Changing guitar strings doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming.
There are 3 important things you should understand before you change your strings.
Each step can be completed in about a minute, if you know what you’re doing…
- Removing Old, Tired Strings
- Choosing and Installing New Strings
- Tuning and Stretching Your Strings
Step One: Removing Old, Tired Guitar Strings
Loosen each tuning peg until you can remove the string from it. Simply use your fingers to turn each tuning peg (in the proper direction of course) …or you can get one of these string winding tools to speed up the process.
Once you’ve ‘unwound’ all of your guitar strings, its time to remove them at the other end (the bridge of your guitar).
On an electric guitar, you simply slide each string out from the bridge of your guitar.
But you’ll need some tools if you want to learn how to change acoustic guitar strings.
You’ll have to remove the bridge pins from your acoustic before you can completely remove your strings.
If you bought that string winding tool; you’re in luck, because it doubles as a bridge pin puller!
If you can’t afford it or something, that’s fine! A set of pliers (standard pliers or needle-nose) will do the trick.
Use whatever tool you’ve got to pull the bridge pins straight out from the bridge of your guitar.
You shouldn’t have to pull with very much force.
Once the bridge pins are out, you can remove your strings completely. Don’t lose the pins! You’re going to need them in a minute or two.
Step Two: Choosing and Installing New Strings
When buying guitar strings, there are a few things that you need to think about.
Different body styles require different types of strings.
If you’re playing on a classical guitar- you’ll be looking for nylon strings.
Most acoustic guitars use strings made of phosphor bronze,
…and electric guitars tend to sound best with nickel plated strings.
Another important aspect of guitar strings is their thickness. If you’d like to hear a deeper tone from your guitar, you’ll want to look for a set of strings with a thicker ‘gauge’.
Gauge simply refers to the thickness of the strings (…a larger gauge means a thicker string.)
Thinner strings will be easier to bend and (arguably) easier to play on; however, they will also be easier to break than thicker strings.
I prefer light or medium gauge strings because they provide a balance of solid, deep tones and reasonable ‘play-ability’.
Installing Your New Strings
Step Three: Tuning and Stretching Your Strings
See: Guitar Tuning Guide.