How to Replace Strings on a Classical Guitar

The classical guitar differs in several ways from the more familiar steel string acoustic. One difference is that classical guitars use nylon strings, which have a mellower sound than the steel strings on other types of guitars. The strings on a guitar that is played daily gradually lose their elasticity and resonance, and need to be replaced to maintain optimum tone on the instrument.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Small wire cutters
• Peg turner

1. Identify E, the lowest bass string. Loosen the tuning peg for this string, and clip it with the wire cutters. Untie the bridge end of the string and remove it; unwind the peg end of the string and remove it.
2. Remove the new bass E string from its packet. Observe the loosely wound flexible end that will tie to the bridge, and the stiff end that will wind around the tuning peg.
3. Make a slight bend in the stiff end and pass it through the hole in the bridge. Draw the string through the bridge until the stiff end is up by the tuning pegs.
4. Allow about 3 inches of string to extend beyond the bottom of the bridge. Bring this free end around and under the string just below the saddle of the bridge.
5. Draw the free end through the resulting loop and pull it down so that it is below the back corner of the bridge. Holding the end down so that it will not come up over the bridge, pull the string to tighten this knot. The string is now tied to the bridge and will remain held there by the tension on the string.
6. Move to the tuning pegs at the head of the guitar. Poke this end of the string through the hole in the appropriate tuner for that string. Leave slack in the string so that there is plenty to wrap around the tuner.
7. Pass the free end of the string around the tuner and under itself. Using the peg winder, turn the peg to wind the string until is tight. You are now ready to tune the string. Use wire cutters to clip the excess string from both ends.

Tips & Warnings

• At the bridge end of the strings, pass a bit of the excess end of the string under the string next to it below the back corner of the bridge. This will hold the tied ends securely and it looks tidy.
• New strings will stretch considerably, more so that will new steel strings. After the new string is in place, stretch it gently from the middle and retune. Do this several times.
• Note that when you tie the upper 3 strings, which are not wound, to the bridge you will need to wrap the string through the loop a second time in order to hold it in place. These strings are much more likely to slip than the wound bass strings.
• Do not clip a string with wire cutters until you have loosened it a bit at the tuning peg. The strings are tensed. If cut, they can snap up and cause injury to your face or eyes.