How to Put New Strings on an Acoustic Guitar

The basic order: remove old strings, clean the fretboard, install new ones

Changing acoustic guitar strings takes about 15 to 20 minutes once you know the steps. You remove the old strings one at a time, slip new ones through the bridge pins at the bottom of the guitar, thread them up the neck, and wind them around the tuning pegs at the headstock. The strings stretch as you tune them up to pitch, so expect to retune several times over the first day or two.

You do not need special tools — a wire cutter helps but is not required, and a string winder speeds up the winding step but works just as well by hand. What matters is doing the steps in order so the bridge pins stay in place and the strings wind evenly around the pegs.

Key Takeaways

Remove old strings one at a time by loosening the tuning pegs at the headstock until the string goes slack, then pull it out of the bridge pin hole.
New strings go through the bridge pin holes at the bottom of the guitar, then up the neck and around the tuning pegs — never the other way around.
Wind each string around its peg so the string wraps downward and inward, keeping tension even so the string does not slip.
New strings stretch and go flat quickly, so tune them up, let them rest for an hour, then retune — repeat this two or three times before the strings hold pitch.
Clean the fretboard while the strings are off, since you cannot reach it easily once they are back on.

Loosen and remove the old strings

Turn each tuning peg counterclockwise to loosen the string. Start at the headstock — the thick end of the neck where the tuning pegs stick out. You can loosen all six strings a little bit first, or loosen one all the way and remove it before moving to the next. Loosening one at a time is easier because you keep some tension on the neck.

Once a string is slack, pull it out of the bridge pin hole at the bottom of the guitar. The bridge pin is a small wooden or plastic peg that holds the string in place. You may need to wiggle it or pull it up gently with your fingernail or a flathead screwdriver. Once the pin comes out, the old string slides out easily. Repeat for all six strings.

Clean the fretboard while strings are off

With the strings removed, you have clear access to the fretboard — the dark wood where your fingers press down. Wipe it with a soft, dry cloth to remove dust and dead skin. If it looks dull or sticky, use a cloth barely dampened with lemon oil or fretboard conditioner, but do not soak the wood.

This is the only time you can clean the fretboard easily, so do it now rather than waiting until the new strings are on. It takes two minutes and keeps the guitar looking and playing better.

Insert new strings through the bridge pins

Take the first new string — usually the thickest one, called the low E string — and insert the ball end (the small metal loop at one end) into the bridge pin hole closest to you. The bridge is the white or wooden piece glued to the body of the guitar, near the bottom. The six holes run in a line across it.

Push the string in until the ball end sits inside the hole. Then insert the bridge pin into the same hole on top of the string. The pin holds the string in place and prevents it from sliding back out. The groove on the bridge pin should face the string so the pin does not cut into it. Repeat this step for all six strings, working from the thickest to the thinnest.

Thread strings up the neck and around the tuning pegs

Pull the first string up toward the headstock with light tension. It should run straight up the middle of the neck. At the headstock, the string passes through a small hole in the tuning peg — the machine head that turns to tighten or loosen the string. Insert the string through the hole, leaving about two inches of slack.

Bend the string at a right angle just above the peg hole, then begin turning the tuning peg counterclockwise. As you turn, the string wraps around the peg shaft. Keep light tension on the string with your other hand so it wraps neatly and does not overlap itself. The wraps should go downward and inward toward the center of the headstock, not upward or outward.

Wind the string until it is snug but not at full pitch yet. You want enough tension that the string does not slip, but not so much that you risk breaking it. Repeat this step for all six strings, then tune them up to pitch using a tuner or by ear.

Tune and stretch the new strings

Use a digital tuner or a tuning app to bring each string to its correct pitch. Start with the low E string (the thickest) and work up to the high E string (the thinnest). New strings stretch as you play them, so they will go flat within minutes or hours.

After tuning, let the guitar sit for 30 minutes to an hour. Then retune it. The strings will have stretched and dropped in pitch. Retune again, wait another 30 minutes, and retune a third time. After two or three cycles, the strings will hold pitch much more steadily. This is normal and does not mean anything is wrong with the strings or the guitar.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most common error is threading the string through the bridge pin hole backward — with the ball end facing out instead of in. The string will not hold and will slip out as soon as you put tension on it. Always insert the ball end into the hole first, then the bridge pin on top.

Another mistake is winding the string upward around the tuning peg instead of downward. This creates a weak wrap that slips under tension. The string should spiral downward and inward, so each new wrap sits below the one before it. If you wind it upward, unwind it and start over.

Do not skip the stretching step. New strings need time to settle, and retiming them three times prevents the guitar from going out of tune during your first playing session. It feels repetitive but saves frustration later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change one string at a time, or do I have to remove all six at once?

You can change them one at a time. Loosen one tuning peg, remove the old string, insert the new one, and tune it up before moving to the next. This keeps tension on the neck and is easier for beginners. Removing all six at once gives you a chance to clean the fretboard, but it is not required.

What if a string breaks while I am winding it?

Stop winding when ready and remove the broken string. Insert a new one and start over. Strings break most often if you wind them too tightly too fast, or if the tuning peg has a sharp edge. If strings keep breaking at the same peg, that peg may need smoothing or replacement — take the guitar to a repair shop to have it checked.

How tight should the bridge pins be?

Push the bridge pin in until it sits snug in the hole and the string does not move. You should not have to force it or tap it with a hammer. If a pin is too tight, it can crack the bridge. If it is too loose, the string will slip. Snug and level is the right tension.

Do I need to remove the old strings before putting new ones on?

Yes. You cannot insert a new string into a bridge pin hole that already has an old string in it. Remove the old string first by loosening its tuning peg and pulling it out of the bridge pin hole, then insert the new one.

Why do new strings sound different from old ones?

New strings are brighter and have more sustain because the metal is clean and the windings are tight. As you play, the strings dull slightly and settle into their final tone. This is normal. After a few hours of playing, new strings sound more like what you expect from an acoustic guitar.

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