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.
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.
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.
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.
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.