How to change strings faster – with rock solid tuning stability

For many, changing strings is a chore. But that’s often the result of not knowing simple techniques for changing strings efficiently. Professional techs have mastered methods for removing, trimming and fitting strings that not only speed the whole process up but avoid messy windings, sharp string ends and wandering tuning.

Thankfully, Jack Dunwoody of Rotosound is an expert in such matters – and he joined us to share some insider tips for making string changes simple, effective and rock solid. None of the techniques he shared were difficult, just professional shortcuts he teaches to players of all levels to make their lives easier.

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1. Do repeated actions in one batch

If you’re removing all of your guitar’s strings to install a fresh set, loosen off all the tuners at the start of the process. Jack says that briefly slackening off all tension on the neck will cause no harm to the guitar and allows you to set the instrument up for a quick all-strings change.

Make sure that, on each machine head, the hole in the tuning peg aligns with the neck. This will make removing the strings and fitting new ones a little quicker and easier because the hole is already facing the right way to thread the string through.

“If you’re doing one action, I think it’s worth doing across all strings,” he explains. “You could cut the strings without loosening them first but I think you’re probably risking taking someone’s eye out,” he cautions.

Next, Jack advises, cut all the strings at once close to the bridge. “That’s the bit that’s tricky to get the strings through, he says. “So the less you have to pull through, the better, especially if the strings have that little ‘pig’s tail’ at the end from where it was wound round the tuning post. Cutting the strings near the bridge avoids that and saves a little time.”

2. Learn ‘The Flick’

Rotosound coils their strings in pairs in corrosion-proof packets. Each string will stay coiled when removed from the packet as the end of the string is tucked through the middle of the coil to make handling easier.

If you find uncoiling the string ready for use a bit fiddly, try Jack’s trick: holding the ball end of the string with thumb and forefinger give it a sharp, forward flick with your wrist and it should spring free instantly.

Obviously be careful not to do this in the direction of anyone’s face! This trick should save a little bit of time and it’s used by employees at Rotosound every day.

3. Measure two posts

Once you’ve got your new strings on, Jack has a useful tip for making sure tuning stability is locked in from the word go. He recommends fitting the strings as usual, with around three turns per post if using standard, non-locking machineheads.

He says he’ll often measure two tuning posts beyond the one the string is being fitted to as a guide for where to cut for the ideal length of excess string. That’s because we don’t want to have either too little or too much excess string available to wind round the post once the string has been passed through the hole.

Too little and the string won’t grip the post securely and may slip, causing tuning instability. Too much and you end up with an untidy stack of too many winds, which can also cause tuning instability, if the strings wrap over one another rather than sit snugly on the post.

4. Stretch down to pitch

Once you’ve fitted the strings it’s time to tune them to pitch – but here’s the trick: most players know that strings need a bit of stretching, typically a tug or two with your fingers, before they’ll settle into a stable state of tuning.

Ordinarily this takes a few goes, requiring each string to be tuned back up to pitch after being stretched in, slowing the whole process down. But if you want the strings to be both stretched in and sit securely in tune from the word go, Jack says to try the following trick: tune a newly fitted string slightly sharper than the required pitch, then stretch it back down to the correct pitch with a few light tugs on the string.

Each tug brings it close to the target pitch while also performing the required stretching in. And, voila, it should sit at the correct pitch nicely from that point on.

• For more information on the full range of Rotosound strings, including 3- and 10-piece multipacks that save you money, visit Rotosound