How to Change Guitar Strings

I am only still learning to play the guitar so when one of my strings snapped I started to worry because I didn’t know how to change guitar strings. Initially I thought that I would only have to replace the one string that was broken but after reading up on the subject I found out that it is best to change all of the strings so that you get a more balanced sound.

 

To be perfectly honest the string broke some time back and despite buying a new set of strings I have put off changing them because I thought it would be too hard!

 

After looking around online I found that many websites and instructional videos suggest that you take all of the strings off at the same time and then put the new ones on. I did however find a few others that suggest that you should only take one string off at a time. They recommend removing and replacing each string separately.

 

 

I don’t know about you but I didn’t get a manufactures user manual with my guitar when I bought it! So I wondered what the official opinion of the guitar manufactures was, and how they would recommend that strings be changed.

 

As it turns out 3 out of the 5 guitar user manuals that I found online suggest that guitar strings should be changed one string at a time, while the other two didn’t specify. They advise that changing one string at a time keeps an even tension on the neck as well as minimising stress on the neck of the guitar.  I have included links to five popular guitar manufactures user manuals at the end of this post.

 

Putting aside the issue of how many strings to take off at the same time, there are lots of instructional videos available online to show you how to change guitar strings.

 

 

How to Change Guitar Strings: Removing all the Strings at Once

 

The first video link that I have shared is one that I found quite useful.

 

Points that the video covered well include:

• Tips on supporting your guitar while working on it
• Securing the strings in the bridge
• Tips for fastening the strings to the tuning post/tuning machine

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIzVdvzn8d8

cfmartinguitar YouTube video: Restringing Your Acoustic Guitar

 

I must admit that after reading the user manual for my guitar (Crafter) I only changed my strings one at a time, but I did use the method shown in the cfmartinguitar YouTube video above to fasten the strings to the tuning posts on my guitar.

 

The second video link also suggests removing all of the strings at once and provides useful tips. This video however suggests a different way to fasten the strings to the tuning post.

 

barrattsmusic YouTube video: How to Restring a Steel String Acoustic Guitar

 

 

How to Change Guitar Strings: Removing Just One String at a Time

 

This video goes through why you should only take one string off at a time and shows some slightly different ways of doing things.

 

MonkeySee YouTube Video: How to Restring an Acoustic Guitar

 

 

Guitar Manufactures User Manuals

 

As I mentioned at the beginning I was able to find some guitar user manuals that provide instructions for how to change guitar strings. I have included links to five user manuals which also provide basic care and storage information.

 

Crafter Owner’s Manual

Fender Owner’s Manual

Yamaha Care and String Replacement Guide

Martin Guitar – Care & Feeding

Gibson Guitar – Product & Care Guide

 

Overall I think that I have used information gained from each of the above links to change the strings on my guitar. I didn’t use just one video or manual by itself, instead I took hints and tips from each of the links to help me get the job done. All of the videos and manuals were useful because, even though they showed different methods, they each had a different way of explaining what to do.

 

I found that each of the links had useful elements that when used together allowed me to carry out a well-informed string change.