How to Change Classical Guitar Strings (step by step restring)

If you are learning classical guitar, or would like to learn classical guitar, CGS is a great place to discover resources to help you on the journey. Whether you’re just beginning guitar, or have been playing for decades but want to rise to new levels in your playing, you’ll find highly detailed tutorials and lessons.

You’ll find some of the deepest-diving explorations of classical guitar and Spanish guitar pieces anywhere online, with step-by-step instructions on how to play guitar beautifully so that the music sings and connects with listeners (any yourself) on an emotional level. Music is not entirely subjective. Some ways of doing things are more effective than others. If you learn these basic “rules”, you’ll automatically play with more grace, beauty, and feeling.

At CGS, you’ll also discover archives of comprehensive articles about many of the issues, details, habits, and best practices surrounding playing guitar. You’ll find tips and tricks on how to be more effective at practicing. You’ll find articles on subjects as varied as getting great classical guitar tone, how to avoid pain and injury playing guitar, and the differences between practice and exercise. If you ever need a break from your practice and want to enrich your understanding of all that is classical guitar, browsing the Classical Guitar Shed archives are great place to explore.

If you would like to hear me (Allen Mathews) playing, visit my other youtube channel:

[AlanBram]

I watch this over again every time I'm about to change strings. Love it!

[theghostoftama]

I cannot even begin to explain how helpful this video was. I kept putting this video off because of how long it seemed but after listening carefully and doing it, it really wasn't as bad as it looked. This is such a lifesaver

[aldorechiasson]

Excellent tutorial! I kept putting off changing my strings because I was a little intimidated by the process but today was the day! I was able to get the strings on my guitar and everything seems perfect, this video made the process incredibly easy! I was not done in 16 minutes or anything and had to go back once or twice to make sure I was doing it right but I have to say for it being my first time changing classical guitar strings I am quite pleased! Thank you!

[irvinretiz]

I’m barely going to begin learning how to play the guitar but I had to change the strings on this guitar my sister gave me and it was the first time I’ve ever done this and Allen made it super easy and explained everything really well. Thank you!!

[vincentmaloney]

This is the best video about restringing classical guitar. Before I take off old strings, following Your advice, using the dropper I put a little oil on the wheels of Tuning Pegs. Also: each time right after I take off old strings, I wipe the fretboard with Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes Fretboard Conditioner. I wait a couple of hours for the fretboard to get dry. Only after that I start installing the new strings. Thank You so much for Your help.

[ahmedidrissi]

I like your patience and attention to details

[davidmorley]

This is the best video I have seen for clarity in the explanation of how to restring a classical guitar. It matches the excellence of the lessons given by Allen Matthews elsewhere on his website. Great stuff. Thank you.

[motorbikeray]

(13:20) I'm glad that you remembered to mention first putting a card or piece of paper on the guitar body next to the bridge before changing strings. Doing so really does help reduce the chances of the guitar's top getting scratched up by the ends of the low E, A, and D strings. I use blue painters tape to protect that area before changing guitar strings.

[wolcottwu]

Your presentations are expert, clear, natural and imteresting.

[windsorwoman]

"Smoosh it around like that with your finger" good technical description. Thanks for all the videos, Allen.

[retos]

now i only need to know how to actually play a guitar and im good to go

[amandagrayson]

Thanks so much for this video, Allen. I remember changing strings when I was a teenager and having to just figure it out on my own. I was never very comfortable with it. Now I have all these tools, including your great videos! Thanks again!

[poulbjrnberg]

Thanks for showing it real nice and slow so you can actually see what happens. This is the best tutorial I have seen on this topic.

[johannbach]

I change strings all the time on my electric guitars & this was my first classical. I was intimidated until I watched your video. Thanks for the info. 👍

[davidwilliama.]

This is a great tutorial. It is clear and shows things close up. However, I still hate putting on new strings because I feel the pressure as I tune it up. My palms sweat and I get very nervous. I don't have much to fear because strings rarely snap, especially when they're new, and I only had one snap and make a mark on my hand when I was a kid, but that was because I was stupid and kept tuning it up and up because I was curious what would happen. That memory sticks with me to this day. I know I have nothing to fear, and yet I still feel lots of anxiety when restringing a guitar. It's why I don't change my strings very often. I am currently restringing my guitar, but I have to take a break after a couple of minutes because the anxiety builds up and I have to stop to calm down. I especially get nervous when I'm tuning it up and all of a sudden the note goes down. I am not sure if I did something wrong or if it's just part of the process. There are much more dangerous things that I don't fear, but for some reason I can't seem to not get anxious when restringing my guitar.

[MAZiese]

Allen, really enjoy all of your presentations/lessons here on Youtube. Always filled with great suggestions on how to approach studying and practicing classical guitar.

However I have a bone to pick with you on your comment of saying it really doesn't matter which strings you use on you classical guitar. I will agree it doesn't matter who's make or brand you use, but yes it can matter which "tension" and which composite string you put on your guitar. There are several considerations that a player should take into account when purchasing the strings they use.

1) Most standard classical guitars have a standard "scale' length of 650mm or in layman terms 25.59 inches. Also there are shorter scale (640mm or 630mm) Student or Parlor models. And the strings you would normally put on the "standard" 650mm don't play and sound as well on a shorter scale length guitar. As a general rule a "higher" tension will work and sound best on these "shorter" scale guitars, and conversely a "normal" or "light" tension string will sound best on a "standard" (650mm) length guitar. My parlor guitar sounds best with high tension and my Spanish made standard scale sounds best with normal tension.

2) It also depends on the style of playing you do... standard classical pieces or flamenco... Most flamenco players will use a "higher" tension string because of the method of playing (the way they attack/strike the strings). This is especially true when a flamenco piece utilizes lots of picados and rasgueados. Classical pieces such as Bach or Giuliani, Sor or Carcassi and most Renaissance pieces a normal or even light tension strings will work for the style of playing in these genre.

3) Also there is a risk of possibly and I say "possibly" damaging your instrument if it was not built to handle the extra amount of tension (pull on the bridge plate) these strings can exert.

4) Another factor to take into consideration is the ability of the player themselves. An experienced player who has been playing for years can and should be able to handle the little bit more exertion that will be required of their fingering, both left and right hands. Barr Cords require the strengthening of the index finger, especially if it across all six strings. And plucking the strings to get the best tone also requires strengthening the Index, Medius and Annaluris fingers (I, M and A). A beginner or student would probably be best suited for light to normal tension strings.

5) Also when choosing strings, there are bronze and silver wound bass strings. Bronze have a somewhat warmer tone, silvers tend to be more is bright in tonality. And then there are the higher strings (3, 2, and 1) your G, B and E strings and the materials used in their composition. Some are normal nylon, then there is carbon and some are composites.

There is a lot to take into consideration when choosing. I would suggest asking your instructor or luthier or the maker of the guitar which may be best for the type of player you are. Do the research is what I tell everyone and also get ready to try different brand and types before you find the ones that work for you and your style of playing.

[BearBug]

Today I changed the strings on my classical guitar successfully for the first time thanks to this video, thank you!!

[sugarmaven]

Just changed my first ball-less strings! I'll keep you posted. Thanks!

[johnmusic]

Thanks for the video. I used your method changing my classical guitar strings for the first time. Worked great.

[alex-sd]

This was the best video I found but I preferred how my Yamaha classical guitar's knots at the bridge was done.