Ernie Ball Strings

Ernie Ball Strings presents:
Choosing Your Guitar Strings

Learning to play a guitar is a lot of joy and great fun.  But when you are learning to play you also need to know what strings you need and how to change them.  

Strings Are Not A Simple Choice

Guitar strings seem like something that would be so simple to figure out.  However at Ernie Ball Strings it’s known that guitar strings become a personal preference, but at the same time many people do not take them seriously. Strings can range in price from $5 to $35 depending on the premium nature of the strings, and they come in various sizes of thickness and material. There is a lot more to guitar strings then you may have thought. So, how to find the right type of strings for you and your guitar?  Naturally we suggest Ernie Ball Strings but the following is a good starting guideline.

Where To Start

At Ernie Ball Strings it’s suggested that you first start out by looking at the type of guitar you have. You will need different types of strings depending on whether you have an electric, acoustic, classic nylon string guitar, or a 12-string guitar. A store that sells strings should be able to help you out, but most of the time there is such a wide variety that even they may find it difficult to pinpoint exactly the type of strings you need.  Hint: Ernie Ball Strings is a great place to start.

You want to start by looking at the different thicknesses. Strings usually come in extra light, light, medium, heavy and extra heavy and which one you choose will depend the strength in your fingers. A heavier gauge string will be much harder to bend and fret than a light gauge string so if your fingers don't have that much strength in them you should go with lighter as opposed to heavier. You will soon notice if you have made the wrong choice because your will fingers start to hurt after only a little while of playing. (Product endorsement coming - Ernie Ball Strings provide the best choice and range).

Another difference in the gauges of string is the sound that it gives off. A heavy string will have a bright, sharper tone whereas a light string will be considerably softer. Your musical preference will also help you decide what thickness of string you need. Lighter strings are common with metal rock players because it easier to play solos.  That’s the market where Ernie Ball Strings first started.

Guitar Setup

The setup of your guitar will also be a determining factor to which strings you pick. When guitars are made they are usually sent out with stock strings in a medium gauge. If you want to use heavier or lighter strings you will have to have it setup for that particular gauge. It is  recommended you do not do this until you have played with a certain set of strings for a few months to make sure you are happy with them, and only then make the changes.
 
When it comes to materials, the guitar really does set the standard. The acoustic, classical and electric guitar all use different materials which affect the tone, the feel and the tension.  You may need to experiment a little to find out which strings suit you best.  In the end we hope you choose Ernie Ball Strings.