Which electric guitar strings have the least (pitch) bend

Question

When playing my electric guitar, the pitch of notes varies depending upon how exactly the strings are fretted; this is particularly a problem with strings that are barred by the first finger, since the finger isn't totally flat. I don't think the magnitude of the bend is huge, but some days I find even slightly-imperfect intonation annoying.

I have a 3/4-scale electric guitar and I use a custom alternate tuning, G-D-d-f-g#-b. The string gauges I am using now are 40-52-28-22W-16-12.

I know that some strings are supposed to be especially "bendable", meaning that they have a very high coefficient of elasticity at the tension where they'll be used, and I understand that phosphor bronze strings have a relatively non-variable pitch (but are alas from my understanding not suitable for use on an electric guitar). Are there any strings that would be suitable for use with an electric guitar that would have a particularly low coefficient of elasticity?

Answer 1

Now that you've explained that your tuning is G-D-D-F-G#-B, I understand why you have problems with intonation, and problems with some strings being too high over the nut or bridge.

From your earlier comment, do you mean to say that your local guitar store selected six individual strings for you based on those pitches in your tuning? Or did they sell you a standard packaged set?

You can't use any standard set of 6 guitar strings with such an unusual tuning scheme. You will have to purchase each string individually, and calculate what gauge you need for each string.

If you want to do your own research, the D'Addario string company publishes a detailed guide to selecting the optimal string gauge for each string for your own custom alternate tuning.

Check out this web page, download the PDF guide, and do some calculations.

D'Addario String Tension Guide

Take into account that your instrument is 3/4 scale. Shorter-scale guitars require heavier strings than standard-scale guitars to get good sound and intonation.

I'm guessing that your guitar's scale length is 22.5 inches (as opposed to the usual 24.75 or 25.5 inches). Measure it to make sure -- it's the distance from the nut to the bridge saddle, or the "speaking length" of the string. The D'Addario string tension tables don't take 22.5 short scale into account -- they are based on 25.5 inches. So you'll want slightly heavier gauges for each string than what their tables show.

You can then order individual strings of different gauges and windings to construct your own custom set. This will cost more money than purchasing a 6-string set.

You will certainly need to have a guitar technican make alterations to the nut and bridge and truss rod of your guitar to calibrate everything optimally for your custom strings and tuning. They can use a file to widen and deepen the slots in the (bone or plastic) nut and the (brass or steel) bridge to accommodate your particular strings.

Answer 2

Get the heaviest gauge strings that you can handle, don't worry about the material properties of the strings.

The string tension itself is the primary variable affecting unintentional bending. Obviously, using heavier gauge strings results in higher tension (for a given tuning) Note that longer scale length (e.g. 25.5") will also have higher string tension for a given tuning and string gauge. There is a secondary effect of higher gauge strings in that they have higher intrinsic stiffness, but this is secondary to just the increased tension. Over the range of electric guitar strings, the slight changes in material composition will have negligible effect relative to the string gauge.

Answer 3

Another factor is the frets on the guitar. Tall "jumbo" frets have more clearance between the top surface of the fret and the fingerboard. If you press down hard when you fret the string, the pitch might be pulled sharp. Tall frets have been popular on guitars for the last thirty years or so; "vintage" electric guitars tended to have small frets that are not nearly as tall.

Here is a diagram of the different kinds of frets available from Warmoth Custom Guitar Parts.

The "6230" and "6130" styles are similar to what was used on the earliest Fender and Gibson electric guitars, respectively. The tall "6150" style is perhaps the most commonly used on guitars made today. Tall frets are favored by "shredders" and those that bend strings a great deal.

If you have a guitar with tall jumbo frets, you can practice using less tension in your fretting fingers so you are not pressing the strings down all the way to the fingerboard. This is beneficial to your technique as well because you will experience less hand fatigue and it might facilitate playing faster.

You can also pay an experienced guitar repair technician to file your frets down lower, or to pull out the frets and replace them with smaller frets. This will be expensive.

Regardless, you should get a good professional "setup" on your guitar. This will improve the intonation overall. Here's my recent post about setups.

Keep these factors in mind:

1) Try a heavier gauge of strings

2) Learn to fret the strings with less tension in your fingers

3) Fret the strings directly behind each fret. Don't press down with your fingers in the middle of the fingerboard area between two frets. Doing so will mean that you are bending the string down too far and pulling it sharp.

4) If you can't compensate adequately with your fingering technique, you might want to see about getting smaller, lower frets on your guitar

5) If your electric guitar has a tremolo bridge set up to "float", you may want to get it set up to lie flat instead. A tremolo bridge set up to "float" might contribute to unsteady intonation unless you are very careful about your playing technique.

6) In all cases, get a professional "setup" to improve the intonation of your instrument overall and to set the optimal "action" for your playing technique.