Changing Your Guitar Strings
Jump To: Electric Guitar | Acoustic Guitar | Floyd Rose Guitar
Changing Strings On Your Electric Guitar
You will need:
Strings (of course!), String winder, String cutters and if you'd like – a polishing cloth.
1. Loosen the old strings and remove them. It may help to clip them at the nut after loosening them so they won't get tangled in the bridge when removing them.
2. Now is a great time clean and polish your guitar and fretboard.
3. I start with the low strings first. Un-loop the new string and thread it through the bridge. Repeat with all the remaining strings.
4. Starting with the low E once again, thread the string through the running peg/machine head and pull the string through.
5. Now, pull the string back about 2-2 1/2" so there will be ample windings on the turning post. You want to have at least two full wraps around the tuning post. I grip the string with my right hand and leverage the string (pin it to the fret board) with my index finger as shown. For a 3 tuners per side headstock, I keep the tension on the strings with my left hand (as shown) and wind with my right hand.
6. Hopefully using a string winder, wind the string to a 90-degree angle.
7. Bend the string as shown creating a sort of "lock" on the tuning post.
8. Now keeping tension on both ends with right hand, keep winding. As you are winding, make sure that the strings are properly slotted in the nut and the bridge.
9. Wind until the string pulls out of your hand and is able to make a pitch.
10. Repeat with all the strings.
11. Give all of the strings a decent stretch along the length of the string.
12. Clip the excess strings close to the tuning posts.
13. Now tune them all to pitch and rock on!
Changing the Strings On Your Acoustic Guitar
You will need:
Strings (of course!), String winder, String cutters and if you'd like – a polishing cloth.
1. Loosen the old strings and remove them. To remove the bridge pins, use a special bridge pin tool. (Some string winders have a notch on the side specially designed to lift the bridge pins.)
2. Now is a great time clean and polish your guitar and fretboard.
3. I start with the low strings first. Un-loop the new string and insert the ball end into the peg hole just about an inch. With the slot facing the string, squeeze the bridge pin back in place pressing with your thumb. Repeat with all remaining strings.
4. Starting with the low E once again, thread the string through the running peg/machine head and pull the string through.
5. Now, pull the string back about 2-2 1/2" so there will be ample windings on the turning post. You want to have at least two full wraps around the tuning post. I grip the string with my right hand and leverage the string (pin it to the fret board) with my index finger as shown. For a 3 tuners per side headstock, I keep the tension on the strings with my left hand (as shown) and wind with my right hand.
6. Hopefully using a string winder, wind the string to a 90-degree angle
.7. Bend the string as shown creating a sort of "look" on the turning post.
8. Now keeping tension on both ends with right hand, keep winding. As you are winding, make sure that the strings are properly slotted in the nut and the bridge.
9. Wind until the string pulls out of your hand and is able to make a pitch.
10. Repeat with all the strings.
11. Give all of the strings a decent stretch along the length of the string.
12. Clip the excess strings close to the tuning posts.
13. Now tune them all to pitch and rock on!
Changing The Strings On Your Floyd Rose
You will need:
Strings (of course!), String winder, String cutters, one or two Allen wrenches (probably a 3mm and perhaps another of a different size), and if you'd like – a polishing cloth. I also use a large eraser to stabilize the bridge since it is recessed into the body. You can try this trick too if you'd like.
1. Stabilize the bridge by sliding the eraser under the bridge (optional).
2. Unlock the clamp at the nut with the Allen wrench.
3. Unwind and loosen the old strings.
4. Unlock the clamp at the bridge as shown, release the strings from the bridge and remove them.
5. Now is a great time to polish your guitar and fretboard.
6. I start with the low strings first. I also use a common reverse threading technique. Un-loop the new string and thread it through the tuning post, then the nut lock if necessary. Pull the string all the way through.
7. Now clip the strings just about an inch past the fine tuners.
8. Fit the string end into the slot in the bridge as shown and clamp it down. Repeat with all strings.
9. Now wind the strings until they make a pitch.
10. Replace the nut clamps/ locks.
11. Give all the strings a decent stretch along the length of the string.
12. Now tune up and remove the eraser/ bridge block.
13. Lock down the clamp at the nut and rock on!
