7 Steps To Fixing A Broken Guitar String

If you have ever had to replace a broken guitar string, then you know how frustrating it can be. There are so many different sizes and materials to choose from that it’s easy to get lost in the process. Not only do we need information about what type of string to buy, but also how long it should be, as well as if we need a ball end or an eyelet end. The good news is that with these 7 steps, fixing your broken guitar strings will never be more than 10 minutes away!

– Step One: Get the right tools. You will need a string winder and cutter to fix your broken guitar strings, as well as a screwdriver or hex wrench if you have an electric acoustic. If not, then it is time for some elbow grease!

– Step Two: Winding Your String Properly. Start by winding the new string around the tuning key until there are several inches of excess string at one end of the loop (this should be about six inches). This extra length can later be coiled over itself three times before being clipped off with wire cutters–just make sure that any part touching metal gets covered in masking tape first so that it doesn’t scratch anything. Once this has been done, thread the string through the hole in the tuning key on your guitar, and then pull it to thread it back out.

– Step Three: Cutting Your String Properly. Once you are satisfied with how tight a loop there is at one end of your new replacement string (about six inches), use wire cutters to clip off this excess length–but be careful not to go too close to any part that has been taped up! If you don’t have proper cutting tools handy, grab a sturdy pair of pliers or scissors in order to get the job done.

– Step Four: Fixing Your Broken Guitar Strings! Thread the other end of your newly cut replacement strings into the bridge pins as shown below before wrapping around them three times for security (be careful not to tighten too much).

– Step Five: Installing the String. Gently pull on this end of your new string until it slides into place and then wrap one last time around each bridge pin before threading back out through the hole in the tuning key on your guitar.

– Step Six: Tuning Your Guitar! If you have a six-string electric or acoustic guitar, tune up both strings by moving each tuner so that its metal peg moves away from you as far as possible. For an eight-string guitar, do all four sets of bridge pins at once but be sure to leave some slack when tightening them down–you don’t want any extra tension pulling against your newly installed replacement strings! Tune for pitch by listening to the sound of each string and matching it with your tuning peg.

– Step Seven: Replacing Your Tuning Pegs! If you have a six or eight-string guitar, replace all four bridge pins at once by removing them from their slots in the back of your instrument’s headstock and slipping on new ones–make sure not to tighten these too much, as they’re designed for temporary use only. For an acoustic steel-string guitar with one or more floating tuners (the kind that is mounted on metal posts set into holes drilled out along either side of the fingerboard), simply remove old strings from off their pegs before installing fresh replacements.

Tailpiece Removal 101

Before proceeding any further, make absolutely certain that any tailpiece screws are removed first. This is because they’ll need to be loosened in order for the spacers to come out, and then re-tightened afterwards.

The Spacers

When you go to remove an old string from its bridge pin slot, pay close attention so that it doesn’t slip away underneath your instrument’s headstock–those things can disappear like magic! When removing new strings as well, make sure not to let them get pulled through their hole before tightening down the screw on top of the post; this will keep them securely in place.

Tailpipes Up Close

You may have noticed a few holes drilled into either side of your guitar’s fingerboard right next to each floating tuner or tailpiece. These are called “tailpipes,” and they’re there to help contain the strings when winding them around their respective tuning post, preventing excess slack from potentially getting in your way as you tune up.

Can You Play The Guitar With A Broken String?

No, you cannot. The guitar will not sound good with a broken string. Attempting to play the instrument would be an exercise in futility as it is difficult enough for most people to make clean sounds on one single string without any added complications. Furthermore, playing in this state can result at best and at worst costly damage to your own fingers through exposure or contact with sharp edges of the strings that have been loosened from their tuning posts by virtue of being out of tune.

The only exception might be if you are planning on performing some sort of musical improvisation when there’s no other option but to break a string–in which case I suppose anything goes! You could also construct makeshift chords or melodies using alternate tunings such as the open tuning of the instrument, but this would likely require a certain degree of skill to do so.

How Much Does It Cost To Fix A Broken Guitar String?

A typical guitar string costs between $0.75 and $12, making an emergency fix seem like a costly proposition. The cost of a set depends on the type of strings you are buying–steel or nylon-core strings will run about one dollar more expensive per package than bronze-wound ones (which I would recommend). To find out how much your instrument is worth in total, though, you need to take into account all the factors that determine its value: materials; make and model; age and condition.

What Happens If Your Guitar String Breaks?

If you’re lucky, your guitar string will break in the middle of a song. This is probably because you had ample time to set up for it and are familiar with how to handle this type of situation–unlike if you were playing on-stage, say, or during an audition. In any case, when one of the strings snaps near its tuning post at either end (a “broken” or “dead” bridge), there’s not much left to do but just replace it with another one.

Can I Replace Just One Guitar String?

Yes, you can. The guitar is designed to be playable with just six strings; however, by using a capo and transposing the chords accordingly, it’s possible to still play all twelve notes on the fretboard–though not in their usual positions. Thus, if your string snaps while playing alone or at home (say for practice), then you don’t necessarily need to go out and buy another set of whole new strings right away before being able to continue practicing that song. Just check how many more frets are left above where the broken string was sitting: If there are only two open spaces between where your other fingers normally lie atop the neck of your electric or acoustic guitar body when strumming up-and-down along the strings, then you can get away with just replacing the string.

Does Breaking A Guitar String Hurt?

If you’ve never broken a guitar string before, then it might not be an issue that you ever need to worry about. After all, there are plenty of songs out there in the world that can be played without using any open strings on your electric or acoustic guitar–where every note is created either by pressing down on one fret across multiple strings with your right hand’s fingers (index finger and thumb for chords) or plucking individual notes up-and-down along with them with your left arm/hand holding the instrument horizontally just above its neck and body. Still, if you’re looking to play more intricate chord progressions than what would usually be possible while playing alone at home without breaking a string: For example, those found in many pre-1970s blues and rock songs that use barre chords–then you’re probably going to need a replacement string.

Can You Replace Guitar Strings Yourself?

Yes, if you have the right tools. But before we get into how to do it yourself–let’s talk about why guitar players need a replacement string when they break their current one in the first place: The answer is that playing an instrument with broken strings can cause some serious damage.