Best Guitar Strings for Bending (top 5 picks)

For lead guitar players technique and versatility are two of the most important aspects of their playing. Technique refers to things like vibrato, hammer-ons, pull-offs and bending notes. This means some strings are better-suited and more ideal for lead guitar players. Specifically, the best strings for bending are almost always going to be lighter.

We recommend a string set no heavier than .042. 

The next size up is usually .046, which isn't "un-bendable," but for a string to be specifically easy to bend, we'd like to go .042 or lower.

These string sets are easier to play on electric guitars and will produce a thinner, more treble-friendly tone. For many years now Ernie Ball has cornered the market on thin guitar strings with the Slinky series, and they're still the brand we recommend most for this particular playing style.

While these strings aren't dramatically different than the Super Slinky series, they do produce a warmer tone and come in a really low 8 - 38 string gauge. It's one of the lightest non-custom string sets available and perfect for fast playing, string bending or anything related to lead guitar.

The warmer tone of the pure nickel, used in both the inner and outer wrapping over a tin plated steel core, gets balanced out by the smaller size of the strings. This gives you a brighter tone that still sounds really good in a strumming context.

It's a major leap from a set of 52s or even 48s, so we typically only recommend them for beginners, or players who are more focused on the high-end melodic side of the style spectrum.

The low E in the Super Slinky set (the pink wrapping) is .042 and goes all the way to a .009 on the high E (often written 9-42). It's a partially nickel wound string that also uses a plated steel wire to wrap the cores. Even bending the thicker strings on the lower register feels easier because the set is so light. 

From a tone perspective, these strings can wear a lot of different hats. The marketing and packaging goes over well with the rock and metal crowd, yet the lighter Ernie Ball string sets like this one are popular fits for jazz, blues and guitarists in lighter musical styles and genres.

Lead guitarists will appreciate how easy it is to play on the higher register, especially if you're coming down from a thicker string gauge.

For bending, tremolo picking and other speed guitar tactics, they're a great fit.

GHS Boomers are often paired with Les Paul or SG model electrics because of their accentuated highs. We like them for lead guitar styles while the smaller gauges are great for string bending and quick movement. Their lightest set matches the Super Slinky extra lights at 42 on the low E.

D'Addario strings use a steel core that's highly magnetic (the "Pro Steel" in the title), meaning you'll get a little extra sustain and more resonant bends. Their lightest set goes from 9 to 42 and feels especially easy to bend when played through a distorted signal or some kind of high gain channel. That's where the increased sustain is most noticeable.

The low E on this set is only a 38, matching the Ernie Ball Rock N Roll gauge. Jim Dunlop developed the set to be lead-friendly with Billy Gibbons. While Jim Dunlop is a new kid on the block in terms of string production, we were impressed with this set, especially for lower-key blues and jazz styles. Having such a light gauge option makes for easy-bending. 

Choosing these strings involved drawing on the experience of those that write for us and making decisions based on a first-hand account. To compliment our own experience, we've also used community consensus and user-submitted reviews to get a feel for what issues - good or bad - have arisen with these particular string sets.

Amazon is the simplest way to find out which string sets are the most popular and which user reviews are the most relevant.

After that, evaluation is based on the following, well-known features and quality markers:

• Steel Core: Most guitar strings start with a high-carbon steel core
• String Gauge: The size of the string, usually given for each one in a pack
• Bright EQ: Strings will respond well to the mid and treble end of the EQ spectrum
• Low EQ: Strings will respond well to the bass end of the EQ spectrum

• Balanced Tone: The best electric guitar strings should be capable of sounding good on either low or high EQ profiles. In most cases, this suggests they'll be workable for strumming, melodic (single note) picking and, (in this case) note bending.
• Coating or Age-Prevention: Certain electric strings have what's called a "coating" that helps to preserve the string's life, improve tone, and protect your strings from sweat and grime build up.
• Construction & Materials: Most guitar strings consist of at least a core material, while the larger strings, usually the low E, A, and D, are wound with an additional material. The types of materials used for the core and winding - steel, bronze, phosphor, etc. - will determine a lot about the string's length of life and tone quality.
• Length of Life: How long can strings last will still keeping their optimal tone and resonance? Strings that need changed will corrode visibly and lose their tonal vitality, which should be audibly noticeable. 

• E Flat: Down one half step
• C Sharp: Down one whole step

In this section, I'll go through a few questions that relate to electric guitar strings, particularly as it concerns the bending technique and lead guitar. We'll cover questions related to coating, string length of life, and gauge recommendations.

The main perk of coated strings would be the elongated lifespan. However, it's also a benefit (though a less-emphasized one) that coated strings tend to sound better than similar uncoated variants. Some guitar players prefer the additional grittiness and organic squeaking of the uncoated steel strings, which - to an extent - you lose in a the coated versions.

So while I wouldn't say coated strings are a requirement (note that we didn't include any in this article), it's also true that you'll need to replace uncoated strings a lot more often.

The real issue is whether or not you want to pay extra for the longer lifespan.

I would argue that the coated strings are well worth the price tag.

In my experience, uncoated strings tend break more often than coated strings.

While that's based on anecdotal evidence, it makes sense because untreated strings just aren't as strong. And obviously, this  depends on the thickness (gauge) of the string, where the lighter gauges and unwound strings are far more likely to break.

To generalize, we'd mark the lifespan of an uncoated electric string set around one to three months assuming you're playing an average amount (average of 15 minutes to one hour per day).

The lifespan of coated strings, on the other hand, hovers around six to nine months. 

Of course, all of this depends on several variables, mostly related to how much time you spend playing guitar.

I would argue, yes.

I'd recommend using a lighter string as a beginner because it'll make working on form and basic finger positioning far easier, without the added muscle stress from larger strings.

This is true whether you're thinking about string bending or not. While you can change to a thicker gauge later, many players opt for lighter strings regardless of their skill level.

The best way to change your guitar strings is by using a peg winder, though it's possible (and annoying) to do it by hand if you don't have a peg winder available. This WikiHow article gives you the steps in handy pictures.

One of the simplest ways to tell you need fresh guitar strings is that they'll start changing from their original color. Wound strings will sometimes turn a dark, brownish tint. You should also notice a significant reduction in tone quality with less resonance and body in the sound. It'll sound like you're playing inside of a tin can.

• Reverb.com, Guitar String Materials & Construction, Article
• ErnieBall.com, Company String Page, Manufacturer Website
• Wikihow.com, How to Change Guitar Strings, Instructional Article
• Amazon.com, Musical Instrument Best-Seller List, Review Source