Steps to Change Guitar Strings

Guitar strings are metals like bronze, steel or nickel. The last three strings (G, B, E, notations) of an acoustic or a Spanish guitar, are made up of nylon. Many beginners find it very difficult and intimidating to change strings. A little practice however, helps in mastering the process. It is very essential to know, how to change strings because, it is to be speedily done if the string breaks or turns out-of-tune, during a concert.

Steps to Change Guitar Strings

The first step to change guitar strings for your instrument is to remove the old and worn out strings. For this purpose, all you need to is to remove all the tension slowly from the strings. The neck of a guitar is a delicate piece of wood, hence one must be very careful while removing strings. If done hastily, the wood of the neck warps considerably. This damage is not realized instantly or immediately after the string has been removed but, a curve appears in the neck and the tone of the guitar is affected considerably in the long run. After the strings have been completely slacked, remove the strings from both the tuning posts and the brackets, where the other end of the sting is held down.

The next step is to thoroughly, clean the guitar. Dust and dirt accumulated on the guitar not only affects the tonal quality but, also affects the health of the guitar and its wood. Hence, it is very important to clean the whole guitar before putting on the new strings. Many a times a large amount of dirt is accumulated on the fret board. This dirt considerably deteriorates the pleasant tone. Cleaning this dirt from between the frets is also important.

A standard new guitar string has a small metallic ball attached to its end. The metallic ball has to be bent a little and is to be inserted into the small hole that is a part of the bridge. Some of the guitars also have a small peg to cap the hole and hold down the string. One has to be very careful while putting in the cap, and must ensure that the metallic ball does not come out of the hole. The next step is to put the string in the hole of the tuning post. Put the running end of the string in the hole of the tuning post, and twine the string once around the tuning post. Then use a wider and turn the tuning key in a clockwise direction. The tuning key is supposed to be turned in a clockwise direction, while winding the last three strings (G, B, E tuning strings). The next three strings that are commonly known as the bass strings (E, A, D tuning) are to be wound up in a counter-clockwise direction.

The same process is to be followed, while changing the strings of an electric guitar and also a bass guitar. However, if all the tuning keys on the head of the guitar are located on the upper side of the tuning head, then you need to follow a counter clock-wise winding process. While changing the string of guitars like that of the Fender Stratocaster, the winding is to be done in counter clock-wise directions. If the winding is done in a clock-wise direction for such guitars, the tuning keys are damaged severely in the long run.

It is highly recommended that the the guitar strings are changed regularly after a time period of about 3 months, 6 months or an year, depending upon the make of the strings. The process has to be done carefully to ensure that the guitar provides its best possible tone, when played.