Stringing a Classical Guitar

One of the most important guitar lessons that novices would have to take is stringing a guitar. Since it is suggested to start out with learning the acoustic guitar first, knowing how to string an acoustic guitar is very crucial. Stringing the guitar in the correct manner is essential for properly securing the strings on the body, which eventually helps in exact tuning. While restringing a classical guitar, you need to keep the following considerations in mind.

Restringing a Classical Guitar

Conventionally, a classical guitar is an acoustic guitar which is played with nylon strings. Classical guitars do not have plugs on the bridge to secure strings. You simply need to tie the strings over the bridge and make knots around themselves. Moreover, the nylon strings also do not have ball ends which would help the strings to be secured on the bridge. Putting strings onto the headstock is also a matter to be paid attention to.

At the Bridge's End
The initial step is to take out the old strings by loosening the tuning pegs. Remember that since classical guitars do not have a truss rod in the neck, it is better not to loosen all strings in one go and give a sudden tension on the neck. Therefore, it is suggested to remove a single string, replace it with a new one and then move on to the remaining strings. After one string is removed, take the respective new string and insert one end through the hole in the bridge and take it out from the other side. The string part coming out from the hole should be around two inches long.

You will now have to start tying the string in the traditional 'knot' pattern. Hold the two-inch part of the string, take it up over the bridge, and then under the string part which has gone inside the hole. After tucking it under the string part which has gone inside the hole, you need to take the string end and insert it in the string loop over the bridge and secure it. For fourth, fifth, and sixth strings; you need to coil the string to itself about two times. Whereas, for the other three strings, the number of coils should be three. Pulling both sides of the string will secure them appropriately.

Another method is to directly tie knots at the ends of the strings at the bridge. If you use this method, the strings won't be seen coming over the bridge. Simply make sure that the knots at the ends do not loosen or come out during strumming. To prevent the strings loosening, you can use small beads as string gaskets. This was all about stringing the classical guitar at the bridge's end.

At the Headstock
Tuning the guitar at the headstock follows the same pattern as stringing at the bridge. Insert the end of the string in the hole on the tuning peg, leaving some slack for tuning. Take it under from where it came in, and pull back again for securing properly. Now, using the loose slack, turn the pegs for tightening and tuning the strings. You can use an acoustic guitar tuner for getting them all in tune. Once done, cut the remaining ends of the strings on the bridge as well as the headstock.

This is some general information on stringing classical guitars. Since nylon strings are subjected to high flexibility, you might find it difficult to get the strings in tune immediately after restringing. It is recommended to use only nylon strings on classical guitars, and not steel ones. Trying to use steel strings will damage the neck badly.