How to correctly restring your acoustic | Guitar.com DIY

In the final episode of our Guitar DIY series in association with Elixir Strings, Matt talks us through the correct way to restring your acoustic guitar.

Whether you prefer a dreadnought or a parlour, Taylor or Martin or are even partial to a cutaway, Matt talks you through the correct way to restring your beloved acoustic guitar. Restringing acoustic guitars can be tricky, particularly with those string pegs that can get stiff and are difficult to remove. Matt shows you the optimal way to remove said pegs with two different tools, one of which you may already have on the end of your string winder.

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[SourRazberry]

I’ve only had a couple guitar lessons over the years, my boyfriend has been playing heavily for 15 years. Neither of us can change strings. He’s so frustrated from trying countless times over the years with billions of different techniques, he refuses to try. I watched this video and even though I don’t really have guitar experience and was super nervous, I thought I’d give it a shot for him. I DID IT!!! First time I’ve EVER changed strings and I did it correctly! Thank you so much for this fantastic tutorial, it’s the best out there!!!

[smartly]

As a 64 year old novice guitarist I found this video clear and helpful and the fact that Matt is so personable was a bonus. Thanks Matt!

[AndySalinger]

Great tutorial. One question: when am I supposed to smoke a joint? Before starting? (this is my hunch) Or, does one take a break somewhere near the midway point, and smoke it? These are the kinds of things many guitar players need to know. Kindest regards from sunny Florida.

[DontFretAboutIt]

Been restringing guitars horribly for 2 years, and it's just crazy how much better it holds tune with this method and how it eliminates an issue I've had with my open strings rattling

[MrRBGIANTFAN]

There are hundreds of videos and/or web pages on how to restring a guitar. This is the first one that was perfectly clear. Thank you so much for posting

[gunsmoke]

This is closest to perfect I’ve ever seen. Very clear and easy to follow instruction, helpful tips, random but helpful bits of information, taught me things I had no idea about even though I’ve had to restring a few guitars in my time playing before seeing this video. Plus Matt was really easy to understand in every sense of the phrase. Thank you!

[suee]

Just started playing acoustic guitar and wanted better strings! Thanks for a straightforward method and the final section re slight stretching of strings whilst tuning, and tuning with the guitar in playing position are the best - I have watched most YouTube channels for restringing acoustic guitars and Matt gives the most advice and best technique I’ve seen! 😊

[brettsnowball]

This was by far the best acoustic guitar restring instructional video on YouTube. Matt was able to explain things thorough, yet concise and that's what I appreciated most about this DIY – easy to follow & lessened the stress

[MrPromexx]

Thanks! I just restrung my own guitar for the first time and this video really helped me! Easily the clearest and most concise video on this process.

[ibleebinU]

As a drummer about to change strings on my wife's Taylor, this was enormously helpful. Using the same strings and quick wind tool will make me feel like I know what I'm doing! 😊 Excellent video mate!

[sushilily]

This video is giving me the confidence to restring my guitar. Very simple and easy to follow.

[themardbard]

This is THE best string changing tutorial on here, thank you so much!!

[tadesha]

it literally took me an hour to figure out the technique you used to string the last two strings! Now I can restring like a pro!

[andyboyd]

Best video I've seen on YouTube (by a mile) on how to restring a guitar.

[frankharris]

Frankie
I've been playing and gigging for sixty years now (HOW LONG??? Yup. Sixty. Started out wanting to be Hank Marvin). I've restrung everything from a double ball-ended headless bass through cigar-box guitars and resonators to my dear, dear Eric Clapton Strat. Never had the courage to tackle a pegged acoustic, so Matt's lesson is worth its weight in gold. I also learned the correct way to wind on; I've been told all sorts of questionable dodges over the years, but Matt's makes THE most sense. So, first we tackle our little acoustic-then on to the Ibanez twelve string. Wish me luck!

[domino]

I’ve been restringing my guitar since I was 14 and it always took forever to do, took forever for it to hold its tuning, etc. I followed this video and it was fast and my guitar sounds great and has held its tuning immediately. Thank you!

[mariaavrms]

the best video about restringing a guitar, it's my second time changing strings and with your help i did it perfectly :) you explain so well!

[robertlawler]

Matt, you are awesome, Dude! I thought I knew how to string a guitar, but you schooled me! Those pegs always gave me trouble and kinda frightened me when I restrung them. Now with your trick I am confident and wow! that was easy! Thank you, sir. I am now a subscriber.

[ErikOnlineDartsGaming]

I used to bring my guitars to the music store always to get them restringed. Before I tried it twice and always had breaking strings. Today I watched this video, tried it again and... no broken strings ! Thanks for this video !

[willd.]

Good thing I decided to watch a video before trying to restring the D string that I broke while tuning lol. I didn't realize that I was going into the wrong octave, and overtightened and SNAP. I have the strings to replace it, but I was gonna give it a go without any instructions, as it seemed straight-forward enough. Not at all. It's not difficult, but you have to know what you are doing. Thank you for this