Home Electric Guitar Setup Guitar Strings

Electric Guitar String Gauge: Best Electric Guitar Strings, Tips for Changing a Guitar String

Follow

Share

Your electric guitar string gauge should reflect your sound, playing style, and guitar type. Do you know when to change a guitar string? This lesson will show us how to select your guitar strings, how to change them, and discuss best string brands.

First, let's determine your playing style. What kind of music do you play? Do you play LEAD guitar or RHYTHM guitar?

If your playing style centers around heavy riffs and low tunings, you will need a heavier gauge guitar string.

Alternatively, if your playing style features impressive "shred guitar" techniques, you will benefit from a lighter string. Sweep picking can be quite challenging with an unnecessarily FAT electric guitar string gauge!

Now let's look at what KIND of guitar you play. Some guitars just don't handle heavy string gauges too well. Delicate guitars, such as the Parker Fly, may play like microwaved butter, BUT may not handle the pressure of a thick electric guitar string gauge.

Some guitars don't like THIN strings. On a beast such as the Gibson Les Paul, thin strings tend to sound dinky and inadequate. To get that distinctive "Les Paul" sound, you should be using a thicker electric guitar string gauge.

When To Change A Guitar String

Guitar strings should be changed regularly if you want the best guitar tone. Wouldn't you much rather have a shiny NEW set of strings instead of crusty old ones? Learning WHEN to change a guitar string will save you! Try this: run your finger under one of your guitar strings. Does it come out with gross looking gunk on it? Then it's time for a change!

Other reasons to change a guitar string: your tone has gone out the window, you POPPED one, or you just need something to do before your gig.

Choosing Your Guitar Strings and Reading the Package: Elixir Guitar Strings

If you have never tried Elixir brand guitar strings, I highly recommend trying a set at least once. The last the longest out of any string brand and sound the clearest. They cost a little bit more, but they are definitely worth a try!

Electric guitar strings are measured by their diameter to the thousandth of an inch. Check out that picture of Elixir guitar strings up there. See those numbers going from '10' to '46' on the bottom right of the package? This tells us the SIZE of EACH string, where the 1st string is 10 (.010) and the 6th string is 46 (.046).

When discussing your guitar string gauge with your musician friends, you can refer to your ENTIRE set by naming the 1st string! Like, "hey man, I use tens, you got any? Oh, my buddy over there? HE uses NINES!"

I recommend using Elixir electric guitar strings. You can get them from GuitarCenter.com and have them shipped right to you! Many musicians will SWEAR that they are the best electric guitar strings. They are definitely HIGH END strings, SLIGHTLY more expensive, but worth it if you want that extra quality in tone and life. They last longer too, so you should definitely try them at least once.

Changing A Guitar String

Let's face it, changing a guitar string without a lot of practice is no easy feat! It's likely to leave you with carpal tunnel, a hair ball of untamed used strings, and bloody finger tips! The GOOD news is that with practice, changing your own strings becomes a reflective activity, much like shaving. It's a good way to meditate before the show!

When you are ready to get to work, lay your guitar down on your lap facing up. Remove ONE string only. Replace that very same string just like it came out. Leave some SLACK when winding it back in. Not TOO much though, a few inches is plenty. Wind your string starting at the BASE of the peg, then work your way up in even wraps.

Once you have weaved the string through the eye hole, KINK it. Wind with your left hand while POINTING at the base of the peg with your right hand, and simultaneously grasping the SLACK of the string with your remaining right hand fingers and keeping it taut.

Rinse, lather, and REPEAT five more times! Tune each string close to the pitch it should be at. It doesn't have to be exact, just close enough to maintain the right tension.

The reason you only change one string at a time is to preserve the tension in your neck. If you were to take ALL your strings off, it would take like a hour to tune. No fun!

Now get all 4 lesson eBooks for the price of a single guitar lesson!

...do your fingers a favor and collect them all!

Buy safely with a 30 day money back guarantee!

The ultimate lead guitar essentials package is here: Four complete lead guitar lesson eBooks covering all your guitar soloing needs.

We cover everything a lead guitarist needs, from just starting out playing guitar solos all the way to advanced lead guitar technique...

• 9 Complete Guitar Solos
• All The Right Exercises For Building Speed and Strength
• Learn To Improvise Your Own Professional Solos On The Spot
• Master Every Mode

Experiment With Several Types of Strings and Gauges

We have now learned how to choose the best electric guitar string gauge for YOUR guitar and style, a little about guitar string terminology and selecting the best brand, and HOW to change a guitar string. Now feel free to experiment! The only way to know which guitar string brand and size works for YOU is to try them!

A word of caution: if you buy 11s, you could be buying a WOUND G string! This is completely annoying for some guitar players, while others enjoy the beefy tone it provides. Your electric guitar string gauge is an important factor in your playing. Figure out what works best for you and you will be ready to go to town and play some gigs!

Now would be a good time to go get a tetanus shot. I'll wait for you. When you return, you should learn What Every Lead Guitarist Should Know About Electric Guitar Setup: Your Checklist for "Getting it Right"

To Top Of Page