5 Best Metal Guitar Strings in 2022

Are you one of the many metal guitarists looking for the perfect strings for your guitar?

Your guitar must have the best string set for a perfect tone and overall excellent performance, giving you a greater experience while playing your metal guitar.

When reviewing these products, the important key aspects to check out for are the winding processes, string coating and gauges. All of these factors might influence the durability and quality which they provide. As a result, make sure to only purchase the ideal product for both your guitar and the genre of music you want to perform.

Although it may not appear to be the most complicated kit, several factors are still considered. And you don’t have to be confused by your options. So we’ll discuss all of the important factors in this post and answer a few of your major questions.

So, let’s now jump into the top 5 best guitar strings for metal!

List of Best Metal Guitar Strings

  1. Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Electric Guitar Strings 3-Pack - 10-46 Gauge (P03221)
  2. Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Electric Guitar Strings 3-Pack - 10-46 Gauge (P03221)
    Pros:
    • Includes 3 individually wrapped sets.
    • Ernie Ball Slinkys are played by legends around the world including Slash, Jimmy Page, Metallica, Eric Clapton, and more.
    • Preferred by players across many genres, Regular Slinky’s 10-to-46 gauge has become the industry standard.
    • Element Shield packaging ensures your strings stay as fresh as they were the day they were made.
    • Bright, balanced tone.
    Check Price on Amazon Check Price at Sam Ash
  3. D'Addario EXL110-3D Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings, Regular Light, 10-46, 3 Sets
  4. D'Addario EXL110-3D Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings, Regular Light, 10-46, 3 Sets
    Pros:
    • Bestselling set – pursue your passion with D Addario bestselling electric Guitar set, XL nickel wound electric Guitar strings. Xls deliver long lasting, distinctive bright tone and excellent intonation and the corrosion resistant packaging of the 3-pack keeps your extra string sets fresh
    • For the ultimate performance – D Addario nickel wound strings are precisely wound with nickel-plated steel onto a hexagonally shaped, high carbon steel core for strings with bright tone, perfect intonation, stellar magnetic output, long life and reduced premature fret wear
    • Versatile – These are the ideal electric Guitar strings for the widest variety of guitars and musical styles. Xl’s are the choice of countless professionals across many genres around the world
    • String gauges – the gauges in this electric String set include: plain steel . 010, . 013, . 017, nickel wound . 026, . 036, . 046
    • Made in the USA – D Addario leverages centuries of string-making experience and advanced computer-controlled windi
    Check Price on Amazon Check Price at Sam Ash
  5. Martin Guitar Original Acoustic M170, 80/20 Bronze, Extra Light-Gauge Guitar Strings
  6. Martin Guitar Original Acoustic M170, 80/20 Bronze, Extra Light-Gauge Guitar Strings
    Pros:
    • BRIGHT TONES: Made for players who love deep, rich bass tones and clear, bright trebles, this string set provides brilliance and clarity, making it perfect for daily use and all playing styles. Discover your guitars true voice with this professional-grade guitar string pack.
    • MARTIN GUITAR STRINGS: These heavy-duty strings are engineered to stand up to rigorous practice and performance schedules. Made from high-quality bronze, these guitar accessories are a great addition to your touring gear or studio equipment.
    • VERSATILE STRING SOUNDS: Designed to bring out a consistent and true tone from your guitar, these bronze strings can be used for fingerpicking, flat-picking, and other methods. Use these strings in any music style—country, bluegrass, folk, blues, rock, and more.
    • EXTRA LIGHT-GAUGE ACOUSTIC STRINGS: Measuring from a 0.010 high E string to a 0.047 low E string, these are high-quality acoustic guitar strings that brighten the natural tone of your guitar, including tenor, mid-tones,
    Check Price on Amazon
  7. Elixir Strings 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings w NANOWEB Coating, Light (.012-.053)
  8. Elixir Strings 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings w NANOWEB Coating, Light (.012-.053)
    Pros:
    • Acoustic guitar strings constructed with 80/20 (80% copper, 20% zinc) bronze wrap wire
    • Played for a crisp, bright tone with an expressive, vibrant presence
    • Ultra-thin NANOWEB Coating provides a more traditionally textured, “uncoated” feel
    • Our patented coating technology protects against common corrosion, extending tone life longer than any other brand’s coated or uncoated strings (Elixir Strings player survey)
    • Light gauge: .012 .016 .024 .032 .042 .
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  9. Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings (Pack of 3) (2220x3)
  10. Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings (Pack of 3) (2220x3)
    Pros:
    • 3 packs of Power Slinky electric guitar strings.
    • Gauges .011, .014, .018p, .028, .038, .048
    • Power Slinkys 11-gauge offers players a thicker string and slightly more output than a standard 10-gauge set.
    • Bright, balanced tone.
    • Made in California, USA with the finest and freshest materia
    Check Price on Amazon Check Price at Sam Ash

1. Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Electric Guitar Strings

Ernie Ball Regular Slinky Electric Guitar Strings 3-Pack - 10-46 Gauge (P03221)
Pros:
  • Includes 3 individually wrapped sets.
  • Ernie Ball Slinkys are played by legends around the world including Slash, Jimmy Page, Metallica, Eric Clapton, and more.
  • Preferred by players across many genres, Regular Slinky’s 10-to-46 gauge has become the industry standard.
  • Element Shield packaging ensures your strings stay as fresh as they were the day they were made.
  • Bright, balanced tone.
Check Price on Amazon Check Price at Sam Ash
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

This is our choice for the overall best metal guitar strings for the money.

Every guitarist is familiar with Ernie Ball’s Regular Slinky string sets. They are likely the most well-known and well-liked guitar strings for metal, and other genres ever reached the market. Some of the stars that have played them before are Keith Richards and Jimmy Page. These were also the very first guitar strings to have standard gauging.

The simplicity of this product is at its core. And it’s because of this simplicity that it’s so popular. Every string has a unique, easy-to-use feel. In addition, it features steel cores made of high carbon and is tin-plated first before being coiled with nickel. It twisted brass wires are attached to the ends, making replacing them easy and convenient.

 

Pros

  • Precision wound
  • Most popular guitar strings
  • Standard gauge set
  • High carbon steel core

 

Overall review

They are good for several stars, like Keith Richards, Jimmy Page, Slash, and more; therefore, they must be good enough for most guitarists. They’re fantastic guitar strings that can bring joy to play. They’re also not complicated. They will do what you require of them competently. Because the price is so cheap, they are also a minimal investment.

 

 

2. D’Addario EXL110-3D Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings

D'Addario EXL110-3D Nickel Wound Electric Guitar Strings, Regular Light, 10-46, 3 Sets
Pros:
  • Bestselling set – pursue your passion with D Addario bestselling electric Guitar set, XL nickel wound electric Guitar strings. Xls deliver long lasting, distinctive bright tone and excellent intonation and the corrosion resistant packaging of the 3-pack keeps your extra string sets fresh
  • For the ultimate performance – D Addario nickel wound strings are precisely wound with nickel-plated steel onto a hexagonally shaped, high carbon steel core for strings with bright tone, perfect intonation, stellar magnetic output, long life and reduced premature fret wear
  • Versatile – These are the ideal electric Guitar strings for the widest variety of guitars and musical styles. Xl’s are the choice of countless professionals across many genres around the world
  • String gauges – the gauges in this electric String set include: plain steel . 010, . 013, . 017, nickel wound . 026, . 036, . 046
  • Made in the USA – D Addario leverages centuries of string-making experience and advanced computer-controlled windi
Check Price on Amazon Check Price at Sam Ash
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

This is our choice for the overall best guitar strings for metal regardless of cost.

This is one of the excellent products of D’Addario. They are steel, nickel-plated guitar strings made especially for electric guitars. And provides a brighter, clearer tone than most string sets.

They have been created to a high level, as is typical of D’Addario. To assure that cutting-edge, quality procedures have been used. For example, they used computer-aided laser assistance to produce perfect gauges.

They are manufactured in regular gauging ranges from .10 to.46. So it has gotten to an exact level. Also wrapped in anti-corrosive pouches, so you shouldn’t bother yourself about losing their quality during shipment.

Pros

  • Standard gauges
  • Bright sound
  • Long-lasting
  • Best for metal

 

Overall review

Generally, they are excellent guitar strings for anyone who wants a crisp and bright sound for their guitar. However, if you want supple and soft strings that can provide great intonation, this product is for you.

 

 

3. Martin Guitar Original Bronze

Martin Guitar Original Acoustic M170, 80/20 Bronze, Extra Light-Gauge Guitar Strings
Pros:
  • BRIGHT TONES: Made for players who love deep, rich bass tones and clear, bright trebles, this string set provides brilliance and clarity, making it perfect for daily use and all playing styles. Discover your guitars true voice with this professional-grade guitar string pack.
  • MARTIN GUITAR STRINGS: These heavy-duty strings are engineered to stand up to rigorous practice and performance schedules. Made from high-quality bronze, these guitar accessories are a great addition to your touring gear or studio equipment.
  • VERSATILE STRING SOUNDS: Designed to bring out a consistent and true tone from your guitar, these bronze strings can be used for fingerpicking, flat-picking, and other methods. Use these strings in any music style—country, bluegrass, folk, blues, rock, and more.
  • EXTRA LIGHT-GAUGE ACOUSTIC STRINGS: Measuring from a 0.010 high E string to a 0.047 low E string, these are high-quality acoustic guitar strings that brighten the natural tone of your guitar, including tenor, mid-tones,
Check Price on Amazon
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

This is our choice for the best cheap best guitar strings for metal guitar.

Martin & Co. is one of the best guitar strings that follow with an additional light set. This set is appropriate for guitarists of all skillsets. They’re fun to play and have a nice tactile sensation. The narrow gauge of the treble strings made them simpler to play. They have great resonance and are a delight to listen to. However, they will also damage your fingertips, which is a helpful trait for beginners. If the gauges on these strings are too light for you, you may need to look to other Martin string sets, as the company produces a broad selection.

They are comprised of phosphor bronze and have thin cores. We believe they are best suited to 1/2 or 3/4-sized guitars. Each string is carefully wrapped to ensure that it arrives in perfect condition. It is also offered in a multi-pack, allowing you to get more of the best deals.

 

Pros

  • Extra light
  • Also ideal for smaller guitars
  • Increased flexibility
  • Wrapped with phosphor bronze

 

Overall review

They are gentle on the fingertips, have a nice vibration, and are reasonably priced. These qualities, in our perspective, make this one of the best guitar strings a fantastic option for beginners.

 

 

4. Elixir Strings 80/20 Bronze

Elixir Strings 80/20 Bronze Acoustic Guitar Strings w NANOWEB Coating, Light (.012-.053)
Pros:
  • Acoustic guitar strings constructed with 80/20 (80% copper, 20% zinc) bronze wrap wire
  • Played for a crisp, bright tone with an expressive, vibrant presence
  • Ultra-thin NANOWEB Coating provides a more traditionally textured, “uncoated” feel
  • Our patented coating technology protects against common corrosion, extending tone life longer than any other brand’s coated or uncoated strings (Elixir Strings player survey)
  • Light gauge: .012 .016 .024 .032 .042 .
Check Price on Amazon Check Price at Sam Ash
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

The 80/20 Elixir is made of a bronze-wrapped zinc alloy and copper. They also have a NANOWEB coat that is so subtle that you won’t notice it while playing. You would be forgiven for thinking they were uncoated. They’re great for anyone looking for a quality, long-lasting tone with corrosion resistance. We also discovered that the coating makes it simpler to move your fingertips across them. Also, it implies you won’t have to worry about squeaking, whether recording or playing with them.

They are available in a variety of gauges. So, whatever your requirements, you’re sure to discover a set that matches your way of playing.

 

Pros

  •  Reasonably priced
  • Long tone life
  • Improved playability because of NANOWEB coating

 

Overall review

They are just one of the best guitar strings that are meant to last. In our perspective, this is a smart purchase, particularly for guitarists who perform live and record.

 

 

5. Ernie Ball, Super Slinky Electric Guitar Strings 9-42

Ernie Ball Power Slinky Guitar Strings (Pack of 3) (2220x3)
Pros:
  • 3 packs of Power Slinky electric guitar strings.
  • Gauges .011, .014, .018p, .028, .038, .048
  • Power Slinkys 11-gauge offers players a thicker string and slightly more output than a standard 10-gauge set.
  • Bright, balanced tone.
  • Made in California, USA with the finest and freshest materia
Check Price on Amazon Check Price at Sam Ash
We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

We’re now on to the final set of string reviews and Ernie Ball’s Slinky strings. These would be the heaviest, with gauges varying from 0.11 to 0.48. These have been subjected to thorough quality control, as common in Ernie Ball, so you are certain of consistent and dependable quality. We believe they provide a well-balanced tone that is great for rhythm players. They’re excellent for metal, rock and blues, in our opinion.

The design is of exceptional grade. It has nickel-plated round wrapped bass strings with steel hex high carbon cores.

If you want a lot of power, this is the item for you. It is also a similar setup used by Guns n’ Roses and Metallica. If you want to save money, you may get these strings in a multi-pack.

Pros

  • Nickel-plated, round wound
  • Ideal for rock, blues and metal music

 

Overall review

Metal guitarists will surely love this set of strings. They’re tough, long-lasting strings with a wide tone range. The thick gauges also contribute to the resonance which they provide. You can’t argue with this Ernie Ball offering for blues rocks aficionados.

 

Questions and Answers About Metal Guitar Strings

 

What Should You Look for When Purchasing Guitar Strings?

 

To begin, you must choose guitar strings for metal that are specifically tailored to your guitar style. That is, you should use nylon for a Spanish or classical guitar, for example. Then, when you have an electric or acoustic guitar or are looking for metal sounds, you must identify the suitable materials for your guitar. It may be the thinner or the thicker strings available, depending on your preference.

Following that, you should determine your level of skill. Beginners may wish to use tensions and gauges that are different from those used by more accomplished guitarists.

You would also like to consider your playing style. Fingerpickers and shredders may not even want the exact strings as chord strummers or rhythm guitarists. It would help if you also considered that certain brands would be best suited to various genres due to differences in tone. The lighter the guitar string gauge, the less resilient the guitar strings will be, so you should consider this when you are a shredder since you may wind up with so many breakages.

Your budget, like with any investment, must be considered. Buy multi-packs whenever possible to save a great amount of money. On the other hand, strings are relatively affordable, with the most costly ones costing no more than $20.

 

What are the best guitar strings for metal?

 

For metal, the strings should be strengthened, particularly if you beat a lot. Ernie Ball’s Slinky strings are an excellent choice, and they are strong and suitable for metal. Check the coating to see what it is since it is coated, and it will provide further protection and reduce the likelihood of breakage. It would also protect against rusting. If you play underneath stage lights, corrosion control is essential since your fingertips will be a lot sweatier, which is a major source of corrosion.

Finally, if you are a heavy metal player, you would want the toughest guitar strings for metal available that are both pleasant to play and appropriate for your level of competence.

 

Which string gauge should I use?

 

String gauge refers to the thickness of the strings. Thicker strings require more pressure to generate the same sound, whereas thinner strings require less pressure to generate the same pitch.

Beginners generally desire a lighter gauge. However, consider that thinner strings might be hard on the fingertips. Also, the more loose the strings are, the simpler for them to bend, and it is beneficial if you bend frequently, but they may also be very loose for strumming, which will cause difficulty.

It may take some trial and error to get your best strings. If you are a beginner, it is a great idea to get a couple of sets with varying gauges so you can figure out what works best for you. Ordinary gauges are a safe bet. However, you may get more out of heavier or lighter gauges. Strings, like guitars, are a matter of personal choice so that you will identify your ultimate set after a while.

 

Wrapping Up

 

It will never be a terrible idea to replace your strings, particularly if you haven’t replaced them in a while and that they are losing brilliance. It’s also not a large investment risk because they’re extremely fairly priced. The price difference between many products is very little, so it’s certainly beneficial to pay more. In addition, higher-priced items will provide you with superior tactile resonance and responsiveness, which can even boost your talents with your favorite guitar.

I hope that you find the perfect set of guitar strings for metal music.

 

About the author

Darren