You just taught an old dog a new trick! In 50+ years of playing I've never seen this method, and I could never get the hang of that locking loop thing a lot of people use. I'm about to try this for the first time. Thanks!
It’s probably been 10 years since I had string a guitar with these style tuners so I couldn’t remember for the life of me how to do it. This video was great, a massive help. Thank you very much!
The stretching technique here works beautifully. My guitar stayed in tune for practically 2 months(!) and I play a few hours every day. Thanks a lot for this!
Great video, i really hated the other methods i found online, some people swear by them but after only a week of practice i found my strings were a mess. This method worked perfectly since i did it last week. Came back to thank you.
Thank you. I broke a string using a different method and had to buy a whole new set. Just got my low E string on much much smoother with this method and am about to cut the excess string :D I had to wait for the new set to come in from amazon and it was such a frustrating wait because I love my guitar, Super glad to get it done right this time.
Simply brilliant video. I followed the instructions accordingly and it's exactly as he says. My guitar is strung very very cleanly on the tuners and the guitar doesn't go out of tune for at least three days or more. Amazing. Thank you.
I agree with everything he says besides the stretching, every one has their own way but the proper way to stretch your guitar strings is to have the string along inside of your fingers where your fingers bend and have your thumb sitting at the side than pull towards your with your fingers and push away from you with your thumb. That's what I've been advised by many people, but like I said everyone has their own way.
Man this helped so much!!! I was always so scared to restring my guitar I would have to rely on my friend to come over and string my guitar but this tutorial actually helped me restring my guitar so easy, thank you!!!
That's a little too graphic there, Boredtolife! :-) But seriously... it sounds like your new strings have a lower tension than the old ones, allowing the neck to bend backwards under the control of the truss rod. That brings the strings closer to the fretboard - if they actually touch a fret, you get that harsh buzzy "BRAAAAP" sound. If you are not using the same gauge strings as before, and/or if you're going to a different tuning, you're going to have to get your guitar set up by a competent repair shop.
I am a nine year old and my guitar string snapped. I got so mad and watched dozens of videos and I found you. You were so helpful thank you from Liverpool
Fantastic video. I always ended up with the messiest machine heads after restringing, the strings would be all over the place, and after watching and copying your technique, my guitar looks like it did when I bought it at the store! So neat, thank you so much! :)
+johndollop You're very welcome! Restringing a guitar is not rocket science, but there ARE some helpful tricks-of-the-trade! We tried to show you these tricks in the video.
Thanks, that helped. I tried the "pull through, bend, feed under and bend up" method first, but this broke the 1st string on initial tightening, right at the machine head. Apparently, the method puts too much pressure from the underlying piece of string on the wrapped portion. It was an 011, too! Either that or Ernie Balls are just crappy. This worked fine with the replacement (a 010).
I watched the video a 2nd time. Now, I'm straight on that stretching routine. Also, I saw where you initially tightened the strings two windings deep; that's what I saw in a similar video. Great video. Thanks
I can't seem to make the string wind around the tuning peg twice. It only makes one wind around the peg and it seems my guitar won't stay in tune because of it.:(
Hi Mike, It sounds like you aren't pulling the string a full fret's worth down the neck before you start winding. You're right, if you don't get 3-4 turns on the machine peg it's going to slip and not stay in tune. One fret of slack should give you that many turns around the peg. What I do is pull the string for one fret of slack, then bend the string upwards from the hole in the machine peg. That shows you exactly where the string should be when you start winding, and if it slips back (leaving less than one fret of slack) you'll see the problem right away.
This is off the path a bit,but I was curious as to what the year model was ,as mine is Identical?(in red tho)the string trees where a puzzling issue as not many have the twin Upgraded trees!
Great video, easy to follow and gave good results (although my windings were significantly lower due to not holding so much slack). One question: do I need to repeat the stretching process several times or maybe the next day after restringing? Is it really necessary or am I doing more harm than good by continuing stretching the strings?
Hi socialdef3, If you go through the two rounds of stretching when you install the strings you shouldn't have to do any more stretching later. Don't think you'll hurt anything though if you do; it'll be kind of like if you were bending a string while playing. You aren't really 'stretching' the string when you install it, it's more that you are getting the creases and bends set in properly where the string goes over the nut and saddle. A good steel string is not going to actually stretch much! :-)
What if the strings arn't in tune to begin with like if its a brand new guitar? Mines like that and when I tried to tune it strings broke before they even were anywhere near their tuning, for example the low e broke just about when it hit d. Do I need to tension all strings abit first to take pressure off the string being tuned?
I took bullet ended strings out of my guitar and the ones I purchased are ball ends... Are they compatible? I didn't get a good look at the back of your guitar or ends of your string. Sorry.
Any tips on getting a good grip on the treble strings? The bass strings went on without problem but the treble strings are a lot slipperier and I end up with not enough slack
I got a really cheap Star Sound Strata-copy for about 50 bucks to just jam in Rocksmith 2014. Had trouble with the strings not staying tuned between tuning them in the built in tuner and actually hitting the notes in the game. Tried restringing the guitar with all new strings recommended by my local music store and using this guide, but the problem remains. Any suggestions?
+Seniorchief98 We would agree. Just because the open string is in tune doesn't mean that all the notes on the neck are also in tune. THAT depends on (1) the saddle being in exactly the right place to match the spacing of frets, and (2) the action being low enough (strings close enough to the fretboard) so you're not stretching the string out of tune when you fret a note. You can check #1 by playing the octave note at the 12th fret and comparing the pitch to the note you get by LIGHTLY touching the string at the 12th fret when you pluck the string. (Release your touch as soon as the string begins to sound.) The pitches should be identical. If not, your guitar needs a setup.
Hi, did you use a different gauge string set for the restring? Sounds like you may have used lighter strings. They won't pull as hard on the neck, so the neck will bend backwards a bit and the strings will hit the frets. You will need to have the neck truss rod adjusted to match the new strings.
Did everything like in the Tutorial (Only thing i don´t have is a string winder) but I broke my thick E string it seems like there was too much tension on the Headstock. so it broke on the upper part of the string. Anyone knows any tips so that doesn´t happen again? Peace
Today, for the first time tuning an electric, I almost poked my eye out ngl. The Low E String whilst I was tuning (I didnt cut the excess yet) the excess part hit my lower eye lid, not even an inch away from my eye lol. Guess I'm wearing safety googles next time,
I broke my e string so I replaced all the strings on my guitar. it broke again a few weeks later , mad as he'll right now any tips or reasons my this is happening
Hi Rob, If your string keeps breaking and it's not because you're over-tightening it, you may have an issue with the guitar. First, let's make sure you're tuning the treble E string up to pitch and not higher. You're using a pitch reference, I hope - a tuner or a keyboard for example. Now... look at where your string is breaking. If it's near the bridge, check for burrs or sharp edges on the saddle. If it's breaking somewhere else, check carefully for anything that could cut the string or make it bend too sharply.
I always go wrong somewhere, I always get random loops in my restring jobs, maybe im not gripping the nut end of the string enough on the first couple of turns? So frustrating because it should be a simple task haha
+Elisandro De Leon Right. To avoid loops you have to keep tension on the string so it's not flopping around between the nut and the tuning machine peg. And press the string down onto the headstock so it winds neatly onto the peg starting from the BOTTOM. Keep winding onto the bottom of the peg and the previous turns should slip slowly upwards onto the peg as you turn.
Hi Alpha Foxtrot, on a steel string guitar one fret of slack will give you just enough extra string for that perfect 3-4 turns on the tuning machine. Any more than that and your string will start bunching up on the peg making the tuning process unreliable. On nylon string classicals, with their slotted headstocks and large-diameter tuning drums, we do two frets to get the right number of wraps on the drum. But don't do that on an electric!
+Raphael And even more important, you want the string to wind neatly and tightly starting at the bottom of the tuning machine peg. Unless you press down with your finger, the string will wind randomly onto the peg and maybe overlap onto itself.
This was incredibly helpful to a dad and son restringing the son's first electric for the first time. Thanks for clarity.
You guys are awesome
Dude - this is so great. I've played guitar for about 20 years and ALWAYS struggled with restringing! This is so simple and effective - THANK YOU.
Wow. Its minor skills like this that are just as important as playing guitar.
This video was even better (showed more details) than the official Fender video. Very helpful, Thank you!
I watched at least a dozen other videos and this one is the simplest method out there. Excellent job.
You just taught an old dog a new trick! In 50+ years of playing I've never seen this method, and I could never get the hang of that locking loop thing a lot of people use. I'm about to try this for the first time. Thanks!
It’s probably been 10 years since I had string a guitar with these style tuners so I couldn’t remember for the life of me how to do it. This video was great, a massive help. Thank you very much!
The stretching technique here works beautifully. My guitar stayed in tune for practically 2 months(!) and I play a few hours every day. Thanks a lot for this!
This is probably the best restringing video out there, solid job!
Best fucking restringing video on RUclips. Holy Fuck why do people find it so hard to explain the string slack. Thank you so much!!!
11 years l8er. Thank you so much! So many of the other videos I found skipped over some of the finer details. This was a very helpful resource.
Great video, i really hated the other methods i found online, some people swear by them but after only a week of practice i found my strings were a mess. This method worked perfectly since i did it last week. Came back to thank you.
Thank you Zack. Your formula of 1 fret of slack, does the job! Perfect!
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you. I broke a string using a different method and had to buy a whole new set. Just got my low E string on much much smoother with this method and am about to cut the excess string :D I had to wait for the new set to come in from amazon and it was such a frustrating wait because I love my guitar, Super glad to get it done right this time.
Ive only been playing for 2 years and never re-strung my guitar bu myself and this was very helpful
Simply brilliant video. I followed the instructions accordingly and it's exactly as he says. My guitar is strung very very cleanly on the tuners and the guitar doesn't go out of tune for at least three days or more. Amazing. Thank you.
Excellent video. Previously, I just kept tuning it many times. Didn't know to stretch the strings the way you showed. Thanks 👍
This was very good. I will have to watch it again to understand how to stretch the strings
I agree with everything he says besides the stretching, every one has their own way but the proper way to stretch your guitar strings is to have the string along inside of your fingers where your fingers bend and have your thumb sitting at the side than pull towards your with your fingers and push away from you with your thumb. That's what I've been advised by many people, but like I said everyone has their own way.
Man this helped so much!!! I was always so scared to restring my guitar I would have to rely on my friend to come over and string my guitar but this tutorial actually helped me restring my guitar so easy, thank you!!!
I fucked up and now my guitar sounds like me taking a shit after I eat chipotle at 3:00 in the morning
That's a little too graphic there, Boredtolife! :-)
But seriously... it sounds like your new strings have a lower tension than the old ones, allowing the neck to bend backwards under the control of the truss rod. That brings the strings closer to the fretboard - if they actually touch a fret, you get that harsh buzzy "BRAAAAP" sound. If you are not using the same gauge strings as before, and/or if you're going to a different tuning, you're going to have to get your guitar set up by a competent repair shop.
beautiful
I am a nine year old and my guitar string snapped. I got so mad and watched dozens of videos and I found you. You were so helpful thank you from Liverpool
thanks this vid helped me a lot
i've been playing the electric guitar for 1 and a half year and this vid is the best tutorial so far
The best way to do it, lot of bad techniques on YT.
Thanks for the shout-out! Restringing is not rocket science, but a few tricks-of-the-trade really help.
@@abstrathmeyer great video/tutorial
Totally agree with Tugboatpb's comment 😁
Fantastic video. I always ended up with the messiest machine heads after restringing, the strings would be all over the place, and after watching and copying your technique, my guitar looks like it did when I bought it at the store! So neat, thank you so much! :)
+johndollop You're very welcome! Restringing a guitar is not rocket science, but there ARE some helpful tricks-of-the-trade! We tried to show you these tricks in the video.
It’s going to be my first time stringing my guitar tonight and I was a little scared so thank you for the video
very helpful, I couldn't seem to get it but then I watched this video and I got it right away. Thanks man.
This was very helpful. Restringed my guitar for the first time today.
I only ever restrung the lower E string once and didn't looked up any guides. Damn I complicated myself for nothing. This is easy as hell.
cheers for the help, easier than i thought it'd be. much appreesh!
way better than the fender vid
Thanks, that helped. I tried the "pull through, bend, feed under and bend up" method first, but this broke the 1st string on initial tightening, right at the machine head. Apparently, the method puts too much pressure from the underlying piece of string on the wrapped portion. It was an 011, too! Either that or Ernie Balls are just crappy. This worked fine with the replacement (a 010).
Fact same thing happen with my A string, but doing this method in the video. Ernie Balls as well.
I watched the video a 2nd time. Now, I'm straight on that stretching routine. Also, I saw where you initially tightened the strings two windings deep; that's what I saw in a similar video. Great video. Thanks
Hi William, glad the video was helpful!
@@abstrathmeyer indeed it was. I may look through your playlists for more of interest
Thanks, that was a very informative tutorial.
I love the way you tune. you're very fast at it.
Best guide on RUclips.
Really clear guide. Just ordered new strings and will follow your guide. Thanks.
Thanks a ton for your help! First time in a while I did this right. Everything sounds Primo!
Thank you so much!!! It was my first time restringing my guitar today and your instructions were so simple for a beginner like me to follow :)
I am glad I watched this video, as a first time stringer.
Poked myself twice with the lower E string and bled haha! But other than that this couldn't be any more easy or simple.
+Wakas “High” Life Your guitar requires an offering of blood
+Elisandro De Leon Hah! Usually it's the treble E string that gets my blood. It's thin like a needle.
Whew! I thought I was just lame for getting stuck with them all the time:)
That's literally every time I restring my guitar.
LOL
Best tutorial there is. Thanks!
Thank you so much! I have the same guitar body and nut styles and I was wondering how to change the strings so I can enjoy playing as a lefty!
Fantastic video, helped me immensely. Thank you!
Thank you! Now to restring my guitar...
i was always taught that when winding one go round should be above the inserted string and then the rest below. i guess to lock the string in place.
Excellent. Clear and simple.
This is a great tutorial, thanks for all the tips and tricks!
Very helpful instructional video!
Thank you!
I watched the "official" Fender video on re stringing and it messed my whole everything up!
Thanks very much. An easy to follow video.
This video is great for people with dads that are too selfish to even teach the basics!
I can't seem to make the string wind around the tuning peg twice. It only makes one wind around the peg and it seems my guitar won't stay in tune because of it.:(
Hi Mike, It sounds like you aren't pulling the string a full fret's worth down the neck before you start winding. You're right, if you don't get 3-4 turns on the machine peg it's going to slip and not stay in tune. One fret of slack should give you that many turns around the peg. What I do is pull the string for one fret of slack, then bend the string upwards from the hole in the machine peg. That shows you exactly where the string should be when you start winding, and if it slips back (leaving less than one fret of slack) you'll see the problem right away.
just a suggestion, instead moving the string back one fret try moving it back two frets.you'll get an extra wind or two
So helpful! Worked great. Thank you!
had some kind of a problem with the high e so i had to unwind it and do it again but i managed to fix it
I have the exact same guitar so it made it easy. Thank you!!!
Mee to (red one)
Superb lesson, thank you
New strings on, then intonation?
Hello I did one slack, but the low e only did two turns, can I give two slacks instead to add turns on the peg??
This is off the path a bit,but I was curious as to what the year model was ,as mine is Identical?(in red tho)the string trees where a puzzling issue as not many have the twin Upgraded trees!
What do I do if it's a higher gauge and it won't wrap completely?! :(
Buy a bass.
Drunken Hamster lmao
pull the string to one fret when you stretch it on the peg
are you giving one fret slack with each strings?
+anthony bergeron Yes, we pull each string to give one fret-length of slack before winding it onto the tuning machine.
Andrea Strathmeyer Thanks mate.
Thanks! This helped me a lot with my guitar
Thank you for this. Very clear.
Great video, easy to follow and gave good results (although my windings were significantly lower due to not holding so much slack).
One question: do I need to repeat the stretching process several times or maybe the next day after restringing? Is it really necessary or am I doing more harm than good by continuing stretching the strings?
Hi socialdef3, If you go through the two rounds of stretching when you install the strings you shouldn't have to do any more stretching later. Don't think you'll hurt anything though if you do; it'll be kind of like if you were bending a string while playing. You aren't really 'stretching' the string when you install it, it's more that you are getting the creases and bends set in properly where the string goes over the nut and saddle. A good steel string is not going to actually stretch much! :-)
Andrea Strathmeyer Thanks!!
Best video ive found so far
Alex, thanks for the kind words!
My string is like stuck is the saddle i'm trying to dislodge it but the little circle thing at the end is stuck
u jus broke my e string dude
This video is greatness
This is the best one out there thank you so much
Great video!
Thank you, very much.. that's been really helpful!
What if the strings arn't in tune to begin with like if its a brand new guitar? Mines like that and when I tried to tune it strings broke before they even were anywhere near their tuning, for example the low e broke just about when it hit d. Do I need to tension all strings abit first to take pressure off the string being tuned?
i think you didn't leave enough slack
Thank you so much! I got a new electric guitar three days ago and broke the A chord....ehhehe. But anyways, this really helped me :) Thanks
great video!! i really appreciate it!
thanks man. now I can play my guitar again. once again thanks very much
I took bullet ended strings out of my guitar and the ones I purchased are ball ends... Are they compatible? I didn't get a good look at the back of your guitar or ends of your string. Sorry.
Great video.
Thank you for your knowledge so helpful
Any tips on getting a good grip on the treble strings? The bass strings went on without problem but the treble strings are a lot slipperier and I end up with not enough slack
So how do you clean and oil your finger board if you only change one string at a time?
Unfortunately, you need to remove all the strings if you want to clean and oil the fretboard!
I got a really cheap Star Sound Strata-copy for about 50 bucks to just jam in Rocksmith 2014. Had trouble with the strings not staying tuned between tuning them in the built in tuner and actually hitting the notes in the game. Tried restringing the guitar with all new strings recommended by my local music store and using this guide, but the problem remains. Any suggestions?
Check your intonation. 99% chance that is your problem.
+Seniorchief98 We would agree. Just because the open string is in tune doesn't mean that all the notes on the neck are also in tune. THAT depends on (1) the saddle being in exactly the right place to match the spacing of frets, and (2) the action being low enough (strings close enough to the fretboard) so you're not stretching the string out of tune when you fret a note. You can check #1 by playing the octave note at the 12th fret and comparing the pitch to the note you get by LIGHTLY touching the string at the 12th fret when you pluck the string. (Release your touch as soon as the string begins to sound.) The pitches should be identical. If not, your guitar needs a setup.
+Andrea Strathmeyer Thanks, will let my local music store give that a shot though, found a guide on youtube but to advanced for me ;)
how can you fix the buzzing on the new strings? my old strings didnt buzz at all
Hi, did you use a different gauge string set for the restring? Sounds like you may have used lighter strings. They won't pull as hard on the neck, so the neck will bend backwards a bit and the strings will hit the frets. You will need to have the neck truss rod adjusted to match the new strings.
This help so much!! Simple and easy
Did everything like in the Tutorial (Only thing i don´t have is a string winder) but I broke my thick E string it seems like there was too much tension on the Headstock. so it broke on the upper part of the string. Anyone knows any tips so that doesn´t happen again?
Peace
Today, for the first time tuning an electric, I almost poked my eye out ngl. The Low E String whilst I was tuning (I didnt cut the excess yet) the excess part hit my lower eye lid, not even an inch away from my eye lol. Guess I'm wearing safety googles next time,
One time a string poped and the force was so strong where it hit my cheek but got stuck in it. I had to pull it out and started bleeding. Was not fun
Thanks didnt even break a string :D Great success for my first time
I broke my e string so I replaced all the strings on my guitar. it broke again a few weeks later , mad as he'll right now any tips or reasons my this is happening
Hi Rob, If your string keeps breaking and it's not because you're over-tightening it, you may have an issue with the guitar. First, let's make sure you're tuning the treble E string up to pitch and not higher. You're using a pitch reference, I hope - a tuner or a keyboard for example. Now... look at where your string is breaking. If it's near the bridge, check for burrs or sharp edges on the saddle. If it's breaking somewhere else, check carefully for anything that could cut the string or make it bend too sharply.
How come when I do it there's something blocking it
I always go wrong somewhere, I always get random loops in my restring jobs, maybe im not gripping the nut end of the string enough on the first couple of turns? So frustrating because it should be a simple task haha
+Airtrooper719 XBL Gotta grip that nut, son. Grip it good.
+Elisandro De Leon Right. To avoid loops you have to keep tension on the string so it's not flopping around between the nut and the tuning machine peg. And press the string down onto the headstock so it winds neatly onto the peg starting from the BOTTOM. Keep winding onto the bottom of the peg and the previous turns should slip slowly upwards onto the peg as you turn.
Works great! Thanks brother!
any reason why just one fret and I found the high e string the hardest since I guess it's the thinnest and hard not let it slip still haha
Hi Alpha Foxtrot, on a steel string guitar one fret of slack will give you just enough extra string for that perfect 3-4 turns on the tuning machine. Any more than that and your string will start bunching up on the peg making the tuning process unreliable. On nylon string classicals, with their slotted headstocks and large-diameter tuning drums, we do two frets to get the right number of wraps on the drum. But don't do that on an electric!
Andrea Strathmeyer thanks for the reply!
For stretching the strings, how exactly are you supposed to retune several times if you can only tune to a note once?
Everything's Lowkey Stretching pulls them out of tune
Why are supposed to angle down the string with our index as we wind?
So the string will lock in and won't slip out.
+Raphael And even more important, you want the string to wind neatly and tightly starting at the bottom of the tuning machine peg. Unless you press down with your finger, the string will wind randomly onto the peg and maybe overlap onto itself.
This was a pretty great video it helped me.
my string has only 1 loop in the nut is that ok? could I tune it?
Optic500 You should make sure that you have 1 fret length of slack so you have atleast 2-3 loops to get the right tune
Do i use one fret of slack for every snare?
How your guitar stay in tune when u didn't lock your string?
why dont i have the holes in the back?
can you tell me how much slack do we need for the other strings..
I think only 1 fret of slack for each string
@@Thomas-gu4uo agree