The Best Guitar Strings for Metal

Last Updated Jul-31-2018.
We made a few small tweaks to this article to make it easier to navigate, although none of our chart recommendations changed – we still love these strings! We also added a few new answers to some of your most demanded questions.

If you live for heavy rock and metal, and love riffing along with the likes of Metallica, Megadeth, Mastodon, and Avenged Sevenfold, this is the strings page for you!

However, before you dive in to this extreme genre, there are a few things you need to consider – especially if you are a beginner. Firstly it’s essential you find a good metal guitar – one that will allow you to perform to your potential. Something with attitude, something with hot pickups, and something that can take a beating.

But finding the right metal guitar is only half the battle – equally important to nailing that huge metal tone is finding the right strings. And that is where this article will help you. We have prepared a quick list of some of the top strings for metal available on the market today, as well as a guide to buying the best strings for you, before looking at four of the most popular string brands for metal playing.

6 Recommended Guitar Strings for Metal:

Image	Guitar Strings / Rating	Summary	Check Price
+ -	Dunlop DHCN1254 Heavy Core Total of 4.80/5	Super heavy (.012-.054) nickel-wound steel strings, crafted specifically for dropped tunings.	Amazon
+ -	DR Strings DDT-11 Heavy Total of 4.80/5	Built for dropped-down tunings, these .011-.054 strings boast awesome tuning stability.	Amazon
+ -	D'Addario EXL116 Strings Total of 4.70/5	Very popular nickel-wound hybrid strings, with a medium top/heavy bottom gauge (.011-.052).	Amazon
+ -	Ernie Ball Not Even Slinky Total of 4.80/5	Strong and chunky .012-.056 gauged strings with a protective RPS coating.	Amazon
+ -	Ernie Ball Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Total of 4.60/5	A hybrid set of Ernie Ball’s Slinky range, with a gauge of .010-.052.	Amazon
+ -	DR Strings NPE-11 Total of 4.50/5	Heavy gauge (.011-.050) luminescent neon pink strings for a visual impact!	Amazon

Dunlop

Scottish engineer Jim Dunlop founded his company in California in 1965, and it has since gone on to become one of the leading accessories brands – offering everything from effects pedals to plectrums. Their strings are also hugely popular with heavy rockers and metalheads, thanks to their innovation and affordable prices. So it’s no surprise to learn that hundreds of top-selling professional artists use Dunlop strings, including some of metal’s best known guitarists: Bill Kelliher (Mastodon), Jeff Loomis (Nevermore), Zacky Vengeance (Avenged Sevenfold), and Slayer’s Jeff Hanneman to name a few. Dunlop have a good choice of strings for metal, including their classic Heavy Core range, which are crafted specifically for dropped tunings, using nickel-wound steel. These come in ‘Heavy’, ‘Heavier’, and ‘Heaviest’ gauges, with the latter coming in at .012-.054, which is perfect for super aggressive playing. Dunlop also offer signature strings for several metal artists, including the Kerry King Icon Series – a set with a gauge of .010-.046, that also provides an additional extra-thick E string (.052) to give guitarists a platform on which to tune down low.

DR Strings

DR Strings are a popular New Jersey-based brand that have been in business since 1989. They have a huge range of string sets; many specifically tailored to the heaviest rock and metal players. An impressive roster of big-name metal guitarists and bands use DR Strings, including Meshuggah, Reaping Asmodeia, Fozzy, and Ozzy Osbourne’s guitarist Gus G. One of their most popular and effective string sets for the heavier player is the Drop-Down Tuning series – boasting awesome tuning stability at a range of super heavy gauges, ranging from the relatively standard ‘Big Heavy’ (.010-.052) to their ‘Mega Heavy’ (.013-.065). For fans of the late, great Dimebag Darrell – who used DR Strings until his untimely death in 2004 – it’s worth checking out DR’s Dimebag Darrell Signature series, which come in a range of metal gauges, and are treated with DR’s StringLife polymer coating for added durability. Earlier we mentioned DR’s commitment to producing visually memorable strings; whether that’s insane neon colors, or their black coated strings, Black Beauties, that can certainly help give your guitar a sinister visual edge.

D’Addario

While they aren’t an all-out metal brand, D’Addario are one of the oldest and best-known string manufacturers in the world, and have many string series that are impressive for heavy rock and metal playing. With such a great track-record, D’Addario unsurprisingly have a long list of professional metal guitarists and bands using their strings – most notably Mark Tremoni of Alter Bridge and Creed, and Brent Hinds of Mastodon, who both use EXL116 Nickel Wound hybrid strings, featuring a medium top/heavy bottom (gauged .011-.052) for a bright, powerful tone that’s optimized for down tuning. Another metal-friendly D’Addario set well worth looking at is their nickel-wound NYXL1052 strings, with a hybrid (light top/heavy bottom) gauge of .010-.052. The NYXL series features technology-packed strings offering several benefits, such as increased tuning stability and more strength, which is essential for huge strings bends and aggressive rhythmic playing. If you are looking for something heavier in the same series, their NYXL1356W strings come in an ultra heavy .013-.056 gauge, with a wound third string.

Ernie Ball

Founded in 1962 by Ernie Ball, the Californian brand have many excellent metal performance strings in their catalog, at very affordable prices. An impressive list of iconic heavy rock artists and bands – both classic and modern – are keen endorsers of Ernie Ball strings: Iron Maiden, Metallica, Judas Priest, System of a Down, and John Petrucci to name a few! In Ernie Ball’s famous Slinky series, their nickel-wound Power Slinkys, with a heavy gauge of .011-.048, are favored by guitarists (including James Hetfield) looking for that chunky rhythmic sound and feel, with a powerful tone that’s essential for heavy rock. For the lead player, the classic Slinky range also includes a very popular Skinny Top Heavy Bottom hybrid string series, which gives you the tone and security of heavy bass strings (.030, .042, .052), with the lightness and playability of .010, .013, and .017 on the trebles. If long-life strings are the question, Ernie Ball’s ‘Not Even Slinky’ strings, with a huge .012-.056 gauge, could be the answer, as they feature both titanium-reinforced technology and advanced RPS micro-coating.

While the four in this section are all highly recommended, they are by no means the only brands that produce metal-worthy strings. Be sure to check out the offerings from manufacturers such as GHS, Rotosound, Elixir, Cleartone, Dean Markley, and Stringjoy, among others.

Guide to Buying The Right Metal Strings For You

In our mega article, focusing on finding the best guitar strings for you, we talk about how you don’t just want ‘the best strings’, but ‘the best strings for the style of music you play’. And when it comes to metal, there are some key differences when compared to regular electric guitar strings.

Before we get started, it’s worth pointing out that if you are using a bass guitar you will want to check out our page on the best bass strings, which includes recommendations for bass strings made specifically for heavy rock and metal.

Gauges

Back to guitar strings, and the gauge is perhaps the most important thing when it comes to strings for metal. The reason is simple – Drop C, Drop D, and generally low-tuned instruments tend to be standard in this genre, and in the majority of cases you will want to tune your guitar low to achieve those deep, bass-rich, ominous tones associated with metal. If this is the case, standard regular or light gauge electric guitar strings just won’t cut it. A detuned light string will end up too loose and flimsy, affecting your tone and the playability. No, for metal you need a heavier gauge if you want to make an impact.

This is why many metal guitarists will go for dedicated metal strings, or general sets with a medium or heavy gauge. While not all brands are the same, you’ll typically find the gauge .011-.050 in a medium set and around .012-.054 in a heavy set. These heavy strings exert more pressure on the neck of a guitar, so aren’t suitable for vintage models, however their thickness will produce excellent volume and sustain, and are more steadfast and durable – handling aggressive playing with ease.

The downside of heavy strings is that they are generally harder to play with – it takes more pressure to fret the note, while string bending and fast lead playing is also more difficult. So deciding how thick to go can be a headache. This is where some string brands really shine, developing innovative hybrid sets that pair heavier gauge bass strings with lighter trebles, giving metal guitarists the best of both worlds. Again, these gauges vary, but you may find something like a .010-.052 that will make for easy soloing and rock-steady low riffs.

Materials

The material used to construct the string also plays an important part in the tone and feel. Metalheads usually prefer playing with pure nickel, nickel-plated steel, or stainless-steel strings as they offer the right mix of warmth and brightness, with the response needed for a high output.

Coatings

Coatings are also an important aspect of string construction to consider, for both durability, playability, and aesthetics. Some brands – such as Elixir, or D’Addario’s EXP series – offer a micro-fine coating that protects the strings from dirt, rust and moisture, to give the string a life that can last up to five times as long. While not a dedicated heavy metal set, Elixir’s NANOWEB Coated Heavy strings offer a substantial .012-.052 gauge that’s perfect for metal.

As for the aesthetic side, you can find brands offer a myriad of colored strings that can give you a visual edge on stage. DR Strings (as we look at further below) offer everything from extroverted Neon Pink strings to super patriotic Neon American Flag strings (two red, two white, and two blue) all in metal-friendly heavy gauges. Well worth considering for metal guitarists taking to the stage.

Finally, if you play metal, you may have – or hope to move on to – a 7-string guitar. While it’s not the easiest instrument for a complete beginner to get to grips with, 7-string guitars are awesome for metal playing. If this is the case, it goes without saying that you need a specific string set catering for all seven strings – something like Dunlop’s DHCN1060 Heavy Core, with a gauge of .010-.060 should do the trick.

What are the Best Metal Strings for Beginners?

As we have mentioned elsewhere in this article, metal-specific strings tend to be heavy-gauged in nature, to deliver chunky rhythms and cope with dropped tunings. However, thicker strings can be a little tough for beginners to get to grips with, as they take more effort to fret and bend.

A set of standard medium or light strings – as found on our page of the best electric guitar strings – may not give the same beefy tone, but they can be more suited to beginners learning the basics. You can always upgrade to a set of metal-specific strings when you are more comfortable with the fundamentals. However, if you feel you can cope with the added heft of metal strings, there is no reason a complete beginner can’t learn with the strings on this page.

Are Hybrid Strings Good for Metal?

Yes – hybrid strings are GREAT for metal! As we have noted, hybrid strings combine heavier-gauged bass strings with lighter trebles to deliver a thick low-end tone (often in dropped tunings), while still allowing for ease of play when it comes to shredding. As chunky rhythm and searing solos are a staple of metal, hybrid strings are naturally awesome for this genre.

When is it Time to Change Guitar Strings?

You can usually tell when your guitar strings need to be changed. Aside from looking discolored or corroded, the strings may feel dry and unpleasant to play with, while your guitar may suffer tonally. You may want to change the strings monthly if you are playing the guitar regularly, but otherwise the recommended string-change period is either every 100 hours or three months (whichever comes first).

What is the Best Tone for Metal (Bright or Warm)?

First let’s quickly try to define what we mean by ‘warm’ and ‘bright’, which isn’t an easy task as these tones are subjective. Still, when guitarists talk about warmth, they are often referring to a smooth, thick easy-going tone, while brightness is more vibrant, sparkly, clean and metallic.

Brightness is required for mix-cutting solos, while warmth stops your tone from sounding overly clinical (especially with active pickups). Generally, metal guitarists go for a string that strikes a good balance between the two – either pure nickel, nickel-plated steel, or stainless-steel strings.

The Final Word

We’ve covered what makes a good metal guitar string and some of the string brands that can fix you up with something impressive. However it’s now up to you to experiment with some different sets, gauges, materials and coatings, to see what fits your playing style. Keep trying, and eventually you’ll find the perfect string for you and your metal guitar.

Finally, buying new guitar strings naturally leads to changing your strings – they won’t do any good sitting in the packet! If you’re a beginner, you may want a little help with changing your strings for the first time. Check out this useful in-depth video on how to change your electric guitar strings, which will guide you through the process step-by-step – you’ll be up and playing in no time.

Good luck, and happy string shopping!