Stringing Acoustic Guitar - How to String an Acoustic Guitar

Stringing acoustic guitars can be a troublesome task for those who are just learning to play the guitar. However, beginners can change guitar strings in very little time, and that too without going to the musical instruments store if they come to know how the strings are actually changed. Guitar strings are very important parts of the guitar that need to be changed periodically.

Why to String a Guitar Periodically?

After using the guitar regularly, the strings become dirty due of the fingers' sweat which causes them to produce a blunt sound. For a clear sound, the guitar needs to be stringed with good quality strings. If the strings are not changed for a while, they can even get rusty and have an adverse effect on the overall sound quality and tone of the guitar. Some guitar manufacturers recommend that one should string his guitar after 30 hours of playing.

How to String an Acoustic Guitar?

The first step would be to remove the old strings from the guitar. For this purpose, you first need to unwind and detune the strings. For unwinding a particular string, hold the tuning key and turn it in a clockwise direction (if the string is on the left of the guitar's head), or counterclockwise (if the string is on the right of the guitar's head). While you do so, the string tension will keep decreasing and the tone will keep lowering. Carry out the same procedure for all strings until all are loosened enough to be removed.

You then need to unwrap the strings one by one from their respective tuning heads and separate them from the guitar head. Now you would need to remove the strings from the other end of the guitar, that is the bridge. Typical acoustic guitars generally consist of a nut, a circular elongated part which is inserted in the bridge's hole to secure the strings and prevent them from coming out of the bridge while playing the guitar. To remove the strings' ringed ends, you need to remove the nuts from the bridge holes. The nuts are generally very tight, so you may be required to use a plier to take them out. After the nuts are out from their holes, you may easily remove the old strings.

The next step is to put the new strings. Make sure you purchase good quality strings for your guitar. It's always recommended to use branded acoustic guitar strings which are of good quality. Check if you are using the right string for the right place. Many a times it happens mostly with beginners that they put the 'b' string in place of the first string, instead of 'e'. The string number and name would be printed on the package of the string though.

For putting a new string, you need to insert the end of a string, which has a kind of a ring into the respective bridge hole. Ensure that it is inserted correctly and then put the nut into the hole. Press the nut hard to assure that it is fixed appropriately in the hole, holding the string tightly to the bridge. Carry out this procedure for all strings.

Put the other end of the string in the machine post's hole and pull the end a little bit. But ensure that you keep a little slack, so that when you tighten the string, it comfortably coils around the machine post at least two times without much tension. Once there is an appropriate slack, hold the end of the string and start turning the tuning key in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction depending on the string's side on the guitar head. Repeat this procedure for all strings and tighten them incompletely. Use a tuner to tune them perfectly in the standard scale.

How to string an acoustic guitar is an achievable task once you are aware of how to carry out the process. You will certainly master this skill after few string changing sessions. And then let the music flow for everyone to enjoy.