5 Best Electric Guitar Strings for Rock [2021 Reviews]

How do you find the best strings for your electric guitar?

A lot of people just go to their local music store and pick up whatever they can, but that might not be the best idea. There are tons of different types of strings out there, and it’s important to know what kind suits your style before going into a store and picking blindly.

If you’re a rocker, then you need the best electric guitar strings for rock! We’ve got them all here at Best Electric Guitar Strings for Rock. From D’Addario and Ernie Ball to Fender and GHS, we’ll help you find the perfect string set that will make your guitar sing like never before!

We’ve compiled this list of some of our favorite electric guitar strings for rock so that you can find the perfect one for you!

If you’re looking for an upgrade from those old rusty strings, then check out these picks below! They’ll give your sound more clarity, depth, power, and volume than ever before. Plus they’ll last longer too – which is always a plus when it comes to instruments like guitars or violins.

So, What is The Best Electric Guitar Strings for Rock?

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Nickel Wound Strings

Feature to Benefit

•  Strings Gauge: | 10 | 13 | 17 | 26 |36 | 46 |
• Ernie Ball Strings are the best strings because they have optimum performance, well-balanced tone, and are made in the USA

• All strings are long-lasting, giving you optimum performance.

• Lock-Twist eliminates the slippery factor and gives you a well-balanced tone

• Well-balanced tone for your guitar

For a long time, I thought my guitar was just made of air. It turns out that’s not the case at all – there are strings! Strings that can be changed to suit your needs and preferences.

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Nickel Wound Strings are perfect for rock players who want a little more bite than what stainless steel offers but less twang than bronze gives. They’re also great for people like me who break their strings often because they’re so durable that are coated with nickel-plated steel.

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Nickel Wound Strings has got every gauge covered out there so you’ll definitely find a set that will show off your legendary skills onstage.

Plus we’ve thrown in even more goodies– recommendations from industry icons like Slash, Jimmy Page, Metallica, Eric Clapton so that you know what strings are best suited for different types of players who specialize in any genre imaginable.

I’ve been playing guitar since I was six years old and this is the only kind I’ll use now because it suits my style perfectly. They’re also really cheap too so if you break your strings often as I do, then this set will be perfect for you!

PROS :

– You’ll be able to play your guitar for hours without feeling any pain.

– Your fingers will never slip off the strings again.

– Feel confident when you’re on stage in front of an audience.

– The long life span is perfect for musicians who are always on the go.

– It has a lock and twists feature that makes it easy to carry around.

– You’ll be able to play with this instrument in any environment, whether you’re indoors or outdoors.

CONS :

• Rough on Fingertips at start

***

D’Addario EXL115 Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

Main Features:

• Strings Gauge: | 11 | 14 | 18 | 28 |38 | 49 |
• Nickel plating reduces corrosion and wears, so strings last longer.
• Corrosion resistance packaging
• Made in the USA

Most guitarists don’t know what strings are best for their playing style, and they wind up spending a lot of money on expensive strings that sound terrible.

The D’Addario string company has been in business since 1881 and is the leading maker of musical instrument strings. They’ve done extensive research into which type of string sounds best with each particular guitar, so you can rest assured that when you buy one of their sets it will be perfect for your needs.

These EXL115 nickel-wound electric guitar strings from D’addario have a bright tone that lasts longer than other brands thanks to an innovative wrapping process. You’ll get more out of every performance thanks to these long-lasting guitar strings!

With corrosion resistance packaging and sealed inside & outside for freshness (no more dead-string smell!), these new high carbon steel electric guitar and bass sets won’t let you down. Plus, they come in an easy-to-open box so nothing is stopping you from trying out a set today!

PROS :

• Great for guitarists of all levels.
• Fill in the gap left by Nickel strings with these wound strings to provide a bright tone that lasts longer and is corrosion resistant.
• Reduced fret wear means you can play for hours without worrying about your frets wearing down.
• A long-lasting bright tone will keep your guitar sounding great for years to come.
• You’ll feel confident knowing that you’re playing with the best strings money can buy.

CONS :

• Not that many bright looks!

Ernie Ball Cobalt Regular Electric Guitar Strings

Feature to Benefit

• Stronger magnetic relationship with guitar-creating warmer tones.

• Optimize your tone and sound around the instrument

• Increase volume to a new level with Ernie Ball’s long-lasting strings

• More tonal clarity in high pitches which translate perfectly for lead guitarists

• Drop tunings are louder and more efficient than ever before.

Ernie Ball Cobalt Regular Slinky Electric Guitar Strings are perfect for players who need to bend and break with flare as they move up the neck.

Cobalt Regular Slinky strings are made with the finest manganese steel and deliver a nice smooth tone with durability and corrosion resistance.

“It is the lovechild of a steel string and an acoustic. The clarity you can achieve with them is unmatched.”

“Ernie Ball Electric Guitar Strings are the newest innovation in string technology by Ernie Ball. They have taken into account all the latest innovations in strings to ensure that your strings operate at maximum output and clarity.”

PROS :

• Soft and silky to the touch

• The innovation that changed your strings forever.

• Easier on the fingers

• Great for beginners

• Improved tone, feel, and performance.

CONS :

• Sound deteriorates a little bit with time.

D’Addario NYXL1046-3P Nickel Plated Electric Guitar Strings

Feature to Benefit

• Long-lasting, corrosion-resistant strings

• Make old guitars feel and play like new again

• High tuning stability makes melodies clearer

• 10-46 pack of 3 sets.

• Enhanced Mid-Range Response

• Made in the USA strings

Strings break and it’s annoying.

You know that feeling when you’re in the middle of your favorite song, strumming away on your guitar, playing along to a great track. And then… SNAP! Your string breaks mid-chord. It can be so frustrating!

D’Addario NYXL1046-3P Nickel Plated Electric Guitar Strings are designed with an ultra-high tensile strength core wire that is up to 5X stronger than traditional steel strings and they will stay in tune better too (thanks to their precision wrap). So no more worries about broken strings during performances or practice sessions – you can focus on what really matters: making music!

Originally developed for rock stars, this single string is built tough on both ends of every dual-core strand that goes into its construction.

Created from a revolutionary steel alloy, NYXL1046-3P D’Addario NYXL Guitar Strings are your guaranteed choice for brilliant tone and enhanced performance with corrosion-resistant packaging.

The nickel-plated wound strings provide longer life (up to 50% more than other non-coated options). What’s more, it has an impeccable frequency response in the 1 – 3.5 kHz range: enough breadth to punch through heavy metal or deliver crystal clear performances when you bend notes at blues speeds in traditional country songs.

PROS :

• Have excellent tone and less acoustic noise

• Sustain notes by stopping the sound waves more quickly (higher tension)

• Produce a more versatile range of volume control than other strings

• Stay in tune better than ever before- it’s no wonder why these are the strings that professionals use.

• Long-lasting tone- play confidently, knowing your sound will last throughout the gig

CONS:

• None

GHS Guitar Boomers Nickel-Plated Electric Guitar Strings

Feature to Benefit

• Keeps your guitar sounding like new for years

• Shinier than Nickel-Plated Steel Wires

• Sounds better than other string brands at a cheaper price!

• Allow more control with strong, loud attacks

• Unique style and versatile guitar pick to fit your needs

• Reduces risk of breaking strings

Forget everything you’ve ever heard about strings – these are boiled.

Engineered with the latest cutting-edge hex-core technology for unmatched sustain and durability, these strings go easy on your hands while delivering a fat sound to conquer any song or mix in need of some domination.   

The GHS Boomer guitar string is so named because of its ability to boom without being boomy; you’ll never have to worry about muddy mixes again! Not everyone can afford a Garson J200, but anyone who needs that high-octane edge can invest in this product.

PROS :

• Amazing sound

• Well-balanced tone

• Comfortable to hold

• Less expensive than other brands with similar quality.

• You’ll sound like a pro.

CONS:

• None

Final Words

If you’re looking for the perfect electric guitar string for rock music, the above list of our favorites will help get your search started! Whether you prefer a bright or warm sound, we’ve got great strings that are sure to fit everyone’s needs. We hope these reviews have helped and be on the lookout for future posts from us about more of our favorite instruments as well as tips on how to maintain them.

How to Choose the Best Electric Guitar Strings for Rock?

Strings perform an important role while playing any kind of genre. If you want to pick the perfect set of strings for yourself, these are some of the aspects that will help you.

1. Gauge & Tension

As the gauge of a string increases, the tension against your fingertips also becomes more. Also, as you go from lighter-gauge strings to heavier ones, each note gets noticeably louder because of the added tension. You might notice that this makes it more difficult to play certain notes and chords, but with some practice, you’ll get used to it.

Lighter strings are for players who are just starting in learning how to shred or the acoustic crowd because they do not produce as much tension against your fingertips.

2. Material 

String material is usually made out of various kinds of materials. Generally, most electric guitar players prefer nickel-plated steel strings; however, there are also nylon strings and gut strings for those who like to add variety to their play.

Nickel-plated steel strings are the ones used by most electric guitarists because they have a bright and clear tone.

3. Winding 

There are two kinds of strings: unwound and wound. Unwound strings are usually made out of pure nickel, copper, or steel; they have a brighter sound than the other types. Wound strings, on the other hand, use copper wire as an undercoating wrapped around the outer edge of the string.

 4. Damping 

Some players prefer to have some damping, or resistance when they play their strings to create a richer sound and a more mellow vibration; others do not want any dampening so they can get that tighter tone on their electric guitar. If you like it tight, then choose those strings that have no damping, like the GHS Boomer or DR Hi-Beam.

3. Scale length 

Scale length refers to the distance between the nut and the bridge on your electric guitar neck. It’s really up to you whether you want a short or long scale length. Shorter scale strings will generally produce brighter tones because they vibrate more easily; longer scale lengths mean less string tension, so they vibrate less freely.

4. Frequency range 

Every string material has a different frequency range. Since strings are made out of metal, they will have some natural resistance to higher frequencies. By and large, the lower the tension of the string and the shorter its scale is, the higher it tends to resonate in terms of high-frequency vibrations.

5. Brand 

This kind of goes without saying. Make sure you know what brand of string to use and trust your manufacturer when choosing strings for your electric guitar. To say the least, don’t be tempted by that big box store’s cheap prices or you might end up with a subpar product that doesn’t sound well on your guitar.

When you’re looking for the best string set, it’s important to pay attention to what kind of tone you want. If your goal is a bright and clean sound with lots of sustain that’ll cut through in any live or studio environment, then consider stainless steel strings.

For a more mellow warm sound, try bronze-wound strings. Alternatively, if you want something in between these two extremes but still sweet-sounding without unnecessary overtones, go with nickel-plated wound bass guitar strings ̶ they offer an excellent balance when it comes to clarity and warmth.

The last thing worth mentioning about electric guitars is their pickups ̶ listen carefully as each pickup type has its unique voice which will color the tonality of your instrument no matter what strings you use.

• Pick a string that resonates with you

• Choose from some different types: Nickel, Bronze Cymbal, Nylon, Steel

• Show off your rockin’ side to the world

FAQs

What guitar strings are best for classic rock?

D’addario .049 to .042 gauge Medium-Tension. They sound great and have a wide range of tones. I would recommend these strings because they have a good balance between volume and distortion, maintain sustain well, and are not overly expensive.

What are the best acoustic guitar strings for rock?

Steel-string guitars are usually better for rock than nylon string or classical guitars, but if you’re looking for the best electric guitar strings, there’s no easy answer.

What strings did Jimi Hendrix use?

It is likely that Hendrix’s song “Spanish Castle Magic” was played using a Fender Stratocaster. Hendrix’s guitars, like most popular guitar types, were custom-made at the time that Hendrix toured.

Do heavier strings stay in tune better?

Yes. If you are tuning a guitar then going from the low string to the high string, each time you change strings the tension on the string changes. The more tension, the higher-pitched it becomes and vice versa with less tension.

So heavier strings will generally require less of a change in pitch as they are tuned because there is relatively more constant tension throughout. When tuning light strings each time they get tuned it doesn’t take as much tuning to make it stay in tune so when playing for longer periods your hands may tire out faster.