What Strings Should Metal Guitarists Use? Brand and Gauge Recommendations

[wmc128]

There's no point to tuning past C and if you do get a 7 string or a 8 string guitar or if you hate extra the strings get a baritone guitar for the lowness of B standard tuning without having 1 more bass string.. Cheers

[paki46]

I play old school heavy and thrash metal. For standard tuning and half step down, my favourite strings are Ernie ball 10-46; for one step down and sometimes drop C Ernie ball 11-54. Great tone also with Rotosound. I don't like Elixir and Dean Markley: IMHO both sound really poor compared with EB and Rotosound.

[RedGramophone]

I play Doom/Sludge and a bit of Black Metal (a la Velvet Cacoon) my tuning is B F# B D# A A ( 1st and 2nd string tuned the same. Yeah to make noise  ).

I have an SG and 11- 49 strings. It's super sloppy but the sound is so wrecked and dirty it's kinda unique.

It's a pain in the ass to play though. And strings break often. But cranked up in a Orange head it sounds nice. For me at least...

[absoluteunity]

nice Tshirt.

[DaemoniumCC]

The thing about Elixir's that I really like is that they always sound the same. First day will sound the same as the third month.. the same can't be said for any other string brand. So if you're okay with the slight staleness, then they are definitely worth it. Throw on shitloads of distortion and you won't really care anyway.

[HydroponicCaravan]

Ernie Balls and D'addarios both work pretty well for me. I never really tune down lower than drop d though, so I can't say much as far as alternate tunings are concerned. Also, great shirt man =D.

[MrMacGrungy]

I've used Beefy Slinkys for quite a long time (3 years). They always last me a long time to the point where I would play and end up with smelly rusty like fingers. Anyhoo the way i've always thought about it was IF you prefer playing mostly rhythm then stick to thicker stringers, BUT if you like to do bends, solo then yeah got some thin ones. :D Nice video.

[SlaughteredDecay]

I play on .10 to .42/.46 and I play pretty hard (think Angus Young: I really like to beat to notes of the guitar) and I don't have any issues with that. I've NEVER played off a string. Nowadays a use D'addario and I've always used that and I'm yet to try other brands.

[crocodile200]

Have to agree Ernie Ball 10-46 on an SG for the win.

[adamade123]

after 4 hours a day of playing grunge, doom/stoner and heavy metal I use Elixr 12-56 Nanoweb and havent changed them on my BC Rich Dlux V in 2 months. I'd say they are well worth it. I have used the Ernie Ball Nickel coated strings but they on last half as long as Elixr.

[loveguitars]

Excellent. Thanks

[HelionDM]

I've got 12 gauge "Heavy" Elixir strings. Perfect for C tuning which I use most. A bit too tight for D tuning and makes me add fourth spring to my floyd. Also nice in B tuning and still playable in Drop A#.

p.s. 2 people got their strings broken while watching the vid. :)

[Deizelcore]

I am playing for 3 years now and I've only broken a string (the high e) once.

[seekah1]

Im using Ernie's as well...love 'em. Not too bad on the pocket as well. Excellent video, thanks.

[xstevex59]

dunlop heavy core all way, what ever gauge you like , less fret buzz, less oscillation,more metal \m/

[mattyb3671]

Good Info. I like the EBalls too, the hybrid set in the dark orange pack. Thanks!

[hillysats]

I mostly play 12-56 in B Tuning (on a 25" Scale) or 10-52 in Open C/Open B. A decent amp and good Pickups do make a difference and fixes the tonal issues like muddiness - I have learned this in the past year.

I have made an effort to learn to how play with a Devin Townsend-ish pick attack and noticed that a (slightly) looser bottom string brings out the ballsiness.

[gsogoz]

@hillysats Makes sense. How's Devin go about picking?

[hillysats]

@gsogoz

It is more of a scrape/scrunch pick attack

[gsogoz]

@hillysats Oh yeah. I remember seeing Paul Gilbert talk about that. Sounds cool.

[tony93666]

I use GHS 10-52s... I might go heavier; I don't play solos, so I don't need the skinny top. My Strat is tuned to E standard, my SG is in D, and my Les Paul is in C.

[PoopInthePantsWarren]

don't heavier gauges damage your guitar if you tune it to standard? or is there a way to work around that?

[gsogoz]

@PoopInthePantsWarren Stevie Ray Vaughan played insanely heavy strings in Eb, I think. That's an interesting question......

[mattyb3671]

@PoopInthePantsWarren If you make a really drastic change, it could. Say from .9s up to .12s or .13s(like SRV). You should have a set up done if you make a huge change like that, makes it easier on the neck. The truss, bridge, & nut may need adjustment. :)

[hungrysparrow]

I like the Ernie ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom string set. They enable you to drop tune and retain a tightness in the low E and A for fast rhythm playing and enough flexability in the top strings for bending when in standard.

[immatear]

I play mostly death metal but acoustically i play blues and so forth. I find nowadays people walk up to me with the impression that they must need the lowest possible tuning to get this phat ass bottom end sound. Greats like Lamb Of God are in Drop D and even you mentioned Trivium is mostly standard. My 6 string randy rhoads signature is in Drop B and my ibanez 8 string is in the F# tuning but it works for me. Love your stuff man! Thought i'd just drop a comment and tell ya what i think haha

[gsogoz]

@immatear Thanks! Sounds like diverse playing :D

[6Masked6man6]

DR strings I learned about from Scott Ian. And I have to say I agree with him when he says "If you have a tone this big(makes a ring with his finger and thumb) It will make it this big(holds an invisible ball)" DRs make your sound much bigger and fuller than any other strings I've used.(I've used Ernie Balls, D'addario, and a couple others I don't remember)

[gsogoz]

@6Masked6man6 Cool. I love Scott's rhythm work. I shall have to investigate further!

[frankibiris76r]

Elixir and Dean Markleys (the vintage ones), 10-46. They're difficult to find here in Nicaragua, my third choice is Daddarios, same gauge.