How to Change Strings on an Acoustic Guitar Without Pins

Removing Old Strings

Turn the tuning peg of the low E string until the string is loose. Some players believe that removing all the strings at once will relieve the neck of strings tension and may harm the neck in some way. For convenience, this guide will change the strings one at a time starting with the thickest (low E) string. If you have a string winder, it allows you to wind and unwind the tuning pegs quickly and with little effort.

Unwind the string and pull it from the hole in the tuning peg post.

Shove the string out of the bridge until the ball-end is exposed and can be removed. Then remove the string from the bridge.

Adding New Strings

Put the plain, non-ball end of the new string and slide it through the bridge hole. Pull the string through until the ball end is fully seated.

Insert the string through the hole in the tuning peg. Pull the string all the way through the tuning peg until it is taut, then give it enough slack so that the string will be able to wrap about four times around the string post.

Turn the tuning peg in the proper direction to tighten the string. The first wrap of the string should be above the loose end of the string.

Tune the string to pitch. For the beginners it is best to use an electronic guitar tuner.

Cut the excess string with a pair of wire cutters. Be careful not to cut the string too short or the string will come loose.

Repeat all steps above for the remaining strings.