When should I change my guitar strings?
If you’ve been playing guitar for a while and haven’t changed your strings yet it’s probably a good idea to think about replacing them. The strings on nylon string guitars in particular don't break very often, so it can be easy to keep playing on old strings because you simply don't think to change them. So how do you know when you should change the strings on your guitar?
How often should I change my guitar strings?
The answer is, it depends. This is dependent on:
How much you play your guitar (the more you play, the more frequently you'll need to change your strings)
How careful you are to ensure your hands are clean before you play your guitar (even the oil on our fingers can stick to the strings so it's best to wash your hands before you play)
Whether your hands tend to sweat a lot when you play (you’ll need to change your strings more often if your hands sweat a lot)
How you store your guitar (if your guitar is in a case it's less likely to be exposed to factors that will affect the strings, and a constant temperature helps to prevent strings from breaking)
The way you play your guitar (the harder you play the more frequently you'll need to replace the strings)
How do I know when to change my guitar strings?
It's time for a string change when:
One of your strings breaks (unless it's a new set, it's probably an indication that the strings are due to be changed).
The strings are discoloured (look at the section of the string between the nut and the tuning pegs and you'll likely see the original colour - if the strings are rusty, black, brown or green in places, this means that either the strings have oxidised or there is dirt/grime/oil on the strings. This will usually happen where your fingers are in contact with the strings the most).
The strings are unravelling (this can happen on the bass strings).
Your guitar is not holding its tune very well (we need to tune our guitar every time we play but if the guitar is going out of tune while you are playing, it may be a sign that the strings are getting old).
You're having trouble tuning your guitar (you tune it but it still doesn't sound right).
The intonation of the instrument is not as accurate as it usually is (i.e. when you play notes up the neck are they in tune? The octave at the 12th fret is a good way to test this. If a string change doesn't fix this issue you might need to adjust the neck or setup.)
The strings sound dull.
You can't slide along the strings easily.
The strings are stiff (you might notice this when doing bends, or if it feels more difficult to press the strings than usual).
Your harmonics aren't as resonant as they usually are.
You're not getting the volume projection you usually do when you play.
It's been 3-6 months (this is a ballpark figure but for most students I suggest changing their strings a few times a year even if they are not having any of the issues above. Sometimes we don't notice those issues because the changes happen slowly over time and we can't remember clearly what the sound or feel was like before.)
How do I extend the life of my strings?
Keep your guitar in a case - hard cases offer more protection and regulate the temperature more than soft cases
Always wash your hands before playing
Wipe your strings down with a soft cloth after playing to remove any dirt, sweat or residual finger oil from the strings
Don't expose your guitar to extreme heat (like leaving it in the boot of the car) or extreme temperature changes
Tips
Keep a record of when you last changed your strings as it can be hard to remember
Set a reminder on your calendar for when your next string change is due
How do I restring my guitar?
Any music shop can do this for you relatively cheaply but it is good to learn how to do it yourself, particularly so you can replace a string if it breaks. Nylon string guitars are trickier to change because you need to tie a special knot at the bridge. Steel string guitars are easier to do yourself but there are still some important things to know before trying to do it for the first time. It is important to take care because guitar strings are sharp and when they are under tension, they can hit you with quite a lot of force if they snap or slip out of place. I can teach my students how to restring their classical, steel-string or electric guitars, so feel free to ask me about this in your next lesson.
