String guage = speed

[SpiderVenom]

I'm interested in opinions on this: do lighter guages help with playing faster, or not? If so, can practice make this up?

My opinion is that for straight runs, I can't really see it making any difference. I suppose in theory a smaller string might be slighter faster to do things like legato trills (less resistance), and it might be slightly easier to pick faster on lighter wound strings, but... meh? I suppose the biggest difference is bending - stepping up a string guage definitely makes it a lot harder, imo.

Anyway, share your thoughts.

 

[jony]

Re: String guage = speed

It can help to speed you up.

The difference is really noticable though when for instance when you play someone elses guitar with a lower gauge.. Rather than yourself changing strings and then playing again.

 

[B2D]

Re: String guage = speed

The size isn't really an issue as much as the tension is... I've played a Les Paul tuned down to DGCFAD (down one whole step) with 11's and it was a breeze! However in standard tunings it wouldve felt a lot stiffer...

A few things to keep in mind:

1. Different guitars take heavier gauges differently - I've played a Fender Stevie Ray Strat with 12's that I only had minor difficulty with, but I played a PRS with 11s and it was damn near unplayable to me. Chops' strats seem to take heavy guages very well, my strats and Musicman a little less so. Other than setup specs, I don't know why this happens but it does. Certain instruments just perform better with big-ol bridge cables. Experiment and see what works.

2. Setup, setup, setup - if you want to use heavier strings be sure to re-set up and re-intonate the guitar to get it feeling and sounding as good as possible while being truly in tune. You shouldn't have to fight the instrument to the point where it's uncomfortable and you of course should always be able to get it in tune. This means truss rod, bridge height, etc. I cannot stress this enough.

3. String brands - I always liked the tone of 10's but D'addarios 10's felt too stiff to me, especially when I played a set of Ernie Ball 10-52s that felt as light as 9's did. I did some homework and it turns out in general the D'addarios tend to run a few pounds MORE tension per set than the EB's do. I picked up a set of Rock'n'Roll EB slinkys (the nickelwound ones) and had a lot easier time with them just because of tension.

Bottom line, heavier strings may hamper your speed at first but you get used to it if you play the guitar enough. Do all your practicing on an acoustic with 11's or 12s and then when you get an electric with 10s or 9s your fingers FLY.

 

[SpiderVenom]

Re: String guage = speed

I've been considering 10-52's for my DXMG, but I think I'll stick with the 10-46's (D'Addarios).

I played an LP with 9-42's yesterday... sheesh. Just about had every string falling off the board, it was so tension-less. Too close to rubber bands for my liking.

I might stick some 11's or so on my old squier strat just as a practice tool.

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: String guage = speed

I don't think string gauge has anything to do with "speed". If anything, in terms of pure speed, a heaver gauge would be better in my opinion. Vibrato, bends and things of that nature on the other hand would be affected by gauge.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: String guage = speed

I don't think string gauge has anything to do with "speed". If anything, in terms of pure speed, a heaver gauge would be better in my opinion. Vibrato, bends and things of that nature on the other hand would be affected by gauge.

I have to agree... while thinner strings are easier to bend, thicker strings give the pick less resistance in sliding over them AND don´t "branch out" as much , making faster picking easier if anything as soon as you´re used to the gauge.

Side note: I´m MUCH slower on lighter strings, anything under 10s is slowly becoming unplayable for me

 

[Loserchief]

Re: String guage = speed

I have to agree... while thinner strings are easier to bend, thicker strings give the pick less resistance in sliding over them AND don´t "branch out" as much , making faster picking easier if anything as soon as you´re used to the gauge.

Side note: I´m MUCH slower on lighter strings, anything under 10s is slowly becoming unplayable for me

+1 about the same for me. Thicker strings are way more comfy for me and i'm used to them so bends and vibrato are no problem.

 

[Earwicker]

Re: String guage = speed

As someone has said, it isn't the weight per se, it's the tension - the heavier the string the more tension is required to get them up to pitch. When you're simply making a note, it doesn't make all that much difference, it's bending the strings that becomes more difficult as guage increases.

It does seem to depend on the guitar too, for some reason. My LP Custom seems to like 10s - 9s feel too light. On my new PRS Soapbar II, 9s seem to suit the guitar better. I don't know why - maybe something to do with scale length...

 

[dani]

Re: String guage = speed

personally, i find i can play faster with thicker gauge strings for all the reasons stated by fellow forum bros.

lower gauge stirings slows me down but they are much easier to bend.

 

[greendy123]

Re: String guage = speed

I think thicker guage are fine for speed, but once you go back to the thinner guages it feels like you can play faster with things such as bends and vibratos.

 

[JLagoon]

Re: String guage = speed

I think that it all comes to how "seasoned" your fingers are. If you can shred already, then you can shred on guitars with lower string gauge. Will you be faster? Yes, given that you can adapt to the new string resistance on that particular guitar. On contrary, you cannot shred on it if the strings are too flimsy. Also, don't forget to consider other factors, such as action and neck shape.

 

[D-EJ915]

Re: String guage = speed

Lighter strings are also easier to use with high action.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: String guage = speed

If you develop the strength in your fingers, you should be able to play just as fast on any gauge, with in reason of course.

For me, there are a lot of advantages to bigger strings that overwhelmingly outweigh the disadvantage of slower playing, which is only temporary anyway. I made an effort to play big, heavy-bending blues with 11's on the Gibsons and 11.5's on the Strat and there was finger-tip soreness at first, but after a while I was and am still able to do two-step bends on the high E, which is one of the advantages:

1) Heavier strings don't break near as easy. I have yet to break an 11 or 11.5 on a 2-step bend. I used to go through 9's and 10's like potato chips.

2) Bigger strings have better tuning stability.

3) Bigger strings just sound better, at least to me. You can get that wide, big-a$$ tone which will allow you to use a lower output pickup that will keep the top end nice and sweet instead of having it disappear in the murk of your average 14k pickup.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: String guage = speed

If you develop the strength in your fingers, you should be able to play just as fast on any gauge, with in reason of course.

For me, there are a lot of advantages to bigger strings that overwhelmingly outweigh the disadvantage of slower playing, which is only temporary anyway. I made an effort to play big, heavy-bending blues with 11's on the Gibsons and 11.5's on the Strat and there was finger-tip soreness at first, but after a while I was and am still able to do two-step bends on the high E, which is one of the advantages:

1) Heavier strings don't break near as easy. I have yet to break an 11 or 11.5 on a 2-step bend. I used to go through 9's and 10's like potato chips.

2) Bigger strings have better tuning stability.

3) Bigger strings just sound better, at least to me. You can get that wide, big-a$$ tone which will allow you to use a lower output pickup that will keep the top end nice and sweet instead of having it disappear in the murk of your average 14k pickup.

1) Yep.
2) I think that the bigger strings take longer to get stretched out first, but after they've been stretched and tuned I have to agree with you 100%
3) Yep.

I started out playing ages ago on a buddies acoustic which was strung with .11s . . . when I got my first electric guitar I just got the same string guage which I'm super thankfull for. It must be tough to try and work up from .09s . . .

 

[JammerMatt]

Re: String guage = speed

IMO: Right Hand+Left Hand+Brain+Practice = Speed. I think the other aspects: strings, neck sizes, radii, scale length, are very hard to categorize since it's all a matter of personal preference your physical structure, etc. However, they do have a psychological impact and perhaps that's what you're feeling. I say find what works for you, if it goes against common "wisdom" and works for you, then it works for you and it's yours. I would probably have some difficulty at first with Zerbs guitars, and he'd be the same with mine (since I play 9s). But they work fine for us.

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: String guage = speed

I really can't disagree with any point here!

I find the fret size can be a big deal. Like what was said earlier...every guitar is different. That being said, taken to the extreme, a run up and down the neck with a set of invisible/zero diameter/effortless strings would result in "stubbed fingers"!

As an example, I find 9-46 EB's (E tuning) are fine on my regular fret size Epi's...but the smaller diameter fails to "support and glide" on my early '80s Gibson with larger frets. My fingers just stub and plow into the frets with 9's...whether chording or soloing. I just slows me down, and makes for more mistakes...and less "fretboard awareness." The Gibson benefits from 10's because it give fretboard-railroad-tracks for my fingers to glide on.

I can see how Zerb says that lighter strings slow him down, on the monster size frets Jackson is known for installing. I am a string gauge sissy, so I go with the lightest gauge I can get away with.

As far as technique, using as the middle finger to help the ring-finger-string-bends helps immensely.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: String guage = speed

.....I can see how Zerb says that lighter strings slow him down, on the monster size frets Jackson is known for installing. .....

Actually, I´ve never used light guages on my Jacksons because those are Tools... But the fret size really doesn´t affect the precision of my picking hand, and that´s my issue, not fretting.. my left hand actually kind of likes Florist´s Wire. I have a very light left hand but the right hand is like a jackhammer on the strings

But that´s still a good point you bring up about the fret size.... Though considering players like Malmsteen and blackmore with ultralight strings and huge frets on a scalloped neck, we may have to elaborate more to guage it´s actual validity. IMO it´s definitely also a technique issue as well...

 

[Diego]

Re: String guage = speed

Can you guys "shred" on 11s on standard tuning?

I currently have 10-46 on my Ibanez and wanna try something radical.

 

[Davey]

Re: String guage = speed

its not the thickness, its the player. and thats all there is to it

 

[Zerberus]

Re: String guage = speed

Can you guys "shred" on 11s on standard tuning?

I currently have 10-46 on my Ibanez and wanna try something radical.

I play 12-52 in standard and Dropped D.... while it´s not "Shred" per se, take a listen to the stuff off my site or Myspace profile, particularly Nothing @ All.... there are some notably faster tracks on the upcoming album, and I can up the tempo quite a bit more if I want to... I´m just not a real fan of note flurries