How to Make Your Guitar Easier to Play With the String Tension

Lower the string height to make your guitar easier to play.

You can make your guitar's string tension easier to play by lowering the string height, or action, of your guitar. By making the strings closer to the fret board, they will be much easier to play. This is because you will have a smaller distance to stretch the strings when forming chords or playing single notes. Changing the string height on your guitar can be done in a few minutes with the help of a screwdriver or an Allen wrench.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• Allen wrench

Instructions

1. Remove the strings from your guitar if they impair you from reaching the screws that determine the height of your strings. Otherwise, leave the strings on your guitar. These screws are located in the bridge of your guitar.

2. Tighten each height screw in order to lower the string height of each string. Depending on the type of guitar you play, this will require either a screwdriver or an Allen wrench.

3. Restring your guitar if you removed the strings, and test the string height. The guitar should be easier to play, making the string tension seem much less difficult to hold down. However, if you lower the string height too low it can buzz against the frets or pickups of your guitar.

References

• Gregs Guitar: Make Your Guitar Easier To Play
• Tune My Bass: Bass Guitar String Height.