How to Change Strings on an Electric Guitar

Hi guys,

Isn’t it really annoying to take your guitar/guitars almost monthly to your guitar store just to get your strings changed? Trust me when I say I’ve been there years before. So let’s change that. I want to help those of you who don’t know how perform a string change today with this lesson. Today I’m going to teach you how to change your guitar strings in a variety of guitars. It’s actually a simple process. Without waiting any further, let’s dive right in.

SOME GENERAL TIPS TO REMEMBER WHILE STRINGING ANY GUITAR

-       -Be careful when opening the new string set because it might bend a bit while handling it, which sometimes causes a buzz with the frets. Also beware that it might cause a big injury if it pricks you in the eye.

-       -As I mentioned in the previous lesson, after actually installing the strings and tuning, BE SURE TO pull on each string (directly off the fret board to avoid damaging the nut) so that the tune drops. Then tune it back. Do this a few times till the tune stays the same after you pull on it.

-       -When removing strings, remove them one at a time and install the new string and tune before moving on to the next strings. The reason is that removing all the strings before installing the new strings causes a drop in tension, which affects the truss rod and also the bridge.

-       -Also a useful tip is to color in the groove in the nut where the string touches the nut with a pencil. This prevents the string from sticking to the nut. But don’t color too hard leaving crystals of graphite which causes buzz.

-       -Also a common problem is the number of winds you need to leave on the tuning pegs. I say approximately 2-4 complete turns around the tuning peg is a good mark.

-       -Also don’t forget to cut of the remaining portion of the string near the tuning peg with a plier to avoid injury.

FENDER TYPE GUITARS

Not all Fenders are of this type but majorities are. Also, many other brands and models are of this type. You can identify if your guitar is of this type if when you look the back of the guitar, you see a small cavity like thing which is partially covered with a plastic cover with six small holes in a row. Like in the picture below.

GIBSON TYPE GUITARS

Here too, not all Gibsons are of this type and a few other guitars are also of this type. Here, the six small holes as in Fender type guitars are present too, but on the top of the guitar on the bridge facing the bottom of the guitar. A picture will show you this.

The processes to change the strings in both these type is pretty much the same.

STEP 1

Loosen the tuning pegs and remove the strings from the pegs. Then push the string into the bridge for Fender types, and towards the bottom of the guitar for Gibson types. This is to get the ball end of the string out of the bridge.

STEP 2

When inserting the string, put the non-ball end through the respective small hole in the bridge and pull on it once or twice to make sure the ball end is firmly secured in the bridge and while maintaining that pressure, put the string through the hole in the tuning peg (remember to line the hole in the tuning peg with the groove in the nut for ease). After estimating roughly 2 to 4 windings, bend the string from the remaining OUTER end of the string near the tuning peg.

STEP 3

Then you got to tune it! MAKE SURE TO TURN THE TUNING PEGS ANTI-CLOCKWISE SO THAT THEY LINE-UP PROPERLY WITH IT’S RELEVANT GROOVE IN THE NUT.

STEP 4

MAKE SURE to pull on each string (directly off the fret board to avoid damaging the nut) so that the tune drops and then tune it back. You have to do this several times till the tune stays the same even after pulling. Otherwise your guitar will fail to stay in tune in future. Step 4 is important!!

Well that’s pretty much it. Simple right? I’m going to put another post on here soon about stringing acoustic guitars and a few other electric guitar types with rather DIFFERENT bridges. Hope you enjoyed this. Leave a +1 and share if you did. It helps me out a lot. I got to thank all you guys out there for the nice comments and support thrown my way. It keeps me motivated to keep putting up new posts. I wouldn’t be doing this if it wasn’t for you great guys who are now good friends too.

Cheers,

Visal J

Guitar Fun Fact of the Day!

Les Paul had a car accident in 1948 and asked the doctor to set his arm permanently in a guitar-playing position.