How to Change Guitar Strings

Once you have become a practicing guitar player, you will soon realize that strings need to be replaced often. If they are hard to tune, discolored, broken, rusty or missing altogether, it is time for new ones. Follow the steps below for restringing a guitar.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Pliers
• Wire cutter

1. Lay the guitar on a flat surface in front of you where each part is easily accessible.
2. Loosen the string that needs to be replaced by turning the peg on the head of the guitar. Once it is loosened, uncoil the string completely with your fingers.
3. Remove the bridge pin at the bridge of the guitar, and pull the string through carefully. Discard the old string.
4. Slide the new string through the hole in the bridge until the bridge pin is in place. Pull the string toward the head of the guitar.
5. Bring the string to its turning peg, and bend the string with your fingers to 90-degree angle just past the peg. Poke the string through the hole in the turning peg.
6. Tighten the string by turning the peg gently counter-clockwise. Pluck the string every few seconds to avoid over tightening and stretching out the string. Create tension on the excess string with your other hand by pressing it down with your index finger while pulling up with the other fingers.
7. Tune the string while turning the peg gently. Tune the string to the other strings or by using a piano or electronic tuner. Clip the extra string with wire cutters. Tighten the ends with pliers.