The Best Nylon Strings for Classical Guitar in 2021

All The Options: The Best 11 Nylon Strings for Classical Guitar

• D’Addario EJ27N Student Guitar Strings
• Savarez 540R Classical Guitar Strings
• D’Addario EJ45TT ProArte DynaCore with Titanium Trebles
• Hannabach 815 LT Classic Guitar Strings
• D’Addario Pro-Arte EJ43, Light Tension
• D’Addario EJ49 Pro-Arte Black
• Savarez Corum New Cristal 500CJ
• D’Addario EJ45LP Pro-Arte Composite Lightly Polished
• Flamenco Strings: La Bella 820 Elite
• D’Addario EJ25B Pro-Arte Black Nylon Composite Flamenco Strings
• Ernie Ball Earthwood 2069 Folk Nylon Ball End String

There are so many types and brands of classical guitar strings available on the market today. And even these are only a small subset of the larger guitar string market. If you’re new to guitar or are replacing your strings for the first time, all of this can be a bit overwhelming.

You’re looking for the best classical guitar strings, but there are all sorts of elements to consider. You may have heard somewhere that installing the wrong strings can damage your guitar, which is true. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the terminology and the sheer number of options — or if you’re rightly afraid of damaging your instrument — we can help.

We’ve reviewed the best nylon strings available today to help you decide which ones you should purchase.

We’ll get to all of our top recommendations in a minute. But first, let’s answer some common questions surrounding classical guitar and nylon strings.

Are There Different String Types for Classical Guitar?

Yes. The first thing to know is that classical guitars must use classical-style (nylon) strings. These are lower in tension and usually have a tie end rather than a ball end. If you try to string up your classical guitar with a standard set of steel strings, you’ll probably break the guitar. This is because steel strings require much greater tension than classical guitars are built to withstand.

But even within the category of classical guitar strings, there are some different types to be aware of.

You’ll often hear that all classical guitars use nylon strings, and that’s pretty much true. However, the term “nylon” is a little misleading. It actually describes a range of string material types, all of which share the tension characteristics of nylon strings.

Back in the day, classical guitar strings were made of gut — literally, cow or sheep intestines. Thankfully, we’ve moved forward a bit since then.

The Different Types of Nylon Strings

There are three types of nylon strings: clear, rectified and black. You’ll also see titanium strings — which aren’t actually made of titanium, but simply have a titanium-ish color to them. They, too, are a synthetic material in the nylon family.

Clear nylon is the default type, producing a clear, rich tone. Rectified nylon undergoes more precise grinding for more uniformity, resulting in a sound that’s more mellow and round. Black nylon is popular among folk guitarists for its warmth and purity.

Additionally, the three lowest strings tend to be built differently than the upper three. More on this later, but suffice it to say that most low strings for classical guitar are either 80/20 bronze or silver-plated copper, both over nylon cores.

Can I Use Nylon Strings on Any Acoustic Guitar?

Technically speaking, you can put ball-end nylon strings on your steel-string acoustic guitar. But even if you get the best nylon guitar strings available, you just aren’t going to get good results without significant adjustments or a full professional setup. So you won’t be switching back and forth between string types without some serious investment.

What Situations Call for Nylon Strings?

There are a number of situations and genres where you might choose a nylon string sound. However, remember that to get a quality sound, you either need a guitar built for nylon strings (a classical guitar or a nylon string acoustic), or you’ll need to get your guitar professionally adjusted or set up to accommodate them.

Besides classical-style music, there are several genres that make use of nylon strings. These include jazz, bossa nova, folk and acoustic settings where volume is less a concern than tone quality.

Nylon strings can also be easier for beginners, causing less finger pain than steel strings. That said, unless you want to play exclusively on nylon strings, you’re going to have to get over this hurdle eventually. It’s rarely worth buying an entirely different guitar (or paying for a full setup) just to avoid finger pain.

Do Classical Guitarists Always Use Nylon Strings?

Basically, yes. There may be some rare scenarios where professional players choose something unusual, and avant-garde concert music may call for something nonstandard as well. But in nearly every normal scenario, classical guitarists use nylon strings.

There are significant differences in the feel and capability of nylon and steel strings. A player can certainly learn both types. But the strings aren’t interchangeable, and neither are the techniques.

Should All Six Strings Be Nylon?

Typically, the top three strings will be made of nylon or a similar material. The lower three strings are different. They, too, feature nylon at the core, but they are wrapped with metal (typically round-wound) for added volume and presence. These lower strings are still not the same as steel strings and still have a lower tension level.

There’s also one more special consideration: the fluorocarbon string. Typically only used for the G string, a fluorocarbon composite string can bridge the gap between the bass and treble strings.

If you feel like your bass and treble strings are too different from each other, swapping in a fluorocarbon G string could be the answer. You’ll get a better transition in terms of volume and tone, with better projection and good brightness.

Tension, Not Gauge

If you’re more familiar with acoustic or electric guitars, you likely know that string gauge is one significant factor in choosing strings. That’s not the case with nylon strings, though. Instead, nylon strings come in a variety of tensions, which roughly describe how tightly wound the strings will be once installed.

There are some similarities to the gauge discussion, but not many. Unfortunately, the biggest similarity is that manufacturers don’t agree on the terminology regarding tension level (just like they don’t about gauges). So each manufacturer is going to use the terms a little bit differently than the next.

There are three main tensions, plus some extras at the edges. Most players typically choose between low, normal or high tension strings, though stronger or lighter or even in-between sets are also available.

Low tension strings don’t produce as much volume but can produce a better body to the note. The lower tension makes them easier to play and fret, but it also increases the likelihood of string buzzing.

High tension, on the other hand, can give greater volume and more punchy attacks. But the body sometimes isn’t as nice, and playing can be harder on your hands due to the comparative difficulty with fretting. Also, the higher the tension, the more likely the strings are to create stress on a more fragile instrument.

Normal or medium tension, unsurprisingly, lands somewhere in the middle.

Settling on the right tension is a personal process — every player has a different idea of what’s best, and your instrument will matter as well.

The 11 Best Nylon Strings for Classical Guitar

Now that we’ve covered the basics of using nylon strings, it’s time to pick some out! Below are some of the best classical guitar strings on the market today, including the best nylon strings in each material type. No matter your playing style, experience level, or preferences, you’ll find something that will work great for you in the list below.

D’Addario EJ27N Student Nylon Classical Guitar Strings

If you’re just starting out, you need strings that are easy to play and cheap to replace. Here’s a tip: classical guitar strings break much more frequently than steel strings. And especially when you’re still learning the ropes on tuning and restringing, you want to be prepared for mishaps.

So before you dive into advanced, expensive strings, you might want to start with a high-quality student string like the D’Addario EJ27N Student Nylons. Despite the student designation, these strings are high in quality — without breaking the bank.

Just like other classical instrumentalists, many classical guitarists start young — so young that a full-sized classical guitar is too large to play. One nice aspect to the EJ27Ns is that they are available in 1/2 and 3/4 lengths, perfectly proportioned for smaller scale student guitars

Like most other sets, the EJ27N is split, with the three upper strings being clear nylon while the lower strings are silverplated copper wound.

Most beginners will appreciate the Normal Tension set, but you might choose to move up to the Hard Tension pack as you continue in your studies on classical guitar.

Check current prices on Amazon for D’Addario EJ27N Student Strings

Savarez 540R Classical Guitar Strings

French string maker Savarez offers up a lovely set of strings in its 540R Alliance HT Classics. These are normal-tension classical guitar strings that combine the company’s silver-plated HT Classics for the low strings with some interesting carbon trebles.

You’ll see the trebles called “carbon fiber” in some places, but that’s pretty misleading as there’s no carbon fiber here. No, this is just carbon as in fluorocarbon, which we mentioned earlier as a common substitution for the G string.

Some players say that carbon strings are more similar to original gut strings than nylon strings are, but without all the temperamental issues that come from using a biologically based product. On the other hand, some players find them to be too sharp or intense when compared to nylon. Once again, it’s a matter of personal preference. You might just need to try a set for yourself if you want to know how you feel about them.

In this set, all three upper strings are carbons, which can give a really surprising amount of bright volume from your classical guitar. For liver performances, then, these are some of the best nylon strings for classical guitar.

Now, the added stiffness in the carbon strings is going to be hard on your hands. If you’re a beginner, you might get some years under your belt before committing to carbons.

Also, some professionals prefer true nylon for intimate settings like the recording studio, where warmth is more important than raw power.

Check current prices on Amazon for Savarez 540R Classical Guitar Strings

D’Addario EJ45TT ProArte DynaCore Classical Guitar Strings with Titanium Trebles

D’Addario has been making high-quality strings for centuries—literally, so it’s no surprise that the brand is a repeat entry in just about any list of the best nylon guitar strings. The EJ45TT ProArte DynaCore set is a fantastic offering, too.

The treble strings are crafted from a titanium nylon that’s almost luminescent, with fantastic brightness and projection. The lower strings feature a fully twisted multi-composite core that’s fully wrapped in silver-plated copper. D’Addario advertises the twisted core as more durable and more consistent than the norm.

These EJ45TT strings are made in the USA and should be an impressively durable set, as classical strings go.

If there’s a downside, it’s that these strings are only available in normal, hard or extra hard tension. So if you’re a beginner or are otherwise looking for light tension strings, this isn’t the set for you.

Check current prices on Amazon for D’Addario EJ45TT ProArte DynaCore with Titanium Trebles

Hannabach 815 LT Classic Guitar Strings

It can be hard to find a set of low tension classical guitar strings that’s widely popular and that doesn’t earn complaints from frustrated guitarists. Simply because they’re low in tension, they do tend to stretch (and thus detune), and it can be hard to get a good volume level out of them.

The Hannabach 815 LT Classic Guitar Strings are the exception, with countless players reporting strong volume and projection. Yet these really are low tension strings, with a smooth, mellow sound and very high playability.

The treble strings in this set are precision round nylon, while the bass strings are silver-plated copper. The low strings are also coated, which should make the set last much longer.

These are German-made strings of the highest quality, and you’ll pay for that quality. A set of Hannabach 815s can cost more than double what other leading classical guitar strings do, putting these in a decidedly professional tier.

One nice perk is that you can buy individual strings in addition to a complete set—perfect for those rare situations where a nearly new string breaks. You don’t want to replace the whole set yet (especially at these prices), and you don’t have to.

While we’re primarily recommending the Low Tension set, Hannabach 815 strings are available in five tension levels, from Super Low up to Super High.

Check current prices on Amazon for Hannabach 815 LT Classic Guitar Strings

D’Addario Pro-Arte EJ43 Nylon Classical Guitar Strings, Light Tension

Are you looking for a usable light tension string with a price that’s less … stratospheric? Then we’re back to D’Addario once more. D’Addario Pro-Arte classical guitar strings are one of the most popular string families out there, for good reason. They hit a sweet spot of consistent quality and approachable pricing, making them the best classical guitar strings in the eyes of countless classical guitarists.

These are in the same family as the Titanium Trebles reviewed earlier, but the EJ43s feature the traditional clear nylon strings for the trebles — plus a light tension that will be easier under your fingers. The silver-plated copper bass strings feature a simpler multifilament nylon core as well.

Everything else is pretty similar: legendary D’Addario quality, made in the USA, easy to find at just about any shop.

As low-tension strings, a set of EJ43s will help you prolong the life of an older or especially fragile guitar. But the downsides are there as well: these aren’t the loudest strings available, and they will stretch and detune more than higher tension sets.

Check current prices on Amazon for D’Addario Pro-Arte EJ43, Light Tension

D’Addario EJ49 Pro-Arte Black

Yet another entry from D’Addario’s Pro-Arte line, the EJ49 Pro-Arte Black features black nylon treble strings in a normal tension setup. Black nylon is more than an aesthetic choice: it’s a different polymer altogether, one that produces an even tone with warmth and purity.

Black nylon strings usually offer more consistency and precision as well, thanks to their slightly stiffer construction.

The EJ49 Black is the Normal Tension variety, but if you’re looking for something stiffer, the EJ50 Black is an identical set in Hard Tension. Either set includes D’Addario’s nylon multifilament core, which is the traditional basic style in the D’Addario lineup.

Check current prices on Amazon for D’Addario EJ49 Pro-Arte Black

Savarez Corum New Cristal 500CJ

The Savarez Corum New Cristal 500CJ guitar strings are a high tension set with some truly interesting features and proprietary finishes. Savarez is another highly respected brand, and what they’ve done here is worth considering.

The treble strings are rectified nylon, one of the only such sets in our round-up. Savarez calls this manufacturing method “new cristal.” These treble strings are paired with a set of Corum polished silver-wound bass strings.

The polish helps with playability and may reduce finger noise, assuming Savarez’s proprietary polishing accomplishes the same thing as D’Addario’s. Savarez describes them as more flexible than their standard strings despite the higher tension, offering rapid response and immense possibilities of expression and sound modulation.

As high tension strings, these can be hard to string up and can be harder to play — though not to the degree of other high tension strings, thanks to the proprietary improvements here.

Check current prices on Amazon for Savarez Corum New Cristal 500CJ

D’Addario EJ45LP Pro-Arte Composite Lightly Polished

Depending on your playstyle, you may experience lots of unwanted finger noise as you move about the fretboard — especially on the wound bass strings. If this sounds familiar, you might benefit from a lightly polished set of classical guitar strings like the EJ45LP.

These are an interesting set of strings with lots of character. First, the silver plated wound strings are polished down to a smooth surface (rather than the rough, ridged surface that’s typical). You’ll have an easier time sliding on the string and you’ll encounter much less finger noise as well. For that latter reason, lightly polished strings like these are common in the recording studio.

Also of note — at least in the Normal Tension EJ45LP set — is that the third (G) string is composite as opposed to clear nylon, giving you greater projection and a smoother transition to the treble strings.

The low strings in this set feature D’Addario’s composite core as opposed to the nylon core, which provides added strength and stability.

If you’re looking to try something new or you’re struggling with too much finger noise, a set of EJ45LP lightly polished composite strings could be the best classical guitar strings for your situation.

Check current prices on Amazon for D’Addario EJ45LP Pro-Arte Composite Lightly Polished

Specialized Nylon String Types

There are a few more specialized nylon string types that you might want to consider. The strings below are safe to use on your classical guitar, even though they aren’t strictly classical strings.

Flamenco Strings: La Bella 820 Elite

Flamenco guitar playing takes a slightly different approach, with tons of brightness and lots of snap. La Bella has produced a lovely set of strings that are custom designed for flamenco play styles.

The treble strings are made from a striking red nylon, which may be a different polymer than standard clear nylon. But even if it’s just a new color, these red strings look great in flamenco playing! The bass strings are silver-plated wound strings, just like many other sets reviewed here.

Many users report that these strings produce a bright sound with strong snap and attack, making these strings a great choice, especially for guitars with darker tonality and players with a softer touch looking to get more sound from their instrument.

The La Bella 820 Elites are some of the best nylon strings for flamenco guitar players. And with a history dating back to 1640, La Bella is a company you can trust.

Check current prices on Amazon for Flamenco Strings: La Bella 820 Elite

Another Flamenco Option: D’Addario EJ25B Pro-Arte Black Nylon Composite Flamenco Strings

Another option in the flamenco world, the D’Addario EJ25B Pro-Arte strings are an interesting offering. Featuring black nylon upper strings and composite core lowers, a set of EJ25Bs offers a great balance of flexibility and strong attack.

Like other D’Addario sets with composite cores, these strings are durable and tend to remain in tune better than some other classical guitar strings will. Flamenco players need a quick and sharp attack response, which these strings deliver quite nicely.

Once again, these are made in the USA according to D’Addario’s laser-sorted precision standards and should last you quite a while.

This set is labeled as “Custom Tension,” but in actuality, it sits pretty close to other normal tension sets.

Check current prices on Amazon for D’Addario EJ25B Pro-Arte Black Nylon Composite Flamenco Strings

Ball-End Nylon Strings: Ernie Ball Earthwood 2069 Folk Nylon Ball End String

Traditionally, classical guitar strings have tie ends rather than ball ends and are designed to be tied onto a classical guitar bridge. Classical guitar purists wouldn’t have it any other way.

That said, you technically can use ball-end nylon strings on a classical guitar. They’re easier to install, even if they look a little janky compared to traditionally tied strings. Beginners (especially younger beginners) may struggle with tying in their strings, so a ball-end set could be an easier way to get back up and playing without a teacher’s help.

In this space, Ernie Ball Earthwood 2069 Folk Nylon Ball End strings are a great place to start. They’re some of the best classical guitar strings we’ve seen with ball ends, in fact, and they’re great for folk genres as well.

Ernie Ball Earthwoods are medium tension strings with classic nylon trebles and 80/20 bronze wrap basses with a multifilament core. They offer good tuning and intonation with a somewhat lighter feel (especially compared to the steel strings Ernie Ball is more well-known for).

Check current prices on Amazon for Ernie Ball Earthwood 2069 Folk Nylon Ball End String