Pro Guitar Skulls

Why are my electric guitar strings tighter?

Question:
I have had my electric guitar for nearly six months. I originally tuned it with an online tuner, but after finding that too difficult, I learned how to tune it without a tuner. Ever since then, my strings are tighter-feeling and sound more in tune. When I used the tuner, the strings were lose, frequently out of tune, and would sometimes break due to poor tuning. Is this because I am becoming better at tuning the strings?


Answer: Newer strings slip out of tune easier- as they are played a bit they will become more stable and hold their tune better.

You might be tuning all of them too high. In other words, though they may all be in tune in relation to themselves, they might all be too high by an equal amount.

What you need to do is tune them to 'concert pitch', in technical terms 'A 440'. If you have a keyboard, tune your E or A to it, then adjust the rest of the strings to the first one.

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If you are a musician and you're not quite sure how to string an electric guitar, there is no time like the present to start learning. Stringing an electric guitar is not that difficult. Usually it takes just a few minutes and you're on your way to a better sound and smoother feel under your fingers. A trip to the repair shop will cost you in the long run.

It's time for you to learn how to string your own guitar. The only thing you need to change your guitar strings, is a new set of strings. The other two tools that might help you and save time are a string winder and a set of wire cutters, but those are not essential to your success.

Let's start by removing and replacing just one string from your guitar.

Removal

To get rid of the old strings, loosen the machine heads with your hands or a string winder. Loosen just one string on your first attempt. Once the string is loose, unwind the excess that is wrapped around the post on the headstock, and pull it out. Now look to the bottom of your guitar.

At the bottom of the guitar, the strings are attached to the bridge in some fashion. There are a variety of bridges on electric guitars, but most of them are fairly simple. The strings are passed through a hole, and a ball on the end catches at the bridge. Generally, it is easy to see how the string is anchored to the bridge.

At this point, you should be ready to install one new string...

Installation

Locate the appropriate new string for your guitar, and start by passing it through the bridge first. Pull the string up toward the headstock. Adjust the hole of the machine post so that it lines up with the neck and you can easily insert the string into the hole. Pull it all the way through until the string is lying flat against the fret board, and there is no additional slack.

Make a loop around the machine post by pulling about 2 inches of string back through the hole, toward the bottom of the guitar. Wrap the slack around the machine post. Strings on the left wrap counterclockwise, and on the right they are wrap clockwise. You might find it handy to look at another guitar, or the remaining old strings on yours to make sure you are winding your strings in the right direction. Now tighten the machine head with your fingers or string winder.

After you have performed this removal and installation one time, you can move on to replace the remaining strings with the exact same process. Use caution when you thread and wind the new strings at the headstock, it is important that you wind them in the proper direction. You will find that after you do this once, you'll become a natural at it. Stop spending all that time and money at the repair shop and invest the extra time and funds in practice and new accessories.

I hope you found this article helpful! To discover an effective method for learning essential guitar scales (such as pentatonic guitar scales and guitar blues scales), then be sure to check out: http://www.GuitarScaleMastery.com/letter/

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