My favorite strings are on my classical. :( Steel strings are always a compromise, making them thinner to lower the tension makes them sharper as well, so they're never quite right.
@@the_best1910 I dumped his pompous ass when he said if you're not aiming to be a guitar god (just like him) then you shouldn't bother playing.....I'll never shred but I'm still in a very good band with a following....it's not always about being EVH....66 and rockin!
I would venture to say they sound pretty well the same as .10s or .09s. I've used .10s for years and switched to .09s and the only (slight) difference is how they feel. They sound the same. Billy Gibbons used .07s and he sounds pretty "fat".
@@awittypilot8961 Ikr I can't stand the way he tries to define every little thing in a complicated way to makes it seems like he knows what he's talking about. You should just be learning music. He also acts like he knows every artists intention and it just sounds so egotistical and It's like ok buddy. On top of that he comments on all these girls videos and others...I bet to just get more subs and views lol. Creep
The heavy string thing started in the 80s when Stevie Ray Vaughan was reported to use 13s, and the Edge from U2 was another one that supposedly use 12s and 13‘s. But before that everyone pretty much used 8’s almost every classic rock hit recorded in the 70s was on 8’s. BB King, Eric Clapton, Frank Zappa the guys from the Eagles, Elliot Easton, Jackson Browne, everyone played 8’s
SRV used weird string sizes. The D and A strings were lighter, which made bending the heavy unwound strings easier. SRV was gravitating to lighter strings before he died.
I think I read that frank actually liked 7s. Either way, he did great stuff with them. And yeah, I think a lot of the heavy gauge stuff is more flex than real.
I've been using 8s for years. My 75 yr. old hands are not as strong as they once were... and once you adjust the attack so you're not digging in, the ease of bending and vibrato is wonderfully satisfying. Give 'em a try!
Never mind strength, what is the benefit of thicker strings? There are obvious benefits to thinner strings; wear and tear on both you and the guitar primarily. What are the supposed drawbacks? Sound they say, I've never experienced this but I use pedals etc and I promise you the difference - if there is one, is very easily accounted for. Break a lot they say - I've been playing .007s (not the movie, string gauge) for a long time, and in active play time its many hundreds of hours and I have never broken one, that said I've only ever broken a handful of strings in my lifetime so maybe I've just got good technique. For most people this would be a moot point anyway, I change strings 1-2 times a year and play/practice over an hour a day on average (not every day, but maybe 4-6 days a week for 2-4 hours each time, mostly just messing about, but its still wear and I do bend a lot when noodling around) so if they last me that long I know most people would WANT to change strings before then. It was initially harder to bend in tune, but now that I'm used to it (my string gauge progression was 009-010-009-008-007) I find that the thinner the string is, and the less effort that is required, the gentler and easier it eventually becomes to bend in tune. I imagine it may be because its easier to control muscles the less you strain them, but thats just speculation. Either way, please try it. I'd try .006 strings if I could find any.
It's all about what YOU find best for your style of playing. I've known people to model their entire rig, down to string guage and brand down to pick guage and brand, and they just never sounded like the artist they were trying to emulate.
He's a somewhat unique case, I remember a rig-rundown video where Gibbons' guitar tech explained how the sound comes from a combination of the light strings, very thin picks, a rather heavy hi-gain amp setup and Billy's extremely light touch.
I love 8 and 9 gauge strings on gibsons with the shorter scale length, makes playing so easy and I can play much faster with them. I also noticed that I never get as tired anymore playing guitar, especially songs that has many hammer ons and pulloffs. Some people say that lighter gauge breaks more often but I found it no different than 10 gauge as long as the guitar is setup well with no sharp points on bridge. You made a great choice!
@@RachelfGuitar Gibson/Epiphone. PRS. Shorter scale Fenders like DuoSonic, Mustang, etc. Given your demonstrated preferences, etc., if I were you, I'd be looking at PRS. Mostly a 25" scale length. Usually humbucker based. You can get either tremolo or hard tail. Awesome looks, awesome reputation for quality. They play metal really well. Go for the thin neck ones, rather than the fat. I don't think those would be to your taste. :)
I have a 2021 Duo Sonic HS 24" scale lenght with 8.5 earnie balls, Its just really a fantantisc feeling....its my sweet spot for playability, bends, pull off, vibrato, everything feels more natural...I ve had to up a little bit the action as the Low E string was buzzing on time to time.
I used the Extra Light 8-38 when I had a tendinitis flare-up. However, I converted to the Hyper Slinky 8-42 once they were released. 8 11 14 24 32 42. Basically, 8s on top, 9s on bottom. Best of everything.
I switched to 8's on all my standard tuning guitars a few years ago. I've been playing for 50 years, and most of that time using 10's. But I was starting to have some left hand joint pain issues and the light strings were a god send. I was worried about breakage, but I find the D'Addario NYXLs never break. Left hand adaptation was simple - everything was just easier. I found right hand picking to be a bigger adjustment. But well worth it for the comfort.
I use the Reverend Willy 8’s,and the NYXL’s,both good strings,never break strings. I’ve heard that Gibbons uses 7’s,never tried those,my left hand is much heavier than Billy Gibbons.
I love how you enjoy yourself while playing please never stop making Videos, your kind and happy temper is so contagious and your videos are really fun to watch.
I have 8’s on all my guitars and I like to keep a spare pack in case the high E string breaks. But very comfortable strings with good tone and crazy vibrato!
I also have 8's on all my strat-style axes!!.. I only have 9's on my Gibson style axes... I always have extras in my case.. Takes a minute to learn how NOT to break these, but well worth it!!..
When I started playing guitar again, after an almost 15-year hiatus, I began with 9s, and then started experimenting with different gauges, until I settled for Hybrids 9-46 .... again.... My fingers had the memory of Hybrids when I played them consistently back in the 90s, and I felt at home. Part of the discovery journey all of us have to go through. Loved your video, you have to experiment with all the thiongs that can make your playing better and unique.
Yeah , I've been playing Ernie Balls "skinny top , heavy bottom" 10's for as long as I can remember now. But then I saw a video with Rick Beato talking about string gauges. It made me want to try 9's Ernie Balls , and I don't regret trying it. Made my playing a lot more easy and I can now do things I struggled with before. Don't fear trying something new , it may be just what you need :)
Hi Rachel. I used to use Ernie Ball Super Slinky 9's but found I was breaking the high E string from time to time. Got tired of that happening, so I switched to 10s. Was using GHS Boomers (10s) for a bit, but have since switched over to D'addario NYXL 10s. You think 8's are thin? Talk to the Reverend, Billy Gibbons. He uses 7's!!!
lol...And I got fedup of breaking .10s because I moved to Singapore where it rains 365 days....So I came up with new trick..I put B string on E string and tune to E....then I challenge it to break..hahaha
For many years I played 9-42 on my Ibanez, like Joe Satriani considering it the perfect set of strings. Recently I put 10-46 (standart E tuning) and really got high of it, - the guitar has begun more punchy, fatter, a little bit louder and more stable in tune. I don't want to go back to 9 set anymore. I have thoughts to try an even thicker set 11-48 or 11-50 in standart tuning, maybe 12-54. As a bass/guitar player, I love this feelings of tight thick strings.
I have nerve issues in my fingertips also. 8 s are comfortable and nice and bendy. To me string gauges have more to do with comfort than sound. In other words, you do you! Great video.
I used to always use 10s in my early days just because I heard that it was better for tuning down. After coming back to guitar many years later, I found that 9s were much more comfortable. I should also mention that I switched to a 7-string guitar that I keep in standard tuning, so the 9s do make sense.
Hey, I have a 7-string guitar and I am on gauge 10. I find the low B to be extremely.. thick and weird to play. Do you think it would be improved on 9?
@@burieddreamer It's worth a try. Guitar strings are cheap enough where it won't be a big deal if it doesn't work out. I use D'addario 9-52s for mine. The 7th string did feel a little weird at first but I got used to it.
Been using 8’s for a while now, and I really like them. The guitar is a lot easier to play and tone is not an issue because I can compensate with the amp. I want to try some of Billy Gibbons’ 7’s and see what they are like.
I’ve pretty much always played 9s. I do have 10s on one guitar, but that’s because I wanted to try flat-wounds, and 10s were the lightest gauge they were available in. The only real benefit I’ve ever found in heavier strings is that I can get a “snappier” attack. I find trying to do Dick Dale style tremolo picking a bit easier with heavier strings. I’ve never tried anything lighter than 9s, so I probably should. I’d mainly played Ernie Ball strings, but I recently tried some of Stringjoy’s balanced-tension sets, and I’m a convert.
I use 11-54, I prefer the rigidity of thicker strings, plus I tune to D standard (so I can knock down to drop C and churn it!) My fingers are so used to them that I don't really have any issues with fretting, I don't tend to bend much at all, I play legato mostly, but whenever I play friends guitars with 8;s or 9's, I find that I can just whiz around! Super quick! It's like the Romans, they trained their soldiers to fight with really heavy swords, for years, so they became really proficient with the massively weighty weapons, Then when they went into battle, they gave them much lighter swords, and they were super fast and untouchable! Haha
I have been playing FOR MANY years now and I always used various brands of 9-42's.....recently I tried the 8 Extra Slinky's and I absolutely LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!....all 5 of my guitars WITH Floyd's have them and I have been using them now for 6 months or so with NO breakage issues.....great bends and SO I agree...play what is best comfortable to you....it's your hands...GREAT video Rach.....
I just did the opposite. For a long time I been using the extra slinky 8s in D standard. I like them but lately I been trying to do more lead/solos and I thought the 8s can get alittle high pitch twangy sometimes, so I wanted to try 9s. It's too early to tell if I like the sound or not but they feel weird/big to me. Please let us know if u go back to the 9s or not
That's awesome that you're trying out less popular string gauges. I don't really experiment with strings, but I think its good for people to try out different ones to find out what's good for them without feeling limited to a specific type. Also I'm glad that you are looking out for your health. Continue to do what's best for your safety, so you can continue to ROCK ON!
I had a jazz guitar professor in college who, like so many jazz guitarists (especially from older generations), preached the idea that you have to use heavier guage flatwound strings to get a good, thick, jazz tone. So for many years use 11 guage D'addario chromes. But a few years ago I decided to try 9 guage Labella Jazz Flats. They sound just as "jazzy" but are way easier to play. So I'm never looking back.
Also neat to buy strings individually and figure out the proportions that work best for you (like having the high e a little thicker than the super-thin sets give you).
I've played classical guitar for 12 years and just recently found out I've been using the wrong stings. I cycled through several kinds and settled on the ones that sounded the best but they were also wrong. Now I have the right ones and I find I can do things I previously couldn't and I also get a better response from my instrument. I have considered many times that my instrument was the issue and I came close to selling it which would have been a mistake.
Having used 9's for more than 40 years, I now play Fender Bullets 8-46 (Yngwie's signature set). This is essentially a 8 set for the plain strings e, b, g and a 10 set for the wound strings d, a, e. As I'm now only using 24" scale guitars this makes this string set ideal for me (it will probably feel like a 7 set in the plain strings and a 9 set in the wound strings for people used to playing long scale guitars - ie 25,5" strats and the like). I've too started experiencing some problems in joints and not having to fight a heavier gauge is perfect for me. Even though the wound strings are now actually one step heavier than I used to have with a regular 9 set, I feel that this doesn't pose a problem since I don't tend to bend those strings as much. And when I do it's usually done by bending the strings down as opposed to up like you do with the plain strings. And bending down is easier as the fingers are stronger in this direction. So, if you enjoy the 8 set, you should give this a try. This will allow you to downtune your guitar as well without problems.
Awesome u found 8s to suit your needs. I feel lighter gauge strings a def better for shredding and metal. I love 10s and 11s since I very aggressive my playing and like that extra resistance when bending and doing vibratos.
Great video and I 100% agree. I use 8's on my electric for the same reason. Light touch, both for picking and fretting, easy bends and vibrato and much better speed. It takes a little longer to get the feel for fast picking on bendy strings, but you'll figure it out. You can get a huge aggressive sound with minimal effort on 8's and play all day long. Welcome to Club 8!
If your going to go back and forth between tunings on all strings, it's worth having dedicated guitars. Also makes gauge choice for that tuning easier. I use 11-52 for long scale / 12-54 short scale for drop C and 15-64 for drop G.
I've always used 10s, but I switched from Elixir to Rotosound recently, because the guy in the guitar store recommended it. Half the price, near the same tone (but according to my ears, a bit less warm and a tad bit more crispy) and it comes with a spare high E. I haven't broken a string yet even though I've been abusing them for months now lol so they're durable I guess. I'd be interested in you trying out different strings, brands, gears etc
My ibanez came with 6 strings on it and a pack of 5 definitely will keep them just in case I need to change the one I already have on my guitar keep rocking rachelf 😎
A couple of years ago I got my daughter a 3/4 guitar. The guy I got it from said he put new strings on, they were light gauge strings but I found it impossible to tune. After a lot of research I found out that you need a heavier gauge for smaller guitars (something to do with tension on the neck) so I got the heavier ones and now it works perfectly.
I have 9-46 on RG550 with a Floyd, tuned in E standard. This is my first guitar and it came with 9-46 (and with poor setup as well lol). I stuck with it since I gathered it's commonly used gauge (8s way more rare) and didn't think about trying 10s cos I knew it'd be harder to play and it's hard enough for a beginner, so no good reason to make it harder. Then I got a Solar and currently have 10-52 on it. Hardtail, tuned to D standard. Factory strings were 9-46 (and tuned in E, of course) but I didn't like the feel of them when I downtuned it to D (uncomfortably loose), so I upped to 10-52 for similar feel as 9s in E and I like it that way so far. And I wouldn't wanna play 10-52 on 25.5'' tuned in E, I tried it for a few minutes and it's really uncomfortably tense. Both 25.5'' scale and low action (with a capo about 1 mm/0.04in high E), though I'm right in the middle of doing setup on the Floyd and toying with an idea to try a bit higher action (1.25 mm/0.05in) to test whether I'd like to have a bit higher action or not. I do know that 1.5+ mm feels like an alien to me. Then I recently acquired a travel guitar with 24'' scale (20 frets), they normally set it up in E with 11-48 I think but I requested thicker ones (they put 11-54) and tune it to D with as low action as they were able to achieve without excessive buzzing (1.25 mm with a capo). I can say, these feel quite tense (especially the higher strings feel that way) and are harder to bend then the ones above which feel pretty similar to me but I'm not sure how the guitar would handle 10s with such a short scale - but if I have extra time and such, I might try it one day. I've never tried 8s so far. I probably will at some point but not now - simply for the reason that I'm a beginner (started about 11 months ago) and I have a feeling that they would be too sensitive and reactive for my sloppy beginner hands and I wouldn't be able to adapt to them easily at this stage, I can imagine pulling them more easily out of tune by accident since I'm not able to be precise enough and it would make me unnecessarily frustrated. Same goes for vibrato and bends. I feel thicker strings bring more stability and are more forgiving when you're not able to control your fingers as an advanced player can. What do you think? (About the idea of too thin strings being a possibly hindering element for a beginner) Btw, you should try 7s, just for fun. :)) Music is Win has done video with them, seems like they're quite extraordinary experience.
Hey - I have an RG550 too. Can I ask how you changed the spring set up in back when you switched string gauges? Did you have to add an extra spring at any point or just tuned differently?
@@lauras6300 By moving the big screws in the back you can adjust the tension accordingly. Recommend using a trem block when doing any kind of adjustments. Extra springs might be needed if you change to a lot heavier string gauge and the current number can't exert enough tension to balance the tension of the springs. I recommend to watch f.e. Ben Eller's video on this, it's called "This Is Why You Suck at Guitar: How to change tuning and string gauges floyd rose tremolo". He will explain it to you better than I could. :) Sorry for not putting a link, not sure if it would be flagged...
8s are great! Glad you are enjoying them. My daughter and I use 8s on one guitar and 10s on the other: the 8s are for fine dexterity and longer practices, the 10s are for strength training and when we just want to wail away and play aggressively.
Your joy is contagious ! 😊but it’s all about what your used to and musical style, I like a little resistance from my strings , set up is always the key
I remember watching your first video and I'm very impressed at the progress you've made. Your always upbeat and you have a great attitude and you don't let the little things stop you from doing what you quite obviously love. My choice of strings are the D'Addario XL nickel wound super light gauge 9-42s not only do they sound great but the playability is superb. They've been my go to for many years. I thought about trying 8s and after watching you try them I'm going to put them on one of my guitars and give them a go. I experimented with different brands and guages til I found what I liked. If 8s are good enough for Billy Gibbons that's good enough for me. Rock on!!!
I put 7's on my guitar. Rev. Willy's Mexican Lottery brand made by Jim Dunlop. They are effortless to play. They were made for Billy Gibbons and he plays them on his guitars. The Magnatone amps are awesome too.
I switched to 8s for a couple of months cause I'm just getting into lead guitar and playing solos so bending was kinda hard for me even on 9s. I used them until I got better with my technique and just today I went back to 9s and it's WAY easier than it was.
Hi, nice to see another player trying really light strings. Rick Beato and my aging hands/fingers agree with you; light strings are the way to go. Especially if you have hand problems. This will only get worse if you don’t stay on top of it and do things that will allow you to continue to play in the future. Lots of our guitar heroes used light strings. Back at the beginning (lol) players took the high E string made it the B string and put on a banjo string in the high E string. It was lighter than what was available at the time in guitar strings. Worked for them why not us. This is also why electric guitars generally have plain strings G thru high E. Prior to banjo string electric guitars were strung like acoustics, two plain and a wrapped G string. Take care of your hands everyone and keep playing. Thanks for the video.
My instructor is a professional gigging musician and only uses Extra Slinky 8s. I switched and it is definitely different but you have to learn not to push out of tune if you are use to heavier strings.
I like having different string gauges on my two guitars to solve the light vs heavy conundrum. That way I have one instrument that is nice and comfy to play, and the other that makes it more satisfying to dig in.
I remember when I first used 8, changing from from 10 to 8 I certainly felt like Yngwie hahaha. It actually changes a bit the attack as well, sounds a bit more "slappy". I loved it, the only problem with it was tuning. For obvious reasons you can't really tune your guitar down, it becomes too loose to a point which it is terrible to play. But overall its great. Also, just so anyone is wondering: I have been playing guitar for 10 years now and used the 8 gauge for 1 year, even though its really easy to get used to it, when returning to 9 or 10 the muscular memory for bending feels OFF. It takes a while to really get it at point again.
You convinced me to try .008's. I also have joint problems and cramping in my hands, (getting old I guess!) Subscribed to your channel. Thanks for doing this video. You look so happy too!!
I had 9s on for the first 6 months from getting my first guitar. A mate who had been playing over 20 years said try some 8s....mind blown! That was 10 years ago. I'm still an extreme beginner but even I noticed the difference and loved it. Each to their own though.
i flipped flopped between 9s-11s over the years, but after Rick B made that video pointing out the existence of 8s i decided to give them a try and love them!
I've always been somebody that likes strings to be as thick as possible but mostly because I like down tuning, I also don't really bend or do vibrato, and I've never had joint or nerve issues, so I can respect lighter strings.
I have a Tele and an Epiphone Dot semi-hollow. I always thought that a semi-hollow needed thicker strings (acoustic logic, I guess), so I put .11s on it when I first got it. Well, bending those suckers turned out to be an exercise in futility, and the tone actually sounded kind of dull. So I eventually I tried .09s, and what a difference! Brighter tone, easy bends- and no more tuning issues, since the strings don’t get bound up in the nut. Loved this video, and glad that I found your channel. Subscribed.
There is also more to the string gauge than the 'feel' of the string. There are tone issues involved with it as well, especially when playing clean without distortion.
I use 10,13.5,17,30,42,56 for E standard and DropD 11,15,19,32,44,60 for D#standard, drop C#, D standard and Drop C 12,16,20p,34w,46,66 C# standard/Drop B 12,16,20p,34w,46,70 for Drop A on my 28inch scale baritone. I'm rather heavy handed (a friend of mine told me I have "the touch of a black smith) that I like the extra tension for the lower strings but now I'm finding the 10s to feel a big light that I might go up to 10.5s for standard tuning... I still dont have a problem bending and what have you.
One of the biggest ‘aha’ moments for me was tuning to Eb. I use 9-46 tuned down and it feels perfect. Also, you don’t have to use the light set lower strings. If you play aggressively, it’s better to have 46-36-26 on the low E, A ,and D. I find it’s too easy to put lighter strings out of tune.
You should try the Billy Gibbons 7's. I've seen other skeptical youtubers use them and like them. Apparently they are difficult to break, even the e string.
TBH I found it difficult to get them. Especially when you have to be wary of avoiding fakes online and you have this thing now where you have to spend a minimum amount online to avoid paying excessive postage costs. From an online music store it's almost doubling the price to buy a single set of strings. I could get a 3 pack of 8s and not only did that make them cheaper per set I got free delivery. Whereas 7s I could only find in packs of 1, that pack was nearly £2 more as a result and I would have to pay postage to boot. Really if I thought the 8s were not thin enough I could just tune to Eb. The other thing you have to consider is the thinner you go the more likely you'll need to make set up changes to avoid issues with string buzz or dead frets and so on - not insurmountable but may be daunting for someone who has never adjusted or set up a guitar themselves.
Rick Beato also started to like the 08ths. My idols keep on going with 10s - Matteo Mancuso, Guthrie Govan. So I stay at the 10s and I also feel that it is more difficult to do the jazzy breathing and dynamics with the 8ths or 9nth. Personal aspect, of course
A lot of the music that came out of the 60s and 70s was made with 7s and 8s. Jimi used 8s. Then came the metal years, thrash, and SRV and his 13s, and everybody thought you have to thick strings. In the words of BB King to Billy Gibbons when he thought all the old blues guys got their sound from heavy-ass string, "Why are you working so hard?" Billy's signature set is "Reverend Willy's Mexican Lottery Fine Electric Guitar Strings" from Dunlop, and they definitely have a distinct feel. I've been using EB's 9s for 30 years, even when all my friends were joining the thick strings club. Sooner or later they'd end up trying my guitar and wonder why it felt better and played easier? "Because I'm not using bridge cables, that's why." They were amazed their fingers hand weren't hurting and exhausted after a lot of playing, too, While you can't do a lot of big drop tunings, they do open up a lot of sound on a Fender-scale guitar, especially if your tune to E# (ala Jimi). Save the thicker strings for when you have to have them for bid drop tunings. (Hope this didn't sound like mansplaining, it was NOT my intent!)
Tried 9-42's for the first time in my life. I thought I bought the wrong gauge instantly, but over time, I grew to love them. With long recording sessions and hand fatigue the lighter gauge really facilitates longevity of recording.
Great video, I thought I mention that some of the greatest players in history used light gauge strings. BB King used 8s, Billy Gibbons uses 7s, Brian May uses 9s and plays with a coin and brags about not breaking them, Yngwie uses 8s in Eb, the list goes on. I think it would make for good content if you could revisit the idea of using 8 gauge strings with a long term test update video. Good Luck
Rick Beato, Rhett Shull and I forget the third guy did a video on this a couple months ago and along with the playability they were “busting” tone myths that go along with string gauge and it seems like they decided that 9s were the best gauge which I always thought was the most common string gauge people use. I’ve been playing about 38 years and I started with 9s then moved up to 10s. I eventually settled on 10-52s which I have used for years. At one time I tried 8s and they felt like wet noodles to me. It was a long time ago before I move up to 10s then the hybrid set I’ve used for a few decades. At the time I put the 8s on a strat and I didn’t have any stability issues, I just didn’t like them as they felt too loose and it made my playing sloppy. I haven’t been playing regularly for a few years now and recently picked the guitar back up, now I’m thinking to 9s for a while because I just don’t have the strength in my hands I used to, plus at 50 I’ve developed mild arthritis so my hands hurt when I play now. I think most 25.5” scale length guitars can easily be set up to play with 8s and be stable but I’m not confident a 24.75” guitar would feel good with 8s.
You should find a shop with single strings for sale - usually smaller local shops I find - and get 3-4 different gauges for each string and create your own set over time experimenting. I play a 7 string and use heavy gauge string for the lower strings, and my higher end is lighter but not super light. The middle strings medium. Riffs stay tight, high end is more flexible and the middle strings are still buttery with vibrato. Works for me, everyone will have a different recipe.
I have always used 9s, but tried 8s after an injury to the pinkie on my fret hand. Now I like them either way, depending on the guitar and the tuning. Tony Iommi used the high E string from a set of 8s on both the 1st and 2nd strings, and no one can say he didn't have a heavy tone! It's all down to the pickups and the player. I like this, it's nice to see such happy guitar playing!
Thanks Rachel, great video - i put 8's on my strats and 9's on my PRS's and love them, never broken one yet. I find them more easily playable and I won't be changing back. Good luck playing :)
Tony Iommi uses 8s. So does Jimmy Page and Billy Gibbons. They don’t sound thin. Heavy strings have too much low end. Then people use a TubeScreamer to get rid of it!
Changing string gauge is way cheaper than buying a new guitar yet makes your guitar seem lime new. Speaking of new guitars, I recently bought a new MIM strat and love it. Came with 9's with pretty low action. I'm used to 10's and a bit higher action, but I like the MIM setup so much I lowered the action on my other guitars and changed the strings to 9.5's on my other Fenders. Great advice!!!
there are also short scale guitars from jackson. with this can bend easy on 10 strings and it sounds on drop d good too. there are also strings with a thicker low e and 3 strings are thin and the other 3 are thick. they are named as heavy botton. there are some tests of the JACKSON JS1X on youtube. its a shortscale also a test in will it Chug
I use the same strings you used here. I tune a half step down and sometimes drop my D# a step down to C#. It took a bit of adjusting how I play with my picking hand (plus I slightly raised the action on the wound string side). What helped is I also went to a slightly thinner pick. Everything works together to make something work. Always experiment. Cool video! Keep up the good work! 😎👍🏻
I just stumbled across this. I noticed you said you need to play light not to squish your notes out of tune. I played 9s for a long time, but tried 7s when Amazon sent me a set to try last year. They are wonderful. I get great clean tone, and my Big Muff loves to chunk it up. They are faster, imo. And you really have to play with a light fret touch. It has helped my “death grip” on the neck and I’m much more accurate. I really can’t find anything bad about them. Thank you for the vid, and keep experimenting!
Really depends on the tuning. 10s or above are a struggle to bend (particularly high up the neck ) in standard tuning for me, but easier in E flat tuning. As my guitar is tuned to standard E I use 9s.
I've been playing Ernie Ball ball strings like 25 years, but I noticed today that D'Addario 8's have a different spread of gauges. The thing that makes me wanna try the D'Addario 8's is that they seem to drop together equally compared to the Ernie Ball. Like for example, 8's all the way up to 9's, including the 8.5's, all have 11 gauge on the B string.. That cannot be good for equal string tension.. I've played 8's after Beato's video and I absolutely wish I had done it sooner. I'm about to try em on my CE24 Floyd Rose after my first setup! I'm happy to see someone using them on a floating trem, I'm more confident now!
Sweet! Found your video bc I had came to a point where I got tired of fighting with the tough strings. So I was looking to see what was out here and man now I’m thinking I want those on my Mexican Fender strat.
Alot of guitar heros used 8's surprisingly....Jimmy Page, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath. So it really is just a preference of the player, there is no right or wrong gauge for any music style. Like the channel, new sub!
Hey girl, it's been a while since I've seen ya!!.. I started out with 8's and have been using them for well over 30yrs.. I even have them in my Floyd Rose axes, along with all my Strat style guitars... I have 9's on my Gibson style axes, not MUCH of a difference, but well noticeable going back and forth... They are amazingly easy to work with and sound great for most all genres... Glad to have ya back, be safe and keep jammin'..
Strings like that are super for live work. They cot through the mix. You can hear everything without blasting the room with a boost pedal! Everyone has their fingers in their ears. They say, they were good by they were loud!!
I liked the Ernie Ball Extra Slinky's but didn’t like the low A and E strings. I felt they were too thin. I switched to the Fender Yngwie stings which are String gauges: .008, .011, .014, .022, .032, .046 and love them. It's all about what works for you!
I love the 8 gauge for bending individual notes and soloing but be careful if playing a lot of chords - my instructor told me an 8 gauge is not a good idea if you play a lot of chords because chords will very easily sound out of tune when pressing down - bend out of place too easily. I have 9's on my guitar right now because I am playing a lot of chord-melody. As far as strings for finger pain, arthritis, etc... I have a guitarist friend who uses 7's (specially ordered) for his arthritis. Anyhow, the 8's again are my favorite for an instrumental or soloing.
Rachelf: Just another excellent video! You are the best! And by the way, thanks to your videos and support over the years, I am now completing my third CD album! For those of you new to Rachelf, the best thing you can possibly do if you want to learn guitar is to subscribe to this channel and learn all you can. I did, and I am old enough to be her grandfather! Cheers!
I use 9.5 now. They're fat-sounding, yet bendy. :)
My favorite strings are on my classical. :( Steel strings are always a compromise, making them thinner to lower the tension makes them sharper as well, so they're never quite right.
No way! Art of guitar is here!
@@the_best1910 I dumped his pompous ass when he said if you're not aiming to be a guitar god (just like him) then you shouldn't bother playing.....I'll never shred but I'm still in a very good band with a following....it's not always about being EVH....66 and rockin!
I would venture to say they sound pretty well the same as .10s or .09s.
I've used .10s for years and switched to .09s and the only (slight) difference is how they feel. They sound the same. Billy Gibbons used .07s and he sounds pretty "fat".
@@awittypilot8961 Ikr I can't stand the way he tries to define every little thing in a complicated way to makes it seems like he knows what he's talking about. You should just be learning music. He also acts like he knows every artists intention and it just sounds so egotistical and It's like ok buddy. On top of that he comments on all these girls videos and others...I bet to just get more subs and views lol. Creep
The heavy string thing started in the 80s when Stevie Ray Vaughan was reported to use 13s, and the Edge from U2 was another one that supposedly use 12s and 13‘s. But before that everyone pretty much used 8’s almost every classic rock hit recorded in the 70s was on 8’s. BB King, Eric Clapton, Frank Zappa the guys from the Eagles, Elliot Easton, Jackson Browne, everyone played 8’s
Didn't know that. I do know about SRV using very heavy strings.
From what I've known of early Edge, he used 11's, that's all I've used for the past 25 years.
SRV used weird string sizes. The D and A strings were lighter, which made bending the heavy unwound strings easier. SRV was gravitating to lighter strings before he died.
I think I read that frank actually liked 7s. Either way, he did great stuff with them.
And yeah, I think a lot of the heavy gauge stuff is more flex than real.
@@utwill It mostly depends on the tuning. Barely anyone goes past 10s in E standard.
I've been using 8s for years. My 75 yr. old hands are not as strong as they once were... and once you adjust the attack so you're not digging in, the ease of bending and vibrato is wonderfully satisfying. Give 'em a try!
8's are no good. intonation is not as good.
@@markusaurelius777 Yes it is. You just have to adjust it yourself if you switch from a heavier gauge.
Never mind strength, what is the benefit of thicker strings? There are obvious benefits to thinner strings; wear and tear on both you and the guitar primarily. What are the supposed drawbacks? Sound they say, I've never experienced this but I use pedals etc and I promise you the difference - if there is one, is very easily accounted for. Break a lot they say - I've been playing .007s (not the movie, string gauge) for a long time, and in active play time its many hundreds of hours and I have never broken one, that said I've only ever broken a handful of strings in my lifetime so maybe I've just got good technique. For most people this would be a moot point anyway, I change strings 1-2 times a year and play/practice over an hour a day on average (not every day, but maybe 4-6 days a week for 2-4 hours each time, mostly just messing about, but its still wear and I do bend a lot when noodling around) so if they last me that long I know most people would WANT to change strings before then.
It was initially harder to bend in tune, but now that I'm used to it (my string gauge progression was 009-010-009-008-007) I find that the thinner the string is, and the less effort that is required, the gentler and easier it eventually becomes to bend in tune. I imagine it may be because its easier to control muscles the less you strain them, but thats just speculation. Either way, please try it. I'd try .006 strings if I could find any.
Happy Friday everyone, hope you have a great day!
Hey great video, love your stuff!! ❤️❤️❤️
Do you do lessons please?
Thank for your videos! I'm having a green day!
Happy Friday, Rachel!
Awesome vid! Hope your weekend rocks 🤘🏾🤘🏾🎸🔥🔥
Billy Gibbons has used 7’s for years. Nothing wrong with his tone.
It's all about what YOU find best for your style of playing. I've known people to model their entire rig, down to string guage and brand down to pick guage and brand, and they just never sounded like the artist they were trying to emulate.
@@kiillabytez Not What I was getting at at all. Just saying defying conventional wisdom is not such a bad thing.
@@corneliuscrewe677 Don't assume I was relating my comment with yours. Just adding to the conversation.
@@kiillabytez Fair enough👍
He's a somewhat unique case, I remember a rig-rundown video where Gibbons' guitar tech explained how the sound comes from a combination of the light strings, very thin picks, a rather heavy hi-gain amp setup and Billy's extremely light touch.
I love 8 and 9 gauge strings on gibsons with the shorter scale length, makes playing so easy and I can play much faster with them. I also noticed that I never get as tired anymore playing guitar, especially songs that has many hammer ons and pulloffs. Some people say that lighter gauge breaks more often but I found it no different than 10 gauge as long as the guitar is setup well with no sharp points on bridge. You made a great choice!
Awesome! All my guitars have longer scale lengths, but I'm definitely curious to try out a shorter scale length guitar someday too!
@@RachelfGuitar Gibson/Epiphone. PRS. Shorter scale Fenders like DuoSonic, Mustang, etc. Given your demonstrated preferences, etc., if I were you, I'd be looking at PRS. Mostly a 25" scale length. Usually humbucker based. You can get either tremolo or hard tail. Awesome looks, awesome reputation for quality. They play metal really well. Go for the thin neck ones, rather than the fat. I don't think those would be to your taste. :)
I have a 2021 Duo Sonic HS 24" scale lenght with 8.5 earnie balls, Its just really a fantantisc feeling....its my sweet spot for playability, bends, pull off, vibrato, everything feels more natural...I ve had to up a little bit the action as the Low E string was buzzing on time to time.
You look like ur about to burst out of laughter any second love the good vibes. And the guitar is amazing lot of inspiration from u :D
I used the Extra Light 8-38 when I had a tendinitis flare-up. However, I converted to the Hyper Slinky 8-42 once they were released. 8 11 14 24 32 42. Basically, 8s on top, 9s on bottom. Best of everything.
I switched to 8's on all my standard tuning guitars a few years ago. I've been playing for 50 years, and most of that time using 10's. But I was starting to have some left hand joint pain issues and the light strings were a god send. I was worried about breakage, but I find the D'Addario NYXLs never break. Left hand adaptation was simple - everything was just easier. I found right hand picking to be a bigger adjustment. But well worth it for the comfort.
I use the Reverend Willy 8’s,and the NYXL’s,both good strings,never break strings.
I’ve heard that Gibbons uses 7’s,never tried those,my left hand is much heavier than
Billy Gibbons.
I love how you enjoy yourself while playing please never stop making Videos, your kind and happy temper is so contagious and your videos are really fun to watch.
I have 8’s on all my guitars and I like to keep a spare pack in case the high E string breaks. But very comfortable strings with good tone and crazy vibrato!
That is a good idea, should probably have a spare to keep around!
I always keep spare strings around. You never know. :)
I also have 8's on all my strat-style axes!!.. I only have 9's on my Gibson style axes... I always have extras in my case.. Takes a minute to learn how NOT to break these, but well worth it!!..
I ALWAYS have a nice stockpile of high E's.....I usually break them when I first change strings probably because I don't stretch them properly......
@@isMike999 try boiling your strings first for a couple minutes. Let them cool for about an hour.
When I started playing guitar again, after an almost 15-year hiatus, I began with 9s, and then started experimenting with different gauges, until I settled for Hybrids 9-46 .... again.... My fingers had the memory of Hybrids when I played them consistently back in the 90s, and I felt at home. Part of the discovery journey all of us have to go through.
Loved your video, you have to experiment with all the thiongs that can make your playing better and unique.
Yeah , I've been playing Ernie Balls "skinny top , heavy bottom" 10's for as long as I can remember now. But then I saw a video with Rick Beato talking about string gauges. It made me want to try 9's Ernie Balls , and I don't regret trying it. Made my playing a lot more easy and I can now do things I struggled with before. Don't fear trying something new , it may be just what you need :)
Hi Rachel. I used to use Ernie Ball Super Slinky 9's but found I was breaking the high E string from time to time. Got tired of that happening, so I switched to 10s. Was using GHS Boomers (10s) for a bit, but have since switched over to D'addario NYXL 10s. You think 8's are thin? Talk to the Reverend, Billy Gibbons. He uses 7's!!!
Love NYXL. They bend like butter, feels like going down a gauge by keeping string thickness. And they last enough to justify the higher price.
lol...And I got fedup of breaking .10s because I moved to Singapore where it rains 365 days....So I came up with new trick..I put B string on E string and tune to E....then I challenge it to break..hahaha
For many years I played 9-42 on my Ibanez, like Joe Satriani considering it the perfect set of strings. Recently I put 10-46 (standart E tuning) and really got high of it, - the guitar has begun more punchy, fatter, a little bit louder and more stable in tune. I don't want to go back to 9 set anymore. I have thoughts to try an even thicker set 11-48 or 11-50 in standart tuning, maybe 12-54.
As a bass/guitar player, I love this feelings of tight thick strings.
10's are way better. I used to use 9's too. 10's are more stable for tuning and has better intonation.
maybe 21-96 in standard tuning. beefer sound ,better stability, better blisters
I have nerve issues in my fingertips also. 8 s are comfortable and nice and bendy. To me string gauges have more to do with comfort than sound. In other words, you do you! Great video.
Me too..
This girls energy and spirit actually makes my life better. What a gift
I used to always use 10s in my early days just because I heard that it was better for tuning down. After coming back to guitar many years later, I found that 9s were much more comfortable. I should also mention that I switched to a 7-string guitar that I keep in standard tuning, so the 9s do make sense.
Hey, I have a 7-string guitar and I am on gauge 10. I find the low B to be extremely.. thick and weird to play. Do you think it would be improved on 9?
@@burieddreamer It's worth a try. Guitar strings are cheap enough where it won't be a big deal if it doesn't work out. I use D'addario 9-52s for mine. The 7th string did feel a little weird at first but I got used to it.
Been using 8’s for a while now, and I really like them. The guitar is a lot easier to play and tone is not an issue because I can compensate with the amp. I want to try some of Billy Gibbons’ 7’s and see what they are like.
I’ve pretty much always played 9s. I do have 10s on one guitar, but that’s because I wanted to try flat-wounds, and 10s were the lightest gauge they were available in. The only real benefit I’ve ever found in heavier strings is that I can get a “snappier” attack. I find trying to do Dick Dale style tremolo picking a bit easier with heavier strings. I’ve never tried anything lighter than 9s, so I probably should. I’d mainly played Ernie Ball strings, but I recently tried some of Stringjoy’s balanced-tension sets, and I’m a convert.
I put 8’s on my les Paul and I’ve been playing some super cool licks since. Love the 8’s!!
I love your smile. You always look so happy.
I use 11-54, I prefer the rigidity of thicker strings, plus I tune to D standard (so I can knock down to drop C and churn it!) My fingers are so used to them that I don't really have any issues with fretting, I don't tend to bend much at all, I play legato mostly, but whenever I play friends guitars with 8;s or 9's, I find that I can just whiz around! Super quick! It's like the Romans, they trained their soldiers to fight with really heavy swords, for years, so they became really proficient with the massively weighty weapons, Then when they went into battle, they gave them much lighter swords, and they were super fast and untouchable! Haha
I have been playing FOR MANY years now and I always used various brands of 9-42's.....recently I tried the 8 Extra Slinky's and I absolutely LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!....all 5 of my guitars WITH Floyd's have them and I have been using them now for 6 months or so with NO breakage issues.....great bends and SO I agree...play what is best comfortable to you....it's your hands...GREAT video Rach.....
im about to buy 8 extra slinky, do you keep telling their a good option?
@@sanchiani9717 YES,...I REALLY do like them....great bends...easy on the fingers!!!
I've been using size 7 strings for a year now and love them. A lot of old blues guys used them and now i see why.
I just did the opposite.
For a long time I been using the extra slinky 8s in D standard. I like them but lately I been trying to do more lead/solos and I thought the 8s can get alittle high pitch twangy sometimes, so I wanted to try 9s. It's too early to tell if I like the sound or not but they feel weird/big to me.
Please let us know if u go back to the 9s or not
That's awesome that you're trying out less popular string gauges. I don't really experiment with strings, but I think its good for people to try out different ones to find out what's good for them without feeling limited to a specific type.
Also I'm glad that you are looking out for your health. Continue to do what's best for your safety, so you can continue to ROCK ON!
I had a jazz guitar professor in college who, like so many jazz guitarists (especially from older generations), preached the idea that you have to use heavier guage flatwound strings to get a good, thick, jazz tone. So for many years use 11 guage D'addario chromes. But a few years ago I decided to try 9 guage Labella Jazz Flats. They sound just as "jazzy" but are way easier to play. So I'm never looking back.
Also neat to buy strings individually and figure out the proportions that work best for you (like having the high e a little thicker than the super-thin sets give you).
Billy Gibbons uses 7s seems to work out fine for him. I prefer 10s lighter than that feel kinda flimsy to me
I've played classical guitar for 12 years and just recently found out I've been using the wrong stings. I cycled through several kinds and settled on the ones that sounded the best but they were also wrong. Now I have the right ones and I find I can do things I previously couldn't and I also get a better response from my instrument. I have considered many times that my instrument was the issue and I came close to selling it which would have been a mistake.
Having used 9's for more than 40 years, I now play Fender Bullets 8-46 (Yngwie's signature set). This is essentially a 8 set for the plain strings e, b, g and a 10 set for the wound strings d, a, e.
As I'm now only using 24" scale guitars this makes this string set ideal for me (it will probably feel like a 7 set in the plain strings and a 9 set in the wound strings for people used to playing long scale guitars - ie 25,5" strats and the like).
I've too started experiencing some problems in joints and not having to fight a heavier gauge is perfect for me. Even though the wound strings are now actually one step heavier than I used to have with a regular 9 set, I feel that this doesn't pose a problem since I don't tend to bend those strings as much. And when I do it's usually done by bending the strings down as opposed to up like you do with the plain strings. And bending down is easier as the fingers are stronger in this direction.
So, if you enjoy the 8 set, you should give this a try. This will allow you to downtune your guitar as well without problems.
I went to 8’s years ago when a buddy gave me a set of them to try out! I was amazed at how much I loved the feel!!!
Awesome u found 8s to suit your needs. I feel lighter gauge strings a def better for shredding and metal. I love 10s and 11s since I very aggressive my playing and like that extra resistance when bending and doing vibratos.
Put .08s a month ago to my ibanez and i love it. Super easy for the left hand and no lack on heaviness when riffing
Great video and I 100% agree. I use 8's on my electric for the same reason. Light touch, both for picking and fretting, easy bends and vibrato and much better speed. It takes a little longer to get the feel for fast picking on bendy strings, but you'll figure it out. You can get a huge aggressive sound with minimal effort on 8's and play all day long. Welcome to Club 8!
If your going to go back and forth between tunings on all strings, it's worth having dedicated guitars. Also makes gauge choice for that tuning easier. I use 11-52 for long scale / 12-54 short scale for drop C and 15-64 for drop G.
I've always used 10s, but I switched from Elixir to Rotosound recently, because the guy in the guitar store recommended it. Half the price, near the same tone (but according to my ears, a bit less warm and a tad bit more crispy) and it comes with a spare high E. I haven't broken a string yet even though I've been abusing them for months now lol so they're durable I guess.
I'd be interested in you trying out different strings, brands, gears etc
My ibanez came with 6 strings on it and a pack of 5 definitely will keep them just in case I need to change the one I already have on my guitar keep rocking rachelf 😎
A couple of years ago I got my daughter a 3/4 guitar. The guy I got it from said he put new strings on, they were light gauge strings but I found it impossible to tune. After a lot of research I found out that you need a heavier gauge for smaller guitars (something to do with tension on the neck) so I got the heavier ones and now it works perfectly.
I just went from 10s to 11s and have been super happy.
Awesome! Whatever works best and feels best for you is great!
how are you bending strings? 11s sound like incredibly difficult in theory
@@ViciousViceTV I’m using them on my shorter guitars, Les Paul and Mustang so they bend nicely. Also I have gorilla hands :p
I have 9-46 on RG550 with a Floyd, tuned in E standard. This is my first guitar and it came with 9-46 (and with poor setup as well lol). I stuck with it since I gathered it's commonly used gauge (8s way more rare) and didn't think about trying 10s cos I knew it'd be harder to play and it's hard enough for a beginner, so no good reason to make it harder.
Then I got a Solar and currently have 10-52 on it. Hardtail, tuned to D standard. Factory strings were 9-46 (and tuned in E, of course) but I didn't like the feel of them when I downtuned it to D (uncomfortably loose), so I upped to 10-52 for similar feel as 9s in E and I like it that way so far. And I wouldn't wanna play 10-52 on 25.5'' tuned in E, I tried it for a few minutes and it's really uncomfortably tense.
Both 25.5'' scale and low action (with a capo about 1 mm/0.04in high E), though I'm right in the middle of doing setup on the Floyd and toying with an idea to try a bit higher action (1.25 mm/0.05in) to test whether I'd like to have a bit higher action or not. I do know that 1.5+ mm feels like an alien to me.
Then I recently acquired a travel guitar with 24'' scale (20 frets), they normally set it up in E with 11-48 I think but I requested thicker ones (they put 11-54) and tune it to D with as low action as they were able to achieve without excessive buzzing (1.25 mm with a capo). I can say, these feel quite tense (especially the higher strings feel that way) and are harder to bend then the ones above which feel pretty similar to me but I'm not sure how the guitar would handle 10s with such a short scale - but if I have extra time and such, I might try it one day.
I've never tried 8s so far. I probably will at some point but not now - simply for the reason that I'm a beginner (started about 11 months ago) and I have a feeling that they would be too sensitive and reactive for my sloppy beginner hands and I wouldn't be able to adapt to them easily at this stage, I can imagine pulling them more easily out of tune by accident since I'm not able to be precise enough and it would make me unnecessarily frustrated. Same goes for vibrato and bends. I feel thicker strings bring more stability and are more forgiving when you're not able to control your fingers as an advanced player can. What do you think? (About the idea of too thin strings being a possibly hindering element for a beginner)
Btw, you should try 7s, just for fun. :)) Music is Win has done video with them, seems like they're quite extraordinary experience.
Hey - I have an RG550 too. Can I ask how you changed the spring set up in back when you switched string gauges? Did you have to add an extra spring at any point or just tuned differently?
@@lauras6300 By moving the big screws in the back you can adjust the tension accordingly. Recommend using a trem block when doing any kind of adjustments.
Extra springs might be needed if you change to a lot heavier string gauge and the current number can't exert enough tension to balance the tension of the springs.
I recommend to watch f.e. Ben Eller's video on this, it's called "This Is
Why You Suck at Guitar: How to change tuning and string gauges floyd rose tremolo". He will explain it to you better than I could. :)
Sorry for not putting a link, not sure if it would be flagged...
8s are great! Glad you are enjoying them. My daughter and I use 8s on one guitar and 10s on the other: the 8s are for fine dexterity and longer practices, the 10s are for strength training and when we just want to wail away and play aggressively.
Your joy is contagious ! 😊but it’s all about what your used to and musical style, I like a little resistance from my strings , set up is always the key
I remember watching your first video and I'm very impressed at the progress you've made. Your always upbeat and you have a great attitude and you don't let the little things stop you from doing what you quite obviously love. My choice of strings are the D'Addario XL nickel wound super light gauge 9-42s not only do they sound great but the
playability is superb. They've been my go to for many years. I thought about trying 8s and after watching you try them I'm going to put them on one of my guitars and give them a go. I experimented with different brands and guages til I found what I liked. If 8s are good enough for Billy Gibbons that's good enough for me. Rock on!!!
I put 7's on my guitar. Rev. Willy's Mexican Lottery brand made by Jim Dunlop. They are effortless to play. They were made for Billy Gibbons and he plays them on his guitars. The Magnatone amps are awesome too.
Love your content… has helped in my own guitar journey
So cool to hear, thank you!
I switched to 8s for a couple of months cause I'm just getting into lead guitar and playing solos so bending was kinda hard for me even on 9s. I used them until I got better with my technique and just today I went back to 9s and it's WAY easier than it was.
Hi, nice to see another player trying really light strings. Rick Beato and my aging hands/fingers agree with you; light strings are the way to go. Especially if you have hand problems. This will only get worse if you don’t stay on top of it and do things that will allow you to continue to play in the future.
Lots of our guitar heroes used light strings. Back at the beginning (lol) players took the high E string made it the B string and put on a banjo string in the high E string. It was lighter than what was available at the time in guitar strings. Worked for them why not us.
This is also why electric guitars generally have plain strings G thru high E. Prior to banjo string electric guitars were strung like acoustics, two plain and a wrapped G string.
Take care of your hands everyone and keep playing. Thanks for the video.
My instructor is a professional gigging musician and only uses Extra Slinky 8s. I switched and it is definitely different but you have to learn not to push out of tune if you are use to heavier strings.
I like having different string gauges on my two guitars to solve the light vs heavy conundrum. That way I have one instrument that is nice and comfy to play, and the other that makes it more satisfying to dig in.
10-52 's are a great choice for the Ibanez ! My Ibanez sounds killer with them ! The more you practice with them, the more you like them ! Peace !👍✌
Guitar Strings are personal just like choosing a guitar and amp. You learn what you like... What works for you. Enjoyed your video
I remember when I first used 8, changing from from 10 to 8 I certainly felt like Yngwie hahaha. It actually changes a bit the attack as well, sounds a bit more "slappy". I loved it, the only problem with it was tuning. For obvious reasons you can't really tune your guitar down, it becomes too loose to a point which it is terrible to play. But overall its great.
Also, just so anyone is wondering: I have been playing guitar for 10 years now and used the 8 gauge for 1 year, even though its really easy to get used to it, when returning to 9 or 10 the muscular memory for bending feels OFF. It takes a while to really get it at point again.
You convinced me to try .008's. I also have joint problems and cramping in my hands, (getting old I guess!) Subscribed to your channel. Thanks for doing this video. You look so happy too!!
I had 9s on for the first 6 months from getting my first guitar. A mate who had been playing over 20 years said try some 8s....mind blown! That was 10 years ago. I'm still an extreme beginner but even I noticed the difference and loved it. Each to their own though.
i flipped flopped between 9s-11s over the years, but after Rick B made that video pointing out the existence of 8s i decided to give them a try and love them!
I ❤️ your sound.
(Yes I'm binge watching)
I've always been somebody that likes strings to be as thick as possible but mostly because I like down tuning, I also don't really bend or do vibrato, and I've never had joint or nerve issues, so I can respect lighter strings.
I have a Tele and an Epiphone Dot semi-hollow. I always thought that a semi-hollow needed thicker strings (acoustic logic, I guess), so I put .11s on it when I first got it. Well, bending those suckers turned out to be an exercise in futility, and the tone actually sounded kind of dull. So I eventually I tried .09s, and what a difference! Brighter tone, easy bends- and no more tuning issues, since the strings don’t get bound up in the nut. Loved this video, and glad that I found your channel. Subscribed.
There is also more to the string gauge than the 'feel' of the string. There are tone issues involved with it as well, especially when playing clean without distortion.
I’ve used Ernie Ball strings forever. The Slinkys on all my electric guitars and light gauge acoustic of course on my acoustic guitars.
I use 10,13.5,17,30,42,56 for E standard and DropD
11,15,19,32,44,60 for D#standard, drop C#, D standard and Drop C
12,16,20p,34w,46,66 C# standard/Drop B
12,16,20p,34w,46,70 for Drop A on my 28inch scale baritone.
I'm rather heavy handed (a friend of mine told me I have "the touch of a black smith) that I like the extra tension for the lower strings but now I'm finding the 10s to feel a big light that I might go up to 10.5s for standard tuning...
I still dont have a problem bending and what have you.
Rachelf💜💙
You are the best 💗
Thank you for all your help 💞
One of the biggest ‘aha’ moments for me was tuning to Eb. I use 9-46 tuned down and it feels perfect.
Also, you don’t have to use the light set lower strings. If you play aggressively, it’s better to have 46-36-26 on the low E, A ,and D. I find it’s too easy to put lighter strings out of tune.
My biggest aha moment was hearing the sun always shines on TV.
For Eb, 10's are the way to go..or 9.5
You should try the Billy Gibbons 7's. I've seen other skeptical youtubers use them and like them. Apparently they are difficult to break, even the e string.
TBH I found it difficult to get them. Especially when you have to be wary of avoiding fakes online and you have this thing now where you have to spend a minimum amount online to avoid paying excessive postage costs. From an online music store it's almost doubling the price to buy a single set of strings. I could get a 3 pack of 8s and not only did that make them cheaper per set I got free delivery. Whereas 7s I could only find in packs of 1, that pack was nearly £2 more as a result and I would have to pay postage to boot. Really if I thought the 8s were not thin enough I could just tune to Eb. The other thing you have to consider is the thinner you go the more likely you'll need to make set up changes to avoid issues with string buzz or dead frets and so on - not insurmountable but may be daunting for someone who has never adjusted or set up a guitar themselves.
Rick Beato also started to like the 08ths. My idols keep on going with 10s - Matteo Mancuso, Guthrie Govan. So I stay at the 10s and I also feel that it is more difficult to do the jazzy breathing and dynamics with the 8ths or 9nth. Personal aspect, of course
A lot of the music that came out of the 60s and 70s was made with 7s and 8s. Jimi used 8s.
Then came the metal years, thrash, and SRV and his 13s, and everybody thought you have to thick strings. In the words of BB King to Billy Gibbons when he thought all the old blues guys got their sound from heavy-ass string, "Why are you working so hard?" Billy's signature set is "Reverend Willy's Mexican Lottery Fine Electric Guitar Strings" from Dunlop, and they definitely have a distinct feel.
I've been using EB's 9s for 30 years, even when all my friends were joining the thick strings club. Sooner or later they'd end up trying my guitar and wonder why it felt better and played easier? "Because I'm not using bridge cables, that's why." They were amazed their fingers hand weren't hurting and exhausted after a lot of playing, too,
While you can't do a lot of big drop tunings, they do open up a lot of sound on a Fender-scale guitar, especially if your tune to E# (ala Jimi). Save the thicker strings for when you have to have them for bid drop tunings. (Hope this didn't sound like mansplaining, it was NOT my intent!)
Tried 9-42's for the first time in my life. I thought I bought the wrong gauge instantly, but over time, I grew to love them. With long recording sessions and hand fatigue the lighter gauge really facilitates longevity of recording.
Great video, I thought I mention that some of the greatest players in history used light gauge strings. BB King used 8s, Billy Gibbons uses 7s, Brian May uses 9s and plays with a coin and brags about not breaking them, Yngwie uses 8s in Eb, the list goes on. I think it would make for good content if you could revisit the idea of using 8 gauge strings with a long term test update video. Good Luck
No rules with guitar playing just try… l personally love 8’s just offer something different great video Rachel keep rocking!🙂🤘
You're so psyched and positive, I love it
Rick Beato, Rhett Shull and I forget the third guy did a video on this a couple months ago and along with the playability they were “busting” tone myths that go along with string gauge and it seems like they decided that 9s were the best gauge which I always thought was the most common string gauge people use.
I’ve been playing about 38 years and I started with 9s then moved up to 10s. I eventually settled on 10-52s which I have used for years. At one time I tried 8s and they felt like wet noodles to me. It was a long time ago before I move up to 10s then the hybrid set I’ve used for a few decades.
At the time I put the 8s on a strat and I didn’t have any stability issues, I just didn’t like them as they felt too loose and it made my playing sloppy.
I haven’t been playing regularly for a few years now and recently picked the guitar back up, now I’m thinking to 9s for a while because I just don’t have the strength in my hands I used to, plus at 50 I’ve developed mild arthritis so my hands hurt when I play now.
I think most 25.5” scale length guitars can easily be set up to play with 8s and be stable but I’m not confident a 24.75” guitar would feel good with 8s.
You should find a shop with single strings for sale - usually smaller local shops I find - and get 3-4 different gauges for each string and create your own set over time experimenting. I play a 7 string and use heavy gauge string for the lower strings, and my higher end is lighter but not super light. The middle strings medium.
Riffs stay tight, high end is more flexible and the middle strings are still buttery with vibrato. Works for me, everyone will have a different recipe.
I am using the same gauge as David Gilmour use, it is so fun to play.
High E, B and the G is awesome for bending with the Gilmour gauge.
I have always used 9s, but tried 8s after an injury to the pinkie on my fret hand. Now I like them either way, depending on the guitar and the tuning. Tony Iommi used the high E string from a set of 8s on both the 1st and 2nd strings, and no one can say he didn't have a heavy tone! It's all down to the pickups and the player. I like this, it's nice to see such happy guitar playing!
Thanks Rachel, great video - i put 8's on my strats and 9's on my PRS's and love them, never broken one yet.
I find them more easily playable and I won't be changing back.
Good luck playing :)
I’m surprised that the tone is still kinda thick. Cool stuff!
Tony Iommi uses 8s. So does Jimmy Page and Billy Gibbons. They don’t sound thin. Heavy strings have too much low end. Then people use a TubeScreamer to get rid of it!
Changing string gauge is way cheaper than buying a new guitar yet makes your guitar seem lime new. Speaking of new guitars, I recently bought a new MIM strat and love it. Came with 9's with pretty low action. I'm used to 10's and a bit higher action, but I like the MIM setup so much I lowered the action on my other guitars and changed the strings to 9.5's on my other Fenders. Great advice!!!
That is a super awesome Ibanez 😮 I like 9-42 in eflat and 8-38 in standard on a hss strat. Feels great and sounds great too! Great video!
there are also short scale guitars from jackson. with this can bend easy on 10 strings and it sounds on drop d good too. there are also strings with a thicker low e and 3 strings are thin and the other 3 are thick. they are named as heavy botton. there are some tests of the JACKSON JS1X on youtube. its a shortscale also a test in will it Chug
I use the same strings you used here. I tune a half step down and sometimes drop my D# a step down to C#. It took a bit of adjusting how I play with my picking hand (plus I slightly raised the action on the wound string side). What helped is I also went to a slightly thinner pick. Everything works together to make something work. Always experiment. Cool video! Keep up the good work! 😎👍🏻
Although we use higher gauges on our Jazzmasters and Jags our Strat type guitars are using D’addario 8.5’s and loving the low action.
I just stumbled across this. I noticed you said you need to play light not to squish your notes out of tune.
I played 9s for a long time, but tried 7s when Amazon sent me a set to try last year. They are wonderful. I get great clean tone, and my Big Muff loves to chunk it up.
They are faster, imo. And you really have to play with a light fret touch. It has helped my “death grip” on the neck and I’m much more accurate.
I really can’t find anything bad about them.
Thank you for the vid, and keep experimenting!
Try tuning your guitar to D and use uni vibe with your distortion .... play Trower's .... Bridge Of Sighs
Really depends on the tuning. 10s or above are a struggle to bend (particularly high up the neck ) in standard tuning for me, but easier in E flat tuning. As my guitar is tuned to standard E I use 9s.
I love fender Stratocaster it’s a cool guitar 😎
I've been playing Ernie Ball ball strings like 25 years, but I noticed today that D'Addario 8's have a different spread of gauges.
The thing that makes me wanna try the D'Addario 8's is that they seem to drop together equally compared to the Ernie Ball. Like for example, 8's all the way up to 9's, including the 8.5's, all have 11 gauge on the B string.. That cannot be good for equal string tension..
I've played 8's after Beato's video and I absolutely wish I had done it sooner. I'm about to try em on my CE24 Floyd Rose after my first setup! I'm happy to see someone using them on a floating trem, I'm more confident now!
I love 8’s!! Once your used to them they are killer
Sweet! Found your video bc I had came to a point where I got tired of fighting with the tough strings. So I was looking to see what was out here and man now I’m thinking I want those on my Mexican Fender strat.
Alot of guitar heros used 8's surprisingly....Jimmy Page, Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath. So it really is just a preference of the player, there is no right or wrong gauge for any music style. Like the channel, new sub!
Hey girl, it's been a while since I've seen ya!!.. I started out with 8's and have been using them for well over 30yrs.. I even have them in my Floyd Rose axes, along with all my Strat style guitars... I have 9's on my Gibson style axes, not MUCH of a difference, but well noticeable going back and forth... They are amazingly easy to work with and sound great for most all genres... Glad to have ya back, be safe and keep jammin'..
Strings like that are super for live work. They cot through the mix. You can hear everything without blasting the room with a boost pedal!
Everyone has their fingers in their ears. They say, they were good by they were loud!!
I have 8s in my prs studio. I dig them. I don’t go thicker then 10’s for standard tuning.
I liked the Ernie Ball Extra Slinky's but didn’t like the low A and E strings. I felt they were too thin. I switched to the Fender Yngwie stings which are String gauges: .008, .011, .014, .022, .032, .046 and love them. It's all about what works for you!
I love the 8 gauge for bending individual notes and soloing but be careful if playing a lot of chords - my instructor told me an 8 gauge is not a good idea if you play a lot of chords because chords will very easily sound out of tune when pressing down - bend out of place too easily. I have 9's on my guitar right now because I am playing a lot of chord-melody. As far as strings for finger pain, arthritis, etc... I have a guitarist friend who uses 7's (specially ordered) for his arthritis. Anyhow, the 8's again are my favorite for an instrumental or soloing.
I prefer the easy feel of the 8s
This girl never stops smiling!! I wish I had that problem!
I sure love how this sounds like.
Rachelf: Just another excellent video! You are the best! And by the way, thanks to your videos and support over the years, I am now completing my third CD album! For those of you new to Rachelf, the best thing you can possibly do if you want to learn guitar is to subscribe to this channel and learn all you can. I did, and I am old enough to be her grandfather! Cheers!
Thanks so much and congrats on the third album, really exciting!