The Saxophonists Guide to picking Guitar Strings

Yes. I play saxophone. I'm sure you all remember my reed rant from last week.

I wanted to put my understanding of how to pick the best set of guitar strings down to help those folks who are just getting started on diving into the world of the electric or acoustic guitar.

Here are some words you need to know regarding guitar strings:

Gauge-Refers to the thickness of a guitar string. Usually measured in thousandths of an inch, these decimals are usually referred to as whole numbers. For example: a string is  .008 inches thick, it is referred to as an 8.

Thinner strings are easier to play because they don't need to be as tight to hold their correct pitch. We usually suggest beginners start with thinner strings to make it easier to press down.

For the purposes of this article, string gauge is all we need to worry about.

Electric:

Younger, or inexperienced players, should seek out a set where the High E, the thinnest string, is either a 9 or 10. If they are regular Ernie ball strings, or Super Slinky Ernie Ball strings, the other strings are sized accordingly for an even sound.

More experienced players might want to move up to 11s, or find a set that is more specialized in gauge, as certain folks look for different sounds.

In general, a thinner string is easier to play, but a thicker string has a better tone. There are some exceptions, but in most situations, this holds true.

Another reason to use thicker strings (specifically on the lower pitched strings) is if you like to play with your strings tuned lower than the normal (EADGBE) tuning. This keeps the strings from getting to loose, or not holding their pitch.

Players who like to bend notes a lot, may want certain strings to be thinner so that they are easier to move across the fingerboard.

Acoustic:

Your standard beginning acoustic string pack has a high E at 12. Acoustic guitars need thicker strings to produce a bigger sound because they are not amplified. Also, acoustic guitars require more tension to stay in proper tuning and alignment. Unless you play a lot, 12s can probably get the job done for a lot of acoustic players. In certain instances, 11s may be better for younger players, mainly due to the finger strength required to push down on thicker strings.

As with electric, more experienced players may want a thicker string for a bigger sound, and richer tone.

Both:

Both guitars also have different styles of string available. Coated strings have an extra layer of material added to the regular string to extend the length of play. There are folks who say they work really well, and others who say they don't. These difference may be accounted for with differences in play style, amount of play time, or acidity of oil from the players' fingers. Try out different strings to find out what works best for you.

Certain strings are even wound with different materials, or in different ways. These are usually personal preferences that I encourage players to look into on their own, once they are a bit more experienced and have an idea of what kind of sound they want to come out of their guitar.

All in all, playing any instrument can be a very personal experience when it comes to getting the right strings, reeds, or what have you. Do some experimenting with different kinds, if you can, to find the ones that work best for you!