String Gauge Comparison

In this lesson, we'll explore different string gauges and their effect on tone and the guitar's playability. I should have done this years ago, but never made time for it. We will use D'Addario NYXL strings in gauges 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12. I recorded all of the playing parts already. What I did was:

Played a bluesy-jazzy chord thing with a clean sound
Then a little Rock and roll chordy riff
Then I took a solo (with lots of string bending!)

I tried to play the same solo each time and commented afterwards on how each gauge felt. A few things I hadn't considered before became apparent as I was doing the tests.

What to Expect in the Video

I'll play the clean chord progression back-to-back with each string gauge so you can hear the difference.
Then I'll do the same for the Rock riff.
Finally, I'll go through the solo again and again with each gauge and discuss how each one felt.

A Quick Word About String Gauges

String gauge = the thickness of the strings. Eights are about as light as people get (some folks use 7s, but not many). Angus Young is known for using 8s. A lot of technical guitarists use 9s. I've been a 10s guy most of my life, but also experimented with 11s and 12s.
Some Blues players go all the way up to 13s!

The big thing? It's how hard you want to work for it.

Lighter strings make bending and lead playing easier.
Heavier strings take more effort but can feel more satisfying to dig into.
It comes down to personal preference—there's no "best" string gauge for everyone.

What I Found Surprising

I expected thinner strings to sound thinner and thicker strings to sound fatter. Maybe they do... a bit. But not as much as I expected.

What stood out more:

Thin strings had more dynamic range (quieter quiets, louder louds)
Thicker strings needed more force to get the same volume
Playing style changes depending on gauge—thinner strings require a lighter touch; thicker ones demand more effort

Clean, Rock, and Solo: Gauge-by-Gauge Commentary

After each set of performances, I gave a commentary on how they felt:

8s – Light, delicate, easier to play. Surprisingly nice!
9s – Felt more stable than 8s, still light and comfy for bends.
10s – My usual. It feels normal, and there is a good balance of tone and playability.
11s – Tougher. Big bends took effort. Rock solid for rhythm.
12s – Thick, hard to play, even tough to string up! I respect the feeling, but not for myself.

So… Did I Change My Strings?

Yep. After 40 years of playing 10s, I've switched to 9s. They feel better, and to my ear, they sound just as good. That said, this is totally personal—I'm not saying you should switch, but I do think you should try setting a gauge up or down and see how it feels for you.

Final Thoughts

Tone differences? Subtle.

Playability? A huge factor.

Tuning stability? More or less the same in the short term.

A big thank you to D'Addario for sending the string sets and supporting this video—they've been super generous, especially helping with giveaways and our charity work.

Let me know in the comments:

💬 What gauge do you use?

💬 Have you tried others, and what did you think?

👉 Check out more lessons on guitar strings and how to change them!