How To Choose The Best Electric Guitar Strings

For house-rocking performance, it is vital to choose electric guitar strings that suit your instrument, tone and playing style. Follow the advice below – then check out the Elixir® Strings range to find the best electric strings for you...

Protect your tone with coated guitar strings

Electric guitar strings take a beating, and if you settle for uncoated strings that let dirt and sweat corrode the windings, your tone will suffer. Coated guitar strings cost a little bit more but are well worth the investment. However, please remember that not all coated strings are created equal. Elixir Strings is the only brand to protect the entire string, coating not just the outer string surface but also the spaces between the windings. Players report, that with Elixir Strings their tone lasts longer than with any other string, coated or uncoated. Our electric range has a choice of three polymer coatings. NANOWEB® Coating has a brighter tone and feels more like traditional strings, POLYWEB® Coating has a warmer tone and smooth feel, while OPTIWEBTM has the crisp tone and natural feel of uncoated strings. All three offer the same extended tone life, reduced finger squeak and enhanced playability that players have come to expect from Elixir Strings. Coating choice is a personal preference; try all three and decide which suits you best.

Great electric tone starts with the right string material

Great electric performance isn't just about amps, pickups and pedals: it all starts with your guitar strings and the metal alloy that gives them their distinct tone. Featuring roundwound construction for comfort and natural sparkle, Elixir Strings for electric guitar are nickel plated steel. A great all round material whose presence and punch is perfect for electric guitar styles, from stinging rock to mellow jazz and twanging chicken-picked runs. Plus, thanks to the NANOWEB, POLYWEB and OPTIWEB Coatings, it is a tone that lasts.

Match the gauge to your sound and style

The first step to finding the right string gauge for you is taking an honest look at your technique. If you are playing high-speed, highly technical guitar parts, consider using the Elixir Strings Super Light set (.009-.042). The slim gauge requires less pressure to fret notes and perform bends, which also makes them a great choice for new players with soft fingers. On the flipside, if you are playing mellow jazz or amped-up blues-rock, heavier strings have their advantages. Aside from a naturally bigger bottom-end, many players feel they maintain tension better for drop-tunings and slides. Elixir Strings has you covered right up to our Heavy (.012-.052) and Baritone (.012-.068) sets. Whatever style of electric guitar you play, you'll find the perfect gauge in our electric range.

Create your own custom string set for electric guitar

For convenience, electric guitar strings tend to be pre-packaged, with a typical pack containing six strings in pre-determined gauges of Light, Medium or Heavy. But there is nothing in the rulebook that says you have to do it that way. Alongside our packs, Elixir Strings electric guitar strings are available as singles, so you can build a custom set that is perfect for you.

Now choose the best coated electric guitar strings for you:

  •
    Electric Nickel Plated Steel with OPTIWEB Coating
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  • Electric Nickel Plated Steel with NANOWEB Coating
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  • Electric Nickel Plated Steel with POLYWEB Coating
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