Hello everyone. I have some questions. I know how to change strings, clean a guitar, even do a setup. Like Leo Fender…I do not know how to play a guitar. As a beginner, do strings really matter? If you are learning A&D, strummung on the one, can not perform 30 chord changes in a minute, do strings matter yet? Next, house brand strings vs. Name brand. As a beginner, are $3 house brand (Musicians Gear) strings good enough…or should you buy entry level name brand like $7 Earnie Ball or Dadarrio? Finally, as a beginner, would extra light strings help make the guitar easier to chord, or is the difference between a set of 9s and 10s so small that only a seasoned player would notice? Thank you.
Yes. Not by a huge amount but every bit helps. You want to make it as easy as possible. In answer to all your other questions, no strings don’t matter much as a beginner.
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Welcome to the forums!
What guitar do you practice with and what string size does it have now?
The reason for asking this is because the string size will feel different between electric, acoustic, and classical. For instance a set of 12 gague strings on acoustic will be very heavy on electric, or may not even fit in the nut slot.
My advice for now is that the string gauge being toward the lighter side will help with strength you are not likely used to using yet. On the down side, it is easier to push too hard and have notes go sour. You can overcome this with being mindful about it. Some folks notice the thinner strings can bite into their fingers a little easier, but I did not find that a problem.
If you are looking at “house brand” being what is sold by the manufacturer, then those will be quality strings. If you are buying the cheapest set you can find off the internet, then you are likely to be disappointed at times. Budget strings can break, be inconsistent in diameter (making vibration odd), or be made of alloys that oxidize far earlier. I’d go with a name brand.
Look around the forums here. There are some brand discussions. I recommend highly that you start trting different brands and alloys and posibly coatings once you have a reasonable feel for your instrument, maybe 6 months.
I play electric. Here is one discussion:
Here is an investigation Justin did:
https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/what-string-gauge-should-we-use-hts-0005
In reply to your question. I have two electric guitars to pick from. They were inherited. An Epiphone Les Paul custom and a G&L S500 Tribute. Les Paul or Stratacaster basically. I prefer the feel of the Stratocaster. It is lighter and thinner. Both guitars has 10s on them. Both were setup using the Music Nomad KISS method and tools. Both guitars have stock tuning machine heads and stock nuts. Both guitars are easier to chord than my Taylor Academy acoustic.
The only think cheap strings will do is teach you how to change strings. They won’t last very long.
What string brand is best for you depends mainly on how much you practice a day. If you’re a 1/2 hour a day 5 day a week player an inexpensive set of strings will last you for months. If you’re a 3 hour a day 7 day a week the a good set og coated string (although pricey) will last you 6 months to a year.
As for string gauge you’ll find 10s or 9s on your strat(25.5" scale) and 11 or 10s on your Les Paul (24.75" scale) will be fine. Your Taylor will sound best with 12s but as a beginner you could go with 10s or 11. And don’t press to hard, you only need enough pressure to make the strings ring out clean.
Seems like yer heading the right direction to me.
For sure man, ya gotta have some strings on your guitar for it to work. Just kidding Paul. imho, just get some name brand. Any 'ol name brand will do. They ain’t that much more expensive than off brand. Hopefully, $7 won’t break yer bank.
I think, yes. It will make it easier to play.
However, imho, I’d just go 10’s and call it a day. They’re middle of the road. Should ya wanna go heavier, or lighter, in the future. You’ll be coming from the kinda medium able to go either direction w/ less effort in making the adj. of sting gauges. Myself. I just play .010’s. It’s just what I always used so the feel comfortable to me. I do have .011’s on a acoustic, and they are harder to play. But, I adjust and play both.
Unless ya got some dissatisfaction with them 10’s. I’d just play what ya got.
As ya can tell from my comments. I don’t think to much about strings. I play my de addrio .010s for $7. I think for me, concentrating on how I play what I got is more important than what I got.
All that said, I would avoid cheapo strings. Who knows if they’re of quality enough to even play.
Have fun in your guitar journey. 
Hi Paul and welcome to the community!
There’s a good video by Justin about strings and string gauges. It’s quite interesting.
I’m a beginner but a few years in now. I started playing Rotosound steel strings because I have a bit of a sensitivity to nickel. They are quite hard on the fingers. But then I tried some Earnie Ball slinky’s (they are nickel) and found them to be fine. They are not expensive and seem to be good. They last me quite a while and I rarely break strings. I bought a guitar that had d’addario NYXL’s on it. They certainly felt a bit nicer, but to me, it doesn’t make much difference. As someone else mentioned, I guess it depends how many hours a day you are playing. I practice about an hour a day, but not more.