Bonnie, I used the light guage strings on my banjo when I first got but found it rather hard to play 'cause I was always bending them out of tune when I fretted. I now use the GHS mediums which have the .26 for the 4th string but I think the smallest one is a .012. I would agree that changing guages makes such a difference and I always have to try many brands and guages to find what I think is suitable. For a while I was using SIT Dark Royals heavy guage on my guitar which sounded amazing but just to damn strenuous. I went down to a medium and then to light as my playing style changed and now I get the best results with a mixed set that goes .056, .042, .032, .024, .017, .013 as I usually keep this guitar in DADGAD. I've got a sraight set of mediums on another. It is harder with the banjo though 'cause nobody ever stocks the kind of strings I want and always have to order them. I'm on my last set now and due for some new ones but the stores are always closed when I get home from work. Oh well, life is full of pain.