How to Change Guitar Strings the Right Way | Stringjoy (2024)

FAQs

Is there a wrong way to restring a guitar? ›

Consequences of stringing the wrong way

Not only will you have to turn this tuner the 'wrong' way to tune up, the angle out of the nut is sharper and the string can get fouled or run against other tuners (neither of which is great for tuning). Don't do it this way.

String up the new string

At first you'll want to hold the string above the nut, then pull at the center of the string until there's about six inches between the string and the fret board. That's just enough slack for winding.

Changing strings on your guitar is easy to do. As a new player, it's common to be intimidated by this and have no idea how to do it. I've put together this quick guide with pictures so you can save time and money by changing your guitar strings yourself.

Guitar peg tuning basics

If your guitar has tuning pegs on both sides of the headstock, each side will be different. For pegs on the left, turn the peg towards you to tune the string down, turn the peg away from you to tune the string up. For pegs on the right, vice-versa.

A good rule of thumb when bending is the low three strings (E, A, D) should bend down towards the floor while the high three strings (G, B, E) should bend upwards towards the ceiling. The two most common string bends are the half-note bend and the whole-note bend.

The simple answer to this question is yes, you can string a guitar backwards. However, there are a few things to keep in mind if you're planning on doing this. First, reversing the order of the strings will result in the lowest string being on the bottom and the highest string being on the top.

If you've left the correct amount of slack, there should be two to three wraps on the heavier strings, and three to five at most on the thinner ones. Too many wraps can cause tuning problems, as it makes it more likely for the wraps to pile up on each other and not wind evenly around the post.

For standard, full-size humbuckers, a reasonable starting point for the bridge pickup is at least 1/16" (1.5mm) from the high E and 5/64" (2 mm) from the low E. There are no recommended distances for the other 4 strings.

Should I detune my guitar everyday? ›

There's really no reason to detune a guitar that you play regularly and, in fact, it would be pretty inconvenient if you had to completely retune it every time you wanted to pick it up and play.

Start with your low E string. Different guitars have different bridges and therefore have different ways of threading the string into the bridge. If you're restringing an acoustic, you'll need to put the ball end of the string through the bridge hole, then put the bridge pin back in on top of it. Push down firmly!

You want to start by stringing the low E string, and then the A string, then the D string, and so on. Winding the string is fairly simple once you have it threaded through the tuning peg.

Always tune the low E string first, remembering to start off flat and tune up to the desired pitch - if you overshoot, slacken off below the desired pitch and start again. Do this for each string in turn.

Is There a Rule of Thumb? Since strings wear out both from use and the passing of time, the magic rule for beginners is to change strings every 100 hours or 3 months—whichever comes first.

Even so, a seldom-played guitar will quickly acquire rusted strings because of humidity and moisture in the air. The average set of strings played by the average player may last around 90 days (about three months).

As guitar strings get heavier, they become more difficult to play and will tend to fight against our fingers a bit more. The best guitar strings for beginners are lighter in gauge, as they allow us to play more freely.

Over time guitar strings will degrade, be that through regular use or just the nature of being exposed to humidity and the air. So technically they do get get worse and go bad over time. But how well strings play or sound is subjective. Some people prefer to change their strings after every performance.

With the right technique, putting a new set of strings on your acoustic guitar is easy. Take your time to properly place the strings in the bridge - it's not difficult but many people don't know this trick - even professionals! Kink each string about 2-3cms from the ball.

Typically, you won't play all the string on the up strums. You'll want to pull away from the thickest strings. While you strum upwards, play the thinnest 3 or 4 strings. That will give a better sound and groove than it does when you hit all the strings.

Why is it so hard to bend strings on acoustic? ›

Strings on acoustic guitars are generally thicker than those on electric guitars, causing tension to build up. If the sound is too low, your acoustic guitar will be unable to sustain enough sustain to ring out notes. A few techniques can be used to bend guitar strings.

Based on the reading on the tuner, turn the string's tuning peg counter-clockwise to raise the pitch (most likely) or clockwise to lower it if it's too high. Repeat this and stop when the tuner reads the intended note.

Learning how to play guitar when you're a lefty isn't harder than when you're a righty. The only problem you'd have to figure out beforehand is how he or she is going to learn in the first place. Basically, left-handed kids have three options: – Play guitar like any right-handed person would do.

Keep Your Fretting Hand Rounded!

There should be no “angles” or strain on any joints in your hand and fingers. Keep your thumb straight. Very often guitar players bend the thumb of their fretting hand behind the guitar neck. Don't do it: keep your thumb straight.

If you've ever wondered if you can change guitar strings without a string winder, the answer is yes! While a string winder is a helpful tool that can make the process of changing strings a bit quicker, it's not necessary. All you need is a little patience and some basic guitar knowledge.

Anywhere between 2-4 windings will be plenty and, so long as you are restringing your guitar in a conventional way, this should ensure that you have enough tension in your string to maintain your tuning and avoid any string slippage.

After every 100 hours of playing your guitar, you should change the strings because they are getting used and worn. Another rule of thumb is every 3 months because even while they're not in use, they will wear with the elements and the moisture you left on it from your fingers when you played it last.

The 'E' strings will usually be referred to as 'First String' or 'High E' for the thinnest string, or 'Sixth string' – 'Low E' for the thickest one.

Electric guitars need to be “set up” to accommodate the changes in string size. That means, when you change strings, you usually need to adjust the guitar, too. The diameter (gauge) determines the string tension, which affects the truss rod (neck bow), action (string height), and intonation (string length).

Does it matter if you bend a string up or down? ›

A good rule of thumb when bending is the low three strings (E, A, D) should bend down towards the floor while the high three strings (G, B, E) should bend upwards towards the ceiling. The two most common string bends are the half-note bend and the whole-note bend.

Heavier strings have more mass, which means they will cause the guitar to sound louder. This is true of electric guitars, where there's a greater mass of oscillating metal in the pickup's magnetic field. It's also true of acoustic guitars, where more vibrating mass is driving the soundboard through the bridge.

Playing style causes guitar strings to break

Some younger beginners (specifically teen males) I've taught over the years tend to strum and pick far too hard. This doesn't only result in a bad sound, but it makes your strings more prone to breakage.

When strumming the A chord, you play only the first five strings. You don't play the thickest string. Sometimes, you'll make a mistake and hit the thickest string - an E!

Wipe down your strings after each playing session to help keep them free of grime and to prolong the natural oxidation process that breaks down the material of your strings over time.