| At some point, all guitarists need to learn how to | | | | I wouldn't suggest you rely on this technique too much, |
| change the strings on their guitar. Sometimes you'll be | | | | strings aren't too expensive - and using new strings |
| forced to change one when a string snaps. But usually, | | | | saves you a lot of hassle. |
| you'll simply want to change them, as strings lose their | | | | Regardless of what kind of guitar you have, your |
| brightness and wear out. | | | | strings need to be stretched after you've put them on. |
| The amount of time you leave between change | | | | When you first tune your guitar, put your hand under |
| strings varies depending on several factors. If you play | | | | each string around the pickup area, pull the string a |
| your guitar regularly, then you might like to change your | | | | few centimeters away from the fretboard, then |
| strings once a week or once a month. | | | | release it. If the pitch has dropped, retune and repeat |
| Most Professional guitarists tend to change their strings | | | | the process. Keep doing this until all the strings stay in |
| before each gig. But in the end, it all comes down to a | | | | tune. |
| matter of personal preference. Something to bear in | | | | On most electric guitars the strings are either secured |
| mind if you're using your guitar for a gig, is that your | | | | at the bridge end by an independent tailpiece (like most |
| strings need a few hours of play to break in properly. | | | | Gibson guitars), or passed through the body of the |
| During this time, your strings will go out of tune as they | | | | instrument from the back into an all-in-one bridge unit |
| stretch so you'll have to retune. | | | | (like most fender style guitars). |
| Anyway, here's what you do: | | | | At one end of every steel string, you will find a tiny |
| Remove the old strings by detuning the machine heads | | | | disc of metal around which one end of the string is |
| until the tension becomes loose enough to allow you to | | | | wrapped. This is called the ball end. |
| pull each string away from the headstock. | | | | Take the opposite end of the string and thread it |
| Another quick way to remove the old strings is to snip | | | | through the fixture at the bridge. |
| them using a pair of wire cutters. Be very careful if | | | | Pull the string through until the ball end stops you from |
| you do it this way, and make sure they are loose, | | | | pulling the string any further. |
| since the bare ends of the strings can be sharp and | | | | Most electric and steel-string guitars use a similar |
| easily flap around. Bare guitar strings are amongst the | | | | system for securing strings at the machine head. The |
| many things you DO NOT want to catch in your eye. | | | | capstan to which the string is attached stands out |
| How you go about installing your new strings will | | | | vertically from the headstock. Strings can be passed |
| usually depend on the type of guitar you have, as | | | | through a hole in the side of the capstan. |
| many guitars have slightly different methods. However, | | | | The end is then passed around and under, trapping it in |
| the strings are usually held in place at one end by | | | | place when the machine head is tightened. Some |
| fixtures behind or on the bridge, and at the other by | | | | capstans have vertical slots instead of holes. To use |
| turning the machine head on the headstock. | | | | these, cut the string to length, and insert into the tip of |
| Here's a small insider tip guitarists have been using for | | | | the capstan. Then bend the string to one side and wind |
| years to get more life from your steel strings once | | | | it around. |
| you've removed them: Boil them. | | | | This leaves the string endings neat and tidy. |
| Dropping a set of strings into a pan of boiling water for | | | | Here's what you do next: Slowly turn the machine |
| 10 to 15 minutes will remove a lot of the grimy build up | | | | head for each string, increasing the tension until the |
| and bring a new life back to what would otherwise be | | | | string becomes suitably tight. |
| lifeless strings. | | | | To save yourself time and energy, you can use a |
| It won't last for very long, and you can't get away with | | | | cheap plastic string winder, which simply fits over the |
| doing it too many times, but it can be an effective | | | | machine head allowing you to crank it along more |
| temporary measure. | | | | quickly. |