Change guitar strings right to improve your sound

If you’ve noticed your guitar sounds muted or dull, it may be time to change your strings. Guitar strings take a lot of abuse from players and as a result, become worn. Therefore, it is essential to change your guitar strings periodically. Fortunately, it is quite easy to change guitar strings. 

How often your need to change the guitar strings depends on how much you play. In addition, the thickness, or the gauge, of the string also plays a part. Your strings will tell you when they need to be replaced and it is up to you to listen to them. If you continue to play strings that need to be replaced, the quality of your music will suffer.

Before you change your strings, you should first decide which type you are going to place back on the guitar. A variety of guitar strings are available and each has its own purpose. For instance, classical strings should be placed on classical guitars just like electric guitars strings should sit on electric guitars.

If you aren’t happy with the type of strings your guitar currently possesses, explore the many different strings that are available.

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To change guitar strings, you must first remove the existing strings. Loosen the pegs the strings are attached to, then simply cut the strings off with scissors. Remove any strings that remain on the pegs or bridge. Place the ball at the end of the new string into the hole in the bridge.

Use your finger to push down on the ball to snap it into place, while pulling up on the string at the same time. If the ball comes out of the hole when you tug on the string, it should be reattached and wasn’t seated properly to begin with. Insert the ball again and pull on the string until it stays put.

Bring the top of the string along the neck and into the tuner, or the top of the guitar where the pegs sit. Once you reach the top of the neck, use your finger to apply pressure to the string at the top of the neck to keep it in place and make it easier to wind around the pegs. Wrap the top of the string around its corresponding peg until it is so tight that it doesn’t rattle against the neck.

The string all the way to the left should wrap around the lowest peg on the left. The string next to the furthest left string should wrap around the middle peg and so on. You can either use your fingers to wrap the string around the peg, or purchase a peg winder which will do the work for you.

Repeat this same process for all of the strings on your guitar.

Once you have wound the strings around the peg at the correct tension, you will be left with excess string protruding from the pegs. Use wire cutters to clip the excess away. You should now tune your guitar. Know that you may have to re-tune your guitar several times while the strings get used to their new home. This process is standard practice for most stringed musical instruments.

The more you play, the more you will become familiar with how often you should change guitar strings. Since changing guitar strings is fairly simple, there is no reason to keep old strings on and let your music suffer.

References:
Guitar Alliance: How to Change Guitar Strings
Campbell’s Music: How to Change Guitar Strings