Understanding String Gauges for Steel Guitar

Understanding String Gauges for Steel Guitar

Finding the correct string gauges for your favorite Hawaiian or lap steel guitar tuning can be a real challenge. There are quite a few stock string sets available from string manufacturers. But they’re not always perfectly suited to the specifics of a given player's playing style, their instrument, and their specific tuning. There are an infinite number of custom tuning options players can choose from when developing their own sound. In this post we’ll discuss the idiosyncrasies of finding the correct string gauges for a variety of lap steel guitars, that both give a solid feel and stay in tune.

What is String Tension?

String tension is a critical factor that greatly affects the playability, tone, and overall performance of a guitar. It refers to the amount of force exerted on the strings when they are tuned at a specific pitch. Achieving the correct string tension is crucial for guitarists to ensure optimal sound quality, ease of playing, and to prevent potential damage to the instrument. The amount of tension a string is able to hold before breaking is a big factor in considering what gauges are used for a tuning.

Understanding String Types and Gauges

A string’s “gauge” is the measurement of its thickness. It's typically measured in thousandths of an inch, with lighter gauges having smaller diameters and heavier gauges having larger diameters. Steel guitar strings can be plain steel or a steel core wound with various metals, depending on whether they are made for acoustic or electric guitars. These windings can be round wound, half round, or flat wound. Each type creates its own sound and interacts with a guitar’s pickup differently. The choice of string gauges greatly influences the tension exerted on each string and what pitches they are able to produce in a well intonated manner.

Scale length

It’s one of the largest variables when identifying the perfect set of strings for a given tuning and can affect string tension dramatically! To easily and accurately measure the scale length of a guitar, simply measure the distance from the nut to the center of the 12th fret, and then double that value.

The scale length of production lap steel guitars can range from 22 inches to 26 inches in extreme examples. Longer scale lengths can add a lot of extra tension to the strings. Classic Fender “Stringmaster” console steel guitars are offered in 22.5, 24.5, and 26-inch scale lengths. Most electric steels are typically 22.5 inches, and most acoustic guitars (Hawaiian or Dobro) are around 25 inches. So a set that’s perfect for the longer scale may feel loose and not intonate well on a shorter one.

Guitar Construction

The materials used to build a guitar and its construction can have a definite impact on the type of strings which should be used on it. A set that works on a modern solid body lap steel guitar with a short scale length could differ substantially from one that’s appropriate for a 1920s koa Weisenborn Hawaiian guitar. A balance of player comfort and protecting their instrument from damage is key to finding the right set of strings that work. Many vintage acoustic Hawaiian steel guitars have needed repairs from bridges that have pulled off, or from "bellied top" distortions resulting from strings with too much tension being used on them. 

Using your own special tuning

Many lap steel guitar players start with one of the standard steel guitar tunings and then go on to develop their own tuning that suits their playing style and genre of music. This typically requires that they’re forced to purchase individual strings for their tuning because there are no premade sets they can simply purchase. Hopefully the chart below will help you zero in on a specific sset of strings that will work with your preferred tuning.

Dialing in your set

When working on a new tuning or on a new instrument with a different scale length it’s normal for some trial and error to be required to find the ideal set of strings. The string gauge chart below will serve as a starting point to guide you towards a set of strings that has a solid foundation and stays in tune on your instrument. But it may be required to move up or down in string gauges to zero in on what works and feels the best.

Pitch	Guage	Plain or Wound	Notes
A	.009   -   .011	Plain
G#/Ab	.010   -   .011	Plain
G	.011   -   .012	Plain
F#/Gb	.012   -   .013	Plain
F	.013   -   .015	Plain
E	.013   -   .015	Plain	Guitar High E
D#/Eb	.014   -   .016	Plain
D	.015   -   .017	Plain
C#/Db	.016   -   .018	Plain
C	.016   -   .018	Plain	Middle C
B	.017   -   .019	Plain	Guitar B String
Bb/A#	.018   -   .020	Plain
A	.020   -   .022	Plain or Wound
G#/Ab	.024   -   .026	Plain or Wound
G	.024   -   .026	Plain or Wound	Guitar G String
F#/Gb	.024   -   .026	Wound
F	.026   -   .030	Wound
E	.028   -   .032	Wound
D#/Eb	.028   -   .032	Wound
D	.032   -   .036	Wound	Guitar D String
C#/Db	.034   -   .038	Wound
C	.034   -   .038	Wound
B	.034   -   .038	Wound
Bb/A#	.034   -   .038	Wound
A	.040   -   .044	Wound	Guitar A String
G#/Ab	.042   -   .046	Wound
G	.044   -   .048	Wound
F#/Gb	.048   -   .052	Wound
F	.052   -   .056	Wound
E	.054   -   .058	Wound	Guitar Low E
D#/Eb	.056   -   .060	Wound
D	.060   -   .064	Wound
C#/Db	.060   -   .068	Wound
C	.064   -   .068	Wound
B	.064   -   .068	Wound
Bb/A#	.068   -   .072	Wound
A	.068   -   .072	Wound

In Conclusion

It's important to note that these recommendations are not set in stone, and guitarists often experiment with different string gauges to find their preferred tension and tone. Don't be afraid to try different combinations and consult with a guitar technician or experienced players for guidance. By understanding the importance of string tension and selecting the appropriate string gauges, steel guitarists can optimize their playing experience, achieve the desired tone, and unlock their full potential as musicians.

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