When to Change Your Guitar Strings: Signs That It's Time for a Fresh Set

When to Change Your Guitar Strings: Signs That it's Time for a Fresh Set

The most basic form of guitar maintenance is changing the strings. Whether the strings are made of steel, bronze, nylon or catgut, they eventually wear out. You don’t want to leave them on too long and end up with a poor-playing stick — or one that’s suddenly a four-string mid-show because strings keep breaking. On the flip side, you don’t want to blow your annual music budget by Memorial Day because you’re changing strings more often than you need to. In this guide, we’re facing the strange changes of guitar strings and examining when you should put a fresh set on.

How Often Should I Change Guitar Strings?

Like everything related to guitars, the answer depends on many factors. There is no industry standard when it comes to how long guitar strings last, and with so many different string designs and materials, your needs can vary wildly.

However, beginners can follow this string-changing rule of thumb: swap strings every 100 hours of playing or three months (whichever occurs first). The more you play, the more your strings wear out and accumulate grime. This alters the sound and makes them more likely to break. Even if you’re not playing every day, strings can still wear out due to skin oils left on them from your last session, the tension from the guitar or poor air quality. The 100-hour/three-month rule accounts for most of the variables.

From this baseline, you can alter your guitar string change schedule based on your needs. Guitarists who don’t play as much or take really good care of their strings won’t need to change them as often. Conversely, if you play a lot or play aggressively, you’ll need to switch strings frequently. We know some guitarists who change strings before every show so they have the best possible sound! Feel free to experiment — you may even try deliberately leaving a set on for a while so you can truly hear the difference between new and old strings.

When to Replace Guitar Strings

Regardless of how long a guitar string is “supposed” to last, sometimes it doesn’t make it that long for any number of reasons. Here are six signs it’s time to change the strings on your guitar.

1. A string is broken

We’ll start with a self-explanatory situation — if a string breaks, you need to replace it. Not only is it a lot harder to play the songs you want with only five working strings, but the loss of neck tension changes the tuning and intonation on the remaining strings.

2. Your strings have changed color

There’s no mistaking the shiny, beautiful look of brand-new guitar strings. Over time the oils from your skin will tarnish the strings, turning steel to a dull gray color and bronze acoustic strings to dark brown. Strings may also start looking splotchy since some sections are touched more than others. Discoloration and splotchiness are good early indicators of needing a string change.

3. The strings are falling out of tune easily

After the initial “break-in” period, strings will hold their tuning well for a while barring major changes in temperature or humidity, especially steel strings. If it circles back around to where your tuning changes significantly from session to session, even if you’ve kept the guitar in the same conditions, it’s time for a string swap.

4. The tone has gotten dull

Strings are their brightest and snappiest when new, mellowing out once they’re broken in. Some guitar strings hold brightness better than others, but when you play them too long, they’ll end up dull, flat and muted. If your guitar has a dull sound even after maxing out the treble knob, a string change is in order.

5. The strings feel different

Unless you play heavy-gauge strings, new guitar strings should be flexible and smooth. If they start feeling stiff, that means the metals are corroding. Also, grime can start to build up on the surface, making the strings rougher. Both are signs you should change the strings or at least keep a spare set handy.

6. You want to have a different sound

As we’ve discussed before at Strings and Beyond, different string gauges, materials and construction methods change how your guitar sounds and feels. If you’re not satisfied with the tone coming from your guitar (too bright, too dark, etc.), a new set of strings is a simple and inexpensive adjustment.

Ways to Make Guitar Strings Last Longer

Unfortunately, you can’t make your favorite guitar strings last forever. But with proper care, you can squeeze out some extra rehearsals and shows. When you’re done playing, immediately wipe your strings down with a microfiber cloth to remove moisture and dirt. Regularly applying a guitar string cleaner and conditioner gives them further corrosion resistance. Store your guitar in a case if possible to prevent dust and dirt buildup. If you’re keeping it on a stand or rack, wipe the strings off daily even if you don’t play. Many guitarists have switched to coated guitar strings, which have a thin coating that shields against filth and makes the strings easier to clean.

Setup and care for the rest of your guitar is important, too. If your guitar is not set up properly, it will be harder to play, meaning you sweat more and get more crud on the strings. This includes making sure the bridge nut is the right height and the truss rod adjusted to keep the neck straight. Also, when you change the strings, remember to clean the frets and fretboard. If you leave grime on them, it will quickly end up on your new strings and shorten their lifespan.