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Classical Guitar Re-Stringing Guide
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Classical Guitar Re-Stringing Guide

The restringing technique used on a classical guitar is absolutely critical for keeping Classical/Spanish guitars well intonated and in tune.

Here you will find the top technique used by experts in the field.

Classical Restringing Guide

Good luck and we wish you all the best with your music!

Adagio Musical Instruments
www.adagioinstruments.com
Attaching the string to the bridge and paying attention to the frayed tail

As with all wound classical guitar strings sets, one end of your wound Adagio Professional Series strings will have a ‘tail’ of about 2 inches of thin and flexible unraveled material. Its recommended you use this end for the headstock/peg winders. Pull it through the peg hole far enough so that the unraveled part is completely through and won't be bearing any weight when the string is tightened (because it will unravel!). If you pull it through you will have perfect intonation and stability.

Take one string from your fresh set and thread it through the front of the bridge with about 3 to 4 inches spare coming out of the back of the bridge. Bring that 3 – 4 inches of string back over the top of the bridge and twist the string under itself to create two to three loops as show in the picture (left). Note that the final loop should finish right at the back/rear edge of your bridge, and not resting on the top part of the bridge. Any excess string can be cut off or tucked under another string.
Attaching to the tuners

At the tuning pegs, thread the tail part of the string though the barrel of the peg. If you have enough of a gap in the peg, you may thread the string twice through the barrel to help prevent slippage. Bring the string over the barrel and down, towards the middle of the guitar, then wrap the excess under the string as it comes up tight from the bridge. Bring the excess back up and under the loop and pull tight. Essentially you are creating a tight knot that prevents the string from slipping before finally winding the string onto the peg.

Traditionally, classical guitarists often just loop the string through the barrel, then back under the string, holding it tight while tuning - this pins the string into place under its own tension as you turn the tuning peg.

Try both methods and see which works best. Be sure that the string does not touch any part of the guitar (or any part of other strings) as it travels between the tuners and the nut.

When your classical guitar is finally tuned up, try and end up with your strings resting on the peg barrel in the straightest line you can with the nut slot. (see picture left)

Once your guitar is completely restrung, don't forget to gently stretch the strings by pulling upward, stretching along the whole length of the string.