The first step to installing your new strings is to start by detuning each string so they become slack and produce no pitch. We recommend removing and installing each string one at a time. Next is where your wire cutters come in handy, scissors won’t do the job. Once the strings are loose enough, while it’s not required, it’s recommended to cut the strings in half where the neck meets the body. By cutting the strings, it’ll make removing them from the tuning posts and bridge much easier. Before you add on the new strings, we recommend you clean your fretboard and frets with a soft cloth and cleaner. This will remove any build-up of debris that can come from playing and storage.
Once you’ve removed your new strings from the packaging, you need to identify each string either by the colour of the ball end or by the packaging. Insert each string into their corresponding bridge entries, (note that this could also be on the back of the guitar). Once you have identified which string should go where, pull the strings all the way through to the machine heads until they’re stopped by the ball.
Line up the hole in the peg so that it is facing straight down the neck of the guitar. Feed the string through the hole and push back, leaving a little bit of slack as you begin to wind the string around the peg in a clockwise direction until the string passes over the pointy part that will be cut off. For guitars with three pegs on each side, you will need to wind the strings in an anti-clockwise direction for the three thinnest strings. Now, keeping the tension, begin to turn the tuning pegs anti-clockwise and the string should continue to wind.
Before you can get back to playing, it’s integral that you tune your guitar. The standard tuning for a guitar is E-A-D-G-B-E. From beginners to professionals, we recommend using an electric tuner, however you can also tune by ear – if you can't already, we suggest learning this, as a guitar player it’s a valuable skill to have.
By stretching your guitar strings before playing, you’re more likely to save yourself from playing out of tune. To do this you’ll need to hold your guitar in playing position and begin to pull several times at each string, halfway along its length away from the body. With your other hand, fret the string at the third fret. Repeat this step at both the 7th and 12th fret then retune your guitar. Continue to do this step until stretching the strings no longer detunes your guitar.
Guitar strings can be incredibly sharp if the ends by the tuning posts have not been removed. This is why we recommend cutting off any excess string with wire cutters to avoid unnecessary injury when playing.