How To Change Your Guitar Strings
Old Guitar strings can become dull, corroded, sticky
, and more difficult to play on. Your practice time will be much more enjoyable if you've got a set of fresh strings.
Even if you've had your guitar sitting in the case in the closet and have barely touched it, you still may need new strings. Because metal corrodes over time with air exposure, strings go bad over time (just like fruit), whether you use them or not.
So if you haven't changed your guitar strings in the last three or four months, it may be about time.
If you're not sure whether or not it's time to change your strings, a quick test is to fold a paper towel around one of the smaller strings and, using your thumb nail to add pressure, rub the paper towel along the string. If you hear a hissing or screeching sound, this means that the string has corroded. You'll also notice that it will leave an orange mark where you rubbed it with the paper towel. These are definite indicators that it's time to change your guitar strings.
You can pick up a good set of strings from your local music store for around ten bucks. I recommend light gauge strings, because they're a bit easier on the fingers. This in turn gives you better control and stamina, allowing you to play your fingers off for hours if you want. For acoustic guitar, I'd recommend a set of 10's, and for electric guitar, a set of 9's.
Also be sure to pick up a few spare strings (especially the lightest gauge strings of the set; high E, B, and G) so if one happens to break, you wont be left stranded having to do your best Keith Richards Impersonation. (As legend has it, a few Rolling Stones songs were recorded on a guitar missing the high E string, which provided a more stripped-down and rugged sound. - Either this was intentional or they were just too high to give a damn, and I'm assuming it was the the latter.) So, unless your trying to be the next Keith Richards, pick up a few spares!
Fresh strings are notorious for their bright tinny sound and their tendency to go out of tune easily. This is because there is a lot of extra slack in new strings that must be stretched out. So once you've changed your strings, you'll also need to stretch them out so that they stay in tune. This is very important!
To learn how to change your strings and stretch them out properly, check out the link to the video posted below.
http://helloguitarmethod.com/GuitarTalk/changing-your-strings
You'll also want to take good care of your strings so that they last longer.
Here's a few tips that will add life to your new strings;
Wash your hands before you play. Nothing corrodes strings more quickly than gunk, oil, dirt, and/or sweat residue from your fingertips.
Clean your strings after each time you play. Just use a paper towel folded over each string and rub it back and forth a few times. This will help clean the gunk off the strings before it has a chance to do damage.
Use a string lubricant like "Finger Eaze" or other similar product. Not only will this help seal and protect each string, you're fingers will glide on the strings more easily and leave less residue.
Make sure that you keep your guitar stored in a climate-controlled environment and free of humidity. So, for example if you've got a big screen door leading to your patio, you might not want to put your guitar stand right next to it!
Store your guitar in the case when you're not using it. Keeping it safe is what it was made for!
by: Robert Johnston
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