This is a great article that originally appeared in the August 2011 issue of Premier Guitar
Magazine.
“5 Rutbusters That Will Change the Way You Play”.
LINK TO: 5 Rutbusters That Will Change The Way You Play
For me, I found that a string gauge change yielded the most dramatic impact on my playing. Going from 10’s to 9’s was HUGE.
I had to get over the idea that “Real Men Play 10’s” and instead embrace the fact that “Real Men Play Guitar” (and the heck with what their string gauge is….)
By the way, I am a bending freak now!
Check out the article and tell me what you think!
This is exceptional advice.
You’ve probably heard the Billy Gibbons story about BB King telling Billy about light Gauge strings. I think that Billy now uses an even lighter gauge than 9’s but I can’t corroborate that.
On certain guitars I like 10’s and others I uses 9.5 gauge. I know that 0.5 difference sounds minimal but I feel that I get just a little more bending resistance compared to 9’s which sometimes feel a little too slinky for me.
I agree with you that real men play guitars. If something makes you a better player, or if it allows you a better musical experience, then just do it!
Hey there Dr.Z!
You said it best when you said: “If something makes you a better player, or if it allows you a better musical experience, then just do it!”
No two of us will play exactly the same way or always enjoy exactly the same tunes, but if we are both passionate about our music then ROCK ON!
-GuitarDaddy
I also changed from 10s to 9s after so many years only playing 10s. I think the reason it was such a dramatic change was I didn’t realize how much something like string gauge impacts my playing.
I think that’s one of the key messages with these ‘rutbusters’ – it’s worth giving them a go because you may not even realize you’re in a rut to begin with! If something like changing the string gauge can have a positive impact on your playing, it’s definitely worth doing.