| Changing your guitar strings might make you feel a litte | | | | with any grooves in the pin. Insert the pin into the hole, |
| uncomfortable if you have never done it before, but it's | | | | making sure it is secure.3. Take the other end and |
| really quite simple and should become a regular part of | | | | insert into the hole on the capstan.4. Pull the string |
| your guitar care routine. Before you do anything, first | | | | through leaving a fair amount of slack between the |
| take time to make some personal observations such | | | | capstan and the bridge.5. Bend the string at the point it |
| as:1. Which way do you have to turn the tuning keys to | | | | comes through the capstan to keep it secure.6. |
| tighten or loosen the strings?2. How are the strings | | | | Watching out for your eyes, begin turning the key with |
| aligned from the nut to the bridge?3. Which is the | | | | your left hand. Once you get it started it may be |
| heaviest string?Taking mental notes will probably save | | | | easier to use the string winder. (For safety reasons, |
| you some frustration and make the job much | | | | you might want to cut off any excess string. I usually |
| easier.Below you will find some helpful steps to follow | | | | wait until after they're all on to do this).7. As you are |
| for changing your strings. Once you've changed your | | | | winding, apply some tension to the string with your right |
| guitar strings a couple of times your confidence should | | | | hand to help keep it taught. Make sure you are winding |
| begin to grow and you won't need to refer to these | | | | in the right direction! On the bass strings you will be |
| steps any longer. I like to remove all of the guitar | | | | winding counter-clockwise (away from you). On the |
| strings in order to give my guitar a thorough cleaning, | | | | treble strings you will go the opposite direction.8. |
| but you can remove and replace them one at a time if | | | | Continue to wind each string until all the slack is taken |
| you prefer.Guitar Care and Maintenance Tools:- | | | | up. Do not worry about tuning yet.9. Cut off all excess |
| Needle-nose Plyers (to cut string ends) | | | | string length.Classic Nylon String Guitar-1. Put the string |
| - String Winder | | | | through the top of the hole found just below the |
| - Soft Cotton Cloth | | | | bridge.2. Pull about 3 inches through.3. Bringing the string |
| - Guitar Cleaning Polish (do not use furniture polish, oils, | | | | up over the tie block, pass it underneath itself at the |
| or wax)REMOVING THE STRINGSAcoustic Steel | | | | original point of entry.4. Come down over the tie block |
| String Guitar-1. Using the string winder , begin slowly | | | | again and wrap the end of the string around itself in a |
| loosening the string(s) until completely slack.2. With the | | | | figure eight type pattern.5. Insert the other end of the |
| needle-nose plyers, carefully grab the string from the | | | | string down through the hole on the capstan.6. Wrap |
| capstan (the part it winds around) and pull through the | | | | the string around the back and then underneath itself in |
| hole until it is free.3. Taking the string winder again, use | | | | order to secure it in place.7. As described above, begin |
| the cut-out at the end of it to grab the pin at the | | | | turning the key with your left hand while maintaining |
| bridge. Gently pull the pin until it comes out of the hole.4. | | | | some tension with the other until all the slack is taken |
| Continue this process until all the strings are removed.5. | | | | up. With a classical guitar you will wind clockwise on |
| Clean guitar surface thoroughly.Classic Nylon String | | | | the bass strings and the treble strings.8. Keep the |
| Guitar-Follow steps one and two above. When you | | | | string as straight as possible as it continues from the |
| come to step three, take your needle-nose plyers and | | | | capstan through the nut and down onto the neck.9. |
| carefully loosen the figure eight knot at the bridge. Pull | | | | You should not have any excess string length, but if |
| the string free.Electric Guitar-Follow the same | | | | you do, cut it off.Electric Guitar-Follow the same |
| procedure as described for an acoustic steel string | | | | procedure as described for the acoustic steel string |
| guitar. However, if you have an electric guitar with a | | | | guitar.I hope you found this information to be helpful. |
| movable bridge you may want to take it to your local | | | | Remember, establishing a good guitar care routine will |
| music store and have them show you how to do it | | | | insure many long years of musical fun and |
| safely. If the bridge is moved from it's correct position | | | | enjoyment!FREE Reprint Rights - You may publish this |
| you will not be able to tune your guitar after restringing | | | | article in your e-zine or on your web site as long as |
| it.RE-STRINGING YOUR GUITARAcoustic Steel String | | | | you include the following information:Kathy Unruh is a |
| Guitar-1. Bend the ball end of the string slightly and | | | | singer/songwriter and webmaster of ABC Learn |
| place it inside the hole below the bridge. Some steel | | | | Guitar. She has been writing songs and providing guitar |
| string guitars do not have pins. When this is the case, | | | | lessons to students of all ages for over 20 years. |
| just pull the string throught the hole.2. Line up the string | | | | |