No matter whether you are a novice or an experienced guitarist, the type of strings you use can make a huge difference to the sound you are able to create with your instrument.  As you get to know your instrument better and start to understand your own guitar playing style, you’ll start to gain a greater appreciation of how the strings you choose can influence your sound.

At the same time, you ought to appreciate that your strings are only one part of your instrument, although the more confidence you have in yours the better a job you’ll do at playing your guitar.

Here are some tips that will help you choose strings for your guitar.

Use the Right Type of Strings

When you’re choosing guitar strings, it isn’t a case of one size fits all.  You need to ensure you have the right type of strings for your instrument.

The three standard types of string are electric guitar strings, acoustic guitar steel strings, and nylon strings, which can also be used on an acoustic guitar.

Nickel wound strings are the standard type used on electric guitars.  Ernie Ball Regular Slinky strings are a great option for beginners, although they are still favoured by industry giants such as Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney.

Your acoustic guitar will be designed for either nylon or steel strings.  If you’re unsure of what you need, go to the shop where you bought the acoustic guitar and ask.  When choosing your strings, you need to think about the tone and how easy you want playing the guitar to be.  A lighter string will be easier to play and doesn’t require you to be as aggressive in your style, while heavier, thicker strings if a more bold tone but require you to play in an attacking manner.

Consider Your Playing Style

We’ve touched on how your playing style can influence your choice of strings, but another element of your style can also be a factor in your decision.  This element is whether you play the guitar with a pick or fingerstyle.

Heavy strings are difficult to play fingerstyle and with a pick, although it is advised that you use a pick if you choose these strings, as they can damage your fingers and leave you in pain when you play.  In contrast, lighter, thinner strings are ideal for fingerstyle players, with silk and steel strings been the best options here.  However, these strings aren’t suitable for electric guitars, so if you’re playing an electric guitar fingerstyle, you’ll have to compromise.

Other Considerations

Flat polished strings are the style to buy if you’re going to be playing fingerstyle.  You can get these for electric and acoustic guitars; they’re easy to play and easy on the fingers, too.

Flat wound strings are a great choice for electric guitars, whether you’re playing fingerstyle or with a pick.  Flat wound strings are a popular choice among jazz guitarists owing to their smooth sound, but they are recommended to any guitarist so you can get the essence of the sound you want, before creating distortions or effects with your guitar dials or amplifier.

Ensure you take the time to choose the right type of strings for your guitar; you’ll create a more expressive sound and have a lot more confidence in your instrument as a result.