If you would like any further guidance, please feel free to get in touch and we’d be happy to offer any advice we can. Happy stringing, and we’ll see you all next time! The first set is thinner across every string than the first. That means, in general, they’ll be “easier” to play for many beginner guitarists, because they require less finger strength to fret and bend. On the other hand, they do require more precision to really add flavour to your playing and master techniques like a delicate vibrato, legato or arpeggios. One of the best ways to find your ideal string gauge is to research what your favourite guitarists use, or what other musicians who play the same genre of music gravitate towards.

BEEFY SLINKY 11-54 SET Ernie Ball EB COBALT BEEFY SLINKY 11-54 SET

The second option is to take your current set of strings and to tweak some of the gauges here and there to your taste. You can do this on an adhoc basis by purchasing some additional single string(s) and changing whichever gauge you want to.Heavier gauge strings naturally have more tension in them when they are tuned to pitch. This means greater effort is required to play them in the form of fretting and bending, but it’s not just the player that feels the extra strain, the guitar is affected by the heavier gauge too. Engineered to maximize output and clarity, Ernie Ball Cobalt Slinky Guitar Strings are the latest innovation in string technology. Seeking to provide guitarists and bassists with a new voice, Cobalt strings provide an extended dynamic range, incredible harmonic response, increased low end, and crisp, clear highs.

Slinky Electric Guitar Strings | Ernie Ball Paradigm Slinky Electric Guitar Strings | Ernie Ball

Most new guitars come strung with light-gauge strings. For beginning players, that’s probably a good place to start. As you develop and your fingers gain calluses and strength, you may want to gradually move up to heavier strings, depending on the music you play.

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For example, if you’re changing strings from 9-42 to 10-46 gauge, it may not sound like a big deal, but the heavier 10-46 strings set carries over 20% more tension across the entire set. That’s a huge jump in tension! Your guitar will inevitably react to this extra tension and as a result you may notice changes in its playability. We hope this has given you a better understanding of how your guitar can react to a change in string gauge. It’s often difficult to give a definitive answer and say “this will definitely happen” but it’s not as easy as that as all instruments are different and the jump in gauge will be different from player to player. Here’s a rundown of some of the various tensions from some of the most popular electric and acoustic gauges, pay attention to the difference of electric guitar strings 9-42 vs 10-46: Electric Guitar Strings Tension: For some years now, some string manufacturers have been manufacturing what are known as half gauged strings. These are sets where the manufacturer has carefully chosen ‘in-between’ gauges to help make the step up in gauge less of a drastic one both for the player and their guitar, with little to no adjustments necessary. Many great guitarists have been known to prefer light gauge strings such as Jimi Hendrix, Brian May, Billy Gibbons, and B.B. King.

Ernie Ball Beefy Slinky 11-54 Guitar strings - Andertons

For instance, if you are making a change from a 10-46 to 11-49 gauged set, you may wish to select a gauge of 10.5’s. This smaller step-up in gauge will not only help the player but your guitar will be thankful too! These sets are readily available nowadays with many big name manufacturers such as D’Addario, DR, GHS, PRS and Pyramid Strings all making their own version of a half gauged set. What To Expect When Trying Custom Strings SetsIf you’re unsure about “going up” a gauge but wanted to tentatively explore this path without going bananas, there are a few options open to you; What Are Half Gauge Strings Sets?