Beginners Guide To Guitar Re-Stringing
pLearning to restring your guitar can be frustrating and mysterious, but with a bit of experience and a few tips, yoursquo;ll be restringing like a pro in no time. Restringing your own instrument will save time and money, and will help you become familiar with your guitar. No matter what type of a title=Guitar Lessons href=http://learntheguitarlessons.com/ target=_blankguitar lessons/a you may be doing, you simply cannot learn properly without a perfectly tuned guitar./p
pUnless your guitar is fitted with special locking tuners or vibrato tailpieces, for which you should consult the ownerrsquo;s manual or website, restringing your guitar is very similar no matter what make you have. Wersquo;ll take this step by step:/p
h3 class=title2 style=padding-left: 30px;Step 1/h3
p style=padding-left: 30px;Place the guitar on a flat, padded surface, such as a table covered with a blanket or towel./p
h3 class=title2 style=padding-left: 30px;Step 2/h3
p style=padding-left: 30px;Elevate and secure the neck by placing a small cardboard box or foam block underneath the neck below the nut./p
h3 class=title2 style=padding-left: 30px;Step 3/h3
p style=padding-left: 30px;Notice how the previous strings were installed, and make mental or physical notes if necessary. In particular, note the wraps around the tuning posts, and the direction in which they are wound. Of course, this is assuming that the strings were installed correctly in the first place. Plan to restring one string at a time to minimize neck tension shock./p
h3 class=title2 style=padding-left: 30px;Step 4/h3
p style=padding-left: 30px;Loosen the 6th string (low E, or thickest string) by hand or with a peg winder, turning clockwise until the windings are loose./p
h3 class=title2 style=padding-left: 30px;Step 5/h3
p style=padding-left: 30px;Unwrap the windings, and pull the old string out of the tuning post hole./p
h3 class=title2 style=padding-left: 30px;Step 6/h3
p style=padding-left: 30px;Remove the string from the tailpiece, which will be on the top or underside of the guitar, depending on bridge type. You can snip the string with wire cutters to facilitate easier removal, as the bent winding end of the string may be difficult to pull through, but this is optional./p
h3 class=title2 style=padding-left: 30px;Step 7/h3
p style=padding-left: 30px;Thread the new string through the bridge hole, and pull all the way through./p
h3 class=title2 style=padding-left: 30px;Step 8/h3
p style=padding-left: 30px;Wrap the string around the machine head several times, and insert the tip into the tuning post hole. Pre-wrapping takes the guesswork out if some other string slackening methods, and allows a suitable number of wraps to prevent string slippage./p
h3 class=title2 style=padding-left: 30px;Step 9/h3
p style=padding-left: 30px;Secure the string by grasping the end near the tuning post hole with needle-nose pliers and pulling snug. Bending it up at a 90 degree angle will lock the string into place./p
h3 class=title2 style=padding-left: 30px;Step 10/h3
p style=padding-left: 30px;Bring up to pitch by turning counter-clockwise. Hold the string and pull up slightly as you tune, which will help to pre-stretch the string, but donrsquo;t pull too hard! This may need to be repeated several times until the string stabilizes./p
h3 class=title2 style=padding-left: 30px;Step 11/h3
p style=padding-left: 30px;Repeat steps 3 through 10 for additional strings./p
h3 class=title2 style=padding-left: 30px;Step 12/h3
p style=padding-left: 30px;Stretch and tune all strings two to three additional times with a tuner, pitch pipe, or tuning fork, to further stabilize./p
pThatrsquo;s about it! a title=Guitar Restringing href=http://learntheguitarlessons.com/beginners-guitar-lessons/guitar-restringing/ target=_blankGuitar Restringing/a does require some practice, but is a vital part of learning the guitar. You may investigate other methods, but over many years of professional playing, this method has proven to be quick and reliable. See you next time!/p
