| Changing your guitar strings might make you feel a litte | | | | 1. Bend the ball end of the string slightly and place it |
| uncomfortable if you have never done it before, but it's | | | | inside the hole below the bridge. Some steel string |
| really quite simple and should become a regular part of | | | | guitars do not have pins. When this is the case, just pull |
| your guitar care routine. Before you do anything, first | | | | the string throught the hole. |
| take time to make some personal observations such | | | | 2. Line up the string with any grooves in the pin. Insert |
| as: | | | | the pin into the hole, making sure it is secure. |
| 1. Which way do you have to turn the tuning keys to | | | | 3. Take the other end and insert into the hole on the |
| tighten or loosen the strings? | | | | capstan. |
| 2. How are the strings aligned from the nut to the | | | | 4. Pull the string through leaving a fair amount of slack |
| bridge? | | | | between the capstan and the bridge. |
| 3. Which is the heaviest string? | | | | 5. Bend the string at the point it comes through the |
| Taking mental notes will probably save you some | | | | capstan to keep it secure. |
| frustration and make the job much easier. | | | | 6. Watching out for your eyes, begin turning the key |
| Below you will find some helpful steps to follow for | | | | with your left hand. Once you get it started it may be |
| changing your strings. Once you've changed your | | | | easier to use the string winder. (For safety reasons, |
| guitar strings a couple of times your confidence should | | | | you might want to cut off any excess string. I usually |
| begin to grow and you won't need to refer to these | | | | wait until after they're all on to do this). |
| steps any longer. I like to remove all of the guitar | | | | 7. As you are winding, apply some tension to the string |
| strings in order to give my guitar a thorough cleaning, | | | | with your right hand to help keep it taught. Make sure |
| but you can remove and replace them one at a time if | | | | you are winding in the right direction! On the bass |
| you prefer. | | | | strings you will be winding counter-clockwise (away |
| Guitar Care and Maintenance Tools: | | | | from you). On the treble strings you will go the |
| - Needle-nose Plyers (to cut string ends) | | | | opposite direction. |
| - String Winder | | | | 8. Continue to wind each string until all the slack is |
| - Soft Cotton Cloth | | | | taken up. Do not worry about tuning yet. |
| - Guitar Cleaning Polish (do not use furniture polish, oils, | | | | 9. Cut off all excess string length. |
| or wax) | | | | Classic Nylon String Guitar- |
| REMOVING THE STRINGS | | | | 1. Put the string through the top of the hole found just |
| Acoustic Steel String Guitar- | | | | below the bridge. |
| 1. Using the string winder , begin slowly loosening the | | | | 2. Pull about 3 inches through. |
| string(s) until completely slack. | | | | 3. Bringing the string up over the tie block, pass it |
| 2. With the needle-nose plyers, carefully grab the string | | | | underneath itself at the original point of entry. |
| from the capstan (the part it winds around) and pull | | | | 4. Come down over the tie block again and wrap the |
| through the hole until it is free. | | | | end of the string around itself in a figure eight type |
| 3. Taking the string winder again, use the cut-out at the | | | | pattern. |
| end of it to grab the pin at the bridge. Gently pull the pin | | | | 5. Insert the other end of the string down through the |
| until it comes out of the hole. | | | | hole on the capstan. |
| 4. Continue this process until all the strings are | | | | 6. Wrap the string around the back and then |
| removed. | | | | underneath itself in order to secure it in place. |
| 5. Clean guitar surface thoroughly. | | | | 7. As described above, begin turning the key with your |
| Classic Nylon String Guitar- | | | | left hand while maintaining some tension with the other |
| Follow steps one and two above. When you come to | | | | until all the slack is taken up. With a classical guitar you |
| step three, take your needle-nose plyers and carefully | | | | will wind clockwise on the bass strings and the treble |
| loosen the figure eight knot at the bridge. Pull the string | | | | strings. |
| free. | | | | 8. Keep the string as straight as possible as it |
| Electric Guitar- | | | | continues from the capstan through the nut and down |
| Follow the same procedure as described for an | | | | onto the neck. |
| acoustic steel string guitar. However, if you have an | | | | 9. You should not have any excess string length, but if |
| electric guitar with a movable bridge you may want to | | | | you do, cut it off. |
| take it to your local music store and have them show | | | | Electric Guitar- |
| you how to do it safely. If the bridge is moved from it's | | | | Follow the same procedure as described for the |
| correct position you will not be able to tune your guitar | | | | acoustic steel string guitar. |
| after restringing it. | | | | I hope you found this information to be helpful. |
| RE-STRINGING YOUR GUITAR | | | | Remember, establishing a good guitar care routine will |
| Acoustic Steel String Guitar- | | | | insure many long years of musical fun and enjoyment! |