To change guitar strings, loosen the old string, remove it from the tuning peg and the bridge, thread the new string through the bridge, pull it to the tuning peg, wind it neatly, tune it to pitch, and stretch it gently, so it holds its tuning. Change one string at a time, so the neck tension stays balanced.
How do you change guitar strings?
To change guitar strings, loosen the old string, remove it from the tuning peg and the bridge, thread the new string through the bridge, pull it to the tuning peg, wind it neatly, tune it to pitch, and stretch it gently, so it holds its tuning. Change one string at a time, so the neck tension stays balanced, because the neck is under tension from the strings, and removing all six at once will release the tension, and the neck will move, and the guitar will need to be set up again. The strings should be changed regularly, because old strings sound dull, and they go out of tune, and they break, and new strings sound bright, and they hold their tuning, and they are easier to play. A player who plays every day should change the strings every month or two, and a player who plays less often should change them every three to six months, and the strings should be changed when they sound dull, or when they will not stay in tune, or when they are visibly worn, or rusty. The guitar tuner tunes the new strings, and the note frequency calculator shows the pitch of any note.
How changing guitar strings works
Changing a string works by removing the old string, and putting a new one in its place, with the right tension, so the string is in tune, and it holds its tuning. The old string is loosened, by turning the tuning peg, until it is slack, and then it is removed from the tuning peg, and from the bridge, and the new string is threaded through the bridge, and pulled to the tuning peg, and wound around the peg, neatly, with two or three winds, so the string does not slip, and the string is tuned to pitch, and stretched gently, by pulling it up, and retuning it, until it holds its tuning. The winding matters: the string should be wound neatly, around the peg, with the winds going down the peg, towards the headstock, so the string pulls down on the nut, and the nut holds the string in place, and the string does not slip. The string should be stretched gently, by pulling it up, away from the fretboard, and retuning it, several times, until it holds its tuning, because a new string stretches, and it will go flat, until it has been stretched, and the stretching is what makes it hold its tuning. The E major guitar chord and the A major guitar chord are the chords the new strings are built on.
Worked example — changing the high E string. Loosen the high E string, by turning the tuning peg, until it is slack, and remove it from the tuning peg, and from the bridge, and the old string is out. Thread the new high E string through the bridge, and pull it to the tuning peg, leaving a little slack, about two inches, and wind it around the peg, neatly, with two or three winds, going down the peg, towards the headstock, so the string pulls down on the nut. Tune the string to E4, 329.63 Hz, using the guitar tuner, and stretch it gently, by pulling it up, away from the fretboard, and retune it, several times, until it holds its tuning, and the string is changed, and the guitar sounds bright, because the new string is fresh.
How to practise changing guitar strings
Practise changing guitar strings one at a time, so the neck tension stays balanced, and the new strings are wound neatly, and stretched gently, so they hold their tuning.
- Change one string at a time, loosening the old string, removing it, threading the new string through the bridge, and winding it neatly around the peg.
- Wind the string neatly, with two or three winds, going down the peg, towards the headstock, so the string pulls down on the nut, and does not slip.
- Tune the new string to pitch, using the guitar tuner, and stretch it gently, by pulling it up, and retuning it, several times, until it holds its tuning.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major with the new strings, and listen for the chords to ring brightly, and the guitar to be in tune.
- Change the strings regularly, every month or two if you play every day, and every three to six months if you play less often, so the guitar always sounds bright.
Common mistakes
- Removing all six strings at once — The neck is under tension from the strings, and removing all six at once will release the tension, and the neck will move, and the guitar will need to be set up again. Change one string at a time, so the neck tension stays balanced.
- Winding the string sloppily — A string wound sloppily, with the winds overlapping, or going up the peg, will slip, and the string will go out of tune, because the winding is not holding it. Wind the string neatly, with two or three winds, going down the peg, so the string pulls down on the nut, and does not slip.
- Not stretching the new strings — A new string stretches, and it will go flat, until it has been stretched, and a player who does not stretch it will have to retune constantly, because the string keeps going flat. Stretch the string gently, by pulling it up, and retuning it, several times, until it holds its tuning.
Quick reference
This table shows the steps to changing a guitar string, with what to do and why, so you can see the process at a glance. Each step has a reason, and the reasons are the tension, the winding, and the stretching, and the steps together make the string change cleanly.
| Step | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Loosen the old string | Turn the peg until slack | So it can be removed |
| 2. Remove it | From the peg and the bridge | So the new string can go in |
| 3. Thread the new string | Through the bridge, to the peg | So it is in place |
| 4. Wind it neatly | 2–3 winds, down the peg | So it does not slip |
| 5. Tune and stretch | Tune, pull up, retune | So it holds its tuning |
Use the table to change your strings: work through the steps, one at a time, changing one string at a time, so the neck tension stays balanced, and the new strings are wound neatly, and stretched gently. When you can change a string in a few minutes, you have the skill, and the guitar will always sound bright.
Frequently asked questions
How do I change guitar strings?
Loosen the old string, remove it from the tuning peg and the bridge, thread the new string through the bridge, pull it to the tuning peg, wind it neatly, tune it to pitch, and stretch it gently, so it holds its tuning. Change one string at a time.
How often should I change guitar strings?
Every month or two, if you play every day, and every three to six months, if you play less often, and when the strings sound dull, or will not stay in tune, or are visibly worn, or rusty, because old strings sound dull, and new strings sound bright.
Should I change all the strings at once?
No, change one string at a time, so the neck tension stays balanced, because the neck is under tension from the strings, and removing all six at once will release the tension, and the neck will move.
How do I stretch new strings?
Pull the string up, gently, away from the fretboard, and retune it, several times, until it holds its tuning, because a new string stretches, and it will go flat, until it has been stretched, and the stretching is what makes it hold its tuning.
What strings should I buy?
The strings that fit your guitar, acoustic strings for an acoustic guitar, electric strings for an electric guitar, and nylon strings for a classical guitar, and the gauge that suits your playing, light for easier playing, and medium for a fuller sound.