Which strings sound best? What are the best strings for electric guitar? Brands you can trust

This article will present the strings of the most famous brands, and which of them you will like - decide for yourself, but remember that in order to successfully master the technique of playing the electric guitar, it is important to learn not only the basics this art, but also to clearly determine which specific strings are suitable for you and your instrument. The main parameters that should guide the choice will be described below, as well as the characteristics of the brands of the most famous guitars.

Main criteria

To determine which strings are best for an electric guitar, knowing the three main parameters that should be followed when choosing them will help you. Here is a simple list of them:

1. The material they are covered with.
2. Form of string winding.
3. Caliber.

Both the sound and the convenience of playing the guitar depend on the above characteristics.

Coating material

Electric guitar strings are made of either silver or steel. But the braid comes from different materials. And there are various techniques its application, which differ in the shape of the braiding of the core.

But what should you choose among today's variety and which strings are best for electric guitar? It’s up to you to choose, and you should start from the braid first. Here are her options:

• Synthetic nylon coating that makes the strings comfortable for calmer styles of guitar music. Professionals pull them to the limit, and the sound is very clear, but for beginners, this playing technique is not easy.
• Nickel-plated strings are very widely used for the most popular brands of electric guitars. They sound very warm and harmonious, but, alas, are very impractical, since nickel is soft material. But playing them is easy and simple.
• Steel-coated strings are not as popular as they are slightly more expensive than nickel-plated strings. But on the other hand, such a winding is the best option, since the sound is clearer, more voluminous and brighter, only the frets suffer from such a neighborhood much more.
• Nickel-plated steel strings combine the advantages of both. Therefore, they can be regarded as the best option what are the best electric guitar strings to buy.

Winding form

Each of the coating materials is applied to the core of the string in a special way and directly affects the sound production. Here are four winding schemes:

1. The flat shape is the most gentle on the fretboard. It makes the string very smooth and easy to play. It also gives a muffled harmonious sound, devoid of side effect from moving fingers. They are very fond of jazzmen.
2. The round shape of the winding is classic, as it is very inexpensive and widespread (because of its simplicity). The downside is that the sills wear out an order of magnitude faster. The sound is characterized by a whistle from slipping fingers, which many musicians turn from a minus into a plus, as a kind of expression of the main musical idea.
3. The semi-circular shape of the winding may please newcomers, as it incorporates elements of the two previous coating schemes. Initially, a round winding is made, which in the next step is subjected to pressure, which gives the tactile sensations of a flat string.
4. The hexagonal shape of the winding is also a combination of the two styles and wins in terms of sound beauty due to the hexagonal profile. Nevertheless, the sills wear out much faster.

In addition, some string sets are marked FL, which means they have a Floyd Rose tremolation system. They are characterized by the absence of special coils attached to the machine. Therefore (although such strings can be found infrequently), pay attention to such a mark.

Diameter

Often, when you get into a conversation between two guitarists, you can hear something like: “No, the nine does not sound as cool as the ten! Take it - you won't go wrong!" So what are they discussing? And they talk about the thickness of the string, that is, about its caliber, and the choice of a set should be guided primarily by the diameter of the first and sixth, which are designated as 9-42. In inches, this is reported as 0.009-0.042.

For beginners, thinner strings are suitable, since thick strings are difficult to master for unworked fingers. But the sound of a thin string vibrates less intensively, therefore it is not so juicy and bright. Most musicians use 10-46 or 9-42 calibers, but it's worth starting with 8-38 nonetheless. It’s just not worth getting involved in playing the latter for a long time, because it’s more expedient to switch to a thicker caliber and extract a more voluminous sound. To "cut" heavy metal, you can use strings with a diameter of 11 or 12. But in general choice should be done based on your own experience and style of play.

What are the calibers

1. Thin - from 0.008-0.009, ideal for beginners who learn the very basics of the art of playing the guitar. But over time, it is better to switch to thicker strings in order to improve the quality of sound production.
2. Medium - 0.010, are distinguished by a balance between the sound of the string and its thickness. This caliber is widely used by performers of various genres.
3. Thick - from 0.011 to 0.013, are favorites for representatives of metal culture, since playing such strings requires great skill and virtuoso skills. Sound production is very bright, juicy and expressive.

To help you choose the strings that are right for you, here is a list of well-known manufacturers, after reading which you will be much clearer on how to choose electric guitar strings based on your own preferences.

• Elixir. The company produces strings High Quality which, unfortunately, are not cheap. Of the main advantages, one can single out a deep timbre of sound that envelops every note. The Elixir strings are coated with a polymer winding, which is quite pleasant to the touch. And it is thanks to her that they do not get salted and last longer. In general, choosing disappointed you will not. After all, based on the foregoing, they are practical and pleasing to the ear.
• D addario. They are a real dinosaur of the instrumental market, as the strings of this manufacturer have proven themselves well a century ago. Moreover, "Dadario" is still ubiquitous and loved by the people. Admirers can be found all over the world, which is not surprising, because D addario are time-tested and can be trusted. Moreover, at a price they are more affordable than the strings of other manufacturers.
• Ernie Ball. They differ primarily in that they are sealed in foil packaging, and not in a plastic bag. The strings are created with latest developments in this region. The outer coating is made of a special anti-corrosion alloy, which in itself is a huge plus. In addition, Ernie Ball are reinforced with a special titanium wire, which allows you to better keep the system. But they are much more expensive than their competitors.
• Dunlop. Strings for electric guitar, also distinguished by an unusual packaging VCI (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor), which is a special envelope, the manufacturing technology of which allows you to keep the strings in the most favorable conditions. They were produced in North America and versatile for any style of performance.

Ibanez

The electric guitar from this Japanese manufacturer is known worldwide, as "Ibanez" became a pioneer on the way to the US music market. This brand has its own, very complicated history.

Initially, the company was engaged in selling Italian-made guitars. But in the light of tragic events ( civil war) occurred in Italy, the instrument-making workshop was destroyed, and the Japanese acquired the rights to manufacture guitars under their own name, setting up their production.

Chip are horned guitars with deep cutouts. With the advent of the 80s of the last century, the Roadster Guitar and Roadster Deluxe models gained popularity, the tremolo of which is Floyd Rose, and the colors are very bright and fashionable.

To date, the Ibanez electric guitar is known everywhere and is quite democratic at a price that varies from $200 to $1500. Therefore, you can safely stop your choice on it.

Yamaha

Electric guitars from this Japanese manufacturer have received recognition from a wide range musicians. At a price they are quite democratic, and in quality they can compete for first place among representatives of the most expensive brands. The history of their production began in the 60s, when the company's acoustic models made a serious sensation among guitarists around the world.

It is noteworthy that when creating the first electric guitar, Yamaha foresaw the increased interest of the people in a new (at that time) type of instrument, and they were right. Moreover, the affordable price was initially, which is also a kind of marketing ploy.

Today, the enterprising and practical Japanese have a fairly wide selection of models, and, most likely, among them there is “the very option” for you.

Fender

It is the most favorite brand among hard rock and heavy metal artists. And it all started with the fact that back in 1946, Leo Fender founded a company for the production of this wonderful instrument. Nowadays, the factory produces personalized guitars, which are made individually, following all the wishes of the customer.

In addition, Fender re-releases old models that have become hits for true music lovers. Stratocaster and Telecaster have long established themselves as excellent instruments, becoming the standard of sound.

Now the company has many models, including: Jaguar, Jazzmaster, Mustang, Roscoe Beck Bass and Prodigy. But, in addition to excellent ones, it produces various devices, amplifiers and other electronics for a cool sound. The price of the tool varies from 800 to 3000 $.

In general, when choosing which strings for an electric guitar are best, trust your hearing, tastes and preferences, and then your heart will tell you.

When choosing strings for an acoustic guitar, any musician, both a professional and someone who has picked up an instrument for the first time, faces one difficulty. It consists in the inability to listen to the sound. How certain strings will sound will become known only when they are used, it is impossible to predict the sound.

If professionals understand what they came to the store for, that is, these people are familiar with various brands, they have specific preferences and favorite manufacturers, then beginners do not have such experience and are lost in front of the shop window.

How to choose?

Buying strings is almost always a lottery, but there are some defining moments. Firstly, you need to be as clear as possible in advance about what exactly you need to purchase in terms of technical characteristics and material. It makes no sense for a beginner in music to try everything at random, since a person who does not have experience can simply pull the string incorrectly, because of which he will not hear its true sound.

To decide what is worth buying, music teachers, acquaintances with experience in playing can help. A similar question can be asked in thematic groups or on the forums. The only thing you should not do is trust the words of the seller, who talks about which strings are best for acoustic guitar.

As a rule, the dealer is not at all interested in how the instrument will sound, he is concerned about selling an old or frankly low-quality, stale or expensive product to an amateur. Each musician can choose the best strings for an acoustic guitar only on their own, just like an instrument. Absolutely identical strings, like the guitars themselves, in different hands they don't sound the same at all.

What are they like?

The question of what strings are on an acoustic guitar, how they differ from classical ones, beginners are usually embarrassed, trying to figure it out on their own. However, having found out how some differ from others, novice musicians do not take into account such a factor as finger strength, which an experienced musician or teacher will definitely tell you about, explaining which strings are used on acoustics.

themselves acoustic strings can be:

• monolithic on a steel basis;
• steel in flat and semicircular windings;
• synthetic on a steel basis.

Hearing about steel, novice musicians almost always ask sellers for acoustic guitar strings made of copper or brass in bewilderment. Such questions immediately betray a complete lack of experience and even the very fact of acquaintance with the instrument. Copper, brass, etc. - the material is not the strings themselves, but their windings.

Monolithic

Made from the so-called piano steel. The windings of "monoliths" use copper, its alloys and phosphor bronze. These strings are very resonant and have good unison. Almost all 12 string acoustic guitars are equipped with them.

With flat and semicircular windings

This is how an ordinary acoustic guitar with 6 strings is equipped. The strings are stretched with the flat side under the fingers, and the round side, respectively, to the body of the instrument.

This is the best option for beginner musicians. The specificity of this type of strings is that they give a more matte, clear and devoid of impurities sound even with uncertain playing technique. Especially important point is a smooth sound on the bass, which is more difficult to achieve than the top ringing.

Synthetic

They are most often equipped with not very expensive instruments, which are just acquired by beginners. Many are completely satisfied with the sound, and going to the store, such musicians know for sure that they need "synthetics".

As a rule, only when contacting the seller, beginners in playing the guitar will find out that this type of string comes in two types.

The first type - strings in a metal winding, additionally closed with Teflon on top. This variety is good for those who use the tool intensively, as it is extremely wear-resistant and almost does not give in to friction.

The second type is strings, in the winding of which the wire and "synthetics" are connected. This variety is lighter in terms of pressing the frets, but quickly gets dirty with sweat and leather particles, since the gaps between the turns are not very tight. This feature leads to the fact that these strings are devoid of iridescence, that is gypsy romances they are not ideal to play, the sound is quite deaf. But for chanson they are quite suitable.

About winding

Before you change the strings on an acoustic guitar for the same ones, you need to know exactly what variety is on the instrument, and, most importantly, do not forget what the winding is made of and what type it is made of.

Literally everything in the game depends on these factors, not only for a beginner, but also for an experienced musician. Since guitar playing is based on tactile memory, that is, the memory of the fingers, the uniformity of the string is extremely important. Accustomed to certain gaps in the coils and the bulge of the strings, musicians always experience discomfort and perform worse on the new type.

Of course, after some time given to scales or other exercises, the fingers get used to it, but there are not always free hours for their own “tuning”, especially for beginners.

Winding materials

Acoustic guitar strings are wound with copper and its alloys, phosphor bronze, brass, synthetic polymers and silver.

There was a joke among Western guitarists in the middle of the last century that silver strings protected them from vampires in auditoriums.

In fact, such strings are not made of silver, and they cannot protect against a vampire. Silver is only a coating sprayed onto finished strings with any winding. This does not affect the sound in any way, but it looks very aesthetic and even mysterious. In addition to visual appeal, such strings do not leave dark marks on the skin and do not fade with long-term use.

Phosphor bronze and brass are the most durable and strong of all existing windings. But they have a minus, the same as that of polymers - such acoustic guitar strings do not ring. Their sound is thick, rich and deaf, very solid and serious.

Copper, like its various alloys, is the most popular winding material. These strings give off lilt, they are ideal for Spanish pieces of music, for accompaniment to dances, singing romances and much more. For example, a high-quality fight can be performed exclusively on copper. The only disadvantage is fragility, such strings have the most short life.

What else affects the sound?

Beginning musicians, trying to achieve satisfactory sound quality, often change strings, throwing out quite good ones. And they do it just because it doesn't sound. This is another difference between a beginner in music and an experienced guitarist.

In addition to the material of the winding and type, the height of the strings on an acoustic guitar also affects the sound. It is regulated above the fingerboard, and it is on it that the quality of sound, and the convenience of performance, and even the life of the strings largely depend.

Each musician chooses this parameter for himself, there is no single standard for the “correct pitch”. It is determined personally, during the game, of course, not in an hour or even a month.

When tuning, beginners need to take into account that strings pulled too low will definitely cling and rub against the frets, as well as rattle on chords. Stretched too high will require a lot of effort from the fingers and from the hand in general, especially on the central frets.

The tool itself affects the optimal height parameter. For a convex neck, one height is good, for a curved neck, another. The ratio of the thresholds also matters.

What does a normal set of strings look like?

In the standard kit, only the 4th, 5th, 6th are always wrapped. But the 3rd string can have the thinnest winding in comparison with the others, but most often it is “bald” or “naked”. 1st and 2nd always remain unwound.

In stores, strings are sold exclusively in sets, which quite often causes bewilderment among novice musicians who need to replace only one that has burst. However, the sale of strings in sets is not due to the desire of sellers and manufacturers to cash in on novice and inexperienced guitarists. This is because each batch of strings has certain specifications nuances of sound. Acquired at random, piece by piece, strings from various factory batches almost never sound in unison.

And this moment is extremely important for obtaining high-quality sound. Even playing at home or playing in the park on a bench "for girls" on strings from different sets often gives a noticeable resonance to listeners. And when the instrument is busy at venues with sound amplifiers, for example, in any of the clubs or cafes, sound defects are the first thing that “rushes into the ears”. Therefore, you should not look for advertisements for the sale of one string or a pair, you need to purchase a whole set.

Beginners don't have to be shy when choosing their first set with strings. You should ask about everything, no matter how ridiculous the question may seem to the most novice guitarist. Music is impossible without good tool, and he, in turn, requires a thorough study by the owner.

At any music forum, the same topic is necessarily created. Every aspiring guitarist asks us the same question. And every young musician is always faced with the same problem - the choice of strings for his brand new acoustic guitar. And, indeed, today it is easier to decide on a guitar than on strings! And around everyone is only advised to try, understand and choose the best option for yourself. But what about a newbie who first encountered such a problem ?!

We would like to extend a helping hand to novice guitarists and tell a little about various types strings and their brands. And although the choice of strings really depends on the preferences of the musician, we still share with you personal experience and our opinion about certain manufacturers. Perhaps this will answer not only some of your questions, but also help you decide what you need.

Material foundations

The key qualities of strings: sound, durability and playability depend on the material from which they are made. So the first thing to decide is the material of the winding of your future strings. Go!

Variety of brands

Something, but the lack of different brands of strings for acoustic guitars today no. And it is not surprising that it is difficult for any novice guitarist to make an independent choice for the first time. So let's dwell on the most famous modern brands in a little more detail and see what seasoned ones say about them.

• Dean Markley. There have been no negative reviews about these strings yet - they sound great and are reasonably priced. Their only drawback is the service life.

• Ernie Ball. Another string option that perfectly combines quality and price. They serve for a long time, sound good, tactile sensations are pleasant, and they are not very expensive. In short, a good start!

• Olympia. Another standard string option that combines an affordable price, good sound and reliability.

• Rotosound. Perhaps, the strings of this brand can be described as follows: just strings. They have no outstanding qualities, as well as especially negative traits. Strings and all.

So we went over all the well-known manufacturers of acoustic guitar strings and their products. And what conclusion can be drawn from all this?! Obviously, many strings of many brands are a specific accessory, the choice of which is still worth growing and trying a lot. So if you are buying replacement strings for the first time and are not yet in the mood for experiments, our advice to you is to take something simpler, such as D'Addario, La'Bella, Olympia or GHS of medium hardness. They will give a fairly clear sound, and will not create discomfort during the game.

Otherwise, the forums do not lie - throughout your creative activity you'll have to try many sets of strings and make your own assessment of many manufacturers before you find the perfect one!

In this lesson, we will consider 2 questions:

• When do strings need to be changed?
• What strings to put (choose) on an acoustic guitar?

The data is approximate, since the strings are different and the duration of the workout is also individual for each.

With intensive training (from 2 hours per day) - change every 2-3 months

With classes per day up to an hour - once every 3-5 months

With a rare game - listen to the sound, see the wear of the strings. About once every 10 months. — 12 months

What strings to choose for an acoustic guitar?

It is impossible to say unequivocally: "These are best strings for guitar" - after all, everyone chooses his own sound, and selects for himself (for his playing, his style). But if you are a beginner, then you do not have experience yet and we will recommend you popular brands of strings for acoustic guitar.

If you have a good guitar, a lot of money, have little experience in playing the guitar (at least half a year) and you plan to practice long and hard, then we recommend Elixirs ( Elixir). There are different elixirs in stores, with different alloys, coatings - each is good in its own way, read the descriptions and choose what you find interesting, you can start with bronze, as many do. Many guitarists stop at elixirs, but for beginners, we do not recommend taking these strings, they are expensive, plus you will not feel the advantages of these strings over others. For beginners, we recommend that you try to put elixirs (if possible) a little later, as soon as you complete the entire acoustic course, which is posted on our website.

Here are two popular brands that are perfect for you: Dadario ( D "Addario) martin ( Martin) is also bronze ( phosphor bronze ). These strings are full positive feedback. These guitar strings are reasonably priced, sound good, and last a long time. A good choice for both experienced and beginners. We recommend buying your first strings at a regular retailer. music store, chat with the sellers - they will tell you a lot of interesting things and recommend.

What string gauge to choose?

String gauge is the thickness of the strings in fractions of an inch. You have probably already heard such names as nines, tens - this is the caliber. It is always present on the packaging of the strings. For example, in this form: 8-38 (eights - called by the thickness of the first string) - the thickness of the first and sixth strings is indicated here.

There are 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 gauges. Eights are the softest thin strings. 13 - The toughest, thickest strings. The sound is also very different, for example, eights sound quieter than others, their bass is less pronounced. But the following gauges 9, 10 - here the sound is denser, louder, but it is already more difficult to clamp them, since the tension of the strings also increases with the increase in gauge. Based on this, we recommend that beginners start with eights, with them you will quickly master the base. Then after a few months you can try nines, then 10, 11 and choose from this what you like best, what suits you best. Listen to how the sound changes with the gauge and how difficult it becomes to clamp the strings.

As soon as you move from eights to large calibers, it will be unusual, painful - this is normal. It takes a few weeks for the fingers to get used to it. We recommend increasing the caliber gradually. Our final "average" recommendation is tens.

It can be said that the choice classical guitar as the main instrument is determined by the style of music chosen for performance. And you can remember that the domestic school of playing the guitar assumes the classical guitar as an instrument on which the course of guitar playing is based in most educational institutions. It follows from this that the choice of strings for such a guitar is by no means an idle question.

Of course, even the best strings in the world will not make a low-quality guitar sound worthy, but bad strings can ruin the sound of an undoubtedly great instrument. It doesn't matter what your playing level is, but in any case, your guitar will sound better with the most quality strings of what you can only find. In fact, the best classical guitar strings are those that are comfortable for you to play and that will enhance the sound of your guitar. It is always more important to rely on your own feelings than on the recommendations of even venerable experts and musicians.

When choosing strings for a classical guitar, you need to pay attention to three parameters - the tension force for which specific strings are designed, the material of the strings, and the actual quality of their manufacture. It is known that guitar strings are classified by their diameter in thousandths of an inch, but classical guitar strings are also classified by their tension. Unfortunately, the standard for this value has not been developed, so it is necessary to experiment personally and select strings that are convenient for yourself according to this parameter. Strings with low tension (Low / Moderate / Light Tension) make them easier to clamp, especially on guitars with long distance between the strings and the neck, however, they have a quiet sound and a less pronounced attack. On strings with normal or high strength The tensions (Normal / Medium / High Tension) are a bit more difficult to play, but they provide a loud and confident sound, emphasized attack, and are generally the best for playing and recording rhythm parts. It is recommended that after playing a guitar with strings with similar tension, detuning the instrument by releasing the strings, so as not to cause unnecessary damage to the structure of the guitar. But in order to understand the strings with which tension is more convenient for you, you need to take at least two sets of strings from the same manufacturer and the same series - for example, D'Addario EJ45 Pro-Arte Nylon Normal Tension (by the way, it was he who was recognized by experts as one of Best Classical Guitar String Sets of 2015) and EJ46 Pro-Arte Nylon Hard Tension . By changing sets of guitar strings over several days, you yourself will understand which one is best suited for you personally.

The same story with the string material. As you know, in modern sets of strings for classical guitars, the top three strings are made of the following materials: clear nylon (Clear Nylon), purified nylon (Rectified Nylon - the term does not mean the chemical composition, but the ultra-precise maintenance of the diameter of the strings through their processing after extrusion and cooling) , black nylon (Black Nylon - a different chemical composition of the fiber, providing a warmer and cleaner sound) or composite fibers such as fluorocarbon. The lower strings are several nylon fibers in a metal or again nylon sheath. The already mentioned Pro-Arte D'Addario strings are pure nylon on the upper strings and 80/20 bronze wound nylon (80% copper and 20% zinc) on the lower strings. The D'Addario EJ50 Pro-Arte Black Nylon Hard Tension set has silver-plated copper wound on the lower strings for a comfortable playing and warm sound - often referred to as silver-wound strings. That is, in this case, you need to select the strings for yourself, but now according to the material - the comparison for the mentioned D "Addario kits will go between the EJ50 and EJ45 / EJ46. And again, you will need to change the strings on the guitar several times, listen to the sound of the instrument and analyze your own feelings Yes, picking strings for a classical guitar is not done in ten minutes, but it is this long method that will save you from any annoyance in communicating with your personal tool.