A guide to string gauges for guitars. How to choose the right ones for you.

Here's to talk about strings for electric and acoustic guitars, which gauges to choose and why.

[@projeanant9564]

Hi mate, finally a no nonsense explanation without attitude,

[@frankaq3951]

Great information. I like 9's on my Strat, and 11's on my Martin.

[@Doowopsid]

Thank you for a very informative, thorough and comprehensive explanation of the differences between all the guitar strings. You made many valid points and your down to earth style is great to listen to as you don’t talk down to people who are watching who may be beginners or advanced.

[@rgestrella5078]

Thank you. Really enjoyed the way you explained and described the strings. :)

[@lotharroberts5978]

Love your informative videos.

[@luisgonzales7730]

This is the best 10000% video on guitar strings.

[@siddharthmanumusic]

Very informative. Thank you!

[@bobpratt4816]

Interesting and helpful, cheers Gary, subscribed.

[@Bluesman-pi5mo]

Just headed out the door to get some acoustic strings for an inexpensive guitar.. Extremely helpful.. Light it is

[@GordiansKnotHere]

Great information! Thanks very much!

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

For my Nylon String Guitars, I always use Ball End Nylon Strings (they do make Bridge Beads that allow you to convert Tie End Nylon Strings into Ball End Nylon Strings) which make restringing the Guitar a Snap, and it also lets the strings come out of the bridge at a steeper angle over the saddle.

[@OscarBenben]

Excellent Guy 👏🏼 everything you said is accurate and it’s what everyone thinks

[@Ian-tk3rq]

That was very helpful thank you 👍

[@jamesdorasamy5751]

Finally straight talk .. thank you

[@rogergravel6638]

thanks for your advice

[@colauty2598]

Interesting stuff, excellent, I use 11/52 pretty much usefull for all 😊

[@LottimusMaximus]

They definitely make a heavy for acoustic. I used them on my Taylor 214DLX, which is tuned down to C standard. If you stay a half step down and don’t want to lose volume, go for medium.

[@felixwitger5920]

Thank you. I never thought about the strain on the guitar. I assumed the differences was playability and that heavier strings had clearer notes compared to the lighter ones. Keep it up, cheers!

[@magooinlalouisian]

B B King said why you working so hard as to why he used 8's

[@warshipsatin8764]

​@@magooinlalouisian11's dont feel like work to me

[@flashes_of_ramfis]

thank you very much!! you're awesome!!

[@GeoffNelson]

Nice and concise

[@renecuevas4128]

I watch the video 4 times trying to decide on Medium to light after your explanation wich tell me u know what you are saying Tnks I play for many years always using da same Addario s once I use Ernie s but went back I play Acoustic.....Acoustic Electric.....Fender Strat and Strings are always on my normal budget.....4 times a year times 5 guitars....😁funny how money is spent when ur kids are grown. Tnk u n blessings u seem like a great guy....ttul

[@Michael-pm1tq]

I remember when I started playing guitar 15 years ago, I put D'Addario mediums on my acoustic because I thought the same thing. I sure developed my calluses quickly but it wasn't a fun experience starting out. These days I've settled on custom-light as my go to.

[@qua7771]

As an electric player buying acoustic strings for the first time I thought the acoustic sizes looked insanity large. 10's on electric are the norm, and 9's are considered light. There was no way I was getting medium acoustic strings, but I wasn't sure if I was wrong in my chowing custom lights.

[@RockStarOscarStern634]

While lighter gauge strings are easier to play they actually work better on a longer scale length since each string needs a certain amount of tension to make a good sound on a particular note. I managed to put a set of 7s on a Baritone Acoustic Tuned up to E Standard & it sounded rather interesting.

[@andoros.7017]

I’m curious as to what your logic/thought about the correlation between scale length and appropriate/optimal string gauge is?

[@abinsronaldofan]

Thank you 😊

[@kdtrimble]

Gary know's his shit and helped me a ton!

[@glennbasile314]

Nice job

[@MrErik038]

Good video, thank you! The dreadn likes my new gibsons coated 12s a whole orchestra of tones&brigthness more.. I grew anough skin on the fingers to chainge them & the elixers ive had before got me there in my opinion. Every stringset serves its perpose on differend gitars-sounds-playabillety. Just dont break the gitar by too tick of strings!!

[@celticlofts]

I use 11s on my Avalon's and Lowden's. They come from the workshop with 12s but I find them a little hard on my fingers as I play about 4 or 5 hours a day.

[@JasentheHun]

Thx, Mark.

[@brunoliamat]

Hi, Mark. Something I came across a few months ago. Tried 12's on an American Standard, tuning a whole step down, all adjustments (truss rod, bridge, so forth) done. Did it trying to get a different "tone". It sounded terrible: dull, muddy, dead. Tried everything else: pickup height adjustment, EQ on the amp I use and in the end I gave up. Then, I did the same on a cheap Chinese made guitar I've had (and loved) for year. Ceramic pickups, body wood unknown, cheap pots etc. It sounded great: fat, lots of presence and a mellow tone which was what I aimed at. Something I'll never get to know (wood, maybe?) made all the difference along with the string gauge. Sometimes there is a little bit of alchemy and magic with guitars. Thanks again for your nice and informative videos, mate.

[@GarysGuitarsUSA]

sounds like luck had something to do with it as well.

[@MarianoPerez]

100% Extra light should be called light, light should be called mediums, etc.

[@kingrobert1st]

Me I prefer medium rare!

[@MrErik038]

No peppersauce for me pls. The stains are non removable!

[@tomcutler4144]

Really enjoy your videos. Always interesting. In this one, you don't talk about the thing I have the most difficulty with. Should I buy Phosphor Bronze, wound nickel, etc.? What's the tonal difference when using different alloys? Also, while you cover string weights ad nauseum in this video, you don't really speak to a question/debate I have with my other guitarists friends: do lighter gauge strings "weaken" tone/make things sound thin?

[@MansurNumanov]

Heavy gauge strings are also used specifically for lower tunings, i.e. I use 12-53 for D tuning.

[@GarysGuitarsUSA]

Thart light top/medium bottom. Heavy would be 14s

[@charliesmith9528]

Whats the best guitar to buy that easy to chord and play in a affordable price range,,i remember i use to play around with a les paul electric a friend had and it was heavy but easy to chord and play

[@jpdiddy8876]

My Guild Jumbo Jr came with medium gauge strings. Heard it’s because of the shorter scale? 🎸✌🏻

[@dubdelay]

Thanks again another spot on video. I feel I should return the favour and as I do SEO for a living I'd suggest you add this to the video description "Tags: D'addario, Ernie Ball, guitar string explainer, string tension, heavy gauge strings explained, medium gauge strings explained, heavy gauge strings, pro & cons". You will get more people finding these great resources then. Sorry to offer unasked for advice but karma and all that good stuff. Cheers again.

[@GarysGuitarsUSA]

Thanks for the tip, also as you know comments are helpful too so we appreciate the comments, anytime.

[@rock_isaiah]

sir. what is the best gauge for laminated top? thanks God bless

[@briandonnelly3052]

I started with 10-47's and recently bought some Elixir Polyweb 80/20's in 12-56. Where would the 12-56es fit?

[@robertclymer6948]

Hello! Thanks for sharing. Which gauge strings would you use on a J-200 jumbo, either Gibson or Epiphone? I don't play hard, more arpeggio style guitar playing, e.i., Greg Lake. Thanks for any input, and blessings from Michigan.

[@celticlofts]

Try both and see which one's you like. Jumbo guitar are made for increased volume and are great guitars for strummers so if you do a lot of that then 11s or 12s would be fine. I wouldn't go any heavier though. I prefer 11s myself.

[@davidclark3603]

I'm 64 now and an ex pro. We used to use 8s or 9s were used for live work! They work I the high mids which let you cut through the mix. In a live situation,you get invited to go with friends to see a live band because they have a really good guitar player. All you can hear is, didly, didly, didly Dee, Dee, deeeeeee etc, very muffled too! You can use a boost pedal on solos but everyone has their fingers in their ears and when it's over, they say, they were good, but they knew it! They were too loud! It's because the strings are too heavy. If you use 8s or 9s at the most, this will not happen!!!!!! This is the old, old school coming out of me now! These are old basics coming out now. When live, it's easy to get low mids. Tone is exponentially thrown forward and it will get louder the higher and longer the room is. Hence the muffled sound. The mud frequency. The pressure zone. Their is only so much headroom? Heavy strings make things worse! Use 8s or 9s at the most. I'm begging you. I'm pleading with you. Don't do it!!!!! You're committing live suicide!!! You also get the Doppler effect (the fire engine going past effect) !bass players should use light strings too! This will sound stupid. They should use 10 inch speakers too. Get all the bass from the bass drum!!! This is not a guitar lesson, a lesson in live sound. Heavy strings are for anywhere but the live stage!!!! Don't do it. You'll be sorry! Listen to old granddad here. I won't lie!! Good luck, and peace to you all!!!!!!!

[@scottcummings8602]

So I am a SRV fanboy/wannabe….but never bought into that “heavy gauge = big tone fiction” I’ve played Billy Gibbons 7’s since they came out, and always get compliments on tone. Personally, I think what pick you use (or don’t use, and how you hold it) changes tone far more than any string gauge.

[@markdeweese9288]

The one strings I trust are Erine Ball.

[@nuclearguitar779]

Question. I tune to D standard on my Les Paul and Schecter and they sound good, they have 10s. I tune to D standard on my Yamaha and it sounds like garbage, it has 9s. Is string gauge size the factor here?

[@dougbryant5417]

Sorted, cheers mate. 😅

[@charliesmith9528]

What best strings for a beginner,im 65 and have tried to learn guitar many times but get frustrated when i have difficulty making bar chords etc due to my short fingers,,im a drummer and have played in bands since i was 10,,now i want to learn to play guitar so i can play some somgs ive written over the past years

[@celticlofts]

Dip your toes into DADGAD tuning as many of the chords are easier to play than the traditional chord shapes and DADGAD tuning gives you beautiful lush sound when played. There's lots of open tuning videos out there to you to check out.

[@jryan2313]

Martin D18 & HD28 come with Medium 13’s

[@franciscobravoortiz566]

That GEORGE shirt, i have the same shirt!!!

[@TonyBurke100]

I always choose strings by the actual gauge eg 0008 or 0010 to whatever thickness I want

[@SillyMoustache]

Strange that this gent, who sells guitars says that Daddario don't make "heavy" acoustic strings - Ej18/19. However I really don't think they are necessary for most. Medium gauge Ej17 (13-56) ARE standard for larger guitars such as dreads, archtops, resonators. (Lights (12-43) are for smaller guitars, 000 and smaller. I know of one player who uses lighter tan lights on is OM, but I don't know of anyone else that used extra/ultra lights.

[@GarysGuitarsUSA]

D'addario makes them... We don't sell them.

[@lilycat1694]

My Martin D-28 came with mediums (13- 56), and I wonder if I should switch to 12’s.

[@jboy8735]

I have d-28 as well 13 are perty hard to play but sound good

[@alienvolt7741]

i have a small body cheap acoustic, i just put a pack of 11-52s alice strings and they died quite fast. im planning on changing to some D'addario extra lights 10-50s see how it holds up.

[@GarysGuitarsUSA]

It might have more to do with the brand than the light or extra light difference.

[@kingrobert1st]

My perfect solution is 11 - 50 if you can find them!

[@osricen]

What do the numbers mean?

[@JohnDoe-cm2ot]

Why do the Daddario "12" string set only come with 8 strings?

[@garyharris3159]

I Am Having To Tune 2 Frets And Use Capo On 2 Fret And There Still Put A Lot Of Stress On my Guitar using Elixir 80/20 Bronze Nano Web light Gauge Do not Know Whats Rong

[@stonemanson4884]

👍

[@Cris.Aldana]

Which gauge do you recommend for C tunning?

[@AelitaRose420]

13-56 for full scale

[@bribolin7278]

In new electric guitars extra light is the norm. 9-42. I am referring to MOST new electric guitars.

[@GarysGuitarsUSA]

With new guitars, yes, but the most popular string in electric is still the 10s. They outsell the 9s to the one. The 12s out sell the 13s and acoustic about three to one. And no one even carries heavy acoustic strings anymore except for low tunings.

[@renecuevas4128]

The Coca Cola of Strings. Love it

[@riclrk9947]

I still can't decided between 12 or 11s for my acoustics .For decades I am still evaluating more tone and volume with the 12s but prefer the easier playability with 11,ime in a permanent stalemate lol

[@celticlofts]

I'd use 12s if you're comfortable with open tuning or playing in DADGAD tuning. Otherwise I'd use 11s and save some skin on your fingers.

[@MrErik038]

If you find a way to grow stronger skin let me know😂

[@thunderbugcreative7778]

Ernie Ball 11.5 custom lights sound like the answer from above ...

[@tomulator]

I play 9-46…what are those considered? The normal extra light gauge I see are 9-42…

[@GarysGuitarsUSA]

on electric those are "regular light"

[@Guitaristlife-dn9ou]

0:24 😂😂😂😂😂

[@lordofthemound3890]

Martin ships their dreadnoughts with Mediums 13-56.

[@G_Demolished]

Because they were designed for that string tension.

[@lordofthemound3890]

I just wanted to clarify his statement at 1:25 that “All the major companies ship their guitars with light strings, generally.”

[@markeverson5849]

Now that I heard this I don't want to take a chance with medium or heavy strings on my old acoustics

[@donaldisgrigg7785]

Dammit,SRV de-tuned to E flat also...much LESS tension on the neck !!!!!

[@DarkWorldQ8]

I used to use medium strings on acoustics. Last year I switched to light and I can feel like the guitar is easier to play and much easier to bend the strings

[@mr.smithgnrsmith7808]

Yeah…..no shit

[@jimmy5634]

I’m trying Ernie Ball Extra Light 80-20’s at the moment 10-14-20-30-40-50 on my D18 They sound very balanced and are much easier to play. The volume difference doesn’t matter to me because I plug in 90% of the time unless I’m just noodling around.

[@jimmy5634]

Addendum: Took them off. “G” was buzzing and no matter how I adjusted the relief, I couldn’t correct it. Put the 12-54 80-20’s back on. Experiment over.

[@retiredguyadventures6211]

I just put 10's on my acoustic just because I thought that would make it easier to do bends...

[@steveblease]

Light strings on my telecaster just pull Am out of tune. On my Ibanez it's even worse.

[@mr.smithgnrsmith7808]

Daddarrio make the best acoustic AND electric

[@GarysGuitarsUSA]

they are damn good strings

[@davenelson859]

Hey, it's John Goodman !!!!!

[@O_Canada]

if you don't play 9.5s you're a peasant

[@samim810]

because DAddaria is a Coca-Cola of strings I will never buy it again, I hate Coca-Cola...