Steel vs. Nylon: Which Strings Are Best for Arthritic Fingers?
Steel strings might sound brighter. But if your hands hurt after twenty minutes, what's the point?
You're standing in the music store or maybe scrolling online. Trying to figure out which strings to buy.
Everyone says steel strings are "real" guitar strings. They're what you hear on records.
They're what serious players use. And nylon strings?
Those are for beginners right?. For classical players? For people who aren't really playing "guitar."
But here's the thing nobody's saying out loud: if you've got arthritis or hand stiffness, steel strings might be making everything harder than it needs to be.
Not because you're weak or not strong enough to sue "real" guitar strings and not because you're doing something wrong.
But because steel strings just require significantly more finger pressure to fret cleanly. And that extra pressure, repeated across hundreds of chord changes adds up.
Meanwhile, nylon strings sit there, quietly requiring 40-50% less force, while everyone dismisses them as "not real enough."
In this post, I'm going to give you the honest comparison between steel and nylon strings for arthritic hands, or sore hands or thumb pain or any other reason why guitar hand pain is preventing you form doing the most important thing: actually playing your instrument.
This isn't the romanticized version of the gear-snob version. This is a practical, body-first version that helps you make a decision based on what your hands can actually sustain.
The Physics: Why Nylon Requires Less Pressure
Alright, let's start with the basic physics, because this matters more than tone or tradition or what your favorite guitarist uses.
String tension is the amount of force the string exerts when tuned to pitch.
Higher tension = more force required to press the string down to the fret.
Steel strings on an acoustic guitar produce a crisper, brighter tone but are harder on the fingers.
Nylon strings are considered the easiest on the fingers and produce warm, soft, and mellow tones.
Here's the breakdown:
Steel strings (light gauge .012-.053):
Tension per string: 150-180 lbs total across all six strings
Force required to fret cleanly: moderate to high
Nylon strings (medium tension):
Tension per string: 75-90 lbs total across all six strings
Force required to fret cleanly: low to moderate
That's roughly half the tension.
So what does that mean for your hands?
It means every chord change, every note you fret, every barre chord you hold, well you're pressing with significantly less force.
Over a 20-minute practice session, that's hundreds of repetitions where your joints, tendons, and muscles are working at a lower intensity.
For arthritic hands or thumb pain or hands that are sore every time you play guitar, that difference isn't minor. It's the difference between playing comfortably for thirty minutes or tapping out after fifteen because your hands are done.
This isn't about being soft. It's about being smart.
Another way to play smart is to adjust your playing chords, you can check out my post here on the best chords to adapt if you have arthtirits
The Tone Trade-Off (And Why It Might Not Matter)
Okay, so nylon is easier on the hands. But what about tone?
Because let's be honest: nylon strings don't sound like steel strings. They're warmer, mellower and softer. Less "zing." Less attack.
If you're chasing that bright, punchy, ringy acoustic sound, the kind you hear on rock, country, folk, or singer-songwriter records let's be honest: nylon won't give you that.
But here's the question you need to ask yourself:
What do you actually need the guitar to sound like?
If you're recording professionally, performing in venues where projection matters, or playing in a band where you need to cut through the mix, well yeah, steel strings probably make sense. Even with the extra hand strain.
But if you're playing for yourself? If you're practicing at home, writing songs, fingerpicking on the couch, playing for family or small gatherings?
Nylon will sound more than good enough. And your hands will thank you.
I've worked with dozens of players who spent years suffering through steel strings because they thought that's what "real" guitarists use.
Then they tried nylon for two weeks and realized: the tone difference mattered way less than they thought. And the comfort difference mattered way more.
The best tone in the world doesn't mean anything if you can't play long enough to enjoy it.
When Steel Still Makes Sense
Alright, so I'm clearly pro-nylon for anyone with hand pain, or thumb pain or arthritic hands that prints them from playing. But I'm not saying steel is never the right choice.
There are legitimate reasons to stick with steel, even if it's harder on your hands:
1. You Play Styles That Require Steel
If you're deep into bluegrass, country, rock, or strumming-heavy folk, nylon strings won't give you the tone you need. They don't have the brightness, the sustain, or the attack that those styles depend on.
You can work around the hand strain with lighter gauges, better setup, and smarter practice habits. But you can't fake steel string tone with nylon.
2. You're Playing Steel-String Guitars
This seems obvious, but it's worth saying: you can't just throw nylon strings on a steel-string guitar and call it good.
Steel-string guitars are built to handle the higher tension of steel strings. The neck has a truss rod. The bridge is reinforced. The body bracing is designed for that specific load.
If you put nylon strings on a steel-string guitar, the tension will be too low. The action will be sloppy. The tone will be muddy and it won't work.
So if you've already got a steel-string acoustic you love, you're not switching to nylon unless you're willing to buy a different guitar.
3. You've Built Strength and Aren't in Pain
If your hands are handling steel strings fine and if you're not dealing with stiffness, fatigue, or discomfort then there's no reason to switch.
Nylon is easier, yes. But easier doesn't always mean better if your current setup is working.
But if your hands are hurting? If you're cutting practice sessions short because your fingers are done?
Then it's time to seriously consider the switch.
The Middle Ground: Silk-and-Steel and Light-Gauge Options
So what if you want the tone of steel but need something gentler on your hands?
There are hybrid options worth exploring:
Silk-and-Steel Strings
Silk-and-steel strings are metal-wound silk or nylon strings that produce a mellow and gentle sound.
They're essentially steel strings with a silk or nylon core wrapped in metal winding. They sit somewhere between full steel and nylon in terms of tension and tone.
Pros:
- Lower tension than standard steel (easier on hands)
- Warmer, mellower tone than bright steel
- Can be used on steel-string guitars
- Smooth feel, less finger noise
Cons:
- Not as bright as standard steel strings
- Less volume and projection
- May feel "mushy" to some players
Worth trying:
- D'Addario EJ40 Silk and Steel
- Martin M140 Silk and Steel
- GHS Silk and Bronze
If you want the playability of nylon but need to stay on a steel-string guitar, this is your best bet.
Extra-Light Gauge Steel Strings
If you're sticking with full steel, at least go as light as possible.
Extra-light gauge strings (.010-.047 for acoustic) are thinner and easier to fret.
Worth trying:
- Elixir Phosphor Bronze Extra Light (.010-.047)
- D'Addario EJ15 Phosphor Bronze Extra Light
- Martin MSP3050 Custom Light (.011-.052)
These won't be as easy as nylon, but they'll be significantly easier than medium or heavy gauge strings.
Pro tip: Get your guitar professionally set up with extra-light strings. A good luthier or guitar tech can adjust the action and intonation to compensate for the lower tension. This combination of light strings + low action can really transform how the guitar feels.
The Nylon Option: What to Look For
If you're ready to try nylon, here's what you need to know:
You Need a Classical or Nylon-String Guitar
You can't use nylon strings on a steel-string guitar because the construction is different and the tension is different. It won't work.
But modern nylon-string guitars aren't just stuffy classical instruments. There are crossover models designed specifically for steel-string players who want the comfort of nylon.
Crossover nylon guitars to try:
- Yamaha NTX series (slim neck, acoustic-electric)
- Cordoba Fusion series (narrower neck, contemporary designs)
- Taylor Academy 12-N (lighter build, approachable feel)
These guitars feel closer to steel-string acoustics in terms of body size and neck profile, but with nylon strings that are way easier on arthritic hands.
Nylon String Recommendations
If you're going full nylon, here are solid starting points:
D'Addario Pro-Arté (Normal/Medium Tension)
Classic, reliable, balanced tone. Medium tension is easier on hands than high tension.
Savarez 500CJ (Normal Tension)
Smooth feel, warm tone, good for fingerstyle.
Hannabach 815 (Medium Tension)
German-made, excellent intonation, comfortable under the fingers.
Start with normal or medium tension. Avoid high-tension nylon strings as they kind of defeat the purpose of switching to nylon in the first place.
The Decision Matrix: Steel vs. Nylon
Still not sure which way to go? Here's a simple framework:
Choose Steel (with light gauge + low action) if:
- You need bright, punchy tone for your style
- You're playing steel-string guitars you're not ready to replace
- Your hands can manage with proper setup and technique
- You're performing in contexts where projection matters
Choose Nylon if:
- Hand pain or stiffness is limiting your playing time
- You primarily play at home or for personal enjoyment
- You're open to warmer, mellower tones
- You're willing to invest in a nylon-string or crossover guitar
Try Silk-and-Steel if:
- You want something between steel and nylon
- You need to stay on your steel-string guitar
- You're okay with slightly less brightness and volume
There's no wrong answer. There's only what works for your hands and your music.
Try This: The Two-Week String Test
Here's a practical experiment you can run to figure out what's best for you:
If you have access to both steel-string and nylon-string guitars (borrow one, rent one, try at a store), do this:
Week 1: Play only steel strings (light gauge if possible)
Track:
- How long can you play before discomfort?
- Where does tension show up? (fingers, thumb, wrist, forearm)
- How do your hands feel the next day?
Week 2: Play only nylon strings
Track the same things:
- Playing time before discomfort
- Where tension shows up (if at all)
- Next-day recovery
At the end, compare:
- Did nylon let you play longer?
- Did your hands recover faster?
- Did the tone difference bother you as much as you thought it would?
Most players I've worked with are shocked at how much longer they can play on nylon.
And they're equally shocked that the tone difference matters way less than they expected.
But don't take my word for it. Test it yourself. Your hands will tell you what's working.
When Comfort Beats Tradition
Look, I get it. Steel strings are what most people think of when they think "guitar."
They're bright. They're loud. They're what you hear on records.
And there's this cultural bias, spoken or unspoken, that nylon strings are for "beginners" or "classical players", and if you're a "real" guitarist, you play steel.
But here's what I've learned working with players and musicians with pain for years:
Tradition doesn't matter if you can't play.
Awards don't matter if your hands hurt too much to practice.
Tone doesn't matter if you're cutting sessions short because your fingers are done.
The "right" string is the one that lets you keep playing. The one that supports your hands so you can focus on the music instead of managing discomfort.
And if that's nylon? If that's silk-and-steel? If that's extra-light gauge with low action?
Then that's the right choice.
Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Not gear snobs. Not tradition. Not even your own expectations of what you "should" be playing.
Your hands matter more than any of that.
And if you want more strategies for playing comfortably with arthritis or thumb/hand stiffness or pain, check out :
Keep Playing: The Release → Reset → Rebuild™ Method for Lifelong Guitar Playing
Inside, you'll find:
- Simple adjustments that may help reduce hand strain
- Movement patterns that support more comfortable fretting
- Strategies to work with your body instead of against it
The best string is the one that lets you keep playing. Everything else is just preference.
F.P.
Founder, Gentle Octaves
F.P. O’Connor
F.P. O'Connor is a Musician and Movement Specialist whose work is informed by extensive training in Manual Osteopathy, Psychology, and Strength Coaching.
He is the founder of Gentle Octaves, helping adult players develop practical, science-based systems for ease, control, and long-term playing confidence.
This work comes from over 15 years of experience mixed with playing, teaching, and plenty of lived trial-and-error.
Explore more at:
Play better. Move freely. Create for life.
FAQ
Q: Can I put nylon strings on my steel-string acoustic guitar?
A: No. Steel-string guitars are built to handle the higher tension of steel strings. Nylon strings won't have enough tension to sound good or play well on a steel-string guitar.
You'd need a classical or nylon-string guitar to use nylon strings properly.
Q: Will switching to nylon strings make me sound like a beginner?
A: Nylon strings produce a different tone, warmer and mellower but that doesn't mean "beginner."
Many professional players use nylon for fingerstyle, classical, jazz, and bossa nova.
The question isn't about sounding professional; it's about whether the tone works for your musical style and whether your hands can play comfortably.
Q: What about silk-and-steel strings—are they really easier on arthritic hands?
A: Yes. Silk-and-steel strings have lower tension than standard steel strings, which many players with arthritis or hand stiffness find more comfortable.
They produce a warmer, mellower tone than bright steel but can be used on steel-string guitars, making them a good middle ground.
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