How to Restring a Ukulele

So you bought a ukulele and played your heart out until you broke a string. It's time to restring, but you are at a loss for how to tie the knots and wind the pegs. Luckily, fixing that ukulele is a relatively simple task.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• New ukulele strings
• Lighter or match
• Scissors

1. Tie the end of the new string in a simple square knot, leaving about 1/4 inch of extra string at the end. Carefully melt down the extra length with a lighter or match so that it glues to the knot for added security. Slip the free end of the string through the string slot and drape it across the bridge.
2. Guide the string up the fingerboard to its tuning peg. Remember that pegs on the left side of the peg board turn counter clockwise, while those on the right turn clockwise. Slip the end of the string through the hole in the peg and wind the peg a full turn. Hold the string down firmly so that as you continue winding, the excess string wraps over the length of the string, holding it in place.
3. Use a simple overhand knot to tie the string to the peg if your ukulele does not have holes in the tuning pegs. When you have finished restringing your ukulele, trim the excess strings, tune and play.

Tips & Warnings

• Remove and then replace the strings of your ukulele one at a time, if possible. Oftentimes the bridge piece on a ukulele is held in place by the pressure of the strings and can fall out and become damaged if there are no strings to hold it.
• For more details on tying knots, see the related eHow articles entitled, "How to Tie a Square Knot" and "How to Tie an Overhand Knot."