How To Change Electric Guitar Strings

 by: Steve Bishop

Did you know that a surprisingly high number of guitar players don’t know how to change electric guitar strings… that is, they can change them, but they don’t do it properly!

Here’s a simple guide to getting it right every time.

1. CHANGE YOUR STRINGS REGULARLY!

Change strings regularly, even if they don’t break. Otherwise they may even damage the fretboard! How often you change your strings depends on what sound you go for, and how often you play. If you’re playing 2 hours a day you need to change them as often as every 2-3 weeks.

Strings are made of steel, so oil and dirt from your fingers accumulates and makes the sound dull, but humidity causes corrosion as well, even when you’re not playing.

It’s not difficult to change strings, but you may need a few tries to get it right, and you may snap a few strings at first, so you could practise on old strings before getting the new ones out! Breaking your new E string when you’ve just bought them from town is not funny!

Back you go!

2. CHOOSE THE RIGHT GAUGE

Using a lighter or heavier gauge (thickness of string) will mean adjusting the guitar action (the distance between the strings and the fretboard), so stick to the same gauge if you can unless you have a reason to change.

Very occasionally, you might get a bad string amongst the pack that won’t tune properly, in which case you should just replace it. But as I said that is only occasionally.

3. KNOW WHICH ORDER TO RESTRING

• Only remove 3 strings at a time – either the top or bottom 3. This will keep some tension on the neck at all times.

• If your guitar has 6 tuning pegs in line, work thickest to thinnest – 6, 5, 4 then 3, 2, 1.

• If the guitar has 3 tuning pegs each side, work toward the centre – 6, 5, 4 then 1, 2, 3.

4. CLEAN BEFORE SETTING UP

Once you have 3 of the strings off, clean the fingerboard and frets, and remove any accumulated dirt and grease. You may even need to scrape this off, if so be VERY gentle! Twice a year oil the fretboard lightly to moisturize it and prevent any cracking. Then clean the other side when the other 3 strings are removed.

5. PUT THE NEW STRING ON

• Take each new string in order.

• Pull it through the hole in the bridge or tailpiece.

• Pull it tight and measure 2 posts up from the one you will use, and bend the string here at a sharp angle.

• Run the bent string through the correct post and bend it again where it enters the post when pulled tight. Your bends should make a z shape so the string runs straight up, bends across at 90 degrees and through the post, then bends back up again.

• Hold the string tightly at the first bend and wind the turning key.

• Always wind so the string wraps from the inside of the post out.

• Repeat with the other strings.

• When all strings are on, give a couple of firm tugs to each string to stretch it, which will help it stay in tune better when you tune the guitar.

• Cut off any spare string at the end.

So there it is!

Now you’re ready to tune your guitar and ‘do it up!’