The BEST Strings to Enhance Your Tone 

Thank you to D'Addario for sponsoring today's video! Check out some of my favorite D'Addario strings and guitar accessories here: ddar.io/marty

Just did my first Solo string change (using your videos of course) putting on a set of 11 guage D'Addarios. Brought my acoustic back to life. Thanks!

Love your guitar lessons, you rock Marty!

Marty you are a great person to do this test! A player’s player. Not some technical thing, just someone I can trust his feel. Plus, I’ve been playing NYXL 9.5 strings for a long time and they are great! I break the others, but never a NYXL. If you have never tried 9.5’s you might be surprised. I was. The perfect balance between being too wiggly and controllable.

My teacher told me that switching to thinner strings would greatly affect my tone. I went to .009 guage ultralights and man I have never been happier. I'm 56 and arthritis is becoming an issue. I put some Billy Gibbons .007 on one of my effects, and I freakin LOVE it. You can make it up with your amp and effects, but in my opinion, it sounds just as good and three times easier to play. You old guys like me, check into some thinner guage strings, unless you have perfect pitch and a damn good ear, it won't make one bit of difference, other than you will be able to get a lot more flexibility in your guitar. Teacher couldn't take anything away from it, sounded very good either way.

I started playing on 9s and recently tried using 10-52 on E standard on a 25.5 inch scale length because that’s what Dave Mustaine uses to make those heavy rhythms like on Holy Wars easier. It’s made a huge difference to my rhythm playing. If you are a rhythm player you might prefer thicker strings. Cool video Marty!

Hey Marty, thank you for the demo on the best strings to achieve your guitar tone. Really appreciated!! My main strings for both acoustic and electric guitars are D'Addario.

Thank you Marty for such a good vídeo, easy to hear and understand. I really enjoy these types of comparison videos. I've been using 11's on my acoustic for a good workout and tone depth and 9.5s on my electric to get some nice bends and fast action. Thanks again @Marty Music

I play 9 and 10’s depending on what’s in the box when I’m changing strings. My tone comes from the way I hold my pick. I mainly play holding my pick on its side. I get big full tone this way, if I hold it playing the point it’s very bright. Acoustics guitars for me are a little different. To me med strings sound a lot better on my acoustics than lite ones, but the pick response is the same, flat side, big fat tone, pointed side bright and thin. And string brand is like “what’s for breakfast?” I love changing brands to compare to what I just had on. To each their own. It’s interesting reading what works best for other players.

I use mainly 9's on my tele and 10's on my other electric guitars. I usually go heavy on my acoustic guitar. I will try anything once or twice and there are so many variables and I love them all. I also go back and forth playing with a pick or thumb pick and just fingers.

I gave the NYXL strings a try and wasn't overly impressed. Went right back to my Ernie Ball Titanium Reinforced Coated strings. To me they feel and sound better than anything else. But like I said, that's just me and my own personal preference.

Marty great video thank you sir!!

So, I am new to guitar (playing 8 months). Just by chance, I changed my strings for the first time yesterday from the 11s my Donner came with to a set of 10s. Could not believe the difference in ease of play by just going to the lighter strings. Actually just played my first successful barre chords, which I credit to the lighter strings. This makes me wonder why my beginner came with 11s, and my wife's beginner (Fender Squier) came with 12s!? This doesn't seem conducive for learning, or encouraging new players to continue. Thanks for another great video and the insight.

A friend of mine recommended nyxl stings a few years ago and I’ve stayed with them ever since. I love them.

I like the NYXL's but usually just go with whatever the manufacturer recommends for their guitar. Same with gauge, whatever gauge the guitar comes with is what I'll always use. The only time these rules will change for me is on acoustic guitars.

'D'Addario NY XL strings ( the ones in the video!) are really nice on your guitar, and are really nice for bends. Id highly recommend!

I started in 75 I went with 8s because I thought it would make it easier. Within 5 years I went to 9s or 10s depending on what guitar I was. A couple years ago I had to go to 8s because of arthritis in my hands. I don't like it so much because I to liked my guitar to fight me a little. I also never was a low action guy. I found that bends were much easier with higher action. Super speed never impressed me that much. Great video Marty.

Thanks Marty 🎸

Great info Marty for a rookie like myself. I was under the impression that heavier strings are only for metal and power chords and lighter strings are for picking, but sounds like either do both....just differently. Sooooo because of this video, I'm gonna plug some thicker strings on my acoustic and see how I like them. I'll make sure to get D'Addario.

I dig D'Addario strings. Good stuff marty!

The best gauge is the one that stands up to bends and how hard you press. For me 10-46 has always been fine.

The 11's certainly rocked

I personally found Dunlop 9-42 to be my favorite but for tone wise to my ears ernie ball 11's were great as well. 9's are fun I truly believe the guitar chooses the strings for you and you accept the guitar knows best

Would love this with your taylor

Thanks! 🙂

use 12 ernieball not even slinky gauge on my telecaster. love the feel 🌻

I use Stringjoy 9.5-46 for standard tuning on my 339 and their 11-52 set for my drop tuned prophecy Les Paul

I’m a huge Hybrid Slinky fan. My two favorite guitars of mine are a Fender Squier mini & a Fender Squier Strat. The Hybrid Slinky’s are just a little lighter than the Super Slinky’s but it completely changes up the feel and my ability to run up and down the neck easier.

Love it!!!

I have been really enjoying some string sets recently that are a bit mixed up... the GBE strings are light (what you'd normally get in a set of 10s); the EAD strings are heavier (what you might normally get in a set of 11s). I think one vendor calls them 'Light Huskies'; another vendor called them 'Power Brights'. I'm really loving these. They weren't even an option back in the old days when I was first playing. Like everyhing else I guess... progress keeps marching on. I'm curious if other folks are using these and what they think of them.

No questions on different string material, and/or string core for wrapped strings?

Marty is a bloody legend.

Tuned ones are pretty good for me

Hey Marty, what gage do you like on your J45?

I have been needing strings for my guitar for a month ,time to get some tomorrow.and maybe put a order in in future of something different.

about 5 years ago i tried a bunch of different guage strings and found that i prefer 9s on my tele and 10s on my les paul

Very good music playing guitar 🎸 👍

I am a long time user of Daddario exl125. they are a mixed set, 9s for the high three and 10s for the bottom 3, , easily 15 years on my strat. I recently got a les, custom . it still has whatever brand probably 10s. I will find out today what the mixed set sound like on the paul

Marty, do you think the thicker strings had a subconscious effect of having to attack the strings a little harder, knowing they are thicker? I am the type who has a death grip no matter how much I try to keep a light touch. I definitely like my guitar to fight me. So I tend to use thicker gauges like 10's and 11's on my electrics to keep me from bending up too sharp.

Marty I was following your lesson on Jessica I play a thinking tele with 10s and couldn't get the bends the way I should have

I’ve tried them all, and always seem to go back to 11s. Once the finger strength is up to speed, there is just no comparison IMO. Yes, they are a bit more work on Fender scale but slam those on a Tele and that’s just the way it supposed to be.

I lost my tips of two of fingers that I play with and it makes it very difficult to play is there anything they make that I can use to make up the length of my fingers?

Hey marty, i was wandering if you could do a video about psycho by puddle of mudd. Thx. Love the videos.

Please do an video on the needle an the spoon

I tried some heavy 11-50 recently and they were so hard to tune right.

Yo, Billy Gibbons plays 7s, and he's just as loud as anyone. BB King asked him why he was working so hard when he learned he was using heavy gauge strings. I've started playing 8s (down from 10s) on my Tele (9s on my LP Jr) and I'm telling ya, my progress took a leap. Without the feeling of having to fight the strings I am able to focus on efficiency and accuracy. I can play longer with less fatigue. As a matter of fact, I can no longer use string tension as an excuse for fatigue. Excessive exertion and engagement of unnecessary muscle groups are all that's left and are easier to diagnose now. The strings are floppier and easier to fret out of tune. These problems force you to learn to use efficient and accurate directional pressure. Don't get so caught up in what the consensus is on "the best." Do what's best for you at the moment. Don't be afraid to experiment, even if you've played for a long time. Don't be like me and get stuck doing something because you have been convinced it's the only right way. Take recommendations with a grain of salt. Listen to the person's reasons for their preferences, get second opinions, and tailor your choice based on what you think will work best for you. Guitar is not just a skill, it's a self-discovery journey.

Please do a second meeting with Jack Pearson! I loved that episode and his playing

Cool. I've used almost nothing but D'Addario strings on acoustic and electric for... almost 4 decades? I don't know, it seems that standard electric string sets don't feel balanced to me. When I played .009 gauge I always went with .009-.046 but now for years I've been playing .010-.052. I like the way you can hit the bass strings harder without as much buzz, especially in the open position. I'm thinking of going back to .009-.046 because I'm old and tired now, haha. Phosphor Bronze .012-.053 on acoustic have always been my fave. D'Addario are awesome strings, I've tried others but I always immediately come back.

Ive tried all strings and gauges, still keep going back to 9s. More specifically lately the Ernie Ball Cobalts or Paradigms

I switched to NYXL’s 9’s on the Strat. 11’s or 10’s on my 335. Tried 12’s and 13’s hated them. Felt like I was playing a bass.

Tutorial for Pictures of matchstick men pls🙏

mY Les Paul copy had a flat Junior type Agathis body with a Tele' type upper bout - string through hardtail with a brass nut and brass (70's Stratocaster style) adjustable saddles on the bridge the different manufacturers and gauges were very pronounced the GHS 💥 Boomers had a distinct sound but didn't last very long D'Addario lasted the longest and were consistent sound & quality

Hey marty can you do an tutorial on The rocker-thin lizzy?

9s on my Strat and PRS 24; 10s on my Gibson LP.

Marty's always Da best😀

If it improves my ability to get up and down the neck faster and easier bends, I would go for the lighter gauge strings like the 9's every time. 😎🎸🎸

Marty can you please do a tutorial on (Have you ever needed someone so bad) by def lepard?

Please do monsters by all time low

It is a tradeoff, heavy strings sound better but you sacrifice playability. There is no compromise.

MARTY MARTY MARTY please do a tutorial of how to play Trudy, the song originally by CDB covered by Tyler Childers

I changed from 10s to 11s a couple years ago. Better articulation with each note, chords push the tubes harder. Definitely requires more strength for bends, especially those SRV two and three string bends. My Strat sounds heavier, my Gibson 335 gets some really fat jazzy tones.

As you change around string gauge's - 10's to 11's or 9's - do you have to adjust anything with the setup / action?

I don't take my tone into consideration when changing strings, it's all about comfort for me. I use D'Addario 10-52 as my normal gauge for E, Eb, D on electric & Elixir 12-53 on Acoustic.

I just realized that the daddario factory is 20 minutes from my house

'' 9's are like taking the ankle weights off " lol

Marty I have a request!!!! You’ve helped me a lot with learning guitar and I didn’t see this on one your channel yet, If you would be up for it, would you show us how to play a part of “covered in rain” by John Mayer? The Song is absolutely beautiful !!!!!

The short answer is yes and no. Heavier gauge strings have more metal over the pickup, and thus are louder and will drive an amp harder, but if you perform careful volume matching, heavier strings will sound essentially identical to lighter strings.

yo could you do lost kitten by metric

Please teach through the fire and flames

What les paul is that 😋

I think anything past 11s has diminishing returns in regards to tone . 48-10 is a nice balance.

Hey Marty could you do a lesson on "Frances Farmer will have her revenge on Seattle" by Nirvana

Quit stringin'" me along, Marty. I'm "gaugein'" your RU-vids. I'll stay "tuned!"

The man himself the legend

people worry about toneeeeeeeee way too much . worry about being in time with the music and u will sound much better regardless of tone 🎸✌

I like 9’s myself on my Acoustic 10’s

I recently found that Strats sound more Strat-like with Ernie Ball strings. I use D'Addario on everything else.

I've been playing for 40 years. It was clear that when you switched to heavier gauge strings you got a fuller sound, more vibrating mass. Simple. Period. No argument. No mystery. It ultimately comes to a subjective matter of preference. I use .11 to .54 and tune down a half step on Strats. Tuning down a half step stops my strings from breaking on bends. All the other pro tricks aside, it's the only reliable cure. I like heavier gauge strings because I like to work extra hard for my notes. For me a guitar that's too easy to play is something I don't want. At any rate, any gauge of strings can be compensated for with an EQ. In the end, determining string gauge ultimately comes down to, not a "trend", but a personal sensation of feel and touch.

Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, had to use the very lightest of string gauges after he chopped the end of his fingers off.

PLEASE do a lesson on taking pictures of you by the kooks!!

Can’t substitute heavy gauge for the blues tone.

Billy Gibbons used 7 gauge he said why work hard when you don’t have too.

I love you 😍

LP + 9s, that's my setup.. feels like spaghetti, you can bend anywhere

9-46 for me.🎸

The lighter the better. I play many songs that require quick full step bends and the thicker strings just make them unnecessarily hard. I do have fast but small fingers though, so I see why guys with bigger meat hooks and rhythm players would prefer thicker strings.

take lead and rhythm such as ACDC. Malc played like 11 or 12 and Angus 9. There is a reason why they use different.

At first look I thought Brian was Mike Mills of REM.

Let's go

I noticed the same thing; it looked like you enjoyed playing 9's.

Toan

It’s “toan”

Day 1 of asking for going to pasalacqua by green day

is that jerry springer....??!!

The 11s sound better

NYXL are way over hyped. tried a few sets i wont be going back

I've decided neither one of them know what the hell they're talking about 😂

Me playing 8s on my strat🤡

day 5 of asking for Coming of Age by the Blondes

Love your channel, but you are a little late to the party on this one. Rick Beato did a test on this last year. The results were interesting and definitely not what most people would expect. I won't spoil it here though.