Best strings for Hard rock
Ranked by the CYS expert team. Updated 2026-04-20.
#1
CYS Likes
Details →#2
CYS Likes
Details →#3
CYS Likes
Details →D'Addario
EJ22 XL Nickel Round Wound Jazz Medium (.013–.056)
.013 – .056
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardJazz
#4
DU
Dunlop
Heavy Core (.010–.048)
.10–.48
#5
#6
#7
Ernie Ball
Paradigm Skinny Top Heavy Bottom (.010–.052)
.010 – .052
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardMetal
#8
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky 2220 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
.011 – .048
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#9
#10
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky RPS 2242 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
.011 – .048
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#11
EB
Ernie Ball
Skinny Top Heavy Bottom
.10–.52
#12
EB
Ernie Ball
Papa Het's Hardwired Master Core (.011–.050)
.11–.50
Ernie Ball
Papa Het's Hardwired Master Core (.011–.050)
.011 – .050
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardThrash metal
#13
#14
#15
DA
D'Addario
EXL116 XL Nickel Wound, Medium Top/Heavy Bottom (.011–.052)
.11–.52
D'Addario
EXL116 XL Nickel Wound, Medium Top/Heavy Bottom (.011–.052)
.011 – .052
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardHard rock
#16
D'Addario
EXL140 XL Nickel Wound, Light Top/Heavy Bottom (.010–.052)
.010 – .052
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardHard rock
#17
#18
#19
#21
#22
DA
D'Addario
XT Nickel Coated XTE1046 (.010–.046)
.10–.46
#23
Dunlop
Zakk Wylde String Lab Electric Guitar Strings (.010–.052)
.010 – .052
Price tier: $
Eb StandardDrop DHeavy metal
#26
#27
#28
#29
Ernie Ball
Paradigm Regular Slinky (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardPunk rock
#30
#31
#32
Ernie Ball
Regular Slinky RPS 2241 Nickel Wound (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#33
#36
#37
GH
GHS
Boomers Medium GBM Nickel-Plated Steel (.011–.050)
.11–.50
GHS
Boomers Medium GBM Nickel-Plated Steel (.011–.050)
.011 – .050
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#38
#39
Dunlop
Billy Gibbons Custom Rev Willy's Guitar Strings (.007–.038)
.007 – .038
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardBlues rock
#40
Dunlop
Zakk Wylde String Lab Electric Guitar Strings (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardHeavy metal
#41
Dunlop
Zakk Wylde String Lab Electric Guitar Strings (.010–.056)
.010 – .056
Price tier: $
Drop DD StandardHeavy metal
#42
Ernie Ball
Baritone Slinky, Nickel Wound (.013–.072)
.013 – .072
Price tier: $
Baritone — B StandardBaritone — A StandardMetal
#43
#44
#45
#47
EB
Ernie Ball
Primo Slinky Cobalt (.0095–.044)
.9.5–.44
#48
#50
#51
#52
EVH
Premium Electric Guitar Strings (.009–.042)
.009 – .042
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardHard rock
#53
#54
La Bella
TI832 Tony Iommi Signature (.008–.032)
.008 – .032
Price tier: $
Eb StandardD StandardHeavy metal
#55
DA
D'Addario
EXL157 XL Nickel Wound Baritone Medium (.014–.068)
.14–.68
D'Addario
EXL157 XL Nickel Wound Baritone Medium (.014–.068)
.014 – .068
Price tier: $
Baritone — B StandardMetalHard rock
#56
D'Addario
EXL158 XL Nickel Wound Baritone Light (.013–.062)
.013 – .062
Price tier: $
Baritone — B StandardMetalHard rock
#57
DU
Dunlop
Jim Root Signature Guitar Strings, Drop B (.011–.056)
.11–.56
Dunlop
Jim Root Signature Guitar Strings, Drop B (.011–.056)
.011 – .056
Price tier: $
Drop BMetalNu-metal
#58
DU
Dunlop
Jim Root Signature Guitar Strings, Drop A (.012–.064)
.12–.64
Dunlop
Jim Root Signature Guitar Strings, Drop A (.012–.064)
.012 – .064
Price tier: $
Drop AMetalNu-metal
#59
Dunlop
Zakk Wylde String Lab Electric Guitar Strings (.010–.060)
.010 – .060
Price tier: $
Drop DHeavy metalHard rock