How To Restring A Guitar
Need help to restring your guitar let us show you how with these great videos that give you step by step advice and get you playing in no time.
How To Restring Your Guitar
By Nic Red
There are many reasons guitar strings need replacing. They get worn out. This happens more quickly the more often you play. It also has a lot to do with your body chemistry. Sweat is acidic and can cause them to blacken and lose their shine, they will eventually break. Wiping them down with a cloth after playing can extend the life of your strings.
Guitar strings should be replaced every three months. You should also replace them if they lose their sharpness or clarity, become blackened or rusted and if your guitar won’t stay in tune. Classical strings (nylon) don’t break as often as steel. You will get the most enjoyment from playing your guitar if you regularly change your strings as this keeps your guitar sounding fresh and sharp!
Work on a clean flat surface. It helps to put a towel down to prevent the body of the guitar from being scratched. Support the neck of the guitar with a rolled up towel or a support device. First you will need to remove the old strings from your guitar. Do this by slowly turning the tuning keys clockwise to loosen them. They should be loose enough that they wont snap when you cut them. Use a pair of wire cutters to cut the strings in the middle (around the sound hole). Do this to all six.
Remove the strings by unwinding them from the tuning keys and pull them from the holes with a pair of needle-nosed pliers, use the same pliers to loosen them from the bridge. Steel string guitars have bridge pins holding the strings in place, these can be removed by twisting and pulling them gently with the pliers.
To Put The New Ones On
Check your packet of guitar strings so you are sure you know which is which. Most have colour coded ends to show which string it is. Insert each one into the bridge in the correct order. Take the end of the string and place it in the groove of the bridge pin. Press the bridge pin down and then give your string a slight tug to make sure it is locked in place. If you have a classical guitar the strings can be secured to the bridge with a fairly basic knot.
Start with the low E (the thickest string). Pull it through the first tuning key. Leave enough slack just below the key to ensure it can make a maximum of three wraps around the tuning key. Cut off the excess string. Now turn the tuning key to tighten, counterclockwise for the top three strings and clockwise for the bottom three. Be careful not to make them too tight. Repeat all of the above with the rest of your strings, working your way from the thickest string to the thinnest.
Now you are ready to stretch your new strings, this is necessary because new strings can at first be a bit tight and so cannot stay in tune. To do this, first tune your guitar. Starting with your low E string, firmly pull the it away from the body of the guitar, around the middle. Now tune to pitch. Stretch it again and again re-tune it. Stretch and re-tune until the string remains in tune. Repeat with the other five strings.
Your guitar is now ready to be played!
As soon as you pick up a guitar and pluck your first string you are a guitarist, but to become a great guitar player you need to sacrifice your time and energy for the love of music.
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