Buyers Guide: How to Choose the Right Guitar Strings
Different types of guitar strings
These days there are different types of guitar strings for every type of guitar. You can find strings made of different materials that come in range of different tensions and thicknesses. Here at Bax Music, we have an extensive selection of guitar strings for you to choose from. This guide will give you some general information about guitar strings. For more detailed information on strings for your electric or acoustic guitar, take a look at the respective string buyers guides for those categories.
Electric guitar strings
String sets starting with .009 and .010 gauges are most commonly used in rock and pop music and are generally easy to press down. Thicker sets with gauges starting at .011, 0.12 and 0.13 offer much more resistance and can really hurt your fingers at first. Thicker strings are used more often in jazz. When it comes to buying strings for semi-acoustic hollow-body guitars, you need the same sets as you would use on standard electric solid-body guitars.
When it comes to unwound strings, also known as plain strings, they are the same for electric and steel-string acoustic guitars. One of the most common guitar sounds you hear come from nickel-wound strings. For a sound with even more definition stainless-steel strings are a good choice. You can also choose coated strings that retain their sound longer than uncoated ones. Any of the strings mentioned above are suitable for most guitarists. More advanced guitarists looking for their own unique sound will also find a good selection of guitar strings, with a range of different winding materials to choose from, here at Bax Music.
Acoustic guitars with steel strings
Most steel-string acoustic guitars are fitted with string gauges starting at .011 or .012, but if you prefer slightly less or more tension in your strings, then .10 or .013 string gauges are also possible. For an acoustic sound with more depth to it, Phosphor Bronze strings are perfect, or if you prefer more sparkle, go for Bronze strings. Both of these options are ideal for guitarists who are just starting out. As we've already mentioned, there are many more options to choose from, including strings with a coating. As well as steel-string acoustic guitars and electro-acoustic guitars, acoustic resonator models are also fitted with guitar strings of this type. Strings for classical guitars however, are not the same, so make sure you buy the right type for your instrument.
Acoustic guitars with nylon strings
When you start playing a classical guitar, it's best to use guitar strings with medium tension. If you want more control and definition in your sound for playing flameco music, for instance, or you have ½ or ¾ size model, then hard or extra hard tension strings will probably suit you better. Unwound strings are made of nylon and the most common wound strings are silver wound with a nylon core. At Bax Music, we also have strings for more advanced classical guitar players that offer a variety of different sounds.
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