Nylon strings come off and go back on in a different order than steel strings

Nylon strings attach to the bridge with knots instead of bridge pins, and they slip over the headstock peg without a hole through the post. You'll need wire cutters, a string winder (optional but saves your hand), and new nylon strings. The whole job takes 15 to 30 minutes once you know the knot. You can do one string at a time or all six at once—doing them one at a time keeps tension on the neck, which is gentler on the instrument.

The three plain strings (the thinnest ones) tie directly to the bridge. The three wound strings (thicker, with wrapped wire) also tie to the bridge but use a slightly different knot. Both knots hold the string in place while you wind it up the headstock and tune to pitch.

Key Takeaways

  • Nylon strings use knots at the bridge instead of pins, so you must learn the bridge knot before you start.
  • The three wound strings and three plain strings use the same bridge knot, just tied slightly differently depending on string thickness.
  • Changing one string at a time keeps neck tension steady, but changing all six at once is faster if you work quickly.
  • A string winder saves your hand from fatigue, but you can wind by hand if you turn the peg slowly and keep tension even.
  • New nylon strings need 24 to 48 hours to settle and hold pitch, so tune them up several times during that period.

Remove the old string and prepare the bridge

Loosen the tuning peg at the headstock until the string goes slack. You don't have to unwind it completely—just enough that you can pull it free. Grab the string at the bridge end and pull it straight out. The knot will come loose as you pull.

Look at the bridge slot where the string came out. You'll see a small hole drilled through the bridge block. This is where the new string's knot will sit. Wipe out any dust or old string fragments with a dry cloth. If you're changing all six strings, do this for each one before you start tying knots.

Tie the bridge knot for plain strings

The three plain strings (usually the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd strings—the thinnest ones) use the same knot. Take the new string and insert about 2 inches of the end through the bridge hole from the top side. The long end of the string should hang down toward the floor.

Wrap the short end (the 2-inch piece) around the long end of the string once, going away from the bridge. Bring the short end back toward the bridge and wrap it around the long end again, this time going toward the bridge. You now have two wraps. Pull the short end tight so both wraps cinch down against the bridge hole. Trim the short end with wire cutters, leaving about a quarter-inch of tail.

Tie the bridge knot for wound strings

The three wound strings (the 4th, 5th, and 6th strings—the thicker ones with visible wire wrapping) use the same knot as the plain strings, but you'll make three wraps instead of two because the thicker string needs more grip. Insert about 2 inches through the bridge hole, wrap around the long end three times, and pull tight.

The extra wrap gives the knot more surface area to hold the thicker string. Trim the short end to a quarter-inch. If the knot feels loose after you trim it, you wrapped too loosely—untie it and try again, pulling harder as you cinch each wrap.

Wind the string up the headstock peg

Pull the long end of the string up toward the headstock with gentle, even tension. Insert the end through the hole in the tuning peg. Leave about 2 inches of slack—this gives you enough string to wind around the peg post without running out.

Turn the tuning peg so the post rotates away from you (for the three bass strings on the left side of the headstock) or toward you (for the three treble strings on the right side). The string should wrap around the post in neat, downward coils with no overlaps. If you have a string winder, fit it over the peg and turn the handle at a steady pace. If you're winding by hand, turn slowly and keep light tension on the string with your other hand so the wraps stay neat and tight.

Stop winding when the string reaches pitch—use a tuner to check. The string should be snug but not rock-hard. New nylon strings will go flat over the next day or two, so you'll retune several times.

Tune and stretch the new strings

Once all six strings are wound and at pitch, gently pull each string away from the fretboard to stretch it. Don't yank hard—just a steady, moderate pull for a few seconds per string. This helps the string settle faster and hold pitch longer.

Tune the guitar again. New nylon strings will drop in pitch noticeably over the next 24 to 48 hours as the material relaxes. Tune it up once or twice a day for the first few days. After that, the strings will stabilize and hold pitch much more reliably. This is normal and not a sign that something is wrong.

Trim excess string at the headstock

Once the strings are at pitch and you've stretched them, trim the excess string hanging past the tuning peg. Leave about a quarter-inch of tail so the string doesn't slip back through the peg hole. Use wire cutters and cut at an angle so the end doesn't poke your hand or face.

Be careful not to cut so close that the string pulls free during tuning. If a string does slip, straightforward reinsert it and wind again—no harm done, but it's annoying to repeat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change just one string, or do I have to change all six?

You can change one string at a time. Many players do this to keep neck tension even. If a string breaks, replace just that one. If you're changing them all for a fresh sound, you can do them one by one over a few days, or all at once if you work quickly and retune several times as they settle.

What if the bridge knot keeps slipping?

You're not wrapping tightly enough or not pulling hard enough as you cinch the wraps. Untie the knot, insert the string again, and pull much harder as you tighten each wrap. The knot should feel very firm against the bridge hole. For wound strings, make sure you're doing three wraps, not two.

How tight should the string be when I wind it up?

Wind until the string reaches the correct pitch according to a tuner. It should feel snug and vibrate freely, not loose or rattling. Don't over-tighten—nylon strings can break if you crank them too hard, and over-tension stresses the neck. Let the tuner tell you when to stop winding.

Do I need a string winder?

No, but it saves your hand from fatigue and helps you wind more evenly. You can wind by hand if you turn slowly and keep steady tension on the string. A basic string winder costs $10 to $20 and works with any guitar peg.

Why does my new string sound dull compared to the old one?

New nylon strings take time to open up and brighten. They'll sound fuller and brighter after a few days of playing and stretching. If a string still sounds dead after a week, it may be defective—nylon strings occasionally come with internal flaws. Contact the manufacturer or retailer about a replacement.