Change the Strings on a Violin or Fiddle

Maybe you've broken a string on your violin or fiddle while tuning. Maybe your old strings just aren't sounding right. For whatever reason, you need to change the strings on your violin or fiddle. As long as you know the right method, changing the strings on your instrument can be simple.

Steps

  1. Remove the old string. Loosen it by twisting its tuning peg in the appropriate direction, and pull the string out of the hole in the tuning peg. Then unhook the other end from the fine tuner. If there is no fine tuner, unhook it from its hole in the tailpiece. Only take one string off at a time because if you don't then your bridge, tail piece, and sound post can fall off.
  2. Install the new string. Insert the ball-less end of the string into the hole in the tuning peg, and push it all the way through, so that about {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} of it sticks out the other side. Bend this end back so that the string does not come out of the hole easily. Place the ball end of the string into its fine tuner or the hole in the tailpiece.
  3. Make sure the string is in the proper notches in the bridge and the nut, and begin to tighten the string with the tuning peg. Tighten it until it is approximately at the pitch it should be.
  4. Do this for the rest of the strings. It is best to wait a day before changing the next string.
  5. Continually check the bridge! Since you will be tightening the new strings a lot with the tuning pegs, your bridge will start to lean toward the fingerboard. Just straighten it out by gently pulling the top toward the tailpiece.
  6. Tune the new strings.
  7. Stretch the strings. After you have tuned your new strings, stretch them back and forth rapidly and vigorously (be careful when stretching them if they are not dominant strings). Then, tune them again. You should notice that they have gone flat. This is because they have stretched. Repeat this process until they will not stretch anymore. This will make your instrument stay in tune much better.
  8. Test your new strings!



Tips

  • Only do one string at a time. If you do this, it is very hard to mess up, because you will be able to see how the old string was installed. Also, removing all of the strings at once may cause the sound post to fall (it is held in place by the pressure from the strings), which can seriously damage the instrument. Changing more than one string in a day can also be bad for the violin.
  • The bridge of the violin is held in place by the strings as well. If you take all the strings off at once the bridge will fall.
  • If the pegs won't stay in place, put the of a wooden no. 2 pencil on the peg and the hole of that peg. The lead prevents the peg from sliding while you are tuning.

Warnings

  • If the string is tightened too much, it may break and shoot in your face. Be careful, as strings are notorious for leaving nasty welts on the body.

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