Changing your guitar strings
might make you feel a litte uncomfortable if you
have never done it before, but it's really quite
simple and should become a regular part of your
guitar care routine. Before you do anything, first
take time to make some personal observations such
as:
1. Which way do you have to
turn the tuning keys to tighten or loosen the
strings?
2. How are the strings aligned
from the nut to the bridge?
3. Which is the heaviest string?
Taking mental notes will probably
save you some frustration and make the job much
easier.
Below you will find some helpful
steps to follow for changing your strings. Once
you've changed your guitar strings a couple of
times your confidence should begin to grow and
you won't need to refer to these steps any longer.
I like to remove all of the guitar strings in
order to give my guitar a thorough cleaning, but
you can remove and replace them one at a time
if you prefer.
Guitar Care and Maintenance
Tools:
- Needle-nose Plyers (to cut
string ends)
- String Winder
- Soft Cotton Cloth
- Guitar Cleaning Polish (do not use furniture
polish, oils, or wax)
REMOVING THE STRINGS
Acoustic Steel String Guitar-
1. Using the string winder ,
begin slowly loosening the string(s) until completely
slack.
2. With the needle-nose plyers,
carefully grab the string from the capstan (the
part it winds around) and pull through the hole
until it is free.
3. Taking the string winder
again, use the cut-out at the end of it to grab
the pin at the bridge. Gently pull the pin until
it comes out of the hole.
4. Continue this process until
all the strings are removed.
5. Clean guitar surface thoroughly.
Classic Nylon String Guitar-
Follow steps one and two above.
When you come to step three, take your needle-nose
plyers and carefully loosen the figure eight knot
at the bridge. Pull the string free.
Electric Guitar-
Follow the same procedure as
described for an acoustic steel string guitar.
However, if you have an electric guitar with a
movable bridge you may want to take it to your
local music store and have them show you how to
do it safely. If the bridge is moved from it's
correct position you will not be able to tune
your guitar after restringing it.
RE-STRINGING YOUR GUITAR
Acoustic Steel String Guitar-
1. Bend the ball end of the
string slightly and place it inside the hole below
the bridge. Some steel string guitars do not have
pins. When this is the case, just pull the string
throught the hole.
2. Line up the string with any
grooves in the pin. Insert the pin into the hole,
making sure it is secure.
3. Take the other end and insert
into the hole on the capstan.
4. Pull the string through leaving
a fair amount of slack between the capstan and
the bridge.
5. Bend the string at the point
it comes through the capstan to keep it secure.
6. Watching out for your eyes,
begin turning the key with your left hand. Once
you get it started it may be easier to use the
string winder. (For safety reasons, you might
want to cut off any excess string. I usually wait
until after they're all on to do this).
7. As you are winding, apply
some tension to the string with your right hand
to help keep it taught. Make sure you are winding
in the right direction! On the bass strings you
will be winding counter-clockwise (away from you).
On the treble strings you will go the opposite
direction.
8. Continue to wind each string
until all the slack is taken up. Do not worry
about tuning yet.
9. Cut off all excess string
length.
Classic Nylon String Guitar-
1. Put the string through the
top of the hole found just below the bridge.
2. Pull about 3 inches through.
3. Bringing the string up over
the tie block, pass it underneath itself at the
original point of entry.
4. Come down over the tie block
again and wrap the end of the string around itself
in a figure eight type pattern.
5. Insert the other end of the
string down through the hole on the capstan.
6. Wrap the string around the
back and then underneath itself in order to secure
it in place.
7. As described above, begin
turning the key with your left hand while maintaining
some tension with the other until all the slack
is taken up. With a classical guitar you will
wind clockwise on the bass strings and the treble
strings.
8. Keep the string as straight
as possible as it continues from the capstan through
the nut and down onto the neck.
9. You should not have any excess
string length, but if you do, cut it off.
Electric Guitar-
Follow the same procedure as
described for the acoustic steel string guitar.
I hope you found this
information to be helpful. Remember, establishing
a good guitar care routine will insure many long
years of musical fun and enjoyment!
