How to Stretch Guitar Strings

Stretching guitar strings after restringing a guitar helps to keep a guitar in tune and lessens the amount of times tuning. Stretching guitar strings is an easy step that can be completed by aspiring and expert guitar players alike. Take your guitar to a professional when you have questions or concerns about stretching your guitar strings.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Things You’ll Need:

• Electronic guitar tuner

1. Restring the guitar. Tune the guitar by using your ear or an electronic tuner. Purchase electronic guitar tuners at your local music shop.
2. Lay your guitar flat on your lap or on another surface. Place your finger on the first guitar string, between the fourth and fifth frets. Use a finger on the other hand to pull up on the first guitar string at the bottom of the fret board. Repeat this for all of the strings.
3. Slide your first hand down to the twelfth fret. Put your finger on the first string, and lift the string away from the fret board in the same manner as for the first fret. Repeat this on all of the strings.
4. Move your first hand to the seventeenth fret. Repeat the process on each of the strings in this position.
5. Stretch the guitar strings on any of the frets, according to your preference. Stretch the strings in a minimum of two positions for the best results.
6. Use your ear or an electric guitar tuner to tune the guitar a second time. Stretch your guitar strings every time you put new strings on your guitar. Only stretch the replaced strings when you are replacing individual strings on the guitar.