Restringing a classical guitar

Guitar strings are a bit like bicycle tyres - they wear out and have to be replaced.

In fact they are more than a bit like bicycle tyres - there's the guitar equivalent of a puncture - an infrequent, but sudden and premature failure of a string, usually mid-piece!

Guitars aren't as greasy as bicycles, so it's well worth getting the hang of changing strings yourself rather than taking the guitar to a music shop. But that first time of restringing can be a nightmare that seems to require you to have the dexterity of a brain surgeon. And three hands.

On the following pages ten photos guide you through the process.

So when do you restring? We can't pursue the bicycle analogy any further and say it's when the "tread" wears off the bass strings - it doesn't!

Experienced guitarists know that bass strings lose their "edge" as they are played; this is due to a mix of corrosion and the natural oils (and sweat, if we're honest) from the fingers which clog the windings.

For beginners, however, the more straightforward measure of when to replace the strings in when the D string looks distinctly fragile at the second fret, which, for a learner, is the place where the most delicate string of the set gets pounded into oblivion!

Knot a lot...

There are, of course, several ways to restring a guitar, and one or two enthusiasts will have their own style of knotting that gives their guitar an individual appearance. But here's our take on tying those knots...

Let's start at the bridge end

Related pages : When and Why | How

Restringing a guitar - a knot-tying tutorial for beginners - FAQ

Restringing a classical guitar

Knot a lot...