How to Adjust Guitar Strings
Guitar strings can be adjusted to improve two main factors, intonation and string action. Intonation is a string's ability to stay in tune over the length of the neck, while action refers to the height of the string from the fret board. While intonation is an important fix to make your guitar sound great, string action is more commonly adjusted to a musician's preference, unless string height is so low the strings buzz against the fret board.
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Things You'll Need
- Electric tuner
- Phillips head screwdriver
- 1/16 inch hex key
- 0.012 inch to 0.120 inch double-edged file set
- Ruler
Instructions
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Adjusting String Action
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1
Measure the string height of the top and bottom strings at the 12th fret. Use a ruler to determine the vertical distance from the top of the fret to the bottom of the string. Use the height measurement from the fingerboard to establish a baseline.
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2
Raise or lower the bridge saddle for the bottom (low E) string. In a standard electric guitar bridge saddle, there will be a small, post screw on each side of the string that can be adjusted from the top of the saddle with a standard 1/16 hex key.
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3
Turn the screws clockwise to raise the string and counterclockwise to lower the string. Set each screw to an equal height. A good starting point to set this string is 2.00 mm. Adjust the height of the top (high E) string. A good starting point is 1.5 mm.
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4
Proceed to adjust the middle strings from low to high so that their heights generally match the two outside strings.
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5
Play across the length of the neck to test your adjustments for comfort and listen for string buzz. Because of different gauge strings, playing styles, and guitar necks, these starting points may need to be raised or lowered. Repeat Steps 2 through 4 until the strings are adjusted to a comfortable height without any buzz.
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6
In some cases, the action of the strings close to the nut may be too high to be easily adjusted with the saddle screws. Use a small file to gradually deepen the string grooves in the nut to lower the height of the strings near the lower frets.
Adjusting String Intonation
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7
Tune your guitar to normal playing pitch using an electric tuner. Tune your guitar to the most common tuning you use if it is something other than standard.
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8
Starting with one of the outside strings, play the harmonic at the 12th fret and then the fretted 12th fret note. Adjust the length of the string at the bridge if there is a difference in pitch between the two notes. Most electric guitars will take a Phillips head screwdriver to change the position of a saddle in the bridge.
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9
If the fretted note is sharper than the harmonic, lengthen the string by turning the screw clockwise. If the fretted note is flat, shorten the string by turning the screw counterclockwise. Check the tuning of the fretted note and harmonic frequently.
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10
Repeat Steps 2 through 3 until you have adjusted each string's intonation.
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1
Tips & Warnings
An accurate electric strobe tuner will provide the best result when setting the intonation of your guitar.
If it is difficult to set the string height and intonation without extreme adjustments, there may be adjustments needed to your guitars neck. Consult the guitar technician at your local music shop for advice.
While most of these adjustments are reversible, be careful and work slowly when filing the nut. If you file the grooves too deep, the nut will have to be filled or replaced.
