How to change strings on an acoustic guitar. How to string guitar strings

Greetings to all those who often have to tune their guitar, which every time loses tune after playing your favorite tunes and compositions. Or those who first encountered the need - change strings.

Anything can happen, but often the cause of the frequent is the wrong installation of the strings. At first glance, the process changing strings to may seem banal and primitive. In fact, it has its own tricks.

To do this, you need to do only 7 steps (actions).

Step-I: remove the buttons from the holes that are on the guitar stand. I will show on the example of the 4th string, so I will take out only one.

• If there is no tenacious tool at hand, then you can remove them with any coin.

Step-II: We insert the string into the hole, close it with the button and press it well so that it does not squeeze out when the string is pulled.

Step-III: bring the free end of the string to the headstock of the guitar and insert it into the hole of the desired peg.

Step-IV: After leaving a small margin for winding on the peg, bend and bring (counterclockwise) the end of the string to the center of the headstock and bring it under the string - where it entered the peg hole.

Step-V: having previously created tension on both ends of the string, lead the free one up and then in the opposite direction already above the string. You should get a loop - a "lock".

Step-VI: While continuing to create tension - without letting the loop slip off the peg, begin to rotate it counterclockwise, thereby tensioning the entire length of the string. Thanks to the "lock" she should press herself and then it will be possible not to hold her.

Step-VII: Here we come to the final action. Stretch the string and check that there are about 2-3 turns on the peg. No less and no more.

I'm sure you guessed that the guitar is often out of tune if the strings are wound on the pegs without this very "lock", because. when played, they begin to loosen, even with a large number of turns. And of course, before you finally tighten each string, do not forget to place it in the desired nut cutout.

Changing strings is one of the most important steps in playing the guitar. and you should be able to do it yourself. However, on a guitar with a freely suspended two-way Floyd Rose tremolo, this is quite a challenge and I'm not surprised if it gives you some trouble, especially if you're a beginner guitarist and not very good at the technical part of the matter.

So how do you change strings on an electric guitar with Floyd Rose? The following instruction will teach you how to change the strings correctly and properly, and how to tune your guitar with such a bridge. Not all Floyd Rose bridges are identical. Some, for example, do not require string tips to be trimmed before installation. Even if your Floyd Rose system is slightly different from the one in the photos, this way of changing the strings will still be the same or very similar.

Let's assume that Starting point is a tuned guitar with strings set that you Once again want to replace with new ones. If you always use the same strings (i.e. the same model, the same brand), then after installing new strings, the guitar should tune well, without the need for additional adjustment.

I hope that you know how to handle a screwdriver, a hex wrench and wire cutters, and also you do not need to explain which way to unscrew or tighten the screws with screws). Otherwise, ask someone who owns all the listed instruments to help you (it is not at all necessary that he knows how to play the guitar).

I want to warn you in advance that you do all the manipulations with the guitar at your own peril and risk, although I can hardly imagine that you manage to break something, in extreme cases you will have to give the guitar to be tuned into the hands of a more experienced comrade, so do not worry and don't be afraid).

Attention! Working with the guitar (as well as playing it) must be done with extreme caution. A broken string or a protruding uncut end of a string can seriously injure you or a person nearby. Pay special attention to the safety of small children. Instilling music from an early age is certainly good, but everything needs to be approached with a head!

A suitable place for operations such as changing strings or tuning a guitar is a small coffee table with a piece (50cm x 50cm) of thick (about 5cm) sponge placed on the tabletop to protect the guitar from damage. You also need good lighting and a few tools: a Phillips screwdriver, wire cutters, hex keys, an electronic tuner, a brush, a rag. If a special sponge was not found, then it is quite possible to replace it with an ordinary soft blanket.

And now let's start changing the strings on Floyd Rose!

Unscrew the back cover of the tremolo springs. As a rule, it is attached with 6 screws for a Phillips screwdriver.

Loosen the string locks with the hex head. A wrench of the appropriate size must be included with the guitar. If you do not have the original key, you must have it. Choose the right size wrench that you need because using a smaller wrench destroys the screws, and very soon you will need to replace them, and this is known to be money.

The fact is that there are metric hexagons, and there are inch, their sizes are slightly different and it can sometimes be quite difficult to determine by eye which key is in front of you. The wrench must be in good condition and have sharp edges, the hex with knocked edges destroys the bolt slots and they quickly become unusable. Of course, it is desirable to have a spare key and spare screws, this is not such a big investment.

Loosen the lock bolt completely and remove the lock pads. A loose bolt is more convenient and faster to unscrew by inserting the long part of the key into the screw head.

All bolts, screws and others small parts put them in a box, then you don’t have to look for them.

Loosen the screws holding the tremolo springs 5-10 turns until the tremolo lifts up, but do not remove them completely. The ideal tool for this purpose is a long screwdriver, but in principle a regular short screwdriver can also be used.

Set all micro-adjustments in the middle position so that you can then adjust them both in one direction and in the other. Do it right now because you will forget later!

Loosen the peg of the first string () so that it is completely free, but does not come out of the hairpin.

Loosen the micro-adjustment lock with a hex key right size, 1-2 turns should be enough. Do everything carefully so as not to damage the varnish on the guitar..

Remove the first string by pulling it up with your fingers. If it doesn't want to come out, then loosen the lock screw one more turn.

Tighten (slightly) back the locking screw. If you do not do this, the blocking pads may fall out and you will look for them all over the floor for a long time ;-).

Remove the string from by unscrewing it and pulling it up. When screwing the string, be careful that the string does not scratch the varnish on the headstock. The old string must be rolled up and thrown into the trash. Do not leave it so to speak "just in case", it will suddenly come in handy. I assure you - it won't work! Well, okay, he once left ;-).

How to choose an acoustic guitar for beginners

Remove all other strings in the same way, moving from the thinnest first string(s) to the thickest sixth string(MI).

If during this operation the bridge (aka “bridge”) sank as in the photo above and you lost access to the locking screws, then unscrew a few more turns screws that secure tremolo spring (we unscrewed them with a long screwdriver), the bridge will rise back up and you can continue working.

Press the tremolo arm so as to lift the back up, put the paper back under the locking screws Business Cards or playing cards. Pad just enough so that the bridge is more or less parallel (horizontal) to the guitar's body.

Do not put a pencil, battery or something like that under the bridge, as some "experts" recommend, in this way you can ruin the varnish of your own (and even worse someone else's) guitar. Playing cards are perfect for this purpose. If you are not an avid gambler and you have no cards, then ... buy a deck of 54 playing cards and cut it in half - and then you get the lining of the required size. It is better not to use old shabby cards, buy new ones.

I hope everything went smoothly and the strings were removed from the guitar.

Every time when you change the strings thoroughly clean the guitar neck e.g. with a clean, dry flannel cloth...

As well as hard-to-reach places on the frets, for this we use a toothbrush

taking the opportunity to clean the pickups and all hard-to-reach places

you can also use a brush with a wooden handle

Wow! Missing one block for the clip for the sixth string! You probably forgot to re-tighten the lock screw after removing the string. But I spoke!

Now you have to look for it. If it is not on the table, then it is lying somewhere on the floor. It looks like the picture below. If you have large gaps in the parquet, then be sure it is there. The best tool to search for a lost pad on a carpet or to extract it from a crack in the parquet, I consider a magnet, the more the better. If the pad is gone forever, then you can buy it in a good music store or a special service.

You should put the lock block in the saddle exactly as I show in the picture, that is, the hole should be shifted down and look away from the neck. The tip of the locking screw, after tightening, should enter the hole in the block and secure it from falling out when the lock is slightly loosened. After installing the block and tightening the locking screw, it is necessary to check whether everything was installed correctly.

Unpack the new strings.

Important! The strings on an electric guitar are placed in a strictly defined sequence., which depends on the location of the pegs on the headstock. The string whose peg is closest to the bridge is set first, and so on as the peg is further away.

For example, if the pegs are on top of the headstock, then we start setting the strings starting from the 6th (thickest) string. If the pegs are located below, then you need to start with the 1st (thinnest) string. If the pegs are located on both sides of the headstock, then first we put the strings from the 6th to the 4th, then from the 1st to the 3rd.

Standard electric guitar strings have a small bushing on one side, allowing you to easily and quickly put them on guitars with a traditional bridge.

For a guitar with a Floyd Rose bridge, these bushings are not needed, so cut them off with side cutters (about 1cm). Don't cut the bushings from all the strings at once, cut only the one that you will put in, this will help you not to get confused.

Loosen the 6th String Bridge Seat Lock Screw (MI) 2-3 turns.

Insert the end of the string (the one from which the sleeve was just cut) into the "saddle" as I show in the picture. If the string doesn't want to go in, back off the lock screw one more turn. The string should go into the saddle 5-6mm - you need to be sure that it went all the way.

If you insert the string not deep enough (that is, not all the way), then later the string may pop out during tuning or while playing, and even injure your hands or face, so do it with due care!

Holding the end of the string with one hand, with the other hand, tighten the lock screw until it stops, squeezing the string as if in a vise. You need to tighten it hard enough so that after the final tuning the string does not jump out, but do not abuse it, you need to know the measure in everything. The strength of a 10-year-old child is quite enough here.

Insert the other end of the string into the hole in the peg and...

stretch the string to the end. Measure about 4cm - this is about to the next peg if you have a neck with pegs on opposite sides. And so, measure and fix this distance with your fingers

Now pull the string back to those 4 cm, still holding it with your fingers. Do not unclench your fingers and keep them in the same place all the time!

What strings are best for acoustic guitar

With the fingers of your other hand, grasp the string on the other side of the hairpin.

You can release the string with the first hand, you do not need to release the string with the second hand, keep holding it.

With your free hand, start spinning the peg. Hold the string in the hole of the peg all the time (this can be done with one finger as in the picture). Together with the turn of the peg, the end of the string will also begin to bend. In the photo, the pin of the splitter has already turned a quarter of a turn and the string has bent at a right angle.

And now the pin of the splitter is turned another quarter of a turn. Pick up the string with three fingers, and continue to hold the peg at the base of the pin with your index finger - this is done so that the string is always taut when winding. So it will be easier and more convenient to wind it.

Continue winding the string around the peg pin. When the pin is turned about 3/4 of a turn, you will have to decide whether the free end of the string will go under or over the stretched string. Traditionally, at the first turn, the free end of the string is tucked under the stretched string. I recommend not to change common traditions and fill the string in the same way.

Press down on the string with your finger so that the next turn goes under the string protruding from the pin.

Exactly as in the picture.

To make the string fit better, keep it slightly taut.

When the string is sufficiently taut, thread it under the clamping bar and place it in the hole of the upper blocker

Tighten the string a little more so that you don't have to hold it with your hand. You don't need to pull too hard, just pull it a little so it doesn't wobble.

Two or three turns of the string are enough to hold it securely and not slip out of the pin hole.

Cut off the free end of the string with wire cutters, leave a tail of 5 millimeters, this is enough. Be careful with the coating, take care of the varnish.

Make sure the bridge is in the correct position, that the bridge fits into the grooves on the stems. If not, correct the bridge by hand. Remove business cards/cards from under the bridge for a moment and move it around to make sure everything works as it should. Insert business cards/cards back under the bridge.

Similarly, you need to put all the other strings. From the side of the bridge, you do everything in a similar way. There will be slight differences on the headstock side. To solidify the material, we will discuss the most difficult steps again, although most of them will be no different from what we have already done.

Fix the fifth string (A note) in the "saddle" of the bridge, by analogy with how the sixth string was installed, and pass the free end under the string holder bar ...

And thread it through the hole in the peg. When installing the remaining strings, remember to thread them under the string holder bar before placing it on the peg. However, if you forget to do this, it is not necessary to remove the already installed strings, just unscrew the bar, put all the strings and screw the bar back.

If it suddenly turns out that the gap under the bar is too small and the strings can hardly crawl under the bar, just unscrew it a few turns, and after installing all the strings, twist it back.

In general, the installation of the fifth string is completely similar to the installation of the sixth string, I post a photo without explanation:

don't forget to cut the end of the string!

Setting the fourth string is also no different from setting the fifth string, we act according to an already worked out scheme. After installing the first three strings and trimming the ends, it will all look something like this:

As the remaining strings are tightened, at some point (no matter when) their tension will be so strong that the bridge will rise up and the inserted cards will fall out from under the blocking screws. Don't worry, that's the way it should be!
The bridge should be in a position similar to the one in the picture (that is, slightly raised up). If you see that the bridge is too high, then this needs to be corrected. Loosen the already taut strings a bit and the bridge will drop to the desired height. In extreme cases, unscrew the screws securing the bridge springs a few turns.

We set the first string according to the scheme already familiar to us, there are no changes here. The only thing you need to remember is the order of setting the strings, in our case (when the pegs are located on opposite sides of the headstock), the order will be as follows: we start with the first, then the second, then the third string.

We wind the second, and after it the third string

Strings without winding (1st, 2nd and 3rd) can be put back to front, that is, without cutting off the fixing sleeve. First, thread the peg into the hole, stretch it under the clamping bar and finally insert it into the saddle mount. But personally, it seems to me that this method does not at all simplify, but rather complicates the process of installing strings. But the choice is yours.

Another point about safety! Very sharp (like needles), the ends of the strings sticking out after cutting can injure your hands, and uncut ends can injure your eyes, there have already been precedents. Be careful and extremely careful.

Guitar tuning pegs: types of pegs, characteristics of pegs, the right choice of pegs

You can not cut the strings at all (some people even like it ;-), but then they get in the way in the case and again can be dangerous for our eyes. Personally, I prefer to prick my finger from time to time than risk my eye.

Make sure that all the strings pass under the clamping bar and lie correctly in the toplock (top lock), namely in the grooves intended for the strings

also check the location of the strings on the bridge itself

Squeeze the lever to make sure the bridge is well suspended on the stocks.

Flip the guitar and...

In the gap between the sustain block and the deck, insert the halves of playing cards that we have already fallen in love with. It will be easier for you to do this if you use the tremolo arm by pulling it up.

You need to put enough cards so that the bridge (bridge) stands parallel to the body of the guitar

Make sure the clamp bar is holding the strings sufficiently in the guide holes of the top lock. The strings should touch the edges of the top-lock on both sides. In the photo, the clamping bar is too high and the strings do not fully adhere to the top-lock seat.

If necessary, tighten the clamping bar with a screwdriver. But do not tighten it all the way, twist it exactly as much as necessary, so that the string lies in the holes of the top lock.

Now the strings fit properly

we carry out the initial tuning of the guitar, without using micro-tuning. The bridge is currently blocked by a deck of cards, so it will be completely immobile and the setup should be pretty good.

Attention! At this point, you need to check that the guitar is building on harmonics. Perhaps you need to adjust the scale and do it better right now. How to do this is the topic of a separate article. If the guitar harmonizes normally, then you move on to the next step.

Install the blocking pads in the seats of the top lock. Tighten the screws a few turns, so that the shoes hold but do not fix the strings. The strings should still slide freely.

Here's how to install the clamp pads:

And this is by no means the case! In the photo below, the pads are installed in the transverse direction (they are rotated 90 degrees). Pay close attention to this!

Using only the pegs on the headstock and tighten the lock screw with a hex wrench. Tighten firmly but gently.

Check the quality of the tuning of the 5th and 6th strings, for this it is advisable to use a tuner, but if there is no tuner, then focus on your hearing. If you did everything correctly in the previous steps, then the strings should build and keep the system well.Small deviations from the ideal sound are possible, but they can be corrected with micro-tuning.

Set up the rest of the strings in the same way.

Fine tune your guitar with microtuning , do this with the guitar in playing position . If you have followed the previous steps correctly, then correction should be ( as the title says) minimum.

Place the guitar on your lap, but only so that you do not touch the bridge and micro-tuning, and tighten the screws holding the tremolo springs just enough to ....

so that you can freely, without the use of force, pull out our deck of playing cards.

Put the guitar on your knees and check how the 6th string is tuned. If the string sounds lower, then slightly tighten the screws securing the tremolo springs; if the string sounds higher, then slightly turn them out. Try to tighten or unscrew both screws evenly. Tune the 6th string in this way, and then check the tuning of the rest of the strings.

All strings should sound perfect. If they all sound a little too low or too high, then correct it in the same way as with the 6th string, i.e. by tightening/loosening the spring fixing screws. Don't micro-tune, try to achieve best result only through adjusting the tension of the tremolo springs.

Only now you can make minor adjustments with micro-tuning, but if you've been doing everything right so far, then this shouldn't be necessary.

After all the manipulations done, you should have a guitar with new strings and a tuned bridge (Floyd Rose bridge) installed as it should, that is, according to all the rules.

Congratulations!

The last touch remains. You need to screw the back cover of the tremolo springs into place. It's up to you to screw or not.

Most professional guitarists tend to leave this cover off so they always have quick access to spring adjustments. If you want to join their ranks, then put the cover and screws in a safe place, because someday it may come in handy (for example, when selling a guitar).

And so the old nylon strings on your classical guitar they have served their purpose, and the time has come to replace them with newer and more sonorous ones. The way strings are attached to classical and acoustic guitars is fundamentally different. Therefore, when buying new strings, make sure that you bought strings specifically for classical guitar. We have already talked about the variety of strings for classical guitar in one of our articles entitled.

Attention! When tuning and changing strings, try to hold the guitar with the front deck away from you, as the total tension force of all 6 nylon strings of a classical guitar can reach up to 50 kg, and if a string breaks, it can hurt your face or eyes.

This step-by-step instruction will help you quickly and easily change the strings on your guitar.

Take off the old strings.

If during the removal of old nylon strings it becomes necessary to cut the string, then use a special tool (cutters) for this, and be sure to loosen the tension of the strings in advance. Sudden changes in string tension can damage the neck, and a broken string under tension can injure you or scratch your guitar. To tension or loosen the tension of the strings, it is convenient to use a special Stringweider revolving machine, with which it is convenient to quickly turn the tuning pegs. Removing old strings is not a difficult process in itself, and I don't think it will take you long.

Guitar care.

After you remove the old strings from the guitar, it will be necessary to wipe the dust from the body of the guitar with a soft flannel and rub the polished surfaces of the guitar with a special polish (except for the matte finish). It is recommended to clean the fretboard of the guitar with a special conditioner with lemon oil.

Attaching the strings to the bridge (bridge).

Before you start adding new strings, take a sheet of thick paper and place it behind the tailpiece. This will help avoid accidental scratches on the body of the guitar. It is most convenient to set the strings in pairs in the following sequence: 1-6 / 2-5 / 3-4.

Take the string and insert it into the hole in the tailpiece, leaving a 4-5 cm end for tying a knot. Then wrap the tail of the string around the string, as if you want to tie a knot.

Next, wrap the tail of the string around the string 2-3 times, i.e. make a double knot or pigtail as shown in the picture. Then, with one hand, grasp the tail of the string, and with the other hand, lightly gently pull the main string. The pigtail will tighten and you will get a strong and beautiful knot.

Attention! Very important point! The tip of the string must be pressed against the bridge in the area rear wall below the sharp edge of the bridge. This is shown in the figure (side view). If the tip of the string is pressed from above, then under the force of tension the knot will be untied, and the string will be bled off.

Attaching strings to pegs.

The figure shows the attachment of nylon strings to the peg mechanism of a classical guitar.

After installing all the nylon strings, the guitar is tuned using a tuning fork or digital tuner.

Adviсe:

Set the strings on the stand and tuning pegs carefully and accurately.

The tighter and neater the loops and windings are, the faster you can tune the strings to match.

Happy guitar playing!

Many amateur musicians, in particular those who are learning to play the guitar, sooner or later face the need to change the strings. This article is devoted to the guitar, how to do it as correctly and safely as possible, because in this case care and concentration are needed.

String types

To understand how to properly install strings, you first need to understand what types of strings exist. On this moment The world knows 2 types of running strings: metal and synthetic. The first are more rigid, require strong tension. These strings are recommended to be installed on guitars that have an anchor (reinforced construction).
Installation metal strings on classical guitars may cause damage musical instrument but they play much louder. Synthetic classical guitar strings are lightweight and very comfortable for beginners. long time retain their performance. On such strings, fingers hurt much less, there is no need to make a lot of effort to clamp the bar.

Setting the strings

The installation process for both nylon (synthetic) and metal strings will be covered on acoustic and classical guitars in order to visually see how to string the guitar strings. First of all, you need to insert the string into a special hole and securely fasten it. Next, the second end of the string must be inserted into the hole of the corresponding peg, but not too much so that the string does not stick out.

Sticking out strings used to be all the rage, but now there's nothing "cool" about it - just a torn case. The remaining segment of the string just needs to be wound on the peg. After all the strings are installed and fixed, you need to gradually begin to pull one by one, thereby increasing their tension. To begin with, it is recommended to tighten all the strings so that they stop rattling, and then tune each one individually. This will greatly speed up the process. Today, there are many ways, for example, an online tuner or a regular tuner, a tuning fork, and so on. Another great tip: before you start stringing the strings, you can stretch them out. This is done manually from the top mount to the stand. Installing metal strings is slightly different. For example, from below they do not need to be fixed with various nodes, due to the presence of special balls (retainers) on the metal strings that perform the function of fastening. Metal strings need to be pulled a little harder, and after a few hours it is necessary to repeat the procedure.

Helpful Hints

Here are some more tips on how to string your guitar. Pull them with the utmost care! The total tension force is about 50 kg, which is quite dangerous for health. In this regard, the procedure must be carried out slowly, carefully and securely fixing each string (thin ones have a high chance of breaking or flying off the mount). Both nylon and metal can be wiped with special products so that they retain their performance longer.

How to determine the price

If we touch on the question of how much guitar strings cost, then we can say that everything depends on their quality and the manufacturer. For example, the cheapest ones cost about 90-100 rubles, nylon ones are even less. The price of high-quality metal strings is about 500-800 rubles.

Having answered the question of how to string the strings on a guitar, it cannot be said with certainty that after reading this article, a person with a 100% guarantee will be able to install it without problems. Everything is learned in practice, everything comes with experience. Having information, it is important to be able to use it. Use and you!

How to change and string guitar strings

When setting strings on a guitar, beginners usually have two problems. How to tighten the strings so that they do not slip out of the holes of the rollers and how to fix the strings on the stand. When it comes to nylon strings, the most common question arises when attaching the strings to the stand.

You need to string the strings on the guitar by fixing them on the stand. To do this, the stand has holes into which the strings are threaded. The photo shows how the ends of the nylon strings are threaded and fixed. The strings placed in this way are well fixed and do not slip out of the holes of the stand. Thus, the first, second and sometimes third string are fixed. For strings with a gimp, there is no need to twist the string so several times. The following pictures show all the strings. The ends of the strings, depending on which side the loop is made from, can be directed down (as in the top picture) or up as shown here.

After setting the string with a little effort, pull the string so that it sits tightly and proceed to the next step - fixing and winding the string on the peg mechanism roller. Nylon strings are very easy to fasten to the roller and while winding, lightly hold the string with your right hand, giving it a certain tension. Thus, the string will be wound on the roller evenly.



Please note that each string must correspond to a specific pin of the peg mechanism. If you do not follow this rule, then the strings will interfere with each other in a tense state when tuning the instrument.

Let's move on to stretching the strings on an electric guitar. Here it is necessary to take into account that the strings are metal, and the rollers are recessed into the headstock only on one side. Such strings are easier to remove - just loosen the peg and the string will most easily slip off without any long unwinding. Stretching the strings on an electric guitar is also necessary from fixing. The strings of the electric guitar are held by the bridge, and it is necessary to start setting the strings from it.

Having fixed the string with a bridge, we pass the other end of the string into the hole of the roller located on the headstock. After passing the string into the hole (photo 1), turn the string around the roller in the opposite direction of winding the string (photo 2), pass the tip of the string from below (photo 3) wrap around the string going into the hole of the roller (photo 4). When the mechanics start to rotate the roller, the string is automatically blocked and does not slip out of the hole of the roller (photo 5-6) The blue arrow shows the direction of the string being pulled. When you tighten the string by turning the peg with your left hand, be sure to hold the string with your right hand creating some tension, so the string will be wound on the roller evenly and you will be able to control the winding turns.

After setting all the strings on the guitar, tune all the strings at once, this will give an even tension to the stand and then it will become much easier to tune them one by one. New strings strung on a guitar tend to go out of tune quickly, especially with nylon strings. It takes a certain amount of time for the strings to stretch. You can speed up this process a little if the stretched and already tuned strings are slightly pulled by hand along the entire length of the string, but this must be done with some caution. It is not advisable to stretch the strings higher, since their life will be significantly reduced after this, it is better to allow the strings to stretch themselves from time to time by tuning the guitar. The "" section will help you tune the guitar, which presents all the sounds of the guitar strings.