Changing your instrument’s strings

With so many school systems going to an online/virtual model this fall, nearly all of the routine maintenance of musical instruments will be in the hands of students and their parents. Teachers often take care of small things like tuning the instrument, adjusting the bridge, and when disaster strikes…replacing a broken string!

The truth is, replacing strings is not hard, but there is a procedure that should be followed to make sure it is done correctly, and to make sure that the instrument doesn’t fall apart in the process! I am going to explore changing strings on a violin, but the same basics apply to all four string orchestra instruments.

Know how your instrument is constructed

Many beginners and their parents do not realize that there is no glue holding the bridge up, or the soundpost (inside the instrument) in place. In fact, there isn’t! The entire instrument is held together by the tension of the strings stretched across the top. If all four strings are removed, the bridge will simply fall off the instrument. Worse, with all the tension suddenly gone, the top and back of the instrument will move away from each other, allowing the soundpost inside the instrument to fall. Now you are up a creek: you usually need to take the instrument to a luthier (repair shop) to properly set the soundpost. This mess is easy to avoid: DON’T REMOVE ALL FOUR STRINGS AT THE SAME TIME!

Be prepared

The only equipment you need for this project is a new set of strings. There are no tools required. But, make sure you have the correct strings! Make sure your strings are for the instrument you have. Viola strings will fit on a violin, but it won’t sound right! Also, make sure that you have the correct size strings for your instrument. Finally, see how the strings are packaged. Sometimes they are in individual envelopes that identify the string inside. Other times they are all bundled together, but there is usually a code on the package that tells you which color is which string. Look for it and be prepared!

Study up

Take a moment and note how the strings that are currently on the instrument are wound. You should see that the strings don’t cross from one side of the pegbox to the other, and that the strings are wound neatly around the peg.

Time to start!

I usually start with the “G” string, on the left side as you look at the instrument from the top, scroll facing away from you. Trace the string to the pegbox to see which peg to loosen. (It should be the peg closest to you on the left-hand side.) Turn the peg towards the bridge to loosen the string and unwind the string from the peg. The peg may come out of the hole. That’s OK. Lift the string off of the bridge and slip the ball-end out of the fine-tuner/hole in the tailpiece. That’s it! One string off.

Replacing the string…

As I mentioned above, REPLACE the string you removed BEFORE you remove any more strings. This is critical to keeping the instrument together!!

Take the replacement string out of the envelope and unwind it so it is fully extended. Take the ball-end (so named because there is a little “ball” in a loop at the end of the string!) and carefully slip it into the fork in the fine tuner in the tailpiece. The ball pulling against this fork is what holds the string in place.

Then, pull the string toward the peg box. It’s going to flop around a bit because there is no tension on it yet. That’s OK. If the ball-end slip out as you start winding, just re-insert it. No biggie.

Place the peg into the pegbox, and locate the hole drilled into the peg. (Having a good light here is very helpful, as trying to find a black hole, in a black peg, in the dark pegbox is sometimes challenging!) Insert the string through the hole so that about a ¼” of the string comes out the other side. Then, start winding the string around the peg by turning the peg away from the bridge.

The string should wind tightly around the peg towards the side (not the middle!) of the pegbox. When done, the string should be closer to the side of the pegbox. As you wind, you will need to keep tension on the string with your other hand. As you continue to tighten, make sure that the string crosses the bridge in the groove cut for it. Continue to tighten until there is enough tension that you can tune the string with a tuner. When you reach the desired tension, push the peg firmly into the hole in the pegbox. The peg and the hole are tapered, and this “pushing” action “locks” the peg in place so it won’t turn until you want it to.

Continue with the other three strings

Repeat the above procedure with the other three strings, moving left to right across the instrument and finishing with the “E” string. Again, make sure to change only ONE string at a time! Also, take special care with the “E” string as it is very thin and the most prone to breaking.

Success!!

That’s all there is to it! You have successfully changed your strings! Now get them tuned up, and tune them constantly for the next couple of days. The new strings will stretch, and it will seem like they are ALWAYS flat. As the strings stretch and adjust, this problem will subside.

Now, go practice!

Why does size matter?

I have spent over 20 years in the music industry, and during that time I have worked with countless music educators as they recruit beginners into their band or orchestra programs. One of the biggest differences between string programs and band programs is the size of the instruments. In band programs, it is literally one size fits all. Or more accurately, one size fits most as best as we possibly can when they are in fifth grade! Some students may not be able to play certain instruments at all because of their size!

In the orchestra, instruments come in different sizes to accommodate all different size players. A question I sometimes get is “Does the size of the instrument really make that big of a difference? After all, I have my dad's old violin that he can use, and we don't have to pay to rent another one!”

The short answer is: YES! Correct size is critical when it comes to stringed instruments. With violins and violas instruments range in size from very small to what is typically called full sized. Sizing a child for an instrument is especially important. If the instrument is too large, they will not be able to reach the proper string positions and will have difficulty playing the instrument. If the instrument is too small, their left arm will be folded up tighter than it should be, it will still be difficult to reach the correct positions, and fatigue and discomfort will set in quickly. Both will discourage a smaller player from practicing their instrument. Learning a new instrument is difficult enough already, adding these additional complicating factors just makes it that much more difficult.

“But how do we know what size instrument we need?” parents often ask. This is can be a simple to answer. Your child’s string teacher has the skills to measure your child to make sure that they get the correct size instrument. Often, teachers will hold events at the school, and will measure their child at that time so that when it is time to get their instrument, they already know exactly what size they need.

It is always important to rent your instruments from a reputable music dealer, but especially so with stringed instruments. Most major retailers offer rental programs, and when it comes to stringed instruments, exchange programs as well. This way, your child can rent a smaller instrument that fits them properly, and when it comes time for them to move up to a larger instrument, they can exchange it with no difficulty. This allows your student to have the correct size instrument throughout their career, without tying up unnecessary funds.

But what if you are in a situation where your teacher can't get you measured, and you're nowhere near a music store to measure your instrument properly. Measuring a child for an instrument is something that you can do yourself, if you take your time and make sure that you do it properly. The first step is to determine how long your child's left arm is in inches. Using a yardstick, place one end of the yardstick at your child's neck, and lay it flat against the inside of their arm such that it crosses the center of their palm with their hand outstretched. Note the measurement in inches in the center of their palm.

Then, using the chart below (thanks to Yamaha.com), determine what size violin or Viola your child needs. Assuming that you were measuring your child yourself because you are not near a music store where you can get this done by a professional, you can then order the proper sized instrument. If the number is right on the boundary, it is usually OK to go with the larger of the two sizes, but make sure to check with your teacher!

When your instrument arrives, one of the first things you should do is take the instrument and your child to your child's teacher, so they can check for proper fit. If the fit is not correct, then you can you have a chance to exchange your instrument before classes start.

Measuring properly for cello is a bit more difficult, and a bit more subjective. It is nearly impossible to measure properly without an instrument on hand. Generally, with the student seated in a chair and the instrument in the proper playing position with the peg about halfway out, the pegbox should be just about level with the student's ear. There is obviously some room for error here, and with cellos and basses it is very highly recommended that you work with your private teacher school teacher or music store to get the correct fit.

If your child is just starting out an orchestra, getting a properly sized instrument is something that's just too important to leave to chance . Make sure to work with your teacher and music store to get the properly sized instrument before you start. In that way your student can have the right equipment in hand to maximize their chances of success!

As you continue your internet research, here are some great resources regarding proper instrument sizing:

https://www.mencheymusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2015_violin_sizing_chart-1.pdf

https://www.lashofviolins.com/useful-measurements.htm

https://www.violinist.com/blog/laurie/20138/14944/

https://www.stradviolin.com/rentals/measurings.html