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The best guitar strings for metal
You don’t need good gear to rock out.
With that said, it doesn’t hurt to have high-quality equipment whenever you head to the studio, jam room, or stage. And if you’re a guitarist, you probably already know how hard it can be to find the right gear for your playing style considering all the options available on the market.
For metal guitarists, this is even harder. Metal music is known for its incredibly heavy, guitar-driven sound. And if you want to get top-tier tone regardless of the amp the gig gives you, you will greatly benefit from the right strings.
Since metal guitarists play in drop tunings, turn the distortion way up, and use specialized guitars for their music, you need to find the right strings. While all the string brands and manufacturers make it hard to find the right option for your guitar and playing style, we’re here to help.
Keep reading to learn about the top 7 best guitar strings for metal guitarists, what makes them great options, and even some of the key factors to consider when buying guitar strings for metal. In this article, we’re getting into all of that and more to help you setup your guitar perfectly for the music you play.
Best overall
Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel Ultra High Output Guitar Strings
Ernie Ball Slinky M-Steel Ultra High Output Guitar Strings
These are Ernie Ball strings that are designed for heavy metal. With these strings, you can get a really high output, allowing you to cut through the mix and get the room jumping.
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For most metal guitarists, a skinny top and heavy bottom string set is the best option. This is because it gives you the flexibility of shredding up top and hitting heavy notes down low. And in our research, we found that this set of skinny top and heavy bottom strings does the job the best.
This string pack comes from Ernie Ball, which is known for making great strings. In fact, some of the best metal guitarists in history use Ernie Ball like Steve Vai, Slash, and even Angus Young. And this specific string set is designed for loud heavy metal music. Since these are high-output strings, you can expect your guitar to get loud when you strum and hit notes.
This pack of strings is very specific for loud music. There are many guitarists who utilize clean tones that won’t enjoy these strings. But if you’re a heavy metal guitarist who needs crisp and loud tones for rythm parts and solos, this is a great option for you.
There weren’t too many downsides to this set. The strings are affordable, sound great, and come in a great packaging. However, since they aren’t coated, they’re prone to rust, so it’s important to make sure to clean your guitar after every use to prevent it.
Best premium
Dunlop Heavy Core Guitar Strings
Dunlop Heavy Core Guitar Strings
While it’s expensive, this two pack of strings offers a lot of value for the money. If you buy this set, you can expect top-tier tone, great feel, and durable strings that will last you a long time.
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Guitar strings are some of the cheapest pieces of equipment that you can get. But if you really want to get a killer tone and great feel, you may have to find premium guitar strings. And for heavy metal guitarists, we found that this set from Dunlop performs much better than many other options, even if it’s expensive.
The only downside to this set is that it’s fairly expensive. If you’re on the hunt for a set of guitar strings on a buget, you may need to find another set. But if you’re building a professional gig rig for shows and recordings, this is a great option.
These strings are 10-gauge strings. They aren’t skinny top heavy bottom strings, but they aren’t too light either. These are a great middleground for anyone on the hunt for guitar strings that can handle heavy metal, clean tones, and more.
On top of that, this is a two pack of strings. So, right away, you get a pack of spare strings. This means you won’t have to worry about buying a spare pack just in case a string breaks during a jam, rehearsal, recording, or gig.
Best affordable
DR Strings Electric Guitar Strings
DR Strings Electric Guitar Strings
You don’t need to bust the bank to get heavy metal guitar strings! Depsite the low price of these strings, they sound great, feel good, and won’t leave a hole in your wallet!
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Now that we’ve talked about the most expensive set of guitar strings, lets take a look at the opposite side of the spectrum. If you’re on a tight budget but still want to rock out, we’ve found that this set of strings is one of the best ones on the market.
These strings are much more affordable than any other models featured on this list. And despite being affordable, they are treated and handmade, which is why we couldn’t help but feature it. On top of that, they are mid-gauge strings, so they still offer great feel and tone that instantly cuts through the mix.
The only downside to this set is that they aren’t that durable. While they can handle heavy strumming and shredding, they are prone to rust. If you want to avoid this, you need to coat your strings with a protective coating and make sure to clean the guitar whenever you use it.
Additionally, these strings would work best for heavy music. If you’re a metal guitarist who sometimes enjoys clean tones as well, you may want to look at other sets on the market.
Best for 7 string
Ernie Ball Paradigm Slinky Electric Guitar Strings
Ernie Ball Paradigm Slinky Electric Guitar Strings
This is the only 7-string set on this list. And we chose to feature it because in our experience it’s by far the best option available.
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If you have a 7-string guitar, you might have a hard time finding the right strings for the job. This is because most string sets are designed for 6-string guitars. But since Ernie Ball is known as one of the best string brands on the market today, it should come as no surpise that they have a great 7-string set.
It’s hard to play a 7-string guitar, but it can be even harder to build your gearset with these guitarts. This Ernie Ball set is specifically designed for extended range guitars but are made with the same attention to detail as regular 6-string sets.
Despite the fact that this comes with an extra string, this set is still fairly light. This is a pack of 10s, which is a great option for 7-string guitarists. These won’t be as heavy as the strings designed for music like djent or death metal, but they will be able to do the job.
The benefit of 10-gauge strings is that they won’t hurt your hand as much. So, if it’s your first time trying out heavy metal, this is a great set of strings to get you started.
Best for death metal
D’Addario XL Nickel Wound EXL148 Electric Guitar Strings
D’Addario XL Nickel Wound EXL148 Electric Guitar Strings
These are by far the heaviest strings on our list. This is why they work for death metal where the guitarists and other instrumentalists have to play drop tunings that light and medium gauge strings won’t be able to handle.
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Death metal is a unique type of music. This music is incredibly heavy, whith the guitars and the other instruments usually playing in a drop tuning. And while this music sounds great, you can’t play in these tunings without the right strings.
If you plan on playing in a death metal band, these are great strings for you. This is because these D’Addario strings are very heavy. These are 12-gauge strings, which are signficantly heavier than the other options on our list.
The downside to these strings is that they might be uncomfortable if you’re not used to the weight. However, if you drop the tuning and lighten the tension of the strings, you won’t feel the tightness as much.
With that said, these strings have a distinct tone. When testing it out, we found that they really cut through the mix, even with death metal tracks. So, if you play on the heavier side of heavy metal, this is a great option for you.
Best coated
Elixir Nanoweb Coating Electric Guitar Strings
Elixir Nanoweb Coating Electric Guitar Strings
If you want strings that will last you a long time, this is the right pick for you. These Elixirs are designed to stay as fresh as possible for a long time, so you don’t have to worry about constant string changes on your guitar.
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Coated strings have a mixed reputation among guitarists. On the bright side, string like these Elixirs will last you a long time. The benefit of coated strings is that they’re rust-resistant. So, you won’t have to worry about your strings getting rusty after a couple of jams.
With that said, there are more than a few guitarists who don’t enjoy the feel of coated guitar strings. Some guitarists don’t notice the difference, but if you’re new to coated strings, you may have to take some time to get used to them. And once you’re used to the feel, you’ll find them just as comfortable as non-coated strings.
These are some of the best strings that Elixir has to offer. And since these are 12-gauge strings, they are very balanced. However, the downside to 12-guage strings is that they’re defintiely on the heavier side, so get ready to put some more effort into your bends and solos when using these strings.
We chosew these as great strings for heavy metal guitarists because they’re heavy. So, while they may feel slightly uncomfortable when you use them in standard tuning, they work great and feel great if you drop the tuning down a bit.
Best for lead guitar
Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Electric Guitar Strings
Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Electric Guitar Strings
We couldn’t find anything to complain about with these strings. If you’re looking to do face melting solos and locked-in rhythm parts, this is one of the best options from you. And the fact that they come from a reputable brand is a huge plus for this set of strings.
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The last pick on our last is our favorite pick for lead guitarists. In modern metal music, you aren’t just shredding the entire track anymore. Instead, lead guitarists play a more versatile role where they do the rythm parts as well as the lead parts. Because of this, you need guitar strings that can handle both tasks.
This is by far the best skinny top and heavy bottom strings available. Tone-wise, we didn’t have any complaints. They sounded great regardless of the genre, and the gauge of the strings allowed for fat chords and tight leads.
The downside to these strings is that they don’t utilize coatings. So, you need to take a bit of extra care with the strings to keep them from rusting. But if you change your strings regularly and clean them after every use, rust shouldn’t be too big of a problem.
What to look for in good guitar strings for metal
Metal music is unique and has had a massive impact on the modern music scene. When Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath came out with the album that many people claim to be the birth of metal, no one could have expected where the genre would have grown.
Nowadays, there are tons of metal sub-genres for people to listen to. So, if you aren’t a fan of the fast and aggressive thrash metal, you may prefer a more rhythm-centric djent song, or even a prog metal song if you’re into complex musical concepts.
Regardless of the type of metal music you play though, you still need to find good guitar strings. In fact, high-quality guitar strings are crucial for just about any type of music. But since heavy metal has such a distinct sound, there are certain qualities you need to look for when buying strings.
And to make it easier to find the right option for you, we’re taking a look at these qualities in this section.
Gauge
The gauge of the guitar strings refers to the thickness. The heavier the gauge (higher numbers are heavier gauges), the harder the strings will be and the more tension they will have. With that said, if you get heavier gauge strings, most guitarists say that it results in a fuller tone that can easily cut through the mix whether you’re playing lead or rythm guitar.
For metal, heavier strings may be the ideal option. This is because these heavier strings can easily handle drop tunings (a mainstay in modern metal), produce heavier tones, and would fit much better on modern metal guitars.
However, keep in mind that heavy strings may be harder to play for some people. Additionally, if you do a lot of large bends and shredding in your playing, you may find lighter strings easier for you.
If you can’t decide if you want the tone of heavy gauge strings or the comfort of light gauge strings, then you might want to check out some light top, heavy bottom strings. These are great because the higher strings are light, making it easier to shred and solo, while the low strings are thicker which allows you to produce a heavier tone that handles distortion better.
Coating
Another thing to consider is whether or not you want coated strings. The guitar community is largely mixed when it comes to coated strings. With that said, there are a lot of players that use coated strings as they can last much longer than uncoated strings. If you get coated strings, you won’t have to worry about rust completely ruining your tone.
With that said, there are some guitarists who say that coated strings don’t feel natural, which is why they’d rather stick with uncoated strings. However, keep in mind that this is all about preference. So, if you’re unsure if you want uncoated or coated strings, it may be beneficial for you to try it out yourself.
Feel
When in doubt, try it out. When buying guitar strings, one of the most important things to consider is whether or not you feel comfortable playing with those strings. Even if you plan on ordering the strings online, you can always talk to your guitarist friends to try out the strings they use on their guitar.
When testing out strings, try to see how they feel on your fingers. We recommend playing the type of music you usually play on your guitar to see how well they fit your playing style. This is much easier than reading the opinion of other guitarists since at the end of the day, you’re looking for guitar strings that feel good on your hands and no one else’s.
Tone
Another thing you may want to consider is the tone of the strings. While we agree that a guitar’s pickups and tonewoods are probably the biggest determining factor when it comes to how the guitar sounds, there’s no denying that the strings play a role.
There are tons of things that go into the way certain strings sound. For example, heavier strings may cut into the mix easier compared to light strings, but this also depends on the playing style and actual guitar you use.
So, the best way to do a tone test of strings is to try them out yourself. If you get the chance, we highly recommend listening to how the strings sound yourself. That way, you can determine whether the timbre fits your playing style and genre.
There’s no one “right” tone for metal guitarists. In fact, each guitarist has their own unique tone, which is one of the beautiful parts of making music. So, don’t just rely on other people’s opinons and try the strings out yourself to see if they’re the right fit for you.
What type of guitar strings do I need to play heavy metal?
The best guitar strings for heavy metal are the ones that you enjoy playing with. Every guitarist is different. They each have their own distinct tone, playing style, signature licks, and preferred genres. All of these factors and more determine the type of guitart strings you’ll need when you plug into an amp.
With that said, a great place to start is with medium or heavy strings. There are many metal guitarists that use light gauge strings, but there are far more musicians that use medium and heavy strings. So, if it’s your first time buying guitar strings for metal, try out these options first and see how they feel and sound on your guitar.
If you’re a lead guitarist in a heavy metal band, a light top and heavy bottom string set may be a good option for you. These strings combine the best parts of light and heavy strings, giving you the best of both worlds.
Just remember that at the end of the day, the choice is up to you, we at OwlRatings just try to guide the best we can. And as long as you have guitar strings that you believe sound and feel good, then no one can tell you otherwise.
FAQ
Are heavier strings better for metal?
This depends on your playstyle and your guitar. Many rhythm metal guitarists, however, prefer heavier strings as they have a thicker tone and can handle distortion better. And since many metal songs require drop tunings, heavier strings are better fit for the job.
What gauge strings are best for shredding?
Again, the best gauge for you depends on your guitar, your tone, and your own preferences. But generally, lead guitarists use lighter strings. This is because these strings can bend easier and don’t hurt your hands as much. With that said, there are tons of guitarists who play lead and shred on their guitar with heavy gauge strings as well.
Do thick strings lower action?
If your guitar is set up properly, they can lower the action. Since there’s more tension with thicker strings, you may be able to lower the action. However, if your guitar is set up for light gauge strings, then heavy strings may bend the neck in the opposite direction which results in highers and heavier action. So, always make sure yuor guitar is setup properly.
