How to Tune, Clean, and Restring a Guitar
Cleaning, tuning and restringing a guitar are among the basic skills any guitarist should acquire. Although there are thousands of models by dozens of manufacturers, the majority of guitars have the same basic structure and maintenance requirements. While some guitars have unique varnishes or rare hardwoods that require special consideration, the basic procedures apply in most cases. Be sure to read any documentation that came with your guitar.
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Things You'll Need
- Chromatic tuner
- Soft, damp cloth
- Soft, dry cloth
- #0000-grade steel wool
- New strings
- Wire cutters
Instructions
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Tune the Guitar
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Loosen all strings by turning the tuning pegs clockwise. Loosen them until they lose pitch completely, but not enough that the ball end of the strings lift out of their tone-peg holes.
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Tune each string in turn, starting from the middle. Standard tuning, from lowest to highest, is E, A, D, G, B and E. Using a chromatic tuner for reference, begin with the D and G strings. As you approach the correct pitch, turn the tuning peg in small, smooth increments to prevent strain on the string, which helps it stay tuned longer.
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Tune the A and B strings using the chromatic tuner. Beginning at the middle of the fretboard and moving outward helps to keep the guitar's neck stable. Guitar necks are designed to bend very slightly with the tension of the strings. If you begin with an outside string, the neck will pull minutely in that direction, which can throw off the tuning of subsequent strings.
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Tune the low- and high-E strings using the chromatic tuner. Once they've reached the correct pitch, check each string against the tuner again and make any necessary fine adjustments.
Clean the Guitar
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Use a soft, damp cloth to wipe down the body of the guitar. Varnishes vary, but all guitar varnishes can safely handle water as long as it isn't left to sit on the surface. The cloth should be wrung out thoroughly before you begin.
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Wipe away any moisture with a soft, dry cloth. This procedure will usually produce good results, but you may go a step further and use furniture polish on some guitars, as the varnishes are typically the same as used on furniture. However, it's best to check the guitar's documentation or the manufacturer for advice on chemical safety. It's also very important to avoid getting chemicals on any part of the guitar where the underlying wood is exposed due to chipping of the varnish.
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With strings removed, use steel wool to gently scrub each fret. Be absolutely certain that you are using the finest-grain steel wool available, which is referred to as #0000 grade. Once the frets are scrubbed, gently scrub away any oil or dirt buildup between frets. Because a certain amount of oil retention is necessary for playing action, it's generally not recommended to use any chemicals on the fretboard. If necessary, however, you can use a non-silicone furniture polish to help remove any buildup.
Restring the Guitar
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Loosen all strings completely. They should be hanging loose so that they don't snap out of the tone-peg holes when the tone peg is removed.
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Remove all six tone pegs and gently pull the ball end of each string out of its tone-peg hole. Beginning with low E, gently unwind and remove each string from its tuning peg. Discard the used strings.
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Insert the ball end of the new low-E string into its tone-peg hole. Insert the tone peg for that hole, making sure that the groove in the peg faces the headstock of the guitar. Do this with each string, from lowest to highest. Make sure the tone peg is securely seated so that the ball end doesn't pop out while tuning.
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Wrap the low-E string once around its corresponding tuning peg, leaving some slack. Thread the loose end through the tuning-peg hole and pull it taut. You want the string to bend slightly around the edge of the tuning peg, creating a tight loop that will not shift while tuning. Do this for each string, from lowest to highest.
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Turn each tuning peg so that the strings wrap completely around a second time. Cut away all excess string above the tuning peg with the wire cutters, leaving no more than about 1/2 inch. You can now tune the guitar as normal.
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Tips & Warnings
Always be sure to check with the manufacturer when deciding whether to use anything other than water to clean your guitar.
References
Resources
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