Steps on How to String a Nylon Classical Guitar

Steps on How to String a Nylon Classical Guitar

Putting on a string in either nylon or steel string guitars may require intricate knotting procedures. For the majority of people changing classical nylon string guitars, you likely have worn-out strings on your instrument and want to replace them with new ones.

You’ll need a few tools to make the task much easier before we show you how to string a nylon guitar. A string cutter, winder, polishing cloth, guitar cleaner, and lemon oil are necessary. The instructions in this post will walk you through the two basic knot styles you’ll need to master to safely attach the strings to your classical guitars.

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What Is a Nylon String Guitar?

Nylon string guitars are a type of guitar that uses nylon strings instead of metal strings. They are typically used for classical and flamenco guitars and can also be used for other genres or music. Nylon string guitars have a softer, mellow sound than metal string guitars and are often easier to play for beginners.

These guitars can be acoustic or electric and come in various sizes and shapes. Whether a beginner is looking for an easy-to-play guitar or a seasoned musician searching for a unique sound, a nylon string guitar may be the perfect option.

Can Nylon Strings Be Used on an Acoustic Guitar With Steel Strings?

YES, you can! Many guitar players do this for several reasons. Nylon strings are typically much easier on the fingers than steel strings, so they’re a good choice for beginners or players with sensitive hands. They also produce a softer, gentler sound that some players prefer.

On the downside, nylon strings can be more difficult to tune than steel strings, which may not hold their tuning. If you’re considering putting nylon strings on your steel-string guitar, it’s best to talk to a qualified guitar technician to ensure it’s a good idea for your particular instrument.

How to Change Classical Guitar Strings Using Nylon

Attach the classical guitar strings to the bridge.

The bridge is the portion of your guitar that secures the classical guitar strings to the body. Securing strings to the bridge is as simple as tying a knot to keep them in place. The knots on the bass and treble sides are slightly different when changing classical guitar strings. Therefore let’s look at them separately.

Changing the Classical Guitar’s Bottom Side Strings

Remember that the classical bass strings’ E, A, and D strings are thicker and don’t require as many wraps to secure them.

  • Thread the string of the classical guitar through the bridge.
    Ensure the windings on the side you’re tying have reached the string’s end. You should use the end of the classical guitar string with the fewest string winds for the tuning post. To depart toward the lower bout, pass the string through the side nearest to the soundhole. Give yourself an extra 2 inches of a string, so you have enough to attach it to the bridge safely.
  • Make a loop.
    Wrap the right side of the classical guitar string underneath the string as you pull it up above the bridge.
  • Put the string’s tail into the loop you made behind the bridge.
    Make sure the tail of the classical guitar string rests on the rear of the bridge and not on top of it to prevent unnecessary bridge wear when you tighten the wrap.

Altering the Classical Guitar’s Treble Strings

Remember that the G, B, and high E classical treble strings require more wraps than the bass side. Be patient because getting this one is trickier than getting the bass side. Once you’ve changed the strings on a classical guitar a few times, you’ll get the hang of it.

Thread the string through the bridge

The classical guitar string should be slid through the soundhole side and out the lower bout. Give yourself at least 2 to 3 additional inches of the string, so you have enough tail to firmly tie it to the bridge.

Wrap the string

Wrap the left side of the string around it after pulling it above the bridge. You should wrap the end of the string over and under the upper section of the string that is lying across the bridge after it leaves the right side of the string.

Make a second over and a wrap

Go over and under the string once more in step two. But this time, be sure you route the string’s end through the loop you made under the bridge.

Tighten the wrapping

As you tighten the string to secure the wrap, ensure the tail is resting on the back of the Bridge rather than the top, preventing unnecessary bridge wear.

Securing the  Classical Guitar String Onto the Tuners

Securing the strings to the bridge is half the battle when changing classical guitar strings. Let’s now look at how to tighten your strings and bring them to pitch, then fasten them to the tuners.

Tie the string to the tuning post

How to bind classical guitar strings is a common question. You may accomplish this quickly by threading the string through the post hole, looping it around the post, and making a loop. The next step is to pass the string’s end through the loop and tighten the knot.

Set the pitch on the string

Now that the nylon guitar string is attached to the tuning post, you can use a string winder to bring it to pitch. You can tune these up by hand if you enjoy torturing people, but we must warn you: nylon strings will stretch a lot.

Additionally, be sure to tighten the tail end of the string as you wind it to secure the knot to the post and prevent it from unraveling. Keep an eye out for unraveling the wraps you completed at the bridge. Using your string cutters, trim any extra string after tuning the classical guitar.

Wrap Up

See how simple is it to add new strings? If you’re still unsure about how to do this, take your guitar to a professional luthier for help.

Now that you know all about nylon string classical guitars, it’s time to give one a try! Follow these simple steps to string a nylon classical guitar and see what the fuss is all about.