Changing Guitar Strings
Its one of those chores that guitar players just must master! What is the task? Changing guitar strings of course. Yes, it sounds like an easy task doesn’t it, but a lot of people get it wrong. Their guitars are constantly out of tune every time they pick it up because they didn’t follow a few really easy steps. Its really annoying so lets go through what should be a simple and quick procedure.
How often should I change my strings?
The real question is, “how often do I change guitar strings?” It really depends on a couple factors.
If you play at home and you’re not paying often then you could change them every 6-12 months. If you play regularly then you want to consider every few weeks but if your playing in a band then before each gig is best for both the listeners and your confidence.
I personally made it a habit of changed strings before each gig.
I would play a gig then use them to practice till the next gig when I replaced them again. It just makes the whole sonic experience better. Its really immediately recognizable to me when the strings are new with the way they feel and sound.
How to change guitar strings
- Tools: Wire cutters – Machine head winder (If you have one) – Cloth – Fret board oil (Rosewood Fingerboards) – New strings – GUITAR TUNER.
- Get your new pack of strings and lay them out in front of you so you pick up the correct string for the one you are changing. Nothing worse then putting the wrong string in the incorrect position.
- I recommend loosening one string and replacing it at a time is popular but you can remove all of them one at a time if you want to wipe the fret board and re oil it if there is a need. Many packs of guitar strings like D’addario strings have the strings color coded so you can replace a red with a red for example and you wont get lost if your new at this.
- Once the string is loose you can cut it and remove it from the guitar. It is again just easier but if you want to remove it in once piece then that’s ok too.
- Pass the new string through the body of the guitar or the tail piece that holds the guitar. Pass it over the saddle ahead and feed the end of the string through the machine head. I pull the string through and cut the string approx. 1 ½ machine heads further on. This gives you enough string to put on the machine head and lock it without having a massive ball of string there.
- Once you have cut the string to length (You don’t have to if you want the rock look with strings poking people in the eye) Your Choice ok. Have the end poking through the machine head hole and wrap the string around then on the next time round as you wind it make sure the string pass over itself to make an X. This will lock the string in place for you.
- Once you have replaced all the strings tunes each string with a guitar tuner. Once they are all tuned pick the first one and pull it hard because it will slip as there is some slack at the machine head normally. Re tune this again and repeat by pulling the string up again. Repeat this on all strings then tune and let sit for a little while. It will likely go out of tune again then re tune. Its worth doing the string pulling experience a few time then they will stabilize and your job will be complete.
Play your guitar and check the tuning a few times again. If you play solos then play some scales and do some string bending and ensure all has remain in tune.
In the picture above you can see how to pass the string through and measure it.
How to lock the string by passing it over itself.
Using the very useful string winding tool to get the strings on and off fast.
