How to Change Your Guitar Strings

Your guitar strings should be changed when they get rusty, start to break, or lose their tone. There are many factors that affect the life of a guitar string from climate to the amount of time you play them to the type of string. Guitar string generally last between 3 to 6 sets.

When changing strings leave enough slack to ensure that there is going to be 3 – 5 turns of string around the tuning head. Make sure you gently but firmly stretch the strings when they are new. While connected to your tuner keep pulling and stretching the string and re-tune as necessary. Remember to stretch your nylon strings so they stay in tune.

There are many good products out there that lock the string into the guitar head and require no turns or wraps. Make sure to do your research but two good ones are Spertzel or Grover locking machines.

Especially good on electric guitars with tremelo bridges or ‘tune o matic’ bridges is to change the strings individually. This stops the tremolo becoming unadjusted or from falling off the guitar and losing the whole set up.

Always keep your new strings as new as possible by cleaning them down after each playing and using string life products before and after each jamming session. It makes a large difference on the life of your strings and length of the string tone. Elixir strings, which add about 8 times to the life of strings, are the best if you can afford them. However, they are about 3 times more expensive than regular strings.

You don’t want to pop a string during your great guitar solo so make sure you take good care of your strings. Clean them, change them, and buy good quality strings. It will help with the tone of your guitar and make for a better sound.