How to fix the first strings on the guitar. How to put or change strings on a guitar. How to remove old strings

Changing strings is one of the basic operations when playing guitar. and you should be able to do it yourself. However, on a guitar, with a freely suspended two-way Floyd Rose tremolo, this is a rather difficult task and I am not surprised if it gives you some trouble, especially if you are a beginner guitarist and are not very good at the technical part of this matter.

So how do you change strings on an electric guitar with Floyd Rose? The following instruction will teach you how to properly and efficiently replace the strings, and how to tune a guitar with such a bridge. Not all Floyd Rose bridges are created equal. Some, for example, do not require cutting the string ends before installing them. Even if your Floyd Rose system is slightly different from the one shown in the photographs, this method of changing strings will still be the same or very similar.

Let's assume that your starting point is a tuned guitar with strings installed that you want to replace with new ones again. If you always put the same strings (i.e. the same model, the same brand), then after installing the new strings, the guitar should build well, without the need for additional adjustment.

I hope that you know how to handle a screwdriver, hex wrench and wire cutters, and also you do not need to explain in which direction to unscrew or tighten the screws and screws). Otherwise, ask someone who owns all of the listed instruments to help you (it is not at all necessary that he knows how to play the guitar).

I want to warn you in advance that all manipulations with the guitar you perform at your own peril and risk, although I can hardly imagine that you will manage to break something, in extreme cases you will have to give the guitar for tuning in the hands of a more experienced comrade, so do not worry and do not be alarmed).

Attention! Be very careful when handling (and playing) your guitar. A broken string or a protruding uncut end of a string can seriously injure you or someone nearby. Pay special attention to the safety of young children... To instill music from an early age is certainly good, but you need to approach everything with your head!

A suitable place for such operations as changing strings or tuning the guitar is a small coffee table with a piece (50cm x 50cm) of a thick (about 5cm) sponge placed on the table top to protect the guitar from damage. You also need good lighting and a few tools: a Phillips screwdriver, wire cutters, hex keys, an electronic tuner, a paintbrush, and a rag. If a special sponge was not found, then it can be easily replaced with an ordinary soft blanket.

Now let's get started changing strings for Floyd Rose!

Unscrew the back cover of the tremolo springs. It is usually attached with 6 Phillips head screws.

Loosen the locking strings with the hex head. An appropriately sized key must be included with the guitar. If you do not have the original key, you need to get hold of it. Choose a wrench of exactly the size that you need, since using a smaller wrench destroys the screws, and very soon you will need to replace them, and this is known to be money.

The fact is that there are metric hexagons, and there are inch, their sizes are slightly different and it is sometimes quite difficult to determine by eye which key is in front of you. The wrench must be in good condition and with sharp edges, a hexagon with knocked down edges destroys the splines of the bolts and they quickly become unusable. Of course, it is advisable to have a spare wrench and spare screws, it is not such a big investment.

Unscrew the blocking bolt completely and remove the blocking pads. A loosened bolt is easier and faster to unscrew by inserting the long part of the key into the screw head.

Put all bolts, screws and other small parts in a box, then you don't have to look for them.

Remove the screws holding the tremolo springs 5-10 turns so that the tremolo rises up, but do not remove them at all. The ideal tool for this purpose is an extended screwdriver, but in principle you can do this with a regular short screwdriver too.

Set all micro-adjustments in the middle position, so that later you can adjust them both in one direction and in the other direction. Do it now, because then you will forget!

Loosen the peg of the first string () so that it is completely free, but does not come out of the stud.

Loosen the micro-adjustment latch with the correct size hex, 1-2 turns should be sufficient. Be careful not to damage the polish on your guitar..

Remove the first string by pulling it up with your fingers. If you do not want to come out, then loosen the locking screw one more turn.

Tighten (lightly) back the locking screw. If you do not do this, the blocking pads may fall out and you will be looking for them for a long time all over the floor ;-).

Take the string off by unscrewing it and pulling it up. When screwing up the string, be careful not to let the string scratch the varnish on the headstock. The old string must be rolled up and thrown into the basket. Do not leave it so to speak "just in case", it will suddenly come in handy. I assure you - not useful! Well, okay, I left it myself once ;-).

Likewise, remove all other strings, going from the thinnest first string (s) to the thickest sixth string (s).

If during this operation the bridge (aka "bridge") sagged as in the photo above and you lost access to the locking screws, then unscrew a few more turns screws that secure the tremolo spring (we unscrewed them with a long screwdriver), the bridge rises back up and you can continue working.

Press down on the tremolo lever to tilt the back up, place paper business cards or playing cards under the lock screws on the back. Place enough so that the bridge is more or less parallel (horizontal) to the guitar deck.

Do not put a pencil, battery or something like that under the bridge, as some "experts" recommend, in this way you can spoil the varnish of your (and even worse someone else's) guitar. Playing cards are perfect for this purpose. If you are not an avid gambler and you have no cards, then ... buy a deck of 54 playing cards and cut it in half - and then you will get a lining of the required size. It is better not to use old shabby cards, buy new ones.

I hope everything went smoothly and the strings were removed from the guitar.

Every time when you change strings, it is necessary clean the neck of the guitar thoroughly such as a clean dry flannel cloth ...

As well as hard-to-reach places on the frets, for this we use a toothbrush

take this opportunity to clean the pickups and all hard-to-reach places

you can also use a brush with a wooden handle

Wow! Missing sixth-string clamping block! You probably forgot to tighten the locking screw back after removing the string. But I spoke!

Now you have to look for him. If it is not on the table, then it is lying somewhere on the floor. It looks like the picture below. If you have large gaps in the parquet, then you can be sure that it is there. I find a magnet to be the best tool for finding a lost last on a carpet or for retrieving it from a crack in a parquet, the bigger the better. If the block has disappeared irrevocably, then you can buy it in a good music store or a special service.

You should fit the blocking block into the saddle exactly as I show in the picture, that is, the hole should be shifted down and look away from the neck. The tip of the locking screw, after tightening, must enter the hole of the block and secure it from falling out with a slight loosening of the locking. After installing the shoe and tightening the locking screw, it is necessary to check if everything has been installed correctly.

Unpack the new strings.

Important! The strings on the electric guitar are placed in a strictly defined sequence, which depends on the location of the tuning pegs on the headstock. The string whose peg is closer to the bridge is placed first, and so on as the pegs move away.

For example, if the tuning pegs are on top of the headstock, then we start to set the strings starting from the 6th (thickest) string. If the tuning pegs are on the bottom, then start with the 1st (thinnest) string. If the tuning pegs are located on both sides of the headstock, then first put strings from 6th to 4th, then from 1st to 3rd.

Standard electric guitar strings have a small grommet on one side, making them quick and easy to attach to conventional bridge guitars.

For a Floyd Rose bridge guitar these grommets are not needed, so cut them off with a side cutter (approx. 1cm). Do not cut the bushings from all strings at once, cut only from the one you will be installing, this will help you not to get confused.

Loosen the sixth-string (MI) bridge seat lock screw 2-3 turns.

Insert the end of the string (the one from which you just cut the sleeve) into the "saddle" as I show in the picture. If the string does not want to go in, then loosen the locking screw one more turn. The string should go 5-6mm into the saddle - you need to be sure it is all the way in.

If you insert the string not deeply enough (that is, not all the way), then later the string may pop out during tuning or during playing, and even injure your hands or face, so do it with due attention!

While holding the end of the string with one hand, tighten the locking screw with the other hand as far as it will go, squeezing the string as if in a vise. You need to tighten enough so that after the final tuning the string does not jump out, but do not abuse it, you need to know when to stop. The strength of a 10-year-old child is quite enough here.

Insert the other end of the string into the tuner hole and ...

stretch the string all the way. Measure about 4cm - this is about to the next peg if you have a neck with pegs on opposite sides. And so, measure and fix this distance with your fingers.

Now pull the string back that 4cm while still holding it with your fingers. Do not unclench your fingers and keep them in the same place all the time!

With the fingers of your other hand, grasp the string on the other side of the hairpin.

You can release the string with the first hand, you do not need to release the string with the other hand, continue to hold it.

With your free hand, start twisting the peg. Hold the string in the tuner hole all the time (you can do this with one finger as in the picture). Together with the turn of the tuning peg, the end of the string will also begin to bend. In the photo, the tuning pin has turned around already a quarter of a turn and the string is bent at a right angle.

And now the tuning pin is turned another quarter of a turn. Pick up the string with three fingers, and continue to hold the peg at the base of the peg with your index finger - this is done so that the string is always taut when winding. This will make it easier and more convenient to wind it.

Continue winding the string around the tuning peg. When the pin is turned about 3/4 of a turn, you will have to decide how the free end of the string will go - under the stretched string or above it. Traditionally, at the first turn, the free end of the string is tucked under the stretched string., I recommend not to change the general traditions and tuck the string in the same way.

Press down on the string with your finger so that the next turn goes under the string protruding from the pin.

Exactly as in the picture.

To make the string fit better, keep it slightly taut.

When the string is tight enough, tuck it under the clamping bar and place it in the hole of the upper blocker

Pull the string a little more so that you don't have to hold it with your hand. It is not necessary to tighten too much, slightly tighten so that it just does not dangle.

Two or three turns of the string are quite enough for it to hold securely and not slip out of the hole in the hairpin.

Cut off the free end of the string with pliers, leave a tail of 5 millimeters, that's enough. Be careful with the coating, take care of the varnish.

Make sure the bridge is in the correct position and that the bridge fits into the notches on the stems. If not, adjust the bridge with your hand. Take the business cards / cards out from under the bridge for a moment and move it around to make sure everything works as it should. Insert business cards / cards back under the bridge.

All other strings should be put in the same way. From the side of the bridge, you do everything in a similar way. There will be slight differences on the side of the headstock. To consolidate the material, we will discuss the most difficult steps again, although most of them will not differ in any way from what we have already done.

Fix the fifth string (note A) in the bridge saddle in the same way as you installed the sixth string, and pass the free end under the string holder bar ...

And thread it through the peg hole. When installing the remaining strings, remember to thread them under the string holder bar before winding it onto the peg. However, if you forget to do this, then it is not necessary to remove the already installed strings, just unscrew the bar, put all the strings on and screw the bar back.

If it suddenly turns out that the gap under the bar is too small and the strings can hardly crawl under the bar, just unscrew it a few turns, and after installing all the strings, twist it back.

In general, the installation of the fifth string is completely similar to the installation of the sixth string, I post a photo without explanation:

don't forget to cut the end of the string!

The installation of the fourth string is also no different from the installation of the fifth string, we act according to the already worked out scheme. After installing the first three strings and trimming the ends, it will look something like this:

As the rest of the strings are pulled, at some point (no matter when) their tension will be so strong that the bridge will rise up and the inserted cards will fall out from under the locking screws. Never mind, don't worry, that's the way it should be!
The bridge should be in a position similar to the picture (i.e. slightly raised). If you see that the bridge is bulging up too much, then this needs to be corrected. Loosen the already taut strings and the bridge will drop to the desired height. In extreme cases, unscrew the screws holding the axle springs by a few turns.

We set the first string according to the already familiar scheme, there are no changes here. The only thing to remember is the order of the strings, in our case (when the pegs are located on opposite sides of the headstock) the order will be as follows: start with the first, then the second, then the third string.

We wind the second, and then the third string

Unwound strings (1st, 2nd and 3rd) can be put back to front, that is, without cutting off the fixing sleeve. First, thread the tuning peg through the hole, pull it under the clamping bar and finally insert it into the “saddle” mount. But personally, it seems to me that this method does not simplify at all, but rather complicates the process of installing the strings. But the choice is yours.

One more point regarding safety precautions! Very sharp (like needles), the ends of the strings sticking out after cutting can injure your hands, and uncut ends can injure your eyes, there have already been precedents. Be attentive and extremely careful.

You don't have to cut the strings at all (some people even like it ;-), but then they get in the way in the case and, again, can be dangerous to our eyes. Personally, I prefer to prick my finger from time to time than risk my eye.

Make sure that all strings go under the clamping bar and fit correctly in the top lock, namely in the grooves for the strings.

also check the placement of the strings on the bridge itself

Push the lever to make sure the bridge is well suspended on the rods

Flip the guitar and ...

Insert the halves of playing cards that we already love into the slot between the sustain block and the deck. It will be easier for you to do this if you use the tremolo lever by pulling it up.

Place enough cards so that the bridge (bridge) is parallel to the body of the guitar

Make sure the clamping bar has enough pressure on the strings in the guide holes of the top lock. The strings should be flat on both sides of the top lock. In the photo, the clamping bar is too high and the strings do not fully adhere to the top-lock seat.

If necessary, tighten the clamping bar with a screwdriver. But do not tighten it all the way, twist exactly as much as necessary so that the string fits into the holes of the top lock.

Now the strings fit right

we carry out the primary, without using micro-adjustment. The bridge is currently blocked by a deck of cards, so it will be completely immobile, and the setting should be of sufficient quality.

Attention! At this point, you need to check that the guitar is pitching along the harmonics. It may be necessary to adjust the scale and do it better right now. How to do this is a topic for a separate article. If the guitar tunes along the harmonics normally, then you go to the next step.

Install the blocking pads in the top-lock seats. Tighten the screws a few turns so that the pads are holding but not fixing the strings. The strings should still slide freely.

This is how the pressure pads should be installed:

But this is by no means impossible! In the photo below, the pads are installed in the transverse direction (they are rotated 90 degrees). Pay close attention to this!

Using only the tuning pegs on the headstock and tighten the locking screw with the hex wrench. You need to tighten it firmly, but carefully.

Check the quality of the tuning of the 5th and 6th strings, for this it is advisable to use a tuner, but if there is no tuner, then focus on your ear. If you did everything right in the previous steps, then the strings should build and hold well.Small deviations from the ideal sound are possible, but they can be corrected with micro-tuning.

Adjust the rest of the strings in the same way.

Fine-tune your guitar using Micro Tune , do this while holding the guitar in a playing position. If you did the previous steps correctly, then correction should to be ( as the name says) is minimal.

Place the guitar in your lap, but only so as not to touch the bridge and micro-tuning, and tighten the screws holding the tremolo springs until ...

so that you can freely, without the use of force, pull out our deck of playing cards.

Place the guitar on your knees and check how the 6th string is tuned. If the string sounds lower, then slightly tighten the screws securing the tremolo springs, if the string sounds higher, then slightly turn them out. Try to tighten or unscrew both screws evenly... In this way, tune the 6th string, and then check the tuning of the other strings.

All strings should sound perfect. If they all sound a little too low or too high, then fix it in the same way as with the 6th string, that is, tighten / loosen the spring fixing screws. Do not use micro-tuning, try to achieve the best result only by adjusting the tension of the tremolo springs.

And only now you can make minimal adjustments using micro-fine tuning, but if you have done everything right so far, then there should not be such a need.

After all the manipulations done, you should have a guitar with new strings and a tuned bridge (Floyd Rose bridge) installed as it should, that is, according to all the rules.

Congratulations!

The final touch remains. You need to screw the back cover of the tremolo springs into place. It is up to you to screw it on or not.

Most professional guitarists generally do not fit this cover in order to always have quick access to spring adjustments. If you want to join them, then put the cover and screws in a safe place, because someday it may come in handy (for example, when selling a guitar).

Sooner or later every novice guitarist asks the question of how to change the strings on the guitar? They are usually changed when the sound loses its brightness and / or they cease to hold in tune. If one string is broken, then it is better to change everything, because the sound of the new one will be different from the others. Amateur guitarists usually change them every three months, professional guitarists at least once a month. To determine when this time has come, you need to listen to the sound of the guitar - the old strings sound hollow.

If the same string is constantly breaking, and the playing style is not aggressive, then you should check all the places where it touches the guitar for smoothness. If your guitar gets upset a lot, it may be because the strings are incorrectly set. Eliminate irregularities and only then proceed with the installation.

Before you change strings on your guitar, of course, you need to decide what type of strings you need. The choice of strings is influenced by the style in which you play. For brute-force or tremolo, vibrato, and fast passages, nylon is the best choice. When playing with a strike, when you need the sound of all six strings at the same time, the more sonorous metal strings win.

So, let's look at the process itself, how to change the strings on a guitar. To do this, it is desirable, but not necessary to have: side cutters, a polishing cloth, a turntable for tuning pegs. Nippers are needed to cut off the excess part of the string, as the shorter it is, the less frustrating. The spinner speeds up the tensioning process a lot.

While pulling on the string, periodically pull it away from the neck, as a guitar with stretched strings will not be out of tune for a long time. Do not remove all the old strings at once, replace them one by one to avoid truss rod problems. Remove them carefully so as not to damage the guitar body.

After threading the string through the hole in the bridge, pass it through the tuner hole, leave some margin for winding, and cut the rest with wire cutters. The stock should be enough for 2-3 turns. Bend 1 to 2 cm of the end of the string and start winding it by twisting the peg and lifting it up perpendicular to the neck. The string around the tuning peg should organize a certain kind of lock. Thus, she seems to be squeezing herself.

Start with the thinnest string, gradually progressing to the bass strings. All tuners need to be twisted in one direction, so that later when tuning the guitar you do not get confused. The outer strings are pulled on the tuners closest to the deck, 2 and 5 - on the middle pegs, 3 and 4 - on the far ones. Do not make sudden movements when pulling the string, so as not to break it completely. Remember, knowing how to change the strings on your guitar correctly will save you a lot of trouble.

Placing strings on an electric guitar is somewhat different from a similar process on acoustics. The main difference is one: to push the strings through the bridge, you need to remove the back cover of the guitar with a screwdriver.

Next, let's start tuning the guitar. This should not be done with particular accuracy, since strings (especially nylon) tend to stretch, this process lasts about two days. Tuning new nylon strings at first generally turns into a flour: you tune the bass - the thin ones are upset, and vice versa. But all this is temporary. After each approximate tuning, let the guitar lie down, periodically adjusting it. For use either an electronic tuner or a tuning fork.

An excellent assistant in this matter can be the Internet, where you can find many video tutorials that help inexperienced and novice guitarists change strings.

A fashionable trend in the world of music has become playing the guitar, in which the strings glow, it is the neon strings that give the guitar a special chic, especially in a dimly lit room. Such strings glow under the influence of ultraviolet radiation, it looks very impressive, so if you are performing on stage, then this is exactly what you need.

I, in general, quite often met complaints from guitarists that their guitars quickly get upset and do not hold.

Many people sin on their inexpensive guitars and cheap accessories, not even suspecting that the guitar does not hold in tune, not at all because of the accessories.

It's all about getting the right strings on your guitar!

Replacing strings on a guitar is only a trivial process at first glance, but there are some tricks here.

At the very least, learning how to put or change the strings on your guitar can make your life a lot easier.

Step 1:

Once you've hooked on, bring it up to the headstock and pass it through the tuning peg hole.

Step 2:

Leave a little headroom for winding around the peg and pull the string slightly towards the headstock. Try not to jerk the string back and forth - it can bend and break.

Step 3:

Bend the end of the string towards the center of the headstock and pass it under the string.

Step 4:

While holding the tension on the string, wrap the strings around you, making a kind of "lock". Try to keep the string taut, this will prevent the string from deforming and will aid in proper positioning.

Step 5:

Keeping the string under tension, begin to twist the peg. The string should clamp itself. The string should be wound down the tuner shaft to increase its angle of inclination relative to the nut.

Final result:

Such a "lock" allows you to achieve that the guitar will be much less upset.

So now you know how to properly change the strings on your guitar. =)

UPD: Well, and visual videos:

Video: How to Change Strings on an Electric Guitar

Video: How to Change Strings on an Acoustic Guitar

Video: How to Change Strings on a Classical Guitar

Additions, corrections, comments are welcome. Friends, write in comments.

And so the old nylon strings on your classic guitar have served their purpose, and it's time to replace them with newer and more sonorous ones. The methods of attaching strings on classical and acoustic guitars are fundamentally different. Therefore, when buying new strings, make sure you buy the strings specifically for the classical guitar. We have already talked about the variety of strings for classical guitar in one of our articles called.

Attention! When tuning and changing strings, try to keep the guitar away from you with the front deck, as the combined pulling force of all 6 nylon strings of a classical guitar can reach up to 50 kg, and if a string breaks, it can injure your face or eyes.

This step-by-step guide will help you quickly and easily change the strings on your guitar.

Removing the old strings.

If, when removing old nylon strings, it becomes necessary to bite the string, then use a special tool (pliers) for this, and be sure to release the tension on the strings in advance. Sudden changes in string tension can damage the neck, and a string cut under tension can injure you or scratch the guitar. To tension or release the tension of the strings, it is convenient to use a special machine-turntable "Stringweider", with the help of which it is convenient to quickly turn the tuning pegs. Removing old strings is not a difficult process in itself, and I don't think it will take you long.

Guitar care.

After you remove the old strings from the guitar, you will need to wipe the dust from the body of the guitar with a soft flannel and rub the polished surfaces of the guitar with a special polish (except for the matte finish). It is recommended to clean the fretboard of the guitar with a special conditioner with lemon oil.

Fastening the strings to the bridge.

Before you start stringing new strings, take a sheet of thick paper and place it on the back of the tailpiece. This will help prevent accidental scratches on the guitar body. It is most convenient to install the strings in pairs in the following sequence: 1-6 / 2-5 / 3-4.

Take a string and insert it into the hole in the tailpiece, leaving a 4-5 cm end to tie the knot. Then wrap the tail of the string around the string, as if you want to tie a knot.

Then wrap the tail of the string around the string 2-3 times, i.e. make a double knot or braid as shown in the picture. Then grab the tail of the string with one hand and gently pull on the main string with the other hand. The pigtail will tighten and you will have a strong and beautiful knot.

Attention! A very important point! The tip of the string must be pressed against the bridge in the area of ​​the back wall below the sharp edge of the bridge. This is shown in the figure (side view). If the tip of the string is pressed from above, then the tension will untie the knot, and the string will bleed off.

Fastening the strings on the tuning pegs.

The illustration shows the attachment of nylon strings to the tuning machine of a classical guitar.

After installing all the nylon strings, the guitar is tuned using a tuning fork or digital tuner.

Advice:

Place the strings carefully and precisely on the stand and tuning pegs.

The tighter and tighter the loops and windings are, the faster you can tune the strings to match.

Enjoy playing the guitar!

The principle of fastening the strings on the tuning shaft is similar to fastening on a stand - the string must be clamped with a tightening loop. The more the strings are pulled, the stronger the loop holds. Of course, the turns around the shaft are also of great importance, since this is all the frictional force that additionally holds the string.

There is nothing special to write about the dismantling of old strings - they unscrewed, pulled out and thrown away. To rotate the tuning mechanism, it is very convenient to use special twists, which you can buy, or you can make yourself from ebony, amaranth, Indian rosewood and mahogany.

Unfortunately, you cannot see the mother-of-pearl buttons at the end of the handle. Replacing guitar strings with such a twist is a pleasure.

Strings Installation Procedure into the guitar pegs is not of fundamental importance, but it is more convenient to start with the 1st and 6th strings, moving in order, then the already tucked strings will not interfere with the installation of the next ones. In other words, the string order is: 1st, 2nd, 3rd and also 6th, 5th, 4th.

A few more tips before we look directly at how to thread the strings:

Fastening the string on the tuning pegs, form a knot

Keep the string under tension so that the knot on the stand does not come loose. The string is threaded once or twice (for the fifth and sixth, just once is enough). It is not necessary to wind too many strings on the shaft so that the turns are piled up on top of each other.

Now wrap the free end around the string and start winding. The string should start winding along with its ponytail. A couple of overlaps are enough. Remember to stretch the string with your hand until it stretches on its own.

After the tail has been crossed several times, move it to the side opposite to the winding direction and lay the turns of the string neatly one after the other.