How To Changing Your Guitar Strings

Changing guitar strings can be quite confusing in the beginning – not as easy as you thought it would be! But in fact, it is really very simple and is an extremely important procedure when it comes to maintaining your guitar. However, before you actually get started, there are a few things you need to consider first, they are:

• Which is the right way to turn the tuning keys so as to tighten or loosen the strings.
• How should they be aligned from the nut all the way to the bridge?
• Where is the heaviest string?

Noting these points down will probably help save you some time and frustration while making your job a whole lot easier.

Firstly, before you start with the process you have to remove the old strings so that your guitar undergoes a thorough cleaning. If you have never removed the strings before and are unsure as to how to g about doing this, then you should probably take them out one at a time for convenience. Once you get the hang of this, your confidence levels will grow and you wont need any outside help.

For an Acoustic Guitar

If you own an acoustic guitar, then you should get acoustic guitar strings to start off. Start by bending the ball end of the acoustic guitar string lightly and then place it within the hole right below the bridge. Many acoustic guitars don’t tend to have pins so all you have to do is pull the string through the hole. On the other hand, if the guitar has a pin then you should line the strings up with any of the grooves in the pin and insert this pin inside the hole while making sure it is tight and secure.

Now, take the free end of the string and put it into the hole, which is on the capstan. Pull the string through the hole a leave a fair amount of it slack between the bridge and the capstan. At the point where the string comes through the capstan, always bend it to make sure it is secure. With your left hand, start turning the key, and watch out for your eyes! While you are winding the key, apply a little tension to the string in order to keep it taught. Make sure you are winding the key in the right direction. For the bass strings, you should wind the key counter clockwise and for the treble strings, it should be wound in the opposite direction. Keep winding each string until all of them are taught. Cut of any excessive length.

For a Classical Guitar

If it is a classical guitar that you own, then start by getting classical guitar strings. Insert the string inside the hole that is located right below the bridge. Make sure you pull around 3 inches of the string through. Bring the string up right over the tie block and pass it beneath itself from where it has entered. Take a turn and pull it over the tie block again and the end should be wrapped around itself, making a figure eight pattern.
Now, insert the free end of the string through the hole in the capstan. First, make sure the string is wrapped around the back and then I should be wrapped around itself to secure it. Then start turning the key with the left hand and maintain some tension with the right hand until the string is nice and taught. However, with a classical guitar the bass strings and treble strings are both wound clockwise. There shouldn’t be any excessive length of string remaining, but if there happens to be any then cut it off.

The guitar strings should always be kept as straight as possible when they are brought through the capstan and down to the neck. This is all there is to know about changing guitar strings. Even though it sounds confusing, it isn’t really.