How to Change an Electric Guitar String

Changing your electric guitar strings is easy. Anyone can do it, and once you know how, you'll be able to do it quickly. Choose electric guitar strings, because there is a difference between acoustic, classical and electric guitar strings. If you're not sure which kind to get, ask for help at the music store when purchasing your strings. Guitar strings come in gauges, and the lower the gauge, the thinner the string. Gauge is determined by diameter of the high E string.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• One pack of electric guitar strings
• String winder (optional)
• Wire cutters

Changing the Strings

1. Starting with a strung guitar, unwind the low E string with the tuning peg on the headstock of your guitar, turning clockwise until the string is loose. You can use the string winder or your hand. Pull the string through the hole in the tuning peg. At the base of your guitar is the guitar tremelo system, usually a bar with holes where the strings are kept taut. Pull the end of the string with the ball on it out of the hole, and thread string off the guitar.

2. Choose the highest gauge string from your pack. That is the low E string. It looks like the one you just took off. Unwind it and thread the end without the ball through the hole on the guitar tremelo system until the ball catches on the hole.

3. Thread the string through the hole in the tuning peg. You can bend the string coming out of the hole away from the guitar to make this part easier. Put your fingers on either side of the hole to keep the string in place as you turn the tuning peg counter-clockwise. When the string is tight, make sure it fits into the appropriate notch at the base of the headstock.

4. Clip off the excess string coming out of the tuning peg with wire cutters.

5. Repeat these steps for each string on your guitar.

Tips & Warnings

• There are many different kinds of electric guitars, and some may have different methods of changing the strings. This is a basic guide.

References

• How To Change Guitar Strings