When to change them
Change your harmony guitar's strings when they look dull or blackish, sound muffled and lack brilliance, feel rough, or no longer hold their tuning. If you play often and sweat, it will be more frequent. Fresh strings instantly restore brilliance and tuning to your accompaniment.
What you need
A set of acoustic strings of the gauge you use, a string cutter, and, preferably, a string winder. With six strings, the job is quick; you'll be ready in 15 minutes.
One by one, without rushing
Although it's not as delicate on a six-string as on a twelve-string, it's advisable to change them one by one: this way, the neck never suddenly loses tension, and the guitar doesn't 'move.' You remove the old one, put the new one in its place, and then move on to the next one.
The correct winding
Pass the string through the bridge and secure it. Bring it to its tuning peg with a little slack, and always wind downwards and evenly, without overlapping the turns. Good winding accounts for half of tuning stability. Once it's taut, cut off the excess so it doesn't poke you.
Stretch and retune
New strings stretch and therefore go out of tune at first. Gently pull each one with your hand along the neck and retune; repeat this two or three times per string. Always tune by raising to the note. It will stabilize in a short while.
A harmony detail
Since your role is to accompany and keep time, a well-strung and tuned harmony guitar makes a huge difference in the duo: the strumming sounds even, and the base doesn't go out of tune in the middle of a performance. Fresh strings = supportive accompaniment.
How KARMA solves it. Each KARMA series 6-string harmony guitar comes ready and tuned from the factory. When it's time for a change, use acoustic strings of the appropriate gauge; if you want it to retain its factory character, replace them with KARMA strings. Looking for the version for your twelve-string? That uses paired strings and a different method: we cover it in its own article.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change all 6 strings at once?
You can, but it's better to do it one by one: this way, the neck doesn't lose all tension at once, and the guitar remains stable. It takes the same amount of time and works better.
Why does it go out of tune right after changing them?
Because new strings stretch. Gently pull them, retune two or three times, and they will stabilize shortly.
BUILD YOUR DUO WITH KARMA STRINGS
Compartir:
How to Tune Your Docerola in Pairs of Strings, Step by Step.
How to string your 12-string guitar without it becoming a nightmare