Whether you are playing around a campfire for fun or performing in front of huge crowds, choosing the right strings for your acoustic guitar is the key to beautiful sound. Acoustic strings differ in material, sound, and playing style, so it’s important to know what you need from your acoustic guitar strings.
Guitar type and string material
Steel string flattops and classical guitars are the two main categories of acoustic guitars. Both require strings made of specific materials to perform as they were designed. As the name suggests, steel string flattops are designed for the increased tension of steel strings. Classical guitars don’t have the neck strength to accommodate steel strings, and by style and structure are meant to be played with nylon strings.
Steel guitar strings
Steel guitar strings have a brighter, more focused sound ideal for rock, bluegrass, and country music guitarists, but it may surprise you that not all are made out of steel. The longevity of the strings and the individual quality of the sound depends on the type of metal and/or material used.
- Bronze: Bright, clear tone with a relatively short life.
- Phosphor bronze: Longer life than regular bronze strings with a slightly darker, warmer tone.
- Silk and steel: Mellow tone with a soft feel.
- Brass: Bright, clear, metallic sound.
- Polymer-coated: Warm, subdued tone with less finger noise, less sustain, and a longer life.
Nylon guitar strings
Nylon strings are suited to folk, flamenco, and classical guitarists, and have a mellower, warmer tone than steel strings. They also come in a variety of styles and materials.
- Titanium: Corrosion resistant, smooth feel with a bright tone.
- Clear nylon: Rich, clear tone.
- Black nylon: Warm, pure tones.
- Rectified nylon: Mellow, clear sound with round tones.
- Composite: Bright sound with a smooth transition and good projection.
Coated vs. uncoated guitar strings
There are two types of guitar strings for acoustics: coated vs uncoated. Like how it sounds, uncoated has no extra layer of protective coating, while coated strings are treated with a thin layer of polymer. While the polymer coating is excellent for keeping your strings clean and corrosion-resistant, some players find the coated guitar strings affect their tone. In the end, how to choose acoustic guitar strings boils down to personal preference.
Gauge
The guitar string gauge refers to its diameter, with the lighter gauges starting at .010 of an inch, and the heavier gauges ranging up to .059. In general, lighter string gauges work best on lighter, smaller, or more fragile guitars. Meanwhile, heavier gauges suit stronger, larger models. But there’s also the question of playability, sound, and life.
Playability
Light gauge:
- Easier on the fingers
- Easier to bend
- Good for fingerpicking
- Better for older, vintage guitars
Heavy gauge:
- Harder on the fingers, requiring more pressure
- Greater neck tension
- Good for strumming
Medium gauge:
- A good blend of both characteristics, generally falling in the range of .013 to .056
Sound
- Light gauges will, in general, be quieter with less sustain, brighter, and produce more buzzing.
- Heavy gauges are louder with more sustain, and they produce deeper notes with more bass.
Life
As you play, your guitar’s strings are exposed to corrosion and friction. Lighter gauge strings have a shorter life than heavier gauges, with medium gauges falling in between. It’s a good bet to change your guitar strings every 100 playing hours or 3 months, whichever comes first.
Tension
In addition to gauge, nylon guitar strings for classical guitars are rated according to tension. In general, these characteristics vary just like gauge does. Low tension strings exert less force on the instrument, produce less volume, and are easier for bending and fretting. This provides a lighter tension suitable for showing the subtleties of technique.
High tension guitar strings are louder with more attack. They also put more tension on the instrument and make fretting more difficult. The medium tension category blends characteristics from both light and heavy tension for maximum playing flexibility.
Best Acoustic Guitar Strings
Dean Markley Signature Strings
Your favorite six-string will undoubtedly benefit from a new set of Dean Markley Vintage Bronze Signature Series Acoustic Strings. Made of 85% Copper and 15% Zinc, this true bronze string is long-lasting with a great feel. For decades, these acoustic guitar strings have been a favorite of many demanding acoustic players for their clarity, tone, and response. The 6-string set of Dean Markley Signature Series Vintage Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings come in Medium and Medium Light.
D’Addario Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
Learning how to choose acoustic guitar strings just got easier. Now you can spend less time tuning and more time playing! D’Addario Acoustic Phosphor Bronze strings combine acoustic alloy with advanced string coating technology, resulting in superior tone and long life. The fusion twist feature prevents slack in the twist from detuning the string. This ensures maximum tuning stability and higher break strength. The unique technology produces a clear tone and smooth feel after many hours of playing. They’re available in Light, Custom Light, and Medium gauge.
Fender Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings
Let that iconic Fender tone ring out! Choose between Fender 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings and Fender Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings. For a full and bright tone, the Fender 80/20 Bronze strings, made from 80% copper and 20% zinc, are perfect for an acoustic guitar with a naturally dark tone. The Fender Phosphor Bronze acoustic guitar strings deliver rich, warm tones and complex harmonics to all acoustics. A great way to upgrade any acoustic guitar!
La Patrie Godin Classical Guitar Strings
Your strings should play a vital role as your guitar and musical voice! La Patrie, a famous brand of classical guitar makers known for their build quality, united with leading string manufacturers to create beautiful sounding strings with a consistent sound. La Patrie Godin Classical Guitar Strings are ideal for solo performers and singer/songwriters for their rich tone and easy playability. The specific blends of nylon used in a string’s creation give each string set and each manufacturer their identity. They’re available in Normal and Hard tension varieties.
D’Angelico Guitars Prohibition Bronze
Striking a balance between tradition and innovation, D’Angelico set out to faithfully capture the classic sound of acoustic guitars from music in the early 20th century. The result is the D’Angelico Guitars Prohibition Bronze strings. Made with 85/15 bronze, these strings deliver the warmth of phosphor bronze strings with a dash of the brilliance of 80/20 bronze strings. Designed in conjunction with D’Addario to ensure the highest quality acoustic guitar strings. They’re available in Medium and Medium-Light options.
Which strings are best for acoustic guitar beginners?
For beginners, a lighter gauge set of acoustic guitar strings works best. This would be considered “10-47’s” or “11-52’s.” If you feel these are too heavy, a handful of brands also produce sets beginning at “9’s.” Thinner strings require less effort to press down, so avoid suffering from sore fingertips and repetitive strain. Once you know how to choose acoustic guitar strings, it’s easy to order another pack when a string breaks!
Conclusion
Your choice of guitar string is highly individualized, and it’s influenced by your type of instrument, genre, playing style, and personal taste. The best approach to finding the right strings for you? Experiment a bit to find out which styles and sound work best for your playing style.
Are you looking for new strings for your acoustic guitar? At Adorama, we carry a wide variety of acoustic guitar strings so you can find the right set for your instrument.
Feature image via Shutterstock
