measure — don’t “fret” it.
Pros:
- Light to medium gauges strike a balance between accessibility and quality sound
- Phosphor-coated to be corrosion resistant
- D’Addario offers phosphor bronze strings in a range of gauges
Cons:
- Bronze wire doesn’t offer as smooth of sliding as other strings
Elixir Bronze Acoustic Extra Light Guitar Strings
Light on Your Fingers
We know that “playing until your fingers bleed” is a common and darkly humorous expression in the world of guitars, but avid beginners know all too well how real that is. Fortunately, reliable strings come in a wide selection of gauges to make the learning process less painful. These extra-light bronze strings are 80% copper and 20% zinc for a crisp and bright tone. They’re coated with Elixir’s “nanoweb” technology which gives the feel of uncoated strings with all the durability and non-corrosion benefits. Because they’re covered completely — including the gaps between the winding — they won’t accumulate tone-killing gunk or oil as easily, either.
Pros:
- 80/20 bronze is light and easily maneuverable
- Nanoweb coating is smoother and less noticeable when compared to other strings, coated or uncoated
- Durable and resistant to gunk build-up
Cons:
- Lighter strings won’t provide as full or deep of a tone
D’Addario EJ44 Pro-Arte Nylon Classical Guitar Strings
Pro-Level Nylon
To the untrained eye, classical guitars and acoustic guitars look very much the same. However, the difference can be easily heard. Since classical guitars require nylon strings rather than steel or bronze, they’re softer and lighter in tone. We’ve highlighted D’Addario’s EJ44 Pro-Arte strings because of their precise, laser-measured construction to ensure a consistent sound. The three bass strings utilize a silver-plated copper wire wound around multi-filament nylon to create crisp notes that can hold their own. You won’t want to use a guitar pick on these since you’ll deaden the sound, but we’d bet your fingers will happily fly down the frets.
Pros:
- Laser-measured nylon construction for a smooth feel and precise tone
- Silver-plated copper windings provide depth without losing clarity
- Ideal for finger-picking players
Cons:
- Nylon won’t provide the reverberating twang of metal strings
D’Addario EJ40 Silk & Steel Folk Guitar Strings
Silky Smooth
String material plays a bigger role than most people realize. For a folkier sound, we suggest checking out these silk and steel strings from D’Addario. Where bronze can be full and deep, silk and steel are warm and mellow — almost a cross between metal and nylon. Because of this, they make an ideal medium for the blend of strumming and picking popular in folk music. So grow your hair long, throw on your denim dresses, and take these strings for a twirl, folks.
Pros:
- Silk coating provides smoother, easier playing
- Ideal for a combination of plucking and strumming
- Warm, mellow tone popular in folk music
Cons:
- Not as durable as other strings on the market
Ernie Ball Light Tone Pack Acoustic Guitar Strings
Striking a New Tone
We understand: you’ve been scouring the internet for guitar strings and you’re drowning in the noise of all the options. Thankfully, Ernie Ball offers a multi-pack of guitar strings that shares gauge size but varies in the material. That means you can experiment between bronze, phosphor bronze, and aluminum bronze to strike the ideal balance between playability and sound. This pack is categorized as light tone, which also means they’re a perfect place to start for beginners who want to discover their sound without sacrificing their fingers. You can also opt for the medium light tone pack which should give more experienced players an equally thrilling ride.
Pros:
- Allows experimentation between bronze, phosphor bronze, and aluminum bronze strings
- Light gauges are ideal for beginners
- Affordable price for three full sets of strings
Cons:
- Can sound tinny, lacking depth and balance in their tone
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials are strings normally made out of?
Guitar strings can be made of bronze, phosphor bronze, aluminum, silk and steel, nylon, nickel, brass, or some combination (alloy) of metals. Most common are phosphor bronze strings for their longevity and balanced tone. Classical artists will need nylon for their guitars and vintage players may prefer the tone provided by nickel. In short, there’s no right answer for which strings to choose, since this decision depends on the sound you prefer.
How often should I replace my strings?
It’s generally believed that you should replace your strings every three months or so. Avid artists may need to restring their guitars more frequently, while those who play occasionally can go for longer stretches of time before restringing. In the end, the sound may deaden with the accumulation of oil and gunk, but you only really need to worry when you break a string. Until then, strum away, friends.
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