Position:Home>Performing Arts> What is the proper way to change guitar strings?

Example is the best way. Change yourself, then watch as things change around you.
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start at the bottom e string. its the smallest. take it off. then replace it. next move to the b string. and take it off and then replace it. tune each string as you go before changing the next. this should keep your neck from binding and then needing a tuneup. go from small to big.

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Take one string off at a time and replace it and get it snug, tune it as you go. Follow the instructions on the replacement strings. If you have a classical (Nylon strings that tighten in a groove) Guitar I would highly recommend taking it to a guitar or music store and paying the little bit they charge.

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Loosen all the strings slightly to relieve the tension on the neck. Start with either the high E, 6th string, or the low E, 1st string. Cut the string down to about 2 inches past to where you start winding it. You don't need a lot of excess. Take your time, and make sure you wind it in the same direction as the old string. Check for tuning as you tighten, so do don't over wind, and snap the string. I speak from experience.

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This answer can vary somewhat depending on what type of guitar you have, and what type of strings. For an acoustic guitar, with pegs in the bridge to hold in the strings:

1. Loosen the string to be changed until you can remove the loops on the tuning peg with your hand. Unwind all the coils on the tuning peg and remove the string from there first.

2. Remove the peg from the bridge that anchors the bottom of the string. This will require some sort of prying tool -- I find that the edge of a key levering off of an adjacent peg works nicely. You might also try a pair of needle nose pliers. Be careful not to squeeze too hard though, or you'll damage the plastic.

3. Remove the old string and discard it. Insert the new string into the bridge and anchor it with the peg. While applying pressure with your thumb on the peg, pull on the string to firmly seat it into the groove in the peg.

4. Thread the string through the hole in the tuning peg. Check the first link below for a good way to thread the string to avoid slippage after you've tightened the string.

5. Wind the string up to tension and tune it.

6. Use a wire cutter to remove the excess string.

For a classical guitar, the process is somewhat different as the bridge does not have pegs to hold the strings. You can buy classical strings with ball ends, but these are uncommon. Usually you have to tie the strings to the bridge. For a good pictorial on this, check out the second link below.

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You don't want to relieve any tension on the neck by loosening all the strings. I do it the same way steven does, small strings to large, one at a time, tuning them as I go. I also stretch the strings. The best way is to fret the string at the first fret then pull up on the string as much as you can without breaking it. Then move up to the second fret, so on and so forth until your string holds it's tune. That's just to keep them from stretching and going out of tune once you've changed them all and start playing, which is gonna happen anyways, this just helps the situation.

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