There’s nothing quite like the feel and sound of fresh guitar strings, especially on an acoustic guitar, where every tonal nuance is exposed. Playing with old, dull, and grubby strings not only feels bad but also affects your guitar’s tone – a double whammy to avoid. To help, we’ve put together a selection of the best acoustic guitar strings available today so you don’t have to face this problem alone.
Strings may not be the most expensive part of your guitar, but they’re certainly one of the most integral. Just like your guitar’s body shape, bracing construction, tonewoods, and even scale length, your acoustic guitar strings play a huge role in how good your instrument sounds – and how it feels when you’re playing.
Of course, strings are incredibly personal, and the best acoustic guitar strings for you will depend on both your playing style and the type of acoustic guitar you own. To make it easier to find the perfect set, we’ve rounded up our top recommendations in a number of categories. From coated options to steel core custom gauges, we’ve selected a wide berth of options that will appeal to the cornucopia of players out there. We've also included some useful advice at the end of this guide in our FAQs section.
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Our top picks
Marrying a long-lasting performance with a balanced, rich tonality, the Elixir 80/20 Bronze with Nanoweb acoustic guitar strings takes our top spot here. If you play regularly, these coated strings make changing after every show redundant thanks to some advanced technology.
If the feel of coated strings isn’t for you, then you can’t go wrong with Martin Authentic Acoustic 80/20 strings. Coming from one of the biggest names in the acoustic guitar world, these great-sounding strings work brilliantly whether you’re flatpicking or fingerpicking.
If you're playing classical or flamenco guitar, then our favorite nylon strings are the D’Addario Pro Arté Nylon Core. They come with a variety of tensions to suit your playing style and deliver a warm and balanced tone that makes them ideal for fingerpicking techniques like rasgueado.
Best overall
Elixir’s Nanoweb acoustic guitar strings offer brilliantly long-lasting performance that far exceeds the majority of uncoated strings available. We’ve heard players stating that these strings have survived regular play for six months!
In our experience, tonally speaking there’s little difference between these and a set of uncoated strings and, if anything, the slightly lesser brightness when you first put them on is another advantage. It makes the strings sound as though they’ve been played in for a little bit, losing some of that super twangy tone you get with a new pair of strings.
Elixir Nanoweb sounds equally good with fingerpicking and flatpicking which is why they come as standard on all Taylor guitars. Although these are on the pricier side of things when it comes to acoustic guitar strings, the trade-off is not having to replace them so often, which more than makes up for the extra cost.
Best budget
When you’ve been making guitars for 180 years, it’s probably safe to assume you know a thing or two about making strings as well. With Martin Guitars Authentic Acoustic strings, you’re getting time-tested experience and quality when you string your acoustic guitar.
These are uncoated strings, so they have a brightness of sound that’ll be familiar to any acoustic guitar player. We found them to balanced all across the frequency spectrum so you’ll get a great response whichever register you’re in, alongside great tuning stability.
The impeccable standards with which Martin guitars make all their instruments and accessories applies here too, and you’ll find that these strings withstand a punishing amount of playing, surviving the harshest pick attacks with aplomb.
Best nylon strings
Of course, D’Addario can create a fantastic set of steel strings, but it has many more feathers in its cap. From violin strings to banjo strings, D’Addario’s catalog is expansive. However, we’re focused on guitar, and it also makes an excellent set for classical guitar – the Pro Arté Nylon Cores are the best of the bunch.
With a multifilament nylon core and silver-plated copper winding around the bass strings, the Pro Arté strings offer a responsive and resonant tone. They are incredibly durable, so you won’t need to change them very often. D’Addario offers the Pro Arté strings in multiple tensions, from normal tension for lower action to high tension for extra volume.
Although some players may prefer the convenience of ball-end nylon strings, the Pro Arté strings are certainly among the best nylon acoustic strings currently on the market. Plus, for the price, there’s not a lot to argue with.
Best for beginners
Although Ernie Ball is primarily known for its ‘Slinky’ electric guitar string brand, the company also makes excellent strings for the acoustic guitar players out there. Combining years of experience manufacturing strings with some of the best materials available, these are a great choice for any kind of guitar player.
We found that sound-wise they offer a distinctly warmer tone than some of the others on this list. They are not overly bright when you first put them on like some acoustic guitar strings, which makes them great for regularly gigging guitarists as you don’t have to spend so long breaking them in.
The tonality definitely makes them more skewed towards flat pickers and strummers, however, as the warm mellow tone might not be bright enough for fingerpickers to make themselves heard.
Best for ensembles
D’Addario’s Nickel Bronze Acoustic range offers a string that allows you to hear the natural tonality of your guitar and less of the string itself. They work fantastically well for a wide variety of playing styles, whether you’re flatpicking and strumming or gently fingerpicking.
Due to the lack of coating, you may find these strings don’t last quite as long as their coated cousins. That said, the price range of these acoustic guitar strings means that you’ll probably end up spending the same amount no matter which you choose.
The sound of these strings comes from their nickel plating, which makes them great for playing with other instruments as they sit so well in the mid-range. We found they don’t throw up as many overtones as some of the other strings on the list, giving them a very clear and defined sound.
Best for gigging
D’Addario’s XS range marks a fresh step for the company with an innovative polymer and ultra-slim coating for an outstanding playing feel. These strings offer the maximum lifespan of any D’Addario acoustic string thus far, making them a great choice for the gigging acoustic guitarist.
A hex-core construction ensures that your tuning stability is always on point, whilst intonation across the length of the string will never be an issue. The NY steel core gives outstanding durability too, so you’ll be hard pushed to snap one of these.
In terms of sound, in our experience they offer a great balance between warmth and brightness, sounding balanced over the full set. The coating means you get less finger noise when sliding up and down the neck too, which is a nice bonus.
More options...
Curt Mangan is a relative newcomer to the acoustic guitar-string game, but don’t let that put you off trying a set. Curt himself worked at Ernie Ball for many years, so you can rest assured that he has plenty of experience in the industry.
These strings are handmade in the USA to very exacting standards, offering acoustic guitarists an extremely high-quality product. The ability to specify your own custom gauge on the Curt Mangan website also offers the flexibility you can’t get with established brands.
In our testing these strings sounded great when we first put them on, without so much of that ‘zingy’ sound you often get from a new set. There’s a nice shimmer in the high end that’s not too bright, but not too warm, making them great all-rounders.
Fender needs little introduction when it comes to guitars, but its strings offer just as much quality as its instruments. Coming in at a brilliant price point, Fender Dura-tones offer a great introduction to coated strings for those who’ve never tried them.
It may take you some time to get your hand around the feel of coated strings – however, time is on your side as these are some of the longest-lasting strings we've tested. Subjected to a micro-treatment of coating, Fender estimates these will last you five times longer than an uncoated acoustic string.
They hold their tuning fantastically well with minimal stretching and the tonality is very bright, making them well suited to larger-sized acoustic guitars like dreadnoughts. They’re very measured across the set in terms of tension, so chords feel great and every note rings out clearly.
Rotosound has something of a vintage image thanks to its association with famous acts of the ‘60s like Jimi Hendrix and The Who. But don’t let that fool you into thinking they haven’t kept up with the times. This British brand makes some of the best acoustic guitar strings around.
They include an extra high E string which is a nice touch for new players, who often overtighten strings when changing them for the first time. Despite this inclusion, these strings are still very durable and will stand up well to hard strumming.
As with most uncoated strings, they’re very bright sounding and have an excellent balance across the set. They sustain really well too, thanks to their wound bronze-alloy construction made to a time tested recipe.
Many guitar manufacturers have seen the benefit of offering acoustic guitars that play like their electric brethren, but DR Strings has taken that mentality and applied it to acoustic guitar strings.
The low tension feel might be alien to those used to playing acoustic, but if you’re primarily an electric player struggling to adapt, then these strings might well be for you. A different manufacturing process of wrapping these strings is what gives them their easy playability.
When fingerpicked, these strings sound phenomenally good and overall they have a very full sound. The lower tension also makes them easy to bend, so you can apply some of those electric guitar techniques to your acoustic.
Gibson has produced some of the most outstanding acoustic guitars in the world with the legendary J-45 and the ever-present Hummingbird. That same diligence clearly applies to these incredibly well-made strings.
Developed by Gibson’s master luthiers, these strings feel thicker than some of the others on this list, albeit only slightly. With that extra thickness however, there is a definite benefit in sustain, and the clarity of the sound speaks for itself when you start strumming. The warm and rich sound of these strings works fantastically well with dreadnought and jumbo-sized acoustic guitars in particular.
Overall the sound here is well balanced, with equal volume in the bass and treble strings. Once tuned up there is little stretching required, with all the strings holding their pitch exceptionally well.
First released way back in 1974, D’Addario Phosphor Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings fast became one of the standards of the acoustic guitar world. Nowadays D’Addario makes an overwhelming variety of acoustic guitar strings, but this is the set that started it all.
They offer a warmer tone with less top end than some of the sets on this list, largely due to the phosphor bronze wind. The ball end of each string is color-coded too, which makes it that much easier to identify which is which when you string your acoustic.
This set will suit acoustic guitar players who primarily strum, however we’ve found they do an admirable job with fingerpicking too. They’re really quite versatile, offering great clarity and articulation whatever playing style you prefer.
FAQs
How to choose the best acoustic guitar strings for you
You can trust Guitar Player. Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing guitar products so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
Buying the best acoustic guitar strings isn’t just a case of picking up the first set you see and slapping them on. Each set of strings has its own qualities – from the material they're made of to the gauge, to whether or not they’re coated.
All of these aspects have a huge effect on how they play, so it’s wise to arm yourself with some knowledge before you make a snap decision. In doing so you’ll ensure you’ve picked the best set of strings for your particular acoustic guitar and playstyle.
How often should I change my acoustic guitar strings?
A common question among players is how often they should change their acoustic guitar strings. Some find it a tedious task, while others enjoy putting on a fresh set. Regardless, it's an important part of acoustic guitar maintenance. After all, it’s not just about the dull tone; oxidized strings can damage your frets over time if you're not careful.
How often you need to change your strings will vary. Guitar strings start to degrade due to sweat, and players with more acidic sweat may need new strings every few weeks. How much you play also affects string life – if you’re playing for hours each day, your strings will wear out faster than if you're a more casual player.
As a general rule of thumb, replace your strings when they go black, lose their shine, or lose their high-frequency chime. Also, if you notice dirt on your finger after running it under the strings, it’s time for a new set. Changing them every month or so should keep your guitar sounding great and your frets safe.
Which string gauge do I need?
More than anything the string gauge will determine the playing feel of your acoustic guitar strings and by extension, your guitar itself. Thicker gauge strings require more hand strength to play, however, they also enhance sustain and deliver a warmer, more bass-heavy sound.
Slap on a set of lighter gauge strings and you’ll find your hands flying across the guitar neck and bends in particular will be much easier. You’ll lose some sustain, but for a lot of players and particularly beginners, the playing benefits outweigh the tonal cost.
String gauge is a very personal choice, and thankfully acoustic guitar strings are relatively inexpensive items, so it’s always worth trying out a few different gauges to find the set that matches your particular playstyle.
Why are acoustic guitar strings bronze?
Next up let's have a look at the materials the best acoustic guitar strings are made of. The most commonly occurring materials are 80/20 Bronze and Phosphor Bronze. The difference is slight, but it does change the tone and playing feel ever so slightly.
80/20 Bronze is the choice for the acoustic guitar player looking for a zingier, brighter tone. Their construction is 80% copper and 20% zinc (hence the name) and it’s this composition that highlights the highs in your guitar’s sound.
Somewhat confusingly, Phosphor Bronze strings also contain copper and zinc, however, they also have a very small amount of phosphorous too. The amount is very slight, but it adds up to a different-sounding acoustic guitar string. A set of Phosphor Bronze strings will be warmer in tone, leaning more towards the low end of the scale in their sound.
Coated vs uncoated strings: which is better?
We have a final important subdivision in that some acoustic guitar strings are coated and some are uncoated. The coating is usually a fine polymer that covers your string, slowing down the process of oxidation and thus helping the string to stay sounding lively for longer.
A coated string will last much longer than an uncoated guitar string, as the polymer defends your strings from the acid in your sweat. However, this comes at a cost, as coated strings will often feel quite slick to the touch, which some guitarists will find disconcerting.
The coating process also tends to rob the string of some high-end and volume – something to bear in mind when weighing up the options. It’s not that one sounds or feels worse than the other, just that they differ in both respects.
How we choose
Here at Guitar Player, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything guitar-related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording, and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.
When choosing what we believe to be the best acoustic guitar strings available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews, and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.
First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use, and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best acoustic guitar strings on the market right now.
Read more on how we test gear and services at Guitar Player.
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