On changing guitar strings

Hermus

I decided to change the strings on my acoustic guitar about a week ago. Everything was going fine until the third (D) string snapped while I was trying to get it tuned. So, I tried putting the old string back on, and it snapped too. I just got a new pack of strings and the same thing happened. I've changed strings on this guitar many a time, but I've only had them snap on me like once or twice. Anyway, can anyone help me out? I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong here.

DrFrylock

Did they both snap in the same place? Is there something sharp at the snapping point? That can happen. Otherwise, make sure you're only tuning up to D, and not accidentally tuning up way higher. Maybe your other strings are off? Are you using a little electronic tuner or computer tuner program?

DirtyDirtyVagrant

It may just be the way you're winding it through the tuning peg (or whatever it's actually called). I doubt that you accidentally adjusted your bridge.

My money's on freakish bad luck. Also try using lighter strings.

Hermus

Yeah, they all snapped up by the tuning peg. There doesn't appear to be anything sharp where they broke, and I don't think the other strings are off. Maybe I didn't put it through the tuning peg correctly...I did it the same as I always have though. I don't want to try putting another string on and risk breaking it until I can figure out what I'm doing wrong.

SatanIsMyMotor

Are you leaving slack in your string before turning the machine heads? It sounds to me like you aren't.

Monoxide

SatanIsMyMotor wrote: »

Are you leaving slack in your string before turning the machine heads? It sounds to me like you aren't.

That was my first thought too.

Also, how are you tuning it? Most electronic tuners can't distinguish between octaves. Make sure you're getting to D by playing it open against the fifth fret of the A string so you aren't tuning up to the next octave without realizing it.

wasted pixels

Monoxide wrote: »

SatanIsMyMotor wrote: »

Are you leaving slack in your string before turning the machine heads? It sounds to me like you aren't.

That was my first thought too.

Thirding this. When you start turning the tuner, there should be a couple of inches of slack in your string -- in other words, after your first turn of the tuner, you should be able to EASILY lift the string two or three inches up from the fretboard, it should be really loose. As you wind it, that slack will be pulled out, and the tension will be distributed gradually across the entire string.

Hermus

Oh damn, I've been pulling the string tight before turning the heads. That is probably the problem. I was never really shown how to change guitar strings-I just sort of did it on my own. Thanks for the advice.

Mertzy

Are you winding them in or out?

Hermus

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by "in or out." I'm clearly still a novice at guitar playing. I'll probably try putting a new D string on tomorrow.

SatanIsMyMotor

He means you should be threading the string through the tuning peg from the inside - out.
Also, while you're turning the pegs keep the string held down on the headstock. This will cause it to wind the proper way.

musanman

Also somebody told me that when you change strings, leave the slack and stretch it out with your hand...

like get it turned through the peg a couple times and give it some tugging

Crashtard

You can tug the strings a little, but you don't want it left "slack" when you're doing it. You want to get the strings tuned the the correct octave. Once you have the strings tuned pull up on them one at a time and stretch them a little bit and then re-tune them. This helps keep the guitar in tune better when you put new strings on.

Seattle Thread

Make sure to wrap the string around the peg a few times before threading it through the hole. Doing so will give it the necessary slack to adjust without breaking.