What gauge strings should a beginner use?Start on 9s or 10s on electric — light strings are kindest to beginner fingers. Best starting gauge 9s or 10s: aja fitted 9-gauge D'Addarios on a beginner's electric 1, and standard advice on the forum is that light strings are easiest to bend and promote fast, comfortable playing 7. Acoustics: 12s are the norm, but if fingers are soft, lighter sets help while learning 5. Don't rush heavier gauges Go up slowly: Gearhead, our Builder in Residence, warns never to jump gauges too quickly — he couldn't handle the step from 11s to 12s 2. If you do go up: Bob-Dubery notes heavier strings give a meatier tone but harder bending, and a gauge change may need a setup tweak 2. Scale length matters Shorter scales: Alan Ratcliffe, our Guitar Doctor, says shorter scale = lower tension, so go up a gauge from what you'd use on a Strat — at least.010s on most electrics 3. Extra tips Change one string at a time: TomCat, our Sound Guy, tunes each string to pitch before moving on — nearly impossible to overwind and nothing snaps 6. Coated strings last longer: Elixir-coated sets outlast plain strings if you'd rather change less often 1. No specific brand was fixed for beginners — D'Addarios and Elixirs were both used happily 1. From these forum threadsWhich strings for a beginner? (2012): Beginner string picks, plus string-breaking first-timer reassuranceStrings, what next ito gauge (2011)Which string gauge do you prefer? (2009)String Gauge on Accoustics (2013)New strings (2010)Changing Strings!!!... (2011)
