GUITAR TIP: Restringing a classical guitar
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- Опубліковано 11 лют 2025
- My tips and tricks for changing the strings on a classical guitar. I'll cover the tools you need, my preferred strings, knot methods, tuning and more.
Piece played at beginning and end of video: Villa-Lobos Prelude No. 1
Synthetic gut strings: Aquila Alabastro low tension
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Those talking while playing intros are such a flex. I love it.
A man threatening classical guitar students with a lighter (2021, colourised)
...to the tune of Ice Ice Baby.
Vampire* 1721*
and the oscar goes to The guitar menace.
In high school I went through a phase where I was recording using Nashville tuning. For those unfamiliar, that's when you record a part twice with two sets of strings so that you get a kind of 12-string guitar effect. The first recording is done with normal guitar strings. For the second recording, though, you swap your strings with what would be the higher octave set from a 12-string guitar.
In an effort to save money, I would often repurpose my strings. To that end, I never cut the tails off. You can't make nice little loops like this with steel strings, but I would sort of bend them around so that they laid flat in between the tuner posts. It was quite the conversation starter.
Anyway, good video. I like your tip about melting the end of the unwound strings to make a stop. And you said it, Brandon. if you have a guitar, there's no reason to take it to a shop for a restring. That's like going to the doctor to change your pants.
that intro was smooth man gotta be honest
Yeah it was *lit*
Funny story, when I first learned to play guitar, I started for a few months on an old nylon-string guitar. I changed the strings, figuring out how to copy the knot arrangement at the bridge from the existing strings. But the string set I used actually had ball ends, which I didn’t know what they were for. So I strung the balls through at the tuners, thinking it was so you didn’t have to tie them off up there! (I was a budding young Ned Steinberger.)
This dude has the best smile on UA-cam.
yikes
@@PandaMacaroni what
@@XenoTravisignore them
I'm definitely in the "fancy loop" camp for the excess string at the head stock. Ive been able to salvage a string more than a few times. And honestly, I like the aesthetic.
So glad I remembered watching this video earlier so that I could find it again when I needed it. I've never had a guitar before, and the D string on my two-month-old guitar broke. I was able to replace the string with no trouble, thanks to the video. Yay! Thanks, Brandon!
Hey there, I hope you're enjoying your guitar journey!
If your guitar still has the strings that it came with, I would suggest changing all of them at the same time, instead of just replacing the D string. You'll be amazed at how a fresh set of strings sound!
In the factory they often just put whatever strings on, to keep tension on the neck.
It also gives you the opportunity to clean the fretboard, and moisturise it with some lemon oil.
Anyway, just some friendly advice!
Have fun!
@@GMSlash Thanks so much for the recommendation and advice. I do plan to replace all the strings, but this is a crazy busy week so I'm changing them kind of one string at a time over the next few days! :-) And yes, I'm loving my guitar journey, although at the moment my credo is "embrace the suck."
check the bridge and the nut (at the top - the white piece) or the threading hole for too much sharpness! A little rat-tail file can take off the sharpness with just a little swipe or two ! Same for cellos and violins !
On a very few occasions , as I put on the A string and tuned it all the way to A, it broke at the saddle. So lessons learned , I change my guitar strings one at a time. Also, I tune the new string about a note below. For example, I tune the A string to a G. Then, let it rest over night before I tune it to an A. I have had good luck with that.
Aaah my latest classical guitar was double holes on the bridge and oh man do I love it. Also knew all of these things as most guitarists after a few years but its just so relaxing to watch your videos so of course ill sit through it anyway! However, I don't agree with starting with the low string since the non-wounded strings take longer to settle so if you start with the highest ones they will stay in tune sooner. If you start on the highest and tune it to E again when you've stringed the B string and then retune E and B when u get to the G and so on it will almost stay in tune when your finished!
Friends, you can join me on Zoom on Oct. 9th for a group workshop all about RUBATO, the art of stealing time in music. Tickets are available here arpeggiato.com/events/
Thanks!
Thank you! 😊
Serves you right for making great videos.
Dearest Sir, it just so happens, that I managed to fix the A string of my gut / silk set 2 times, using your trick. thanks a lot.
Who else watched a bunch of re-stringing classical guitar videos but just wanted to watch how this master player does his? 😂
The only thing that I’ve learned is that, I’m been pulling the living crap out of the bass strings . I’ve already wondered why it sounded dull . Treating these nylons strings like electric guitar strings. Thanks for the tip !! Keep them coming!!
Can I ask what the difference is between tugging on the strings and setting them sharp?
@@jefemckee I know it's been 8 months, so you might have already found an answer to your question. But I'll answer it for anyone reading your comment in the future.
Setting it sharp puts the same amount of stretch along the entire length of the string. All parts get stretched evenly. When you go tugging on the string, you're inducing an uneven amount of extra tension. Uneven forces on the strings cause uneven deformations that create intonation issues. It can be surprising how those small differences add up.
There's a company that actually makes a string stretcher. It places a bend in the string (just like you would with your fingers), but it has wheels so you can run the device along the length of the string, which let's you stretch the string much faster than setting them sharp but still evenly. It's perhaps more popular in the world of electric guitars, but it's an answer to the same issue.
Just changed my strings for the first time today using this vid. Very satisfying when it started looking familiar after i tied the end to the bridge.
Great help. Thank you. If I may make one point-I, personally, like to change all strings at once as it gives an opportunity to give the face of the neck and body a good cleaning.
The way he plays guitar while he's talking, so satisfying😱😱
The 12-hole bridge does increase the break angle over the saddle a little bit, so you have a little (a little) more tension on the string.
Oh my god, please release a version of that Villa-lobos prelude. One of my favorite pieces of all time. (alright, back to the video)
Enjoying your videos, and your playing is really superb. This one is particularly relevant for me, having recently acquired a 12-hole spruce-top Barbi classical (I am used to the 6-hole), and also coincidentally having purchased a set of Aquila Ambra 900 strings.Tuning the D here you seem to have arrived at a perfect 5th rather than a 4th above the A. May the 4th be with you (as they say) regardless.
Ha! Good catch. What a goofy mistake.
what a pleasure to hear you play the villa lobos. We don't often hear you play it, what a shame! thank you again for this precious youtube channel and keep it up !
These old Martin Acoustic Guitars were originally made for Gut Strings, & today we use Nylon as the modern Substitute cause it lasts many times as long plus it really livens up the Guitar's sound.
I would say the sound is much better with gut but nylon are cheaper and more practical.
@@brandonacker Yep & they actually bring out way more Nuance that's in the wood of that Guitar & the way they braced it:ua-cam.com/video/kjVU-SRBMHA/v-deo.html
@@brandonackerNylgut
Best String change video for classical guitar! If I ever change mine that is...
20 years into guitar and I picked up my first classical just today for $15 (great playing suzuki nagoya found in a thrift shop) The metal strings are almost black with rust but the intonation is great still and they sound really mellow and nice. Not changing them till they break! If I want bright I'll play a strat lol.
Instead of cutting or making the loop with the knot in the headstock you can also roll the string completely in the headstock, it might take a few more seconds but it will have more friction to prevent any slip, you will have extra string and looks more clean.
i did that once and it took a very long time for the strings to settle in the tuning.
the winding does look very nice, but it is time consuming and if you leave too much string, there may be more string than can be wound around the peg, happened to me once and I had to re-do it. Also a hassle when replacing them. It's a tradeoff i guess.
I think the loop looks so clean and elegant
Keep those old strings. They make wonderful candle wicks for dark cult meetings.
If they're gut strings, this wouldn't be too far off of what they used for candles in the middle ages. Often times using animal gut or fat for candles.
or lighting to your ominously dim gothic home because you're a vampire
What do you think brandon does
Wow those comments arent not useful...guys what the hell
Lmfao
the most entertaining re-stringing of a guitar i've ever seen! :D
Hahaha i was just looking for help as I hadn't bought new strings since years now. Thanks a lot for your videos!
Came for a tutorial and got dunked on in less than a minute. You’re amazing brother.
Thanks for the video! My grandfather taught me how to change strings a while back and this was a good refresher. Also I personally wind the entire string at the end so that it can be use if a string snaps at the bridge and because I just like the cleaner look vs making a little loop of string. Personal preference I guess 🤷🏽♂️😂
I trust this guy because he can actually play. You never know with some of those other string change videos.
Being able to play doesn’t mean you know how to do handy work on your guitar. He changed his strings wrong. He didn’t add any slack to the strings on the headstock which can mess with the guitars tuning stability
I call the loops at the headstock "flamenco loops" and I use them too. Sometimes they rattle, but it's all good.
Superb video on changing the strings. I’d like to add one little thing if I may… Always cut the excess off at the headstock if you have cats!
Love the movement in your playing---the Soul is evident:)
So, two weeks ago I bought a 1981 Manuel Contreras (unsigned) that featured some nice Brazillian RW, an impeccable spruce top, Fustero tuners with genuine MOP buttons and the unique to Contreras curved fan bracing.
Those gorgeous Fustero tuners needed a little TLC so I removed the strings and tuners and got them cleaned and lubed and when restringing I did my usual routine. I placed masking tape behind the bridge and proceeded to use a two times around knot making sure the end of the string was around the back of the tie block when it emerged from the knot and snugged. And for the first time in years my knot slipped while tuning and the masking tape was not stopping the string whip that happened. I was sick over it, because the guitar had made it over 40 years without a ding in the soundboard. And then it got in my hands and within minutes ..BAM!
Don't get confident in your methods because they've worked on other guitars. Use a three loop knot and tie or melt the end before you start cranking. I was able to fill, smooth and polish the ding and it's OK, but you can still see where it happened as the wood was impacted.
Because of this incident, I'm considering using those little tie blocks. I'd love to hear about anyone's experience with them.
Great video as always Brandon! Please keep making more content, about to support you on Patreon soon as well!
You've always reminded me of someone and I could never articulate too. Today, after a long day of work, a good workout and a bowl of cereal I've finally realized that you remind me of Cilian Murphy. 😂
I was taught to stretch my strings as well! Great tip! Oh, I love the loop trick for saving excess in the back, in case of emergency!
Beautiful playing and great information I’ve been playing for years, but still learned a good deal . Thank you kindly for the sweet tones and soft delivery 🎶☮️🎶💟🎶☯️🎶
Excellent! Thanks Brandon!
Favourite series. Can you make a video about Music theory. Tips and etc
Best channel on youtube
Truly useful how-to video! Thank you! 👍👍
Nice video, Brandon!
Since you said that prefer light strings,(i wouldgently request to you, a video about string tensions and scale lenghts.
Cheers
Another great video, Brandon 🔥
*Thank you my friend. Change string made easier from now.*
Thanks for this video. I've got an ancient Yamaha student model classical guitar that I've been ignoring since a string spontaneously snapped* months ago. Restringing the thing seemed like such a tedious task. Thanks to the information in this video, the guitar is restrung and sounding as good as it can get in almost no time at all.
*Maybe I ruined the snapped fifth string by stretching as I would steel strings.
12-hole system improves the break angle behind the saddle and thus improves the tension of the string on the bridge
When it comes to changing strings, Uros Baric is the man.
Just for the record, it's not "ice ice baby", it's Under Pressure ;) (I still hope you were trolling us there XD). But the rest of the video is pure gold - thank you for the precise and insightful tutorial! By the way Brandon, I've been an absolute fan of your instrument history interviews. I'm into the ukulele lately, still your videos are an excellent way to expand my awareness of other instruments out there. And your lute playing is so badass, it's unbelievable. I wish I had found your channel much earlier. Greetings from Hungary, the land of Bakfark! :)
That thumbnail has a _very_ threatening aura I am and terrified.
"This can happen to YOU"
Me: Literally restringing my guitar at 12am and found this then realized Ive been doing it all wrong!! 😂😂 Thank you for the tips Teacher! ☺️
Don't know if it was intended but: "...you're bound to make a mistake" was a nice pun.
I don't have a guitar...I just find this relaxing
Lovely video - clear instructions and reassuring! Guitar sounds great too. Thanks.
Thank you for sharing ☺️❤️💕
Thanks for some great tips. I am just about to buy my first classical guitar. I have always done as much as I possibly could myself whist maintaining electric guitars, but I’m learning all over again.
I used the Aquila strings on two of my guitars, a Cordoba C10 and a Cordoba Fusion Orchestra and the intonation was not very good. I had the same problem on both. the notes at the 12th fret were clearly flat. I went back to d'addario strings Low tension and now the intonation is the closest to perfection. I wonder if someone else had this problem. Now I got stuck with several string sets that I won't be using. I love your channel Brandon, thanks for all you do.
Hello Brandon :) Nice video!
My J Godoy Classical with double string holes on the bridge came with the strings exiting over the saddle all on the underside (or second hole) relative to how you hold a right handed guitar and the string spacing is correct and plays normally.
What a happy chap 😁👍
best comment ever!
Brandon: it takes me 12 minutes to go through the whole thing
Me: 21 minutes for one string
Thank you sir for making this beautiful informative video
I don’t even have a classical guitar and I still watched this entire thing.
What a demure, sincere subscribe request. I don't clutter up my subscribers, but I like you and the unobtrusive request made me want to lol. I'm helping someone! Yay!
Great video. Thanks
I like taking off all the strings, it gives me a chance to clean my fret board with fretboard oil and make it feel fresh, and clean the dusty areas where it's hard to reach where the strings would normallt be in the way.
Something about the image of Brandon holding a lighter up to the camera with a big smile on his face is terrifying.
Great stuff.
Nice camera work man I can see what your hands are doing perfectly without obstruction
Lol in hindsight I totally agree. Sorry!
I once broke a string and couldn't afford a new set for a while. I just knotted the string back together and had a knot at the second fret of the D string. Not great but better than not having a guitar to play. It also let me put a capo (I'm not a classical player so it's not a sin for me) at fret 3 and play everything I knew in a higher key.
You can get singel strings😉👍
Thanks for some good tips. I really like the double hole system at the bridge. Looks like it makes the angle towards the saddle steeper, and then make more pressure (good for the sound?). That could be the solution for at least two of my older guitars, that I had to file down the saddles on (to make the action lower). Think I'm gonna find the mini drill (Dremel) and double up the holes (I pretend to be a guitar doctor sometimes).
The string manufacturer needs to mark those strings. It would be far too easy to put the wrong string in the wrong place! Great video.
Thanks.
Good one.....thank you. 👍👍👍
Yea, one thing I noticed is that if you pulled the wound strings especially the D string it will surely F up your intonation. It also causes the string to break easily.
12:23-12:34 that actually sounded very cool.
Dear Brandon,
Thanks for this teaching. I was once told to make sure that the neck of the guitar doesn't point toward my face in order to protect a string from lashing my eyes should a string happen to break while stringing a guitar. Does that make sense?
Warmly,
Krsna prema das
I’m scared, yet, the most intrigued I have ever been
plenty of romantic guitars have pegs for the bridge. But you can tie a simple barrel knot in the strings and it works fine.
Great!
Great info, I subbed!! Thx!!
i do the excess string thing on electrics that can be wound that way. 💯. I wind the whole excess. it usually uncoils at the bridge so Ive had most strings last many years
11:45 I learnt that the hard way today. I just got nylon strings to replace the steel strings because the bar chords were too painful. I pre-cut the high e string and it was fine. I then proceeded to pre-cut the b string and I ended up cutting it too short. I tried to put the b string in the tuning peg and winding it but since the excess was too short, it kept popping out. I ended up using the old steel string for the B string and did not pre-cut the rest of the strings. Sad times.
I grabbed my guitar in a stupid way and bended the big E string out of wack :( I feel like an idiot 😅 it’s my first guitar that i got a month or so back so i’m really peeved but hey, here’s to my first try at replacing the strings haha. Thank you so much for the vid! I feel more at ease giving this a try. Wish me luck!😊
ice ice baby - awkward Queen plagiarism. As a boy scout, climber and sailor I have quite different understanding of knots. After 33 years of changing strings I found your video boring, confusing almost annoying - until you came up with the lighter. I do it always like this and it will save your guitar top... You're a Pro, man after all
piece at 18:30 plz
ICE ICE BABY?! NO SIR! That is Queen and David Bowie under pressure.
you're really selling me the idea of buying a classical guitar goddamit!
It is better to go through from the outside going inside when wrapping the short end of the string under itself after coming back up through the headstock. This is because when the string is wound on it will then wind over top of that short end, locking it all in place.
That song at the end sounded like Barrios❤️
Villa Lobos....it's here in Brazil...
Protect the finish by placing a sheet of paper down with blue tape behind the bridge before changing strings.
Brilliant !
Hi Brandon, could you say again what strings you’re using in the video? And why not medium or hard tension gauge? Thank you.
Aquila nylgut. Alabastro low tension set. Low tension makes it easier for left hand slurs and vibrato.
@@brandonacker wow … thank you for your quick response, Brandon. Actually, I’m a student of Marcus … working hard from start. Hope to join your workshop later on.
@@lrk1610 You're welcome and lucky you to study with Marcus! He's a great teacher. See you at one of the workshops :)
for some reason i am unable to see the response to this question! very interested to know what the main differences are!
@@gaetanofrangella d o n o t use high tension strings unless you're into flamenco. it sounds louder and maybe more powerful but man it ruined my fingers. the moment i restringed to normal tension strings i was able to play my favorite pieces normally without having to take a break every 2 minutes. barring is also almost impossible on them my hand would be shaking after Barring for a little bit just of how hard you have to press. im looking forward to get a low tension set because as brandon said it enhances vibrato and i guess my hammer-ons and pull-ups would sound clearer
Easter Bunnys Get Drunk At Easter is how I learnt thr string tunings back in the day.
Mr. Acker,
From your instrument collection video I saw that you are in possession of a beautiful Turkish oud. As a player of the instrument I was wondering if you are planning on making an episode of your Introducing: series on it, going over the tunings like Bolahenk and old fashioned, and the history of the modern instrument, which underwent fascinating changes in the 20th century. You continue to impress me with your skills as a musical ambassador for less-known musical instruments and I would love to see a video on your new oud or the kanun.
Thank you for your nice comment! I did a video about the oud in general but I don't know enough specifically about the Turkish oud to do a video on it yet.
My oud skills haven't improved too much but I hope to find time for the instrument someday!
I never understand knotting or folding things :-D I do this in a different way.
Thank you!