How To Change Classical Guitar Strings

Table of Contents

Picking the Perfect Strings Pack

Classical guitar players are the epitome of musical history. The classical guitar itself is a lovely and soothing instrument that is plainly just very heartwarming. Even so, the strings on a classical guitar are very influential in determining how it sounds like.

If you are also a classical guitar player, then you might be looking for a guide on how to change classical guitar strings.

Picking the right gauge of a classical guitar strings pack is very important. Classical guitar strings also have light, medium or heavy guitar strings. Depending on which one you choose, your playing will sound light and shrill using light strings, bass-oriented using heavy guitar strings, and a balance of both using medium classical guitar strings.

Knowing the Guitar’s Body

In order to easily change the classical guitar strings on your instrument, you need to first take a short and quick lesson in guitar anatomy.

The strings are attached to two ends on a guitar’s body and suspended over a fretboard. These two ends or points are crucial for you to know how to change classical guitar strings.

The Head

The head of the guitar, is well, at the topmost position of its entire body. The head consists of cylindrical structures called string rollers attached to turning pegs or machine heads. These string rollers are where the head part of a string rolls around. The turning pegs are then rotated to either tighten or loosen a guitar string.

This is the basic principal of achieving a classical guitar tuning.

The Nut

The nut comes right after the section of the turning pegs and string rollers. This is a horizontal piece made from different materials that has hinges in it.

These hinges are meant to hold the strings in alignment.

The Fretboard

The fretboard is part of the neck that is divided into different sections separated by frets. The guitar strings hover above the fretboard and knowing about it is crucial in knowing how to change classical guitar strings.

The Saddle

The saddle is similar to the nut in the head part of the classical guitar. It holds the strings in alignment from the lower or rear end of the classical guitar.

The Bridge

The bridge is the originating point for the classical guitar strings. It has six holes in it where the tail ends of the classical guitar strings are securely held in place by corks.

 

How to Change Classical Guitar Strings: The Process

The process for changing classical guitar strings is fairly simple. You can easily learn how to change classical guitar strings by following these simple steps:

The Bridge

Take the cork out from a bridge hole and place the tail end of a classical string into the hole in the bridge. Once placed, secure the tail end by pressing down firmly on the cork with considerable force.

The Saddle

Once the bridge holds the tail end of the string securely, stretch out the string hinging it in the groove of the saddle on the bridge. Take the head of the string all the way to the nut, which is at the head of the guitar.

The Nut

Similar to the saddle, push the body of the string into the groove of the nut.

The String Rollers & Turning Pegs

Once the string’s body is in place within the nut’s grooves, you can continue to push the head of the string into the holes of one of the string rollers. A general rule of thumb is to follow the closest hole first using the top down Standard Tuning strings arrangement as this is easy to follow.

Once you have hitched the string into the hole, proceed to turning the pegs. This will tighten up the string.

Repeat all of these steps until you have stringed your classical guitar with all six classical strings.

Summary

Learning how to change classical guitar strings is not a big challenge. You just need to follow the above steps and you’ll be changing your classical guitar strings on your own in no time – simple and easy.

How long did it take you to change your classical guitar strings? Let us know in the comments below.

Jim Henneberry

Jim Henneberry

I love playing my guitar, and my kids got hooked along with me.
This is a family thing now - why don't you join the family fun? :)