If you’re in a hurry, grab a pair of scissors and snip all six strings. Be sure to remove the small scrap parts around the bridge when you finish cutting. It’s much safer to unwind the strings than to cut them so you won’t have pieces of string flying off the guitar.
Safely dispose of the string in a trash can once you remove it from the guitar.
Removing the strings all at once can make it easier when you go to wind the new strings back onto the neck.
Never string a classical guitar with steel strings. This will put way too much pressure on the neck, eventually causing it to bend and crack.
If one end of your new string has a rough texture while the other end is smooth, use the smooth end to loop through the bridge. [5] X Research source
Be sure that the tail of the string comes down over the white lip before you tighten it. This will help to ensure that your knot stays tight. The main difference of changing strings on a classical guitar is tying the strings. On a classical guitar, there are no pegs to remove like on a steel string guitar. You have to thread the string through the hole in the bridge, loop it around, and tie it. Make sure the string is secure and string it up on the tuning peg. [8] X Expert Source Carlos Alonzo Rivera, MAProfessional Guitarist Expert Interview. 18 August 2020.
You can check your knot again when you go to attach the string to the neck later on. If it looks loose, redo the knot before you continue.
Put the string through the bridge as with the 6th, 5th and 4th strings. For the 1st string (the e string), some people like to loop the string around the hole twice for extra protection before tying the knot.
Feel free to loop the 1st string through the hole twice before you tuck it under the loop and tighten. If any of the strings come loose, they can hit into the guitar and take out a small chunk of wood. Use extra care when tightening the knots around the bridge to ensure you keep your guitar safe.
Although there is another method where the string goes through the hole twice, this method is harder and the first way works just as well.
This would be a good time to double check that the knot you made in the bridge is secure.
Cut off any excess string with a wire cutter. If there is any string sticking out from the head of the guitar, be sure to use a wire cutter to safely remove it. Otherwise, you could accidentally hurt yourself on the string when you go to play your guitar. [16] X Research source
After you’ve attached all of your new strings use a tuner to help you get your guitar back in tune. Alternatively, you can attach the new E string before you remove the old A string, and tune the guitar to itself. To do this, play the E string at the 5th fret and match it to the sound of the A string. [18] X Research source
