Best Acoustic Guitar Strings: Buying Guide

Paul Smith

Instrument Guru

With a wide variety of materials, gauges, and brands available, it can be overwhelming to decide which strings are best for your acoustic guitar.

This guide will help you find the perfect strings for your acoustic guitar.

My Favorite Strings: Ernie Ball 2003 Earthwood 80/20 Bronze

Best Guitar String Materials

The material of guitar strings significantly impacts their tone and feel. Here are the most common types:

Bronze: Often referred to as 80/20 bronze strings (80% copper, 20% zinc), these strings produce a bright, crisp tone. They are popular for their clear, articulate sound but tend to lose brightness quicker than other materials.
Phosphor Bronze: These strings have a warmer tone than 80/20 bronze and maintain their brightness for extended periods due to the added phosphor. They are known for their balanced sound and durability.
Silk and Steel: Combining steel with silk (or nylon) windings, these strings offer a softer feel and a mellow, warm tone. They are ideal for fingerstyle players and those who prefer a more gentle sound.
Coated Strings: These strings are treated with a polymer coating to extend their lifespan. Coated strings, such as Elixir or D’Addario EXP, are slightly more expensive but retain tone and feel much longer than uncoated strings.

Best Guitar String Guage

String gauge refers to the thickness of the strings, usually measured in thousandths of an inch. Here’s how different gauges affect your playing:

Extra Light (0.010 - 0.047): These strings are easy to play and gentle on the fingers, making them ideal for beginners. However, they produce a lighter, less resonant tone and are more prone to breakage.
Medium Light (0.011 - 0.052): These strings offer your guitar a lighter feel and brighter tone. If your guitar is a warm and dark-sounding instrument, going with these strings will help balance out the dark with brighter tones, making an even experience for warriors playing styles.
Light (0.012 - 0.054): Light gauge strings are a popular choice for many acoustic guitarists. They offer a good balance between playability and tone, a bright sound, and versatility for various playing styles.
Medium (0.013 - 0.056): These strings offer a fuller, louder tone and are more durable. They are suitable for strumming and flatpicking but require more finger strength and can be more demanding on the guitar’s neck.
Heavy (0.014 and above): Heavy gauge strings produce the loudest, fullest tone and are highly durable. However, they require significant finger strength and are more challenging to play, making them less suitable for beginners.

Start with 12 gauge strings. They are heavy enough to help you build endurance and string for many playing sessions.

My Favorite Strings: Ernie Ball 2003 Earthwood 80/20 Bronze

Best Guitar String Brands

Several brands are well-regarded for their quality and consistency. Here are a few:

Elixir: Known for its coated strings, Elixir offers long-lasting strings with a smooth feel. Their Nanoweb and Polyweb coatings cater to different tonal preferences.
D’Addario: A versatile brand offering both coated and uncoated strings, D’Addario strings are known for their reliability and wide range of options.
Ernie Ball: Popular for its bright tone and affordability, Ernie Ball offers various gauges and materials, including its Earthwood line of acoustic strings.
Martin: Renowned for their rich tone, Martin strings are a favorite among acoustic guitarists. They offer phosphor bronze, 80/20 bronze, and other materials.
John Pearse: Known for their warm tone and excellent craftsmanship, John Pearse strings are a favorite among professional musicians.

Each brand offers something different. I have spent much time trying different strings to find what I like best. I use Martin strings on my acoustic and Ernie Ball on my electric.

It's different for every guitar. So grab a few different packs, try them out, and see what you like to use best.

Best Guitar Strings for Each Playing Style

Fingerstyle

Silk and steel (nylon) or light gauge phosphor bronze strings are ideal for their warm tone and ease of play. These are used mostly for classical-style guitar playing, giving some gentleness against your fingers so you can play for long periods.

Strumming

Medium gauge phosphor bronze or 80/20 bronze strings provide a complete, resonant sound suitable for strumming. These strings allow for large room sounds, best for playing rhythm-style guitar.

Flatpicking

Medium to heavy gauge 80/20 bronze strings offer the durability and bright tone needed for flatpicking. If you like to play a lot of notes between chords, you’ll want something that can hear all of the notes you play.

Versatility

Light gauge phosphor bronze strings are a great choice, providing a balanced tone and playability. If you play a little bit of everything and are not style-specific, you will want versatility!

Versatility is always my pick. This opens up anything and everything you want to do on the guitar.

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