Before we get started, I usually find doing this a sort of relaxing thing so while I can “Pop” a string off and on a guitar as fast as the next guy I usually kick back and take the time to relax and enjoy the experience.

Changing guitar strings can be easy for some people and more difficult for others. Being able to change guitar strings quickly will take practice. After practice you will become much quicker.

It takes a professional 24 minutes to string a guitar. This means it will take four minutes per string when stringing a 6-string guitar.

Read on to learn more about the different types of guitar strings. Also, why some strings may have to be changed sooner than others.

How Long Does It Take to String a Guitar?

JustinGuitar has a video that explains all the tools needed to string a 6-string guitar and the steps to follow.

Tools are needed to string a 6-string guitar:

• Strings – Justin suggests having two sets of strings on hand in case a string gets broken in the string changing process.
• Tuner
• String Winder – some winders come with string cutters on the bottom
• Cloth or rag
• Neck Oil
• Pliers
• Pencil
• Wire Cutters – in case your string winder does not have cutters on the bottom

The order of stringing a 6-string guitar:

• Step 1:  Loosen and cut the old strings

• Step 2:  Remove the old strings from the headstock

• Step 3:  Cleaning the fretboard

• Step 4:  Putting the new strings onto your guitar

• Step 5:  Placing the strings onto the headstock

• Step 6:  Tuning your guitar

In Justin’s video, each of the steps above is listed in order and in more detail. You can jump ahead to which step you want to get to, or you can watch the whole video in order. There is also a bonus question and answer after the final steps based on questions his viewers have had for him.

There will be a noticeable difference in string guitars from starting as a beginner to becoming more comfortable with the process. The more comfortable you become changing your guitar strings, the quicker the process will be.

FixTheThings has a great video that helps explain in the beginning how not being confident in changing guitar strings can be a normal feeling. “Worst-case scenario, you do something wrong and break a string.” The video goes on to explain another person’s viewpoint on stringing a guitar. Along with some great tips on how to remove the pins that hold the strings in place, which are as follows:

• Pliers will help pull the pins out; just be careful if you have bone pins because the pins can crack.
• Wire cutters can be used to pull the pins out by acting as a lever to loosen them slowly. Just be careful not to squeeze the pin so tightly you damage it requiring you to purchase a new one.
• A coin of any kind can help push the pins out by putting your hand into the sound chamber (sound hold) and pushing the pins up from the bottom.

Many people have different reasons for wanting to change their strings. Some people that do performances prefer to do it after each show so that they have fresh strings each time. While other people may wait to change them until the guitar either does not stay tuned anymore or the strings themselves get dirty. 

Stringing an electric and acoustic guitar are the same because they both have standard 6 strings. The main difference is an electric guitar will sound quieter than an acoustic when it comes to tuning your guitar. 

One of the best ways to get better at stringing your guitar would be to learn how to do it and then continue to time yourself afterward. If you are okay with a more leisure stringing of a guitar, it can always be done at a relaxing pace while sitting on the couch and watching television. This is in fact my preferred method.

When and Why to Change Guitar Strings

“The magic rule for beginners is to change strings every 100 hours or 3 months – whichever comes first.” The more often a guitar is played, the quicker the strings will need to be replaced. If you are a beginner, you will most likely play your guitar at least once a day or multiple times a day while learning the different notes or a song. 

However, once you start playing more often or play multiple times a day and become a better guitarist, you will have to change your strings more frequently.

Guitar String Wear and Tear

Guitar strings can wear down after time. If a guitar string is plucked with a guitar pick in the same place over and over, this too can cause the strings to wear down.

Guitar String Not Staying Tuned

Guitar strings can also lose their ability to stay tuned correctly over time. For the most part, once a guitar is tuned, it will continue to stay tuned. Eventually, after some time, the strings ability to stay tuned will happen less and less.

Guitar Strings Will Get Dirty

Guitar strings can get dirty after being used as well. The more often a guitar is played, the quicker the strings will get dirty. Your guitar strings can also get dirty from sitting around if you only play occasionally. Not playing your guitar very often can cause your strings to get dirty too. Having dirty strings on your guitar can change the sound your guitar makes when you play it. Once you have dirty old strings on your guitar and hear the difference a brand new set makes you will want to change them more often. New strings are way brighter and make your playing/practice sound way more exciting to you.

Guitar Strings Can Break

Your guitar strings might break. Sometimes the strings can break due to:

• The strings rubbing or gliding over the same parts of a guitar in the same places.
• If the wrong type of strings were chosen for your guitar
• If the strings are wound too tightly on the guitar

Save Your Guitar Strings

One way to help save your guitar strings would be to wipe them down after every use with a cloth or a rag. Another way to help prolong the life of your strings will be to store your guitar in a case to protect them from anything floating around in the air.

Tuning Your Guitar

There are many different types of tuners to choose from. Mostly it is based on preference. Some tuners clip onto the headstock of your guitar while others are pedal tuners. Fender offers a free online tuner that can be accessed online. The tuner is available for:

• Acoustic guitars – standard tuning and 15 other alternates
• Electric guitars – standard tuning and 15 other alternates
• Bass – standard tuning and five other alternates
• Ukulele – standard tuning and seven other alternates

All you must do is click on the note and tune your string to match. After you pick the tuning method you want to use, there is a box at the bottom that can be checked to loop the note. This way, the note will play continuously until you can match the sound.

Fender also has a tuning app available for free on iPhone and Android devices. There is a paid app available as well, called the Fender Play app. The Fender play app can help with:

• Step by step learning
• Following along with lessons
• The ability to track your progress

Why Is a 6-String Guitar Great for Beginners?

A 6-string guitar is a great first guitar for beginners. The 6-string guitar will have the main notes needed to learn to play the guitar. Any guitar played going forward, you will still need to know which notes are played on the original six. The six notes from highest to lowest are:

• E (thickest string, lowest tone)
• A
• D
• G
• B
• E (thinnest string, highest tone)

The strings towards the bottom of the guitar when you are getting ready to play it will be higher in pitch, and the string itself will be thinner. The pitch of the strings will gradually get lower as you move up, and the string itself will be thicker towards the top of the guitar.

 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, learning to string a guitar, while it might seem complicated in the beginning, will eventually get easier. The more often you choose to string your guitar can also help make the process easier and faster. 

 SEE ALSO:

Guitar Stringin’ the fine art of changing strings on your guitar.