Best strings for Rock
Ranked by the CYS expert team. Updated 2026-04-20.
#1
CYS Likes
Details →#2
CYS Likes
Details →D'Addario
EJ22 XL Nickel Round Wound Jazz Medium (.013–.056)
.013 – .056
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardJazz
#3
#4
#5
Ernie Ball
Paradigm Skinny Top Heavy Bottom (.010–.052)
.010 – .052
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardMetal
#6
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky 2220 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
.011 – .048
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#7
#8
Ernie Ball
Power Slinky RPS 2242 Nickel Wound (.011–.048)
.011 – .048
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#9
EB
Ernie Ball
Skinny Top Heavy Bottom
.10–.52
#10
EB
Ernie Ball
Papa Het's Hardwired Master Core (.011–.050)
.11–.50
Ernie Ball
Papa Het's Hardwired Master Core (.011–.050)
.011 – .050
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardThrash metal
#11
Cleartone
9410 EMP Coated Nickel-Plated Steel (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardRock
#12
#13
#14
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
#15
D'Addario
EXL140 XL Nickel Wound, Light Top/Heavy Bottom (.010–.052)
.010 – .052
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardHard rock
#16
#17
#18
#20
#21
DA
D'Addario
XT Nickel Coated XTE1046 (.010–.046)
.10–.46
#22
Dean Markley
Blue Steel 2558 Light Top/Heavy Bottom (.010–.052)
.010 – .052
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#24
EL
Elixir
Optiweb Light (.010–.046)
.10–.46
#25
Elixir
Polyweb 12050 Nickel Plated Steel (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardJazz
#28
#29
#30
#31
Ernie Ball
Paradigm Regular Slinky (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardPunk rock
#32
#33
#34
Ernie Ball
Regular Slinky Cobalt Flatwound (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardRock
#35
Ernie Ball
Regular Slinky RPS 2241 Nickel Wound (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#36
#39
FE
Fender
Dura-Tone 860CL Coated Phosphor Bronze (.011–.052)
.11–.52
Fender
Dura-Tone 860CL Coated Phosphor Bronze (.011–.052)
.011 – .052
Price tier: $
E StandardDrop DRock
#40
#41
GH
GHS
Boomers Medium GBM Nickel-Plated Steel (.011–.050)
.11–.50
GHS
Boomers Medium GBM Nickel-Plated Steel (.011–.050)
.011 – .050
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#42
#43
Dean Markley
Blue Steel 2552 Cryogenic Light (.009–.042)
.009 – .042
Price tier: $
E StandardEb StandardRock
#44
DR Strings
Pure Blues PHR-10 Pure Nickel (.010–.046)
.010 – .046
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardBlues
#45
DS
DR Strings
Pure Blues PHR-11 Pure Nickel (.011–.050)
.11–.50
DR Strings
Pure Blues PHR-11 Pure Nickel (.011–.050)
.011 – .050
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardBlues
#46
#47
#48
#50
EB
Ernie Ball
Primo Slinky Cobalt (.0095–.044)
.9.5–.44
#51
#53
#54
Ernie Ball
Super Slinky Cobalt Flatwound (.009–.042)
.009 – .042
Price tier: $$
E StandardEb StandardRock
#55
#56
FE
Fender
Super 250R Nickel Plated Steel (.010–.046)
.10–.46
#57
#58
GH
GHS
Nickel Rockers R+EJM Custom Medium (.011–.052)
.11–.52
#59
La Bella
TI832 Tony Iommi Signature (.008–.032)
.008 – .032
Price tier: $
Eb StandardD StandardHeavy metal
#62
GH
GHS
Boomers David Gilmour Signature Blue (GB-DGF, .010–.048)
.10–.48
GHS
Boomers David Gilmour Signature Blue (GB-DGF, .010–.048)
.010 – .048
Price tier: $$
E StandardRockClassic rock
#63
