How to Change Strings on a Bass Guitar

Learning to change your bass guitar strings is part of basic maintenance for your instrument. Changing them properly has a direct effect on the quality of tone produced by your instrument. Whether you choose thin strings or prefer thick strings, changing them yourself saves you time and money.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Bass guitar
• Bass strings
• Wire cutters
• Electric tuner

1. Seat the ball at the bottom of the bridge and draw the string straight over. There is a saddle for each string on the bridge, located at the bottom of your guitar. Once the ball is snugly seated, draw it straight in its saddle.
2. Examine the back of your bass guitar. If there are holes, thread your strings through the holes. The ball at the end of the strings will prevent them from going all the way through.
3. Draw each string straight up the guitar and to it's appropriate tuning post. Keep the tension taunt so the string stays in it's saddle.
4. Wrap each string around its post from the inside. Each string should be wound directly onto the post rather than over any previously wound string. Remember that the fatter the string, the fewer times it will wind around the tuning post.
5. Cut off the excess wire with wire cutters. If you're not sure of where to cut your strings, match it up to the string you removed.
6. Secure the cut end of the string into the hole located at the top of your tuning post. Bend it back to a right angle and begin wrapping it around the tuning post. Keep the string taunt to stop it from slipping out of the saddle or unseating the ball at the bottom of the string.
7. Wind the string from the top down, making sure the string is straight and not angling off the nut.