Changing Guitar Strings – A DIY Guide

A stiff playing feel – you keep slipping while playing, and to make matters worse, your guitar only produces a dull, lifeless tone. Sounds familiar? Then you're most likely playing on old strings that urgently need to be replaced. From time to time, you’ll need to restring your guitar – whether the old strings are worn out or have snapped. It might sound complicated at first, but in this blog post we’ll give you a step-by-step guide that makes restringing your guitar a breeze.

Preparation for Changing Guitar Strings

Before you start changing your guitar strings, you should prepare your workspace. Choose a stable, soft surface to avoid scratching the instrument. Make sure the area is well-lit so you can keep everything in view. Finally, gather all the tools you’ll need beforehand. But what tools are required?

Tools You Need for Changing Guitar Strings

The right tools make restringing your guitar significantly easier. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need:

• Wire cutters for removing old strings
• A new set of strings (steel-string acoustic, classical, or electric)
• Optional: a string winder (not necessary, but helpful)
• Polishing cloth
• Guitar tuner

Step 1: Removing the Old Strings

Once your workspace is prepared and your tools are ready, you can start removing the old strings using wire cutters.

First, loosen each string by turning the tuning pegs until the string is no longer under tension. This is very important, as cutting a fully tightened string can be dangerous — especially for your eyes!

Next, remove the bridge pins. Use a string winder with a built-in pin puller or pliers. Work carefully to avoid damaging the pins.

Now take your wire cutters and cut the strings. Carefully pull them out of the guitar to avoid damaging the instrument.

Pro tip: When cutting the strings, turn your head away, especially your eyes, to avoid injury.

Step 2: Cleaning the Fretboard

It’s rare to see your fretboard this exposed, so take the opportunity to clean and maintain your guitar. Use a microfiber cloth slightly dampened with water to wipe the body and bridge. With a pick or a similar plastic tool, gently remove small dirt deposits. Then apply a small amount of fretboard oil to a cloth or cotton pad and rub it into the fretboard. Let it soak for a few minutes, then remove excess oil with a dry cloth.

Step 3: Installing New Strings

The old strings are removed and your guitar looks refreshed. Now it’s time to put on the new strings. But the process differs between steel-string acoustic guitars and classical guitars because of their construction. We will cover both methods separately.

Restringing a Steel-String Acoustic Guitar

Let’s start with the steel-string acoustic guitar. Lay out the new strings in order. They are usually packaged individually and numbered. The thinnest is the high E string (1st), the thickest is the low E string (6th).

Begin with the low E (E6). Insert the ball end of the string into the bridge hole. Then insert the bridge pin — the string will be held in place under the pin. Make sure the pin is firmly seated. Repeat this process for all six strings.

At the headstock, thread the string through the tuning post. Leave about 5–8 cm of slack for proper winding. The winding direction should guide the string toward the center of the headstock: for E, A, and D strings turn left; for G, B, and high E turn right. Apply light tension while winding so the string wraps cleanly. Turn the tuner clockwise and make sure the coils lie neatly without overlapping.

Once all strings are installed, tune the guitar roughly and gently stretch each string by pulling it upward slightly — this helps them stay in tune more quickly.

Restringing a Classical Guitar

Classical guitars use a different method since their strings don’t have ball ends. Instead, they are tied directly to the bridge. Again, lay out the strings in order and begin with the low E string.

Insert one end of the string through the bridge hole and leave a bit protruding. The loose end is then looped under the string, wrapped once (for thicker bass strings) or multiple times (for thinner nylon strings), and tightened to form a secure knot.

At the headstock, thread the string through the tuning post. It helps to loop the loose end once around itself for a better hold. Then wind the string clockwise with neat, non-overlapping coils. Work your way from low E to high E. Nylon strings stretch a lot at first, so expect to retune frequently until they stabilize.

Restringing an Electric Guitar

Finally, let’s look at restringing an electric guitar. The basic idea is similar, but the bridge design varies between models. Many electric guitars — such as Telecasters and some Stratocasters — feature a string-through-body design. Here, the strings pass from the back of the guitar through metal ferrules, come out at the bridge, and continue over the saddles toward the headstock.

This construction allows direct contact with the body, often resulting in longer sustain and a fuller tone. To restring, loosen and remove the old strings from the tuners, then pull them out through the back. Insert new strings the same way and wind them at the headstock like on a steel-string acoustic. Lightly stretch the strings while tuning so they settle in faster.

Step 4: Properly Setting Up the New Strings

Now for the final step — setting up the fresh strings before you start playing again.

After placing the strings, trim the excess with wire cutters. Then use a tuner to bring each string to pitch. While tuning, gently twist or stretch each string to help the windings settle. Play the guitar for a few minutes and retune — new strings tend to stretch and need adjustments.

Conclusion: Changing Guitar Strings

What initially seems like a complicated task turns out to be a simple routine with the right guidance. Restringing improves both playability and tone—your guitar will sound fresher and clearer.

In our online shop, you'll find everything you need for changing your guitar strings, plus a huge selection of guitars for beginners and professionals alike. Our experienced team is happy to assist you.

You can reach us by phone, email, or via our contact form. And of course, we’re always happy to welcome you at our store in Dresden.

Happy restringing!