Changing Electric Guitar Strings
The most basic maintenance that you must be able to perform on your guitar is to change the strings. Strings will break, or just get old and dead sounding. Changing electric guitar strings is really not that hard once you get the hang of it. The first time for some people is a little nerve racking. However, by the 2nd or 3rd time you change electric guitar strings you will be an old pro.
How often should strings be changed?
It depends. It depends on how much you play, whether you use cleaner to help the strings last longer, and on the chemistry of your sweat.
Strings should be changed at least every 2 or 3 months, but this can vary so much from player to player. Some professionals will change strings for every performance. Do not change only the strings that break. All of the strings on your guitar should be changed at the same time on a regular basis.
Gauges and Types of Strings
Electric Guitar
As a starting point for electric guitars try the brands GHS, Ernie Ball or D'Addario. For the gauges (thickness) of the strings start with .009 for the 1st string, and .042 for the 6th string. If you pick a set where the gauges are .009(1st) and .042(6th), usually the gauges for the other strings will be very close from brand to brand.
If the strings are breaking frequently or are just too thin for your tastes, move up to a .010 for the 1st string and a .046 for the 6th string. Every time you change gauges of strings, you might have to adjust the neck of your guitar and possibly reset the intonation.
Steel String Acoustic Guitar
For a steel string acoustic guitar use GHS or Martin brand strings as a starting point. If you are a beginner use an extra light gauge (.010 1st string, to .047 6th string). Although these strings will not have as good of a tone as a heavier strings, they will be easier to play. Once you have been playing for a while, you might try moving to a lighter gauge (.012 1st string, to .054 6th string). Remember, the heavier the string, the better the sound and the lighter the string, the easier it is to play. This trade off between the two will be your personal choice. Generally, do not use using medium guage strings. They are too heavy for most people, and put a great deal more stress on the neck of the guitar.
Nylon String Acoustic Guitar - Classical
Changing the strings on a nylon string (classical) acoustic guitar is a little more difficult. The technique for tying the string at the bridge must be learned, although there are ball end strings made for classical guitars. However, the ball ends tend to break off and you may have to tie them anyway.
Classical strings are not sold in gauges like steel strings but are sold in various tensions. Start by using a normal tension and try GHS or D'Addario brands.
Steel strings should never be placed on a classical guitar and nylon strings should never by placed on a steel string acoustic guitar. Each guitar was designed specifically for a certain type of string and using the wrong type of string could cause damage to your guitar.
Changing Electric Guitar Strings
To make this job much easier, you will need a some needle nose pliers and a peg winder.
Perform the following steps for changing electric guitar strings:
1. Take off the 6th string. Using a peg winder will make the process much faster and easier. Note: Do not take off all of your strings at once take off one string at a time. When are turning the machine head (tuning peg) with the peg winder, make sure that the string is getting looser.
2. The end of the old string may need to be cut off so that it will slip easily out of the guitar.
3. Take the new string and feed the end through the back of the guitar.
4. Pull the string through the other side.
5. Line the hole of the post so that it is facing straight down towards the neck of the guitar then stick the end of the string through the hole. Pull the string tight so that there is not any slack in the string.
6. Feed approximately 1.5 inches (4 centimeters) of the string back through the hole.
7. Pull the string back through the hole about 1.5 inches (4 centimeters) so that you now have the slack that you need to wrap around the post. Make on loop around the post with that slack. Make the initial wrap clockwise for the tuning pegs that are on the left side, and counterclockwise for the tuning pegs that are on the right side if the guitar is facing you.
8. Cut off the excess string leaving about a approximately 2 inches (5 centimeters).
9. Place your right hand 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers under the string. Wrap the rest of the loops underneath the initial loop using a peg winder. Either sit in a chair with the guitar on the floor facing you braced between your legs or place the guitar on a table.
10. Pull up so that the string is tight with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers underneath the string. Make sure that there is not any slack. Guide the string with index finger. Use the peg winder to wrap the string progressively underneath the previous wraps. Turn the peg counterclockwise for the pegs that face up, and clockwise for the pegs that face down. For the pegs that face up wrap with your left hand, and hold the string with your right. Wrap with your right hand and hold the string with your left when stringing up the pegs that face down.
11. Clip off the excess string. Take your needle nose pliers and bend the excess string that is left down towards the guitar to avoid grabbing your guitar and puncturing your hand.
12. Give the new strings a slight stretch. Give the strings a tug up away from the neck of the guitar. New strings have a lot of give at first. If the strings are not stretched the guitar will not stay in tune.
