Why HEAVY Strings Can Be EASIER to Play Than Light Strings

Here are some of the benefits of using heavy gauge guitar strings and why sometimes I think they can actually be easier to play than light strings.

00:00 - Intro
00:25 - Effect on Action & Fret Buzz
02:17 - Easier String Bends with Heavy Strings
04:07 - Relation to Scale Length and Playing Attack
05:53 - Creative Tunings

[McDoinky]

Finally, someone talks about low action AND shorter scales in relation to heavy gauge strings. No one ever discusses these aspects in bass videos, god knows why.

[Jim-rosl]

I've been playing guitar for over fifty years. Also worked as a guitar technician in a large music store. Everything this guy says is absolutely correct is very good information.

[alex-simpson]

I'm a massive fan of light top, heavy bottom... With strings, too...

[EasyThere]

They are great for a lot of things, whole step bends isn't one of them.

[alexc]

Never occured to me that a heavier gauge could help eliminate fret buzz... Makes perfect sense though! Thanks Michael for another helpful and interesting video. 👍

[eliglor]

That bass/guitar standard tuning is one of the coolest things I have ever heard! Thanks for posting the string guages im gonna give it a try!

[johnw]

I went up from .10 to .11 a few months ago just to see what's what and I noticed the difference but after a day or so it felt pretty normal. I also like the benefit of having a heavier high E string now. Thanks for an interesting video.

[cactus-mcjacktus]

I like lighter strings for the feel, but i also tune up (like The Smiths), so i think it counteracts what would happen if you just used lighter strings in standard tuning. It’s all a function of string gauge, scale length and what/how you like to play.

[JR]

You hit the nail on the head with everything mentioned here.

I've learned through my own experience that these work best to counter balance tension differences.

•Heavy gauge + Light-Med pick
•Light gauge + Med-Heavy pick

Cheers.

[jacob_ian_decoursey_the_author]

I play a tele with 11 or sometimes even 12 gauge strings. When I tell other players that, they look at me like I’m from Jupiter. But I love that gauge. I’ve been doing it since I was young, and have no issues with full bends or hand pain. It also allows for switching between acoustic and electric without any issues or discomfort. Both instruments are strung with the same gauge so playing either one feels similar.

[ThatBaritoneGuitarGuy]

In regards to Jaguars/Jazzmasters, they seem to be specifically-designed to use heavy strings. My guess is the vibrato system is what causes it, because ANY guitars with the Jaguar/Jazzmaster vibrato system behaves the same way. "Normal" strings make them finicky. However, put on heavy jazz set strings, and everything suddenly works.

[mattster]

ive settled on 11s in E standard or a half step down at the most, but as some people have mentioned you not only get more volume but alot more bass frequencies with thicker strings without changing anything else, to counteract this ive found using thinner picks solves this issue and arguably gives you more clarity than thinner strings

[darwinsaye]

Good point about helping avoid fret buzz. They are also better for intonation, because they bend less out of pitch when you fret a note. As someone who plays with my nails and fingertips rather than a pick however, overly heavy strings are more of a hassle than it’s worth. They are basically good if you use a pick and are heavy-handed with your attack, but if you have a lighter touch and play dynamically they inhibit that.

[ricardog.s]

I have played 11s and 12s for most of my 13 years of playing and when I first tried 10s I felt like I was playing gum, but couldn't get used to so I went back to 11s as I mostly play power chords (I'm a very rhythm and punk person) and very rarerly play solos so I prefer the extra tightness of 11s over the looseness of 10s
Originally I went with 11s because they were more available and cheaper in my city, I guess you get used to what you have overtime

[Bloodray]

This video is very well made, the reasoning behind every claim is outstanding. You explain everything nicely. Not some random dude making a video saying thing like: "Yea man, you gotta use heavier string. All the stuff... Uhm... Like tone.... And tone is in them. Trust me bro"

[GuitarIv]

I used to be a fan of thick strings; however one day I realized that the bigger gauges bloat the sound in the lows and as I play a lot of rock, hard rock and even metal here and there I need clarity in the low end.

I found a good middle ground using 9-46 hybrid sets, so I got the nice easy to bend higher strings and a good low end that's not flubby as it used to be with the 10-52s I was using before. I'm playing in E-Standard 90% of the time btw

[reijerlincoln]

Heavy strings are better for surf (lots of attack and tremolo picking). Like the man said - it's called tightrope walking for a reason, not slack rope walking.

[leegeddyfan]

I love my custom 11-56 on my Gibson Les Pauls and 11-52 on Fender Strats and I can tell you it stays in tune better than when I had 9s and 10s and lesser buzz like you claim across the board

[druwk]

You touched on a lot of reasons why I have generally favored heavier strings. Was playing in C# Standard, with heavier strings (12’s). Recently started moving to D Standard. There’s a sweet spot for me. Shorter Gibson scale feels better with 12’s, and Fender scale feels better with 11’s.
My next experiment is Flats vs. Round wound. Plain “G” vs. Wound “G”.

[duhkha]

Inspiring. Amazing playing.
That Hofner guitar is a beauty.