Did you ever think that the reason why an acoustic version of a song sounds relaxing is because of the guitar strings? If you're a professional guitar player or just thinking of starting to learn how to play, it is important to learn some of your instrument's basics. When it comes to guitars, one of those basics, of course, is the strings.
Most people who know how to play the guitar, especially those who are self-taught, have or develop a good sense of tone or pitch. With this, they can tell the best kind of string they need according to their playing style without understanding the technical factors behind it. Here, we will provide you information on how to identify acoustic guitar strings that will best suit your needs.
Quick List - Top Acoustic Guitar Strings
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Though learning different types of acoustic guitars are wide as the type of wood being used for the body, such as Sitka, Engelmann, Adirondack, cedar, etc. As well as how the body was formed, like parlor, OM and dreadnought. We will only discuss 3 main types of acoustic guitars.
Among the different types of guitars, steel string acoustic guitar is widely used. This is best suited for strumming and fingerpicking. It will be quite challenging when playing classical fingerstyle arrangements in these types of guitars since steel stings require more strength in terms of playing. Steel string guitars sound brighter and resonate longer.
The nylon acoustic guitar is usually used for classical music. It has much warmer sounds compared to steel string guitars.
However, nylon string guitars are not quite focused in terms of sounds as much as steel string does. These types of guitars have lesser string tension. Some types of nylon string guitars include classical guitars, flamenco, and hybrid or crossover.
If you love or planning to play jazz music, an acoustic archtop is the one to have. The defining characteristic of the archtop is that it has a lot of focused sound but not so much sustain. Though archtops are not common, this instrument would work best with musical ensembles.
Strings are the core of guitars. Whether you’d like to play loud, soft, mellow, or bright music. The vibrations produced by the strings when struck create the sound or music, this applies not only to a guitar.
All other string instruments such as banjos, bass guitars, ukulele, or even instruments that use bow such as violin, cello, and alike. The factors below are the characteristics of a guitar string that affects the sound it creates and that you may consider when buying them.
The gauge affects the string tension. The more tension means the harder it would be to fret since it is stiffer. As a rule, the thicker the gauge is the warmer and more volume the sound. Thinner gauges are brighter and easier to play. The gauges are heavy, medium, light, custom light, and extra light.
If you will give it much thought, the life of a guitar is the strings. Well, of course not alone, but the strings are the main guitar part that produces sounds. There are different types of materials the strings are made of that will contribute to how the guitar would sound and perform.
The first two materials that are the most common for acoustic strings are 80/20 bronze and phosphor bronze.
80/20 bronze, as its name suggests, is made from 80% copper and 20% zinc which makes up the alloy. It produces brighter and brings more crisps in terms of sounds. Meanwhile, phosphor bronze strings' bring out fuller and darker tones.
These are described with more flexibility and lower tension that produces mellower sound. These are more commonly known as a hybrid between metal and nylon strings.
Gut strings are perhaps the earliest type of strings. Derived from sheep or bull intestines, these are normally used in classical and Spanish guitars. These are easier to use but have a mellow sound with greater volume.
During the second world war, there was a bigger demand for the surgical thread which at that time was made from animal gut. This is where nylon debuted as guitar strings.
Though the sound is a bit different from gut strings, it is more durable and lightweight and very good for traditional classical guitar sound.
Winding is the wire wrapped around the core. This includes 3 typesーroundwound, flatwound, and halfround.
Roundwound is a round-shaped type of wire that gives a texture-feel on the windings. It can produce a brighter sound and long sustain. This is also easier for finger plucking and can help with better grip.
Flatwound uses flat-wire creating a smooth surface winding, has a longer life, creates warmer sound, shorter sustain, and creates less string noise. Halfround is a combination of roundwound and flatwound. This winding is not really that common, and it is regarded to not play well with modern genres.
The things to consider in terms of coating are thickness, application, adhesion, and friction. These affect the string performance. The thicker polymer affects the tonal frequency and the sound. Thinner polymer applied, strings will wear off faster and provide lesser string grip because of less friction.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fender Acoustic Guitar Strings 80/20 Bronze|70XL | ![]() | Articulate Sound and Great Feel | |
2 | D'Addario 85/15 Bronze|EZ920 | ![]() | Great Intonation with Bright Sounding Tone | |
3 | D'Addario Great American Bronze Super Light|EZ890 | ![]() | Light Gauge Best for Beginners | |
4 | Yamaha Acoustic String - Light|MN10 | ![]() | Super Light but With Great Break Resistance | |
5 | Yamaha Acoustic String - Brass Wound|AB 12 | ![]() | Durable Made for Advanced Players | |
6 | D'Addario Phosphor Bronze Light| EJ16 | ![]() | Projection and Volume Equals Great Tone Balance | |
7 | Fender Guitar Steel Strings|150XL | ![]() | High Quality Light Strings for Beginners | |
8 | Orphee Phosphor Bronze Medium|TX640 | ![]() | Longer String Life with Excellent Resonance | |
9 | Ernie Ball Acoustic String Extra Light|2006 Earthwood | ![]() | Bold Customized Strings for Easier Playing | |
10 | Alice Acoustic Strings Light Series|A406 | ![]() | Out of Ordinary Materials for Greater Performance |
Depending on your playing style, prolonging the note with its volume and sound is a great characteristic. Fender 80/20 strings offer this with significant clarity. These strings will deliver articulate sounds and a great feel.
Made from 80% copper and 20% zinc. This string will bring the acoustic sound back to life with a naturally dark tone. The strings are built to last longer and enduring performances. It is available with gauges of .012; 016; 024; 032; 042; 053.
EZ920 is not only from 80% copper and 20% zinc but with a longer life characteristic of phosphor bronze. It can accommodate varieties of playing styles and bright tones. The precise winding on its hex-core is also made from bronze.
It creates a bright-sounding tone with amazing intonation. Made and designed for easy bending and heavy strumming, this is suitable for performing artists especially for rhythm players that support lead guitars.
This is said to be the lightest gauge for acoustic guitar. Starts form .09-.45, D’Addario EZ890 is best for beginners. Characterized by easy and light bending that is suited for players who prefer a softer tone.
D'Addario is known for combining 80/20 and bronze materials for their strings which makes it durable. Created to be the thinner gauge that makes it lighter, pending, and fretting are easier with these strings.
The Yamaha Acoustic String set is designed for advanced players. If you are a beginner who wants to improve your guitar skills, this product is also an option for you. They are very light, but they have great break resistance.
This string set gives a bright clear tone with loud resonance and timbre output. The strings are tested with tensile strength to ensure their durability, plus they are made out of 85/15 bronze, known for greater resistance from corrosion.
Yamaha is one of the well-known musical instrument producers here in the Philippines. The AB 12 set is a normal brass wound that is designed for advanced players, but the strings are said to be light for a normal gauge of .012 that makes the product surprisingly amazing.
Yamaha is known worldwide and also one of the largest manufacturers of musical instruments. It was initially named Nippon Gakki Co Ltd that was established back in 1887. The company is also known for its music teaching program.
D'Addario EJ16 is the most popular acoustic string set among the D'Addario strings. It creates a combination of projection and volume with an ideal balance. Made from phosphor bronze, this set of strings will produce a warm and bright tone.
D’ Addario was established by a family of string-makers originating from Salle, Italy. D’ Addario is one of the largest manufacturers of musical instrument strings and accessories. They primarily produce guitar strings and other fretted and orchestral instruments.
These are made from high-quality steel strings that could be a great gift for guitar beginners. Produced with the regular light gauge from .012 to .053, the set is also considered durable. Created with phosphor bronze as its core, it produces a warm and bright acoustic tone.
Fender is known for producing great quality stringed instruments as well as amplifiers and accessories. Mainly they are best known for the Stratocaster, with solid-body electric guitars and bass guitars.
The Orphee TX640 is made up of high-carbon steel, 75% bronze, and 25% Phosphorーgreat with durability and full tone. It offers excellent resonance with a medium tension and super antioxidant that makes the string's life longer.
If you are a beginner, Orphee might work for you. There are different points of view by guitar players on these sets. Some find the strings’ signal weak but some players say it works for them. Might as well give it a shot and find out right? Again, these things depend on individual playing styles and preferences.
Ernie Ball 2006 is made from 80% copper and 20% zinc. The string produces pleasing overtones with a crisp ringing sound. It has a tin-plated hex steel core that provides a bright tone. Ernie Ball has been the choice of guitar players of all types.
Ernie Ball decided to customize their own strings and making their own gauge. For this set, these extra light acoustic strings are from .010 to .050. Also, with their bold customization, it made their axes easier to play.
The Alice A406 set is considered out of the ordinary. The first and second strings are made from stainless steel while the remaining four strings are made from steel core with copper alloy winding. All six strings are with nickel-plated ball ends.
The Alice A406 Light Series comes in two sets of options in terms of gauges. The first set called light starts from .012 to .053. The second option which is called the super light has a gauge that starts from .011 to .052.
Everybody knows how cool it would be if we can play our favorite songs with an instrument. Listening to acoustic covers always pleases our hearts. Why not go a notch higher and complete a guitar collection and build that music corner in your room. Below are some helpful articles that you can go through. Now go and be creative!
Author: Grace Guevara
No. 1: Fender|Acoustic Guitar Strings 80/20 Bronze|70XL
No. 2: D'Addario| 85/15 Bronze|EZ920
No. 3: D'Addario |Great American Bronze Super Light|EZ890
No. 4: Yamaha |Acoustic String - Light|MN10
No. 5: Yamaha|Acoustic String - Brass Wound|AB 12
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