Take a coin and roll it along the string to curl the tails, similar to the way you would curl a ribbon. That way you don’t risk getting poked by the sharp string ends.
If there’s nowhere clean or safe to hold the pin and you don’t have any pockets, hold it between your lips – but take care not to bite it.
The ball end portion of the string and the broken end of the string should now be attached together. You don’t need to twist the string more than 3 or 4 times, just enough to make sure they stay attached.
It can help to note how much of the string you twisted around the ball end, so you know how much slack you need. However, if you have plenty of string at the top of your guitar, you shouldn’t have any problems.
If the bridge pin doesn’t snap into place immediately, place your thumb on it to keep it from popping out until you run the string back up through the tuning post. It should snap into place when you bring the string back to the correct tension.
If you still have a longer string tail at the machine head of your guitar, curl the end under when you have a chance.
Coil the pieces of the broken string before disposing of them, so the sharp ends aren’t exposed. They could tear a garbage bag or poke someone.
Tug on the string a little to make sure the bridge pin is set.
You should be able to pull the string about 5 inches (13 cm) away from your guitar before winding.
Watch the string winding over the post as you turn the tuning peg. Go slow so that the string winds neatly and doesn’t cross itself. An overlapping wind could cause the string to fall out of tune more frequently.
After changing a string, you’ll likely need to tune your other strings as well. They may have lost tension when you removed the broken string.
After you stretch the string, you’ll need to retune it. You may want to go through the process again.
If you don’t want to leave the ends on, you can trim them off with wire cutters.
You can typically sand down a sharp edge on your own, without having to take your guitar to a repair shop. However, if you lack confidence making this kind of repair on your own, you’re probably better off letting an expert take care of it.
For example, most string manufacturers make strings specifically designed for Nashville tuning. The string package will indicate which tunings the strings are appropriate for. You can also ask a staff member at a music store to help you find the best strings for the tuning you want to use.
Over time, this dirt can corrode strings, causing them to snap. This is your likely culprit if your strings break where you play frequently, and sharp frets aren’t the issue.
A staff member at your local music store can help you match your guitar pick to your strings. You want something with enough weight to strum effectively and produce the sound you want, but not so much that it causes excessive wear to your strings.
Thinner strings tend to wear down more quickly, so you may find you need to change them more frequently.
Repeat the stretching process several times before you start playing your guitar. Ideally, you should stretch them until you are able to tug at the stings without them going out of tune.
