How to put metal strings on a guitar. Changing strings and tuning an electric guitar
There comes a time in every guitarist's life when you need to change strings on your instrument. And if for the majority this is a task that is quite trivial and does not require much effort, then for a beginner, changing strings turns into many hours of "dancing with a tambourine", and not everyone succeeds. change strings the first time.
Why change strings at all? Over time, their sound gets worse. And sometimes it happens that the strings break. Then you have to replace them. What happens to strings if they are not cleaned and changed?
That is why we decided to devote this article to the question: "". Here we will try to give the most complete instructions, as well as analyze all the possible complications that may arise during this simple operation.
What will be needed when replacing
So, to change the strings on an acoustic guitar, we need to prepare the following tools:
- new strings (for acoustic guitar my favorites are Elixir strings or Ernie Ball strings);
- napkins;
- pliers or pliers;
- a device for winding strings (hands are fine);
- lemon oil (optional)
- a small box or other container in which you will store small parts;
- tuner.
Removing old strings
To start we need remove old strings with pegs. Many people think that just cutting them off is enough, but there is whole line reasons not to do so.
Firstly, thick and metal strings will be extremely difficult to cut. I personally tried to cut the strings with various cutting tools, ranging from kitchen and outdoor knives to wire cutters. These attempts only led to the fact that the strings were either bent, or the knives and wire cutters stupidly fell into disrepair.
A second reason Do not cut the strings is the possibility of deformation of the fretboard. We will not go into details, as the explanation of this phenomenon will take us a very long time and requires some additional reasoning, so just take this fact on faith.
In general, we realized that strings should not be cut. Now let's see how to remove them correctly. If you are a complete beginner, then first you should familiarize yourself with the structure of the guitar.
We start by completely weakening them. After loosening, remove the strings from the pegs. It is almost impossible to make mistakes in this operation, so do not be too afraid.
And now we need to release the strings from the stand. On almost all pop guitars, this process is carried out in the same way - you pull the pins out of the stand and take the strings out of the body. Pins are such plastic rivets, vaguely resembling mushrooms, which are inserted into the stand behind the saddle. Finding them is easy, as the strings go exactly under them.
We take out pliers or pliers and pull them out. Do this carefully, as you may scratch the guitar or damage the pin itself. Put the pins in some box so as not to lose them.
With classical guitars, the situation is slightly different. If you have nylon strings with tips, you just pull them out of the stand and that's it. If not, then they should first be untied or cut.
Cleaning the guitar from dirt
Next comes fretboard cleaning is a completely different song. Lubricate our napkins with lemon oil and begin to wipe the neck. Particular attention should be paid to cleaning the fret sills, because a huge amount of all kinds of dirt and dust accumulates there. We wipe very carefully.
And now, when the guitar has regained its presentation, we can begin installing new strings.
Installing new strings
There are many opinions about the order in which the strings should be placed. I start the setup on the sixth string and go in order, i.e. after the 6th I install the 5th and so on.
Another debatable issue is how exactly to wind the string on the peg. There are those who believe that it is not necessary to wind it in principle, but you just need to insert the string into the peg and twist it. Others, on the contrary, argue that you must first wrap the string around the peg, and then twist it. Here the choice is yours, but I think the first method is much easier for a beginner.
In any case, first you need install new strings in the stand. To do this, insert the tip of the string into the hole in the bridge, and then insert the pin into the same hole. After that, pull the other end of the string until it stops, so that the tip is fixed in the pin. It is important here not to mix up the pins and prevent the strings from getting tangled, so it makes sense to secure the string in the tuning head first before installing the next one.
When setting the strings into the tuning pegs, it is very important not to mix them up. Pin numbering starts at the bottom on the right row, and ends at the bottom on the left row (assuming you hold the guitar with the top facing towards you and look at the headstock).
When fixing the string in the peg, try not to bend it, otherwise it will burst in this place when you start to pull it. If you decide to twist the strings on the peg before tightening, then the following can be considered the optimal twisting scheme: 1 turn of the string above its tip, looking out of the peg, and 2 below it.
Tighten the strings carefully. Do not try to tune the guitar right away, as there is a risk that the strings will burst from this. Just pull each one lightly.
Tuning a guitar after changing strings
And then everything is quite simple. Grab a tuner and start tuning your guitar. It makes sense to start on the 6th string, so you don't have to tune the guitar 300 times. When setting do not twist the pegs sharply(especially for thin strings), as there is a risk that the strings will break from too sharp a tension.
After tuning, carefully put the guitar in the case and take it out after a couple of hours to adjust and check if the neck deflection has changed. We do this several times.
Ready! We've installed the strings. I hope, after reading this article, you have an idea of \u200b\u200bthat.
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!
The need to carry out work on replacing guitar strings arises if the extracted sound is not enough ringing. A muffled and short sound can be the first signal that new strings should be installed. The resolution of this issue may be associated with some difficulties, therefore it is recommended to get a little closer acquainted with the technology of the work.
The process of setting strings on classical and electric guitar may differ slightly. In both cases, it is necessary to adhere to a certain sequence of actions.
Features of replacing strings on a classical guitar
There are two ways to install strings on a classical guitar. Regardless of which one is chosen, at the initial stage it is recommended to get rid of the old material. Simply cutting off the old strings can loosen the tension on the neck. This may damage this item. Among other things, this method is traumatic. To keep the neck constantly under tension, it is recommended to change the strings one by one.
The video shows how to change the strings on an acoustic guitar:
Another important issue that will have to be resolved in this case is the correct choice of strings. It is not recommended to resort to the use of steel variations of products. They can put excessive pressure on the neck, which eventually leads to cracks and bends. All this negatively affects the sound of the instrument.
Method number 1
In this case, the strings are pulled over the edge of the saddle. Initially, the sixth string is threaded through the saddle from the inside out. After that, a loop is made and it is passed through the second half of the string.
Here it is very important to ensure that it is well pressed against the deck. Otherwise, the string will stick out, which will lead to its weakening during further operation.
At the next stage, the most durable knot is tightened; subsequently, the string can be gradually tightened for tuning. The fifth and fourth strings are set in the same way. The installation method for the first three products is somewhat different.
So, the third string is threaded through the saddle, and then it is passed through the loop three times. Such measures contribute to the fact that it is as firmly fixed as possible and will not slip off during the game. After that, the string is tightened into the most durable knot. Then the procedure is repeated with the second and first string.
Method number 2
Here the installation of the strings occurs through the edge of the neck of the neck. To allow this question, it is necessary to scroll the peg until a hole appears. Then the string is threaded into it once.
At the next stage of installation, the string is inserted through the hole around the gate, after which the loose string can be pulled as in standard tuning.
Changing strings on an electric guitar
In this case, you should also initially get rid of the old strings. It is best to do this in pairs - remove the sixth string together with the first, the fifth - with the second, and so on. This will avoid possible curvature of the neck. The strings are installed in the same order.
At the initial stage of installation, the string is threaded into a holder, the design of which is determined by the features of a particular model. After that, it is threaded into the leg of the peg. In this case, the optimal length is set. To resolve this issue, the guitar should be put on your knees and adjusted. Here it is necessary to ensure that the string does not jump out of the peg.
Replacing strings on a Floyd Rose tremolo electric guitar:
The tension is carried out by rotating the peg. Here it is very important to choose the optimal number of turns. If there are too many of them, then this will have a negative effect on the response of the case. Ultimately, the sound deteriorates. Insufficient number of turns is fraught with the fact that the string may slip during operation.
Safety
It is necessary to focus on the fact that when replacing guitar strings, all safety conditions must be observed without fail. Otherwise, this procedure can lead to injury.
During the replacement, the guitar must be positioned with the top deck away from the face. The maximum tension force of the string can reach fifty kilograms, so if it breaks, you can damage your eye.
Some precautions must also be taken when removing old strings. If the material is simply cut off, it is best to loosen the tension first. If it falls too sharply, it can lead not only to damage to the neck, but also to injury.
Using a special string winder when replacing strings can significantly speed up this procedure. Moreover, this will allow you to stretch the strings as accurately as possible. If they are installed carelessly, it may damage these elements when playing.
During installation, it is necessary to place the strings on the stand and in the tuning pegs as carefully and very carefully as possible. It should also be noted here that tight loops allow you to reduce to a minimum the amount of time required to set the strings in tone.
It is important to remember that new strings will stretch for a while after installation. This is fraught with the fact that the guitar will be constantly out of tune. Subsequently, this will be less noticeable and the sound will stabilize.
In order for new strings to last for a long period of time, it is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the guitar nut. In particular, you should pay attention to the slots in the upper part. Provided that if the guitar string gets stuck in this hole, then this will lead to its damage, as a result of which it becomes necessary to replace this element.
Every beginner guitarist sooner or later wonders how to change the strings on the guitar? They are usually changed when the sound loses its brightness and (or) they no longer hold the line. If one string is broken, then it is better to change everything, because the sound of the new one will be different from the rest. Amateur guitarists usually change them every three months, professionals - at least once a month. To determine when this time has come, you need to listen to the sound of the guitar - old strings sound muffled.
If the same string is constantly breaking, and the playing style is not aggressive, then you should check all the places where it comes into contact with the guitar for smoothness. If the guitar is often out of tune, it may be that the guitar strings are set incorrectly. Eliminate irregularities and only then proceed with the installation.
Before you change the strings on the guitar, you must, of course, decide what type you need them. The choice of strings depends on what style you will play. For picking or playing with tremolo, vibrato and fast passages, nylon ones are better suited. When playing with a fight, when you need the sound of all six strings at the same time, the more sonorous metal ones win.
So, let's consider the process itself, how to change the strings on a guitar. To do this, it is desirable, but not necessary, to have: side cutters, a polishing cloth, a turntable for tuning pegs. Cutters are needed to cut off the excess part of the string, since the shorter it is, the less upset it is. The turntable greatly speeds up the process of stretching.
While stringing the string, periodically pull it away from the fretboard, as a guitar with stretched strings for a long time won't get upset. Do not remove all the old strings at once, change them one by one to avoid problems with the truss rod. Remove them carefully so as not to damage the body of the guitar.
After you thread the string through the hole in the bridge, thread it through the hole in the tuning machine, leave a little extra for winding, and cut off the rest with wire cutters. The stock should be enough for 2-3 turns. Bend 1-2 cm of the end of the string and start winding it, twisting the peg and lifting it up perpendicular to the fingerboard. The string around the peg should organize a certain kind of lock. Thus, she, as it were, pinches herself.
Start with the thinnest string, gradually moving to the bass. All pegs must be turned in the same direction, so that later when tuning the guitar you do not get confused. The extreme strings are pulled on the pegs closest to the deck, 2 and 5 - on the middle pegs, 3 and 4 - on the far ones. Do not make sudden movements when pulling the string, so as not to break it completely. Remember that by knowing how to change guitar strings correctly, you will avoid many problems.
Setting strings on an electric guitar is a bit different than setting strings on an acoustic guitar. The main difference is that in order to put the strings through the bridge, you need to remove the back cover of the guitar with a screwdriver.
Now let's move on to tuning the guitar. This should not be done with particular accuracy, since the strings (especially nylon ones) tend to stretch, this process lasts about two days. Tuning new nylon strings at first turns into flour: if you tune bass strings, thin ones get out of tune, and vice versa. But all this is temporary. It is necessary after each approximate tuning to let the guitar lie down, periodically adjusting it. To use either an electronic tuner or a tuning fork.
An excellent assistant in this matter can be the Internet, where you can find many video tutorials that help inexperienced and novice guitarists change strings.
A fashionable trend in the world of music has become playing the guitar, in which the strings glow, it is the neon strings that give the guitar a special chic, especially in a dimly lit room. Such strings glow under the action of ultraviolet light, it looks very impressive, so if you perform on stage, then this is exactly what you need.
If the wood of the guitar is flesh, then the strings are the blood that allows the instrument to flow with life. When the strings of your instrument cease to please you with their euphonious rich sound, then the actual question arises: How to change the strings on the guitar?
When buying a new instrument, it is recommended to change the strings immediately. This is due to the fact that guitar strings wear out, and it is almost impossible to predict how much the guitar has hung on the counter and which strings are on it. It also happens that the strings lose the brightness of their sound. Most often, it all starts with the fact that thick strings stop sounding juicy and lose some of the low overtones, the sound becomes blurry. Today it is not a problem, whether it is metal strings for acoustic guitar, electric guitar, or bass. But what to do with a pack of strings in your hands? How to string guitar strings?
How to change strings on an acoustic guitar
To do this, we gradually loosen the tension of the strings by rotating the pegs, so that, God forbid, we don’t injure ourselves with a string that has “shot” or burst due to changes in internal stresses. After the ends of the strings are removed from the heads of the pegs from the bridge (stand), the buttons (studs) that hold the strings on the other side of the instrument are removed. The buttons are accessed using a stringwinder, or simply any tenacious tool, such as a screwdriver or a coin.
- When the strings are off...
A guitar without strings can be serviced: clean the fretboard, wipe the dust in hard-to-reach places, tighten and lubricate the pegs (if the pegs are open), if necessary, replace the top or bottom saddles.
- How to string guitar strings?
After that, we proceed to install new strings. Everything is not so simple here.
The strings are installed in certain order to avoid possible distortion of the guitar neck. First, the third string is set, followed by the fourth, and so on: the second, fifth, first, and the sixth, thickest string completes the process of setting the strings.
Each string is taken and attached to the bridge stud in such a way that the string lies in the groove, and rests against the end with a ball. Next, the pin, together with the guitar string, is inserted into the corresponding hole in the acoustic guitar stand and pressed.
A simpler option - first the string is lowered into the hole, which is then closed with a button (hairpin). When fixing the pin, it is necessary to press on it with sufficient force so that it is not pulled back by the tension of the string, on the other hand, do not overdo it, because overdoing it can damage the instrument.
Now the free end of the string is threaded into the hole of the corresponding peg from the inside (between the rows of pegs). At the same time, it is necessary to leave a small margin of length in order to subsequently wind the string around the peg (enough to last for 2-4 turns in the future). The free edge of the string (if necessary, you can pre-form it a little if it gets in the way) is bent and held with your finger. Gently rotate the peg, the turns are placed below the free edge of the string one after another without overlapping. As a result, the string should no longer hang freely on the fretboard. Here it is important to ensure that the string does not run into the groove for the adjacent string on the nut.
Some guitarists fix the strings on the tuning pegs with knots before winding them. This method is not bad, but it greatly complicates the process of removing the strings at the next change. At the same time, if the strings are carefully wound in the manner described above, making loops looks like a waste of time and can serve more as a means of complacency than to have any real advantages.
However, we will show you how to tie a simple knot. Perhaps at first it will be more reliable to use just such an option given in the diagram below.
How to change strings on a classical guitar
The replacement is a bit more difficult due to the different way the string is attached to the guitar's bridge. However, there are a number of ways to successfully set strings on a classical guitar as well.
Some are simply cut with ordinary scissors, and then the remnants of the strings and pegs and nut are removed. It is safer to simply rotate the pegs to gradually release all the strings in the headstock and then draw out the free strings, and then further remove them from the classical guitar bridge. It is advisable not to weaken the strings in turn, but to try to gradually weaken all the strings in parallel, so that not a single string bursts due to voltage drops.
- When the classical guitar is already without strings
Now that your guitar is left without strings, you can service it, clean it, get into those places that were difficult for you to reach due to the presence of strings.
- Installing new strings on a classical guitar
Never try to put metal strings on a classical guitar!!! This will certainly lead to deformation of the guitar neck and will render the guitar unusable.
Nylon strings for classical guitar do not have balls at the end and are more like just pieces of fishing line. Installation of such strings also begins with fixation in the bridge area. At the same time, the fastening of the fourth, fifth and sixth strings differs from the fastening of thinner (first, second and third) strings. As a result, the metal wound nylon strings are installed as follows.
Each string is pulled through the saddle and comes out for a length of about 10 centimeters. Next, a simple loop is made through which the tip of the string is passed. In this case, you should keep the string pressed against the soundboard, otherwise the string will stick out as a result, become free and may eventually untie. As a result, we have a simple knot that should be tightened. To do this, we strongly pull the edges of the string in different directions. The more we pull, the less likely it is that the knot will fail one day. However, do not over-tighten the strings to avoid string breaks and undue pressure on the saddle.
Unwound strings (1st, 2nd, and 3rd) require a slightly more complex fixation. The beginning of the operation coincides with the above: we stretch the string through the bridge to a length of about 10 centimeters. But then the method has differences: a loop is made through which the tip of the string passes three times. This allows you to securely fasten the string and prevent slipping in the future. The knot, accordingly, is tightened as much as possible.
As a result, we get the following picture, which indicates that the strings are securely fastened to the bridge. To verify again, simply pull each string towards the neck. After that, it will be possible to restore order and cut off the protruding ends. Just do not cut the tails to the root, because then there is a risk that the string will untie.
When all the strings are fixed on the saddle of a classical guitar, you should fix the free ends of the strings in the peg mechanism located in the headstock area. The first string (thinnest) and the sixth (thickest) are attached to the lower pegs (closest to the nut and strings), the central strings (third and fourth) - to the highest pegs (closest to the tip of the guitar neck).
Next, we thread the end of each string through the hole of the peg for a length of about 10 centimeters (this is a reserve in case the string is damaged at the place of fixation), wrap it around the sleeve and thread it through the hole again (to fix the string during winding). We also recommend that you first rotate the peg mechanism so that the holes of all the pegs are visible on the front. In this case, you will be better able to see what you are doing, and therefore it will be easier to handle.
After that, we rotate the knobs of the pegs until a slight string tension is reached, i.e. when it no longer pops out by itself from the grooves of the nut. We carry out this operation with each string and only after that we carefully tune the instrument. Once replaced, nylon strings on a classical guitar will be out of tune constantly for several days. Knots take time to fully tighten, and strings have a certain elasticity and should just sit down. Thus, at first, you will have to tune the strings quite often, especially if you have classes and especially active performances in your plans.
I have an electric guitar or a bass guitar and it's still not clear to me how to change the strings
If you have an electric guitar or a bass guitar, then do not worry, the principle of changing strings in this case is similar to that used in an acoustic guitar. Yes, the design of the tools is slightly different, but the approach remains the same. You are probably wondering why there is not a word about tuning guitars in this article? We will certainly address this issue in our next articles.
