Best strings/picks for playing Heavy metal?

Ive used the same strings all my life (Earnie Ball Super Slinky's) and my picks are usually .88mm. Lately Ive been playing more fast picking Heavy metal stuff like Iced Earth, Children of Bodom, ect. Im guessing that picks are just personal preference? But strings, should I be going to a thicker guage?

Originally Posted by: hunter1801Ive used the same strings all my life (Earnie Ball Super Slinky's) and my picks are usually .88mm. Lately Ive been playing more fast picking Heavy metal stuff like Iced Earth, Children of Bodom, ect. Im guessing that picks are just personal preference? But strings, should I be going to a thicker guage?

I would rather use a Jim Dunlop pck. Get the heaviest/thickest possible as it won't bend and will make your alternate picking even more accurate.

ya i was afraid of that answer. I dont like heavy picks. I have tried the green dunlops but it just doesnt feel right. I guess I just need to practice with them more. So how about strings?

I use 9's on my floyd guitars, and 10's on the fixed bridge ones - just preference. You get better tone from heavy gauge strings, but with a ton of distortion for bodom etc you probably wouldn't notice.

try the dunlop 'big stubby' picks.... they are listed as 3mm (!) but they're not that thick I don't think, and the grip is still thin.

All the picks I use are 1.05mm or more, but I can change between a 1.05 planet waves pick and a 3mm stubby, and within a few seconds it all feels normal. Give one a try man....

I should also say, it's all personal preference. I know guys who use very thin picks, and bend them to make them more rigid when picking at speed. Yngwie uses 8's I believe - whatever works for you man, there is no 'right' answer...

10's+ get you a heavier sound but are harder to play lead with when it comes to bending and sliding. The thicker the string the better the core tone but that's something you will only really notice after years and years of playing - and you only really notice it when playing through a serious pro rig. Lighter guage suit lead guitarists and are the most popular for speed playing. They are easier to slide over and easier to bend plus they don't punish the fingers as badly as heavy strings. Jason Becker used to only use 10's and I know Vai usually ends his tours on 10's too but a lot of other great guitarists go lower eg Malmsteen as mentioned above.
I use 10's on my 7 string for rhythm and 9's on my Jem for lead. Untill recently I only ever went with Ernie Ball SUper Slinky's but recently I switched over to Elixer sets. They last a hell of a lot longer and always feel smooth even if you've been sweating all over the fretboard. I notice greater sustain with them too but that could just be the power of suggestive marketing;-)
As far as picks go I only ever use 0.8mm hard picks, for me they create a clearer pick attack and that helps for fast playing. When it comes to picks there is no magic formula, just whatever works best for you.

What do you guys meen by 8,9, and 10's. I know their string sizes but i dont really know anything else. My Super Sliny's are labeled 9, 11, 16, 24, 32, 42. So would they be 9's?

Originally Posted by: hunter1801What do you guys meen by 8,9, and 10's. I know their string sizes but i dont really know anything else. My Super Sliny's are labeled 9, 11, 16, 24, 32, 42. So would they be 9's?

Yes. The 'set' is defined by the high E string - although there are hybrid sets and all sorts.... but yeah - you're using 9's. :D