How to Pick String Gauges on Acoustic Guitar

String selection is a particular problem for acoustic guitars because of the multiple tunings. Although there is a wide range of string gauges available, each choice involves a number of trade-offs. The following steps will show how to pick string gauges on acoustic guitar.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Measure acoustic guitar strings in thousandths of an inch. Thus, if we say the high E string is an 11, we mean the string used to play the high E note is 0.011-inch in diameter.
2. Select the correct type of strings for on an acoustic guitar. A classical guitar uses nylon strings, but virtually all other acoustic guitars, including slide guitars, use steel strings. Generally, the high three strings are flatwound and the low three strings are roundwound.
3. Choose a set of medium gauge strings for acoustic guitars in standard EADGBE tuning. The exact gauges vary by manufacturer but a typical medium set of strings might consist of gauges 11, 15, 22, 23, 30, 40 and 52.
4. Observe the effect of alternate tunings on the string selection for an acoustic guitar. Tunings such as the open A and E increase the pitch of some strings which may require a lighter gauge string. Similarly, dropped tunings such as the open G and D lower the pitch of some strings and may require larger gauges.
5. Buy strings individually when using alternate tunings on an acoustic guitar. After you have determined the best gauge for each string, you can make your own customized sets of strings. This method may require you to go to a larger music supply wholesaler, but it will be cheaper than mixing and matching from two different sets each time you need new strings.