Summary: Changing acoustic guitar strings might seem daunting or confusing, but it’s actually not that difficult if you follow this step-by-step guide. After a few string changes, you will have mastered this essential skill.

If you’re planning on changing acoustic guitar strings but it seems daunting or confusing, it’s actually not that difficult. After a few string changes, you will have mastered this essential skill, and our step-by-step guide to changing acoustic guitar strings will show you how…

Helpful Tools

Although you potentially don’t need any tools, having a select few in handy will make your job of changing acoustic guitar strings much easier and faster: a bridge pin puller, which also serves as a string winder (in the form of a crank on the tuner), and a pair of wire cutters to cut any excess string once you wind them. If you don’t have a bridge pin puller/string winder, a pair of pliers will also work for gently pulling bridge pins out; you’ll just have to turn each tuner with your hands, which will take longer.

Removing the String

First, and this may seem obvious, but working on a flat surface, like you would when performing maintenance or repair on any other tools or appliances, is recommended for changing acoustic guitar strings. Now, before actually taking a string off (it doesn’t matter which order you choose to change them in), first loosen the string to the point of it slacking by turning the tuner (you can use a string winder to speed up the process). For the majority of acoustic guitars that have three tuners on each side of the headstock, on the bass strings you will be winding clockwise and on the treble strings you’ll be winding counter-clockwise. If you want to make sure you are turning the tuner in the right direction, play the string as you turn and see if the pitch gets lower; if it’s increasing, you are turning in the wrong direction.

Once the string is loose enough that it’s touching the fret board, uncoil one end from the tuning peg that’s at the head of the guitar. Next, remove the string bridge pin at the body of the guitar. If the pin is giving resistance, use a bridge pin puller (or a pair of pliers if you don’t have one) to gently wiggle and pull the pin out of the bridge. Once it’s out, pull the other end of the string out from the string bridge. Discard the string and, if you want, wipe off any dust or dirt from the guitar surface and/or polish.

Replacing the String

You’ll notice that one end of your new guitar string might have a small ball. Slide that end of the string (if yours doesn’t have a ball end, then it doesn’t matter which end you use here) a few inches into the hole in the bridge and put the bridge pin back into the hole (make sure the carved slot in the pin is aligned with the string). To check that the ball end is firmly in place, gently pull on the string; if the pin and string pops out, re-insert the string and pin into the hole and pull on the string again until it stays in place.

Next, gently pull the string to the head of the guitar about one-and-a-half inches past the tuning peg, leaving some slack between the peg and the bridge, and make a 90-degree bend of the string there. Now insert the string into to the peg until the bended part sticks out and begin turning the tuner to wind the slack string into a spool on the peg (the 90-degree bend will keep the string in place). For the majority of acoustic guitars that have three tuners on each side of the headstock, on the bass strings you will be winding counter-clockwise and on the treble strings you’ll be winding clockwise. On the first rotation, feed the string above the protruding bended one, and on every rotation after that feed the string underneath. It’s a good idea to pull the string every few rotations to avoid over-tightening it.

Once the string is tightened, simply repeat the same steps for the other five strings.

Conclusion

Now you’re knowledgeable at changing acoustic guitar strings. While, like any new skill, it might seem slightly confusing at first, it’s actually not difficult at all, and it shouldn’t take too long for this essential skill to become second-nature for you. Just be careful not to cut yourself on the ends of the strings while removing and disposing of them, and pretty soon you’ll be changing each string in under a minute.

If you want to know when and how to best change guitar strings as well as extend their lifespan (thus saving you time and money), please read our useful tips and guidelines on how to change guitar strings.