If you’re just starting out, it’s not unusual that your fingers will have to toughen up a little. Lighter gauge strings will be more forgiving on your fingers as you’re learning, but as your dexterity and hand strength improve, you may find you prefer strings with different qualities.

Lighter

• Easier to fret (important for beginners) and to bend
• Better resonance under a lighter touch, common when first starting out

Heavier

• Bigger sound - provide more volume and resonance
• Better tuning stability - stays in tune longer

While string gauge is very much a matter of personal preference based on tone and feel, most manufacturers recommend string gauge based on body size. This is primarily due to the amount of tension exerted on the guitar top by the strings. In general, the larger the body, the more tension they can withstand.

Lighter

• Exert less tension and are typically recommended for smaller bodied guitars such as 0, 00, 000, and OM, plus all cutaway models

Heavier

• Exert more tension and are typically recommended for larger body sizes such as D, Jumbo, and Grand Jumbo

Certain techniques and styles of playing will demand different attributes from your strings and can impact which gauge you should choose.

Lighter

• Good choice for rock, folk, country, and blues style playing with a lighter attack (plucking)
• Allow for easier bending of notes
• May break more easily with more aggressive playing styles

Heavier

• Good choice for bluegrass and genres that require tuning down
• Good choice for rock, country, and blues style playing with a harder attack

Are you playing for yourself in your living room? Or do you need your sound to reach the back of an auditorium? You’ll want to be sure to choose the right string gauge that will help you and your guitar sound the best.

Lighter

• Offer appropriate volume and range for playing in an intimate setting

Heavier

• Produces more volume and sustain
• Great choice if you’re accompanied by other players

If you found yourself aligned with most of the qualities of “lighter” strings outlined here, choosing a string labeled “Light” is a good starting point. If you’re finding finger-fatigue is an issue, or you wish it was easier to bend notes, try extra light or custom light gauge strings.

If most of the qualities prescribed to heavier strings appealed to you, start with strings that are labeled “Medium.” While Martin does not recommend using heavy gauge strings on Martin guitars, we want to paint a complete picture of string gauge options. Some guitarists use heavy gauge strings for amplification, sustain, drop/down tuning, or tuning stability reasons.

One thing to keep in mind when trying out a new string gauge is to make sure your guitar is set up correctly for the gauge you're playing. Things like fret buzz can be a symptom of needing to visit a luthier to have your guitar adjusted.