Characteristics

• Hybrid strings use a combination of string design to achieve their intended style. The bottom three strings (E, A and D) are designed with extra thickness, typical of standard heavy-metal strings. However, the top three strings (G, B and E) are designed to be much lighter and thinner than the typical heavy-metal strings and intended to provide excellent response.
  
  

History

• Hybrid strings were developed during the 1980s, as more aggressive rock styles began to grow in popularity, to aid guitarists favoring heavy metal and hard rock styles.
  
  

Purpose

• Hybrid strings are designed to allow a diverse range of sounds to be obtained from one guitar, providing the blend of powerful low tones and responsive high tones typical of heavy metal and hard rock.
  
  

Impact

• Hybrid strings provide a wider sonic spectrum than the traditional string set. Low-end rhythm sounds are boosted with added power and aggression, while high-end sounds have extra character and definition.
  
  

Benefits

• As hybrid strings allow guitar players to achieve both powerful rhythm guitar tones and clearly defined lead guitar tones from a single set of strings, it is easier to attain heavy metal and hard rock sounds without the use of multiple guitars or recorded tracks.