Heavy Metal, Death Metal, Thrash, shredding… they’re all familiar terms in the hard rock genre. But which guitar strings are the best for these heavy styles and fast lead breaks? read more »

Generally, heavy rock = heavy strings. Heavier (or thicker) gauge strings tend to give a fuller more bass-rich sound when played hard and also take the pounding of heavy strumming.

Many guitarists use alternative tunings like drop C or drop D, or even detune the whole guitar. But which are the best guitar strings for detuning?

The problem with detuining is that most 'regular' guitar strings are designed to be played on a standard-length neck with standard open E tuning. When you detune, the string loses tention and can feel 'floppy' and lead to fret buzz. read more »

When new guitarists start to learn to play, they take their strings for granted - after all, they came with the guitar! But when the strings start to sound dull, tarnish or break, every beginner has to learn how to choose a replacement set of strings. This is not always as easy as it sounds, because the variety of makes and types can be overwhelming... read more »

It's something most new guitarists don't think of until they break their first string - "what are the best guitar strings for me?". There are a bewildering range of guitar strings available, with terms like Nickel, roundwound, gauge, light, medium, skinny top etc to confuse the uninitiated. So here's some simple advice for the beginner: read more »