Best strings for Metal
Ranked by the CYS expert team. Updated 2026-04-20.
#1
CYS Likes
Full review →#2
Ernie Ball
7-String Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinky Cobalt (.010–.062)
.010 – .062
Price tier: $$
Drop CDrop BDjent
#3
#4
CYS Likes
Full review →#5
Ernie Ball
7-String Regular Slinky Cobalt (.010–.056)
.010 – .056
Price tier: $$
Drop DDrop CProgressive metal
#6
#7
#8
Ernie Ball
Paradigm Skinny Top Heavy Bottom (.010–.052)
.010 – .052
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardMetal
#9
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky 2220 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
.011 – .048
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#10
#11
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky RPS 2242 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
.011 – .048
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#13
Ernie Ball
Papa Het's Hardwired Master Core (.011–.050)
.011 – .050
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardThrash metal
#14
D'Addario
EPS160 XL ProSteels Bass Medium (.050-.105)
.050 – .105
Price tier: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Rock
#15
CYS Likes
Full review →D'Addario
EPS230 XL ProSteels Bass Heavy (.055–.110)
.055 – .110
Price tier: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Rock
#16
#17
#18
#19
DR Strings
Hi-Voltage Dimebag Darrell Signature DBG-9/50 (.009–.050)
.009 – .050
Price tier: $
Drop DEb StandardMetal
#21
#22
#23
Ernie Ball
Hybrid Slinky Cobalt Bass (.045–.105)
.045 – .105
Price tier: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Metal
#24
#25
#26
#27
Ernie Ball
Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass (.050–.105)
.050 – .105
Price tier: $$
E Standard (4-string)Eb Standard (4-string)Metal
#28
Ernie Ball
Regular Slinky RPS 2241 Nickel Wound (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#29
#30
#31
Dean Markley
Blue Steel 2552 Cryogenic Light (.009–.042)
.009 – .042
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#32
DR Strings
Hi-Voltage Dimebag Darrell Signature DBG-9/46 (.009–.046)
.009 – .046
Price tier: $
E StandardD StandardMetal
#33
Dunlop
Kerry King Artist-Selected Guitar Strings (.010–.046, +.052 low E)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $
C# StandardEb StandardThrash metal
#34
Ernie Ball
5-String Regular Slinky Bass (.045–.130)
.045 – .130
Price tier: $
Bass — B StandardE Standard (4-string)Progressive metal
#35
Ernie Ball
5-String Regular Slinky Cobalt Bass (.045–.130)
.045 – .130
Price tier: $$
B Standard (5-string)E Standard (4-string)Metal
#36
#37
#38
#39
La Bella
TI832 Tony Iommi Signature (.008–.032)
.008 – .032
Price tier: $
Eb StandardD StandardHeavy metal
#40
Dunlop
Jim Root Signature Guitar Strings, Drop B (.011–.056)
.011 – .056
Price tier: $
Drop BMetalNu-metal
#41
Dunlop
Jim Root Signature Guitar Strings, Drop A (.012–.064)
.012 – .064
Price tier: $
Drop AMetalNu-metal
#42
#43
