Anybody could recommend me any less-tension acoustic guitar strings?

[edyeo123]

Hi people. I currently have stock d'addario guitar strings on my acoustic guitar and sometimes my finger felt the strings are kinda rough and kinda feel the tension when i press on it. (To clarify, the action is low).

Is there any specific brand you can recommend less-tension guitar strings, prices and where can i buy it?

Thx.

 

[futures]

I don't think its possible to not change the gauge yet find at the same time have less tension. You are supposed to feel tension when you play. You'll probably need to get used to it and let your fingers harden up. Its part of the playing process.

 

[edyeo123]

but i tried 1 of my friends guitar and it seems the tension is much lesser...

 

[dudelove]

switch to a lighter gauge. most acoustics come with 12s. swap to 10s or even 9s will lower the tension..

but i'll nvr do so cos the tone sounds like crap. damn thin. but if u're willing to sacrifice, then lower the gauge.

 

[futures]

Depends really on what you're playing. If you like it jangly and you wanna bend up minor thirds or even major thirds all the time, then go for the 8s and 9s. But like dudelove said, i feel that you need to use at least 11s to get a decent tone. Personal preference. If the tension really inhibits your playing then maybe play Guitar Hero instead?

 

[toxicpunk]

like me when i started out on my accoustic, can barely pluck the strings and let it ring...

then i started on classical as i gave up the former, now i can do the same on accoustic liao.

i tink TS should concentrate on playing more for training up finger strength.

basically most strings WILL give u SOME TENSION its what they suppose to do. u can change to lighter, but they only change the feel(on fretting fingers + playing fingers) when u made contact wif the strings.

sumore if u change to lighter, u nid to adjust the truss rod otherwise u have problem when u play(fingerboard)

 

[edyeo123]

if i change it to 11s and i adjust my truss rod (which i know how to do that), will the guitar be all right?

 

[csw]

The guitar will be alright for sure

i think you can change to 11s or 10s for now and slowly increase as u get more comfortable. Or you could stick with 12s and in 2 weeks you'll probably be fine too if u play like every day or something. most people feel that lighter guages cannot really drive the tops of most factory built guitars, especially spruce topped ones as they tend to be overbuilt and also have a stiffer top as compared to custom built ones and guitars with softer tops (cedar/redwood)

 

[Breen]

Or do chromatics and many many chord changes to build up your callouses and finger strength.

Don't pussy out and hang in there.

Actually on a second look, what acoustic is yours? Acoustic build do contribute to playability.

 

[csw]

oh and i forgot, for the same gauge of strings, daddario strings tend to have lower tension

 

[EugeneSmasher]

switch to a lighter gauge. most acoustics come with 12s. swap to 10s or even 9s will lower the tension..

but i'll nvr do so cos the tone sounds like crap. damn thin. but if u're willing to sacrifice, then lower the gauge.

Actually, acoustic guitars come with gauge 10s by default. 12s is considered a heavy gauge.

 

[EugeneSmasher]

I'd actually suggest Ernie Ball Earthwounds. Get the light gauge packs and if you have not setup your guitar for any other gauge, stick with 10s or thinner. Thing is, the thinner strings are the more flexible they are, but they also break more easily, and like dudelove said, they're thinner-sounding too. But the Earthwound 10s I'm using now are very 'slinky' so you might want to give them a shot.

On the other hand, the D'addario Phosphor bronze 10s on my Ibanez acoustic are a lot stiffer in comparison with the Earthwounds though they actually sound better. My honest opinion... To me Ernie Balls feel better but don't sound as good as D'addarios.

 

[Ken-]

Depends really on what you're playing. If you like it jangly and you wanna bend up minor thirds or even major thirds all the time, then go for the 8s and 9s. But like dudelove said, i feel that you need to use at least 11s to get a decent tone. Personal preference. If the tension really inhibits your playing then maybe play Guitar Hero instead?

Well... Expert... Raining Blood 4*-5* easily....
On Real Guitar however...
Hardest song: Master of Puppets =.=lll

 

[slowth]

hey Ed,

roundwound strings give u less tension at the same gauge... so instead of changing gauge, which may need u to do a new setup, and get used to different thickness again, check out roundwound strings.

I love the DR Sunbeams.. available at Ranking and Davis... I use 13 gauge but they feel like 12s.

 

[Lifehouse]

Actually, acoustic guitars come with gauge 10s by default. 12s is considered a heavy gauge.

12s is default for most guitars. 13s for certain brand's dreadnoughts. Eg. Taylor's dreadnoughts. 10s are rarely used since they don't drive the top properly on many guitars and that usually means poor tone. Which in turn means poor sales for the brand.

12 is considered light gauge. 13s' medium. 14s' heavy and usually used for alternate tunings.

TS: You can try to down tune the guitar. Capo if necessary.

 

[LadyInTears]

sorry to hijack but,
is it me of does gauged 9 strings rust much faster then gauge 10s?
both in my acoustic and electric the gauge 9s stop shining in less then a week, while the 10s are still silver after a fortnight!

 

[dudelove]

wah... 9s sound amazingly terrible on acoustic.

my 12 string is strung up with 10s only because the neck cant stand such tension caused by all 12 strings.

as far as i'm concerned, 9s rust faster than 10s for me too.. but the last time i used 9s was more than a year ago.. so i dont really know. hahaa

 

[LadyInTears]

haha i seee

well yea they are overly trebly on the acoustic but well when i fingerstyle i like the bright sound haha, and to me the notes contain more clarity and ooomph

 

[RayKnight]

I'd recommend using 10 gauge strings, Ernie Ball has some really good ones. I used Elixir and switched to Ernie Ball to try out a new taste. I was really happy with the result and am sticking to Ernie Ball. But I won't deny that Elixir sounds glorious (before the rust kicks in). After the rust kicks in, it sounds really dull. The Ernie Ball one haven't rust yet, but when you first install it, it sounds really "crisped". It'll take awhile for the strings to set in and soudn 'right'. But that's my opinion, do take it with a pinch of salt.