How to Restring a Violin
To properly care for your violin it is important that you replace the strings once every six months. This will prevent the strings from fraying or breaking at inopportune moments. Restringing a violin is not complicated, but it can be intimidating if it is your first time. Rest assured that if you are careful, follow the proper instructions and take your time, you will not harm your violin during the process of restringing.
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Instructions
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Remove the old G string. To do this, find the lower peg on the left side of the scroll and twist it toward the body of the violin. Loosen it slowly until the string is no longer held by the peg. Then remove the string from the fine-tuner aperture.
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Add the new G string. To do this, gently twist the G string peg until you see a small hole. Insert the tip of the threaded end of the string into hole. Carefully twist the peg away from the body of the violin two or three times. Place the small bulb on the other end of the string into the fine-tuner aperture. Return to the peg and twist it away from the body of the violin until the string is secure, but not overly tight.
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3
Remove the old D string. To do this, find the top peg on the left side of the scroll and twist it toward the body of the violin. Loosen it slowly until the string is no longer held by the peg. Then remove the string from the fine-tuner aperture.
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4
Add the new D string. To do this, gently twist the D string peg until you see a small hole. Insert the tip of the threaded end of the string into hole. Carefully twist the peg away from the body of the violin two or three times. Place the small bulb on the other end of the string into the fine-tuner aperture. Return to the peg and twist it away from the body of the violin until the string is secure, but not overly tight.
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5
Remove the old A string. To do this, find the upper peg on the right side of the scroll and twist it toward the body of the violin. Loosen it slowly until the string is no longer held by the peg. Then remove the string from the fine-tuner aperture.
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6
Add the new A string. To do this, gently twist the A string peg until you see a small hole. Insert the tip of the threaded end of the string into hole. Carefully twist the peg away from the body of the violin two or three times. Place the small bulb on the other end of the string into the fine-tuner aperture. Return to the peg and twist it away from the body of the violin until the string is secure, but not overly tight.
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7
Remove the old E string. To do this, find the lower peg on the right side of the scroll and twist it toward the body of the violin. Loosen it slowly until the string is no longer held by the peg. Then remove the string from the fine-tuner aperture.
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8
Add the new E string. To do this, gently twist the E string peg until you see a small hole. Insert the tip of the threaded end of the string into hole. Carefully twist the peg away from the body of the violin two or three times. Place the small bulb on the other end of the string into the fine-tuner aperture. Return to the peg and twist it away from the body of the violin until the string is secure, but not overly tight.
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9
Tune the violin using a tuner. If you do not have a tuner, you can also use a piano or metronome to play an A. Be prepared to tune it several times before all the strings will remain in tune.
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Tips & Warnings
Keep a spare set of strings on hand just in case one of them breaks.
If you find that you are unable to restring your violin, most music shops will perform this service for you.
Do not remove all the strings from your violin at once. This will cause the bridge to slide out of place and could even cause the sound post to fall. Replace your strings one at a time to prevent this from happening.
References
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