Finding Perfect Accent Pieces

How To Replace Acoustic Guitar Strings

4 March 2015

Howard Jones

Guitars have strings that will break over time due to simple wear and tear, as they are constantly under lots of tension. Replacing a guitar string on an acoustic guitar is a fairly simple process if you have the right knowledge. However, keep in mind that since these strings are under such high tension, they can snap or suddenly whip around, which can be a safety hazard. Wearing glasses is recommended to protect your eyes in case the string does snap.

What You'll Need

You'll need a replacement string, as well as a pair of pliers or a bridge pin puller (which can be found at most music stores). Keep in mind that certain strings are supposed to be used for certain notes, so check the replacements before you install them. You may also need a pair of scissors.

How to Replace a Guitar String

1. Remove the string that's broken or fraying from the guitar by loosening the pegs at the top of the guitar, turning leftwards, or counterclockwise.
2. Remove the pins that hold the string in the bridge. You can use regular pliers to do this, but its much better and safer to use a bridge pin puller.
3. Remove the string from the peg hole at the bottom of the guitar, removing the peg and placing it safely off to the side.
4. Insert the end of the string into the peg hole, and place the peg in the hole, ensuring that the string is firmly held in place.
5. Stretch the string out, all the way up until the end of the fret board.
6. Thread the string through the tuning peg, wrapping any excess string around the actual peg itself. If there is, for some reason, an exorbitant amount of extra string, use a pair of scissors to cut off the excess, leaving enough to wrap around the peg.
7. Turn the turning key so that the peg winds the string around itself a few times. Ensure that the string is tight and held firmly in place.

Your string is now securely and firmly in place. Ensure that when strumming or picking at it, it does not become loose. If this is the case, or the string has simply too much slack in it, remove the string from the guitar and try again. Keep in mind that your newly installed guitar string is not yet tuned, so you will have to tune it before you can actually properly play a song.

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