Guitar Tips – When, Why And How To Change Guitar Strings
Every guitarist should know how to change guitar strings. This is one of the most basic maintenance skills and really not that difficult to learn. All you need is a right tool and a little know how. In this article we’ll talk about why, when, and how to replace guitar strings.
Let’s start with why and when. Why should you change strings on your guitar? The answer is simple – because they wear out. They become worn from use – playing puts big pressure on them. Plus there is dirt and oil from your hands.
How does all this effect the strings? It’s definitely not good for them. They become overstretched, rusty and greasy, which all means that they don’t sound the way they should. So how often and when do we replace them?
Of course you will replace a string, if it breaks. But you should never wait this long. Most beginner guitarists wait too long before they change their strings. You never wait for a string to break in order to change it.
It’s a good habit to do it every few months or so. Note that even if you are not actively playing, strings can still wear out. If you see rust on them, if your guitar doesn’t sound right, no matter how carefully you try to tune it, it’s time to change your strings.
Changing them is easy. All that you need is a set of replacement strings (goes without saying), pliers (to cut string ends), and a handy little tool called string winder. String winder is optional, but it will make your job much easier.
To replace an old string you unwind it from the tuning peg, remove the bridge pin from the guitar bridge and insert a new string. Then stretch it and tune it. The most difficult part in replacing a string is to get it in tune. If you’re a beginner, you might need some help with that.
Find out more by visiting how to change an acoustic guitar string or by learning about stringing an electric guitar.
