Best strings for Metal
Ranked by the CYS expert team. Updated 2026-04-20.
#1
CYS Likes
Details →#2
Ernie Ball
7-String Skinny Top Heavy Bottom Slinky Cobalt (.010–.062)
.010 – .062
Price tier: $$
Drop CDrop BDjent
#3
#4
CYS Likes
Details →#5
DU
Dunlop
Heavy Core (.010–.048)
.10–.48
#6
Ernie Ball
7-String Regular Slinky Cobalt (.010–.056)
.010 – .056
Price tier: $$
Drop DDrop CProgressive metal
#7
#8
#9
Ernie Ball
Paradigm Skinny Top Heavy Bottom (.010–.052)
.010 – .052
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardMetal
#10
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky 2220 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
.011 – .048
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#11
#12
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky RPS 2242 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
.011 – .048
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#13
EB
Ernie Ball
Skinny Top Heavy Bottom
.10–.52
#14
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
#15
#16
#18
DS
DR Strings
Hi-Voltage Dimebag Darrell Signature DBG-9/50 (.009–.050)
.9–.50
DR Strings
Hi-Voltage Dimebag Darrell Signature DBG-9/50 (.009–.050)
.009 – .050
Price tier: $
Drop DEb StandardMetal
#20
#23
#24
#25
Ernie Ball
Regular Slinky RPS 2241 Nickel Wound (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#26
#27
#28
Dean Markley
Blue Steel 2552 Cryogenic Light (.009–.042)
.009 – .042
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#29
DS
DR Strings
Hi-Voltage Dimebag Darrell Signature DBG-9/46 (.009–.046)
.9–.46
DR Strings
Hi-Voltage Dimebag Darrell Signature DBG-9/46 (.009–.046)
.009 – .046
Price tier: $
E StandardD StandardMetal
#30
Dunlop
Kerry King Artist-Selected Guitar Strings (.010–.046, +.052 low E)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $
C# StandardEb StandardThrash metal
#31
#32
Ernie Ball
Baritone Slinky, Nickel Wound (.013–.072)
.013 – .072
Price tier: $
Baritone — B StandardBaritone — A StandardMetal
#33
#34
#35
La Bella
TI832 Tony Iommi Signature (.008–.032)
.008 – .032
Price tier: $
Eb StandardD StandardHeavy metal
#36
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
#37
D'Addario
EXL158 XL Nickel Wound Baritone Light (.013–.062)
.013 – .062
Price tier: $
Baritone — B StandardMetalHard rock
#38
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
#39
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
