The basic order: remove old strings, clean the fretboard, thread new strings, tune up

Putting on guitar strings takes about 15 to 20 minutes once you know the steps. You will remove the old strings one at a time (or all at once, depending on your preference), thread the new string through the bridge or bridge pin, pull it up to the tuning peg, wrap it around the peg post, and tune it to pitch. The exact method depends on whether you have a bolt-on bridge with bridge pins, a through-body bridge, or a floating bridge — but the principle is the same for all of them.

You do not need special tools. A wire cutter helps, and a string winder speeds up the wrapping, but neither is required. Most people use what they already have: a screwdriver or coin to loosen the tuning pegs, and their hands to pull and wrap.

Key Takeaways

  • Remove old strings one at a time by loosening the tuning pegs until the string goes slack, then pull it out of the bridge and peg post.
  • Thread the new string through the bridge hole or under the bridge pin, then pull it up to the tuning peg on the headstock.
  • Wrap the string around the peg post two to three times, keeping tension with your other hand so the wraps stay neat and tight.
  • Tune the string to pitch using a tuner, then repeat for all six strings before stretching the strings by pulling gently on each one.
  • New strings take a few hours to settle and will go out of tune several times before they hold pitch.

How to remove old strings safely

Loosen the tuning peg for the first string by turning it counterclockwise. Use a screwdriver, coin, or the tuning key that came with your guitar — whichever fits the peg slot. Turn slowly until the string is completely slack and has no tension. A slack string will not snap your neck or damage the bridge.

Once the string is slack, unwind it from the tuning peg post by hand. Pull the string out of the peg hole. Then go to the bridge end: if your guitar has bridge pins (small pegs that hold the string in place), pull the pin straight up and out, then pull the string free. If your guitar has a through-body bridge or a bridge with a hole, straightforward pull the string straight out.

Repeat this for all six strings, or remove them one at a time and replace them one at a time. Removing all strings at once lets you clean the fretboard and the back of the neck, which you cannot reach when strings are on. Replacing one at a time keeps tension on the neck, which some players prefer.

Threading the new string through the bridge

Take your new string and look at the end that goes into the bridge. On most acoustic and electric guitars, one end of the string has a small ball or loop. That end goes into the bridge.

If your guitar has bridge pins, insert the ball end of the string into the bridge hole, then push the bridge pin down on top of it. The pin holds the string in place and keeps it from sliding back out. If your guitar has a through-body bridge, push the ball end all the way through the bridge hole from the back of the guitar. If your guitar has a bridge with a hole on top (common on some acoustics and electrics), insert the ball end into that hole.

Pull the string up toward the headstock with moderate tension. The string should be roughly in line with the frets. Do not pull so hard that you bend the bridge or lift the bridge pin — just enough to keep the string from sagging.

Wrapping the string around the tuning peg

Pull the string up to the tuning peg for that string on the headstock. Insert the string through the hole in the peg post. Leave about two to three inches of slack — enough to wrap around the post two or three times without the string running out of length.

Hold the string with one hand to keep it taut and roughly in line with the frets. With your other hand, turn the tuning peg so the post winds the string around itself. Turn the peg so the string wraps downward on the post, not upward. This keeps the wraps neat and prevents the string from slipping.

Wrap the string two to three times around the post. More wraps are not better — they just take longer to tune and can cause the string to slip. After the second or third wrap, trim the excess string with wire cutters, leaving about a quarter inch of tail. This prevents the string from unraveling.

Tuning the new string to pitch

Use an electronic tuner to bring each string to the correct pitch. Clip the tuner onto the headstock, pluck the string, and watch the tuner display. Turn the tuning peg slowly until the tuner shows the correct note. For a standard tuning, the strings from lowest to highest are E, A, D, G, B, and E.

Tune each string one at a time. Do not tune all six strings to pitch and then stop — new strings will go out of tune as they settle. Tune them, then go back and tune them again. Repeat this cycle three or four times. Each time you tune, the strings will hold pitch a little longer.

After tuning all six strings, gently pull on each string near the middle of the neck to stretch it. Pull straight away from the fretboard with moderate force — not so hard that you bend the neck. This helps the string settle faster and reduces the number of times it will go out of tune over the next few hours.

What to expect in the first few hours

New strings will go out of tune repeatedly for the first few hours. This is normal. The string is still settling into the bridge, the tuning pegs, and the frets. Tune them again after 30 minutes, then again after an hour. By the end of the day, they should hold pitch much better.

New strings also sound brighter and have more sustain than old strings. They will gradually mellow over a few weeks as the metal oxidizes and the string material compresses. This is also normal and not a sign that anything is wrong.

If a string keeps going out of tune in the same direction — always getting sharper or always getting flatter — check that the bridge pin is seated all the way down, that the string is wrapped neatly around the tuning peg, and that the string is not slipping in the peg hole. A string that slips will not hold pitch no matter how many times you tune it.

Different bridge types and how they change the process

Most acoustic guitars have a bridge with bridge pins. The pin sits on top of the string and holds it in place. To remove the pin, pull straight up — do not twist or pry sideways, which can crack the bridge. To install a new pin, push it straight down until it seats firmly.

Many electric guitars have a through-body bridge, where the string goes through a hole in the back of the guitar body. The ball end of the string sits inside the guitar, and the string comes out the front. No bridge pin is needed. straightforward pull the string through from the back and thread it to the tuning peg.

Some guitars have a floating bridge or a bridge that sits on top of the body without pins. These are less common but work the same way: the string goes under or through the bridge, then up to the tuning peg. Check your guitar's manual or look at how the old strings were installed if you are unsure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put on new strings without removing the old ones?

No. The old string occupies the bridge hole and the tuning peg hole. You must remove it first to make room for the new string. Removing one string at a time and replacing it is the standard method and takes only a few extra minutes.

How tight should I wrap the string around the tuning peg?

Wrap it firmly but not so tight that you bend the peg post or crack the headstock. Two to three wraps is the standard. The wraps should be snug enough that the string does not slip when you tug on it, but loose enough that you can still turn the tuning peg smoothly. If the peg becomes hard to turn, you have wrapped too tightly.

What if the string breaks while I am putting it on?

Remove the broken string and start over with a new one. Strings rarely break during installation unless you pull extremely hard or wrap them too tightly. If it happens, it is usually a sign that the string was already defective. Discard the broken string and use a fresh one from the pack.

Do I need to change all six strings at once?

No. You can change one string at a time, which is what most players do. Changing all six at once lets you clean the fretboard and neck, but it removes all tension from the neck temporarily. Either method works — choose based on whether you want to clean the guitar or prefer to keep the neck under tension.

Why do new strings go out of tune so quickly?

New strings are still settling into the bridge, tuning pegs, and frets. The metal is stretching slightly, and the string is compressing where it bends around the bridge and nut. This process takes a few hours. Stretching the strings by hand and tuning them multiple times speeds up the settling process.