When do you change ukulele strings

Some of my favorite models:. Remember that new nylon strings stretch quite a bit and the knot will need to cinch into place. We find tie-bar bridges allow strings to break in more quickly, while slotted bridges typically require more time for the strings to stretch as the ball-end knot can take longer before it settles. For more information on how to quickly get your new strings to settle in, check out How to Break in New Ukulele Strings.

Sam Marchuk is an Education Consultant for West Music specializing in folk instruments and curriculum for the elementary classroom. He has been playing ukulele since and is an avid collector of vintage and contemporary ukulele models. As an Education Consultant, Sam assists with the selection and acquisition of instruments and curriculum with teachers across the U. He enjoys matching up players of all skill levels and classroom teachers with the right ukulele to fit their personality, style, and budget.

Sam has demonstrated the potential of the of the ukulele at numerous state and national music education conferences, helped with the startup of ukulele programs across the U. Your explanation is clearer than most; you might even show views of both right side and left side strings inserted at the headstock. Thanks for mentioning Strathmore Ukulele Summit. I am happy to know about it and planning to share the info.

It is a rather exciting event — hoping to go this year or next. Search for:. Login Wish list. Call us Customer service Login. Guitar Strings vs. Ukulele Strings Guitar and Ukulele string require different care and maintenance as they are made from different materials and produce different sounds.

When to Change Strings The ukulele gets a bad rap as beginners can trouble keeping it in tune. Shop for Aquila Ukulele Strings. Changing Strings on a Tie-Bar or String Through Bridge The tie-bar bridge has a hole bored through it so the string can be inserted into and then looped back around itself and secured with a knot. Step 1: Insert string into bridge. Step 2: Leave enough excess for knot.

Step 3: Bring end of string over. Step 4: Tuck end of string under. Step 5: Loop string over. Many thanks for your advice and insights. JackLuis New member. Joined Aug 19, Messages 1, Points 0. I change strings to try them. I don't think I have ever worn out a set i the 2 years I've been playing uke. I have one Tenor that has had the same stings for at least ten months. They are Fremont Blacklines and I like them, but I may change them out , just because I can afford a new set, or because I have lots of sets I've removed.

I'm debating that now. I don't consider changing stings to be a major job though. I'm trying a set of GHS Bari-tenors now and waiting for them to settle down before I pronounce judgement. Rllink Active member. Joined Mar 14, Messages 4, Points At first I thought that this thread was about wearing out strings. I was going to say that I used to change them more often than I do now. Now I change them when I feel like it, and I haven't felt like it for a long time. But then I got to thinking that maybe it was how often I change brands and types strings, and for me that would be never.

I've been using Aquila Nylgut strings since my first uke, and I've never used anything else. Last edited: Dec 10, Down Up Dick Active member. Joined Apr 1, Messages 3, Points I agree with Rllink wholeheartedly. I also use only Aquila Nylguts, however I did stop using the reds. I usta keep track of when I'd changed 'em, but I don't any more.

If and when I get to where my Uke music sounds acceptable, maybe I'll start experimenting with other strings. Down Up Dick said:. Click to expand Well I for one, don't care for Aquila Nylguts. To me they sound brash and I prefer fluorocarbons or what ever PhDs are made of. I do like to sound of Aquila Reds but can't get them to last more than a couple of weeks.

However that's what keeps the world turning I guess. Get it snug around the base of the bridge, then wrap the excess under the string once, then twice. This keeps the string from slipping. Pull it tightly into place so the string is now anchored. I like to wind the string around the peg three times—more than that might cause the peg to get messy and can interfere with tuning, while fewer turns might be a little less secure.

Feed the string through the hole until the crimp is through the peg hole above. A string winder can help speed up the process, but the process is the same with or without one. Likewise, the string and tone you prefer is what is important. So you should feel free to experiment with different strings and find what works best for you. There is one caveat to this, however: the diameter of ukulele strings can vary considerably, and you should check with your builder or dealer to make sure that the slots in your nut the small piece of material between the fingerboard and headstock through which the strings pass will accommodate the strings you are going to use.

Each of these types of strings can vary in terms of thickness, tension, brightness, sustain, attack, and feel. They tend to have a warmer tone and a smooth feel. Fluorocarbon, which is used by Worth strings , is the most dense other than wound metal , so strings made from it are the smallest in diameter.

They have a smooth feel and, to my ear, a very balanced tone. This tension, combined with the properties of Nylgut, tends to deliver a brighter tone. Wound strings are often used for a low-G tuning, although an unwound version is available in both Nylgut and fluorocarbon.

And, just to confuse matters, some people use a wound C string. The wound strings have smaller diameters than their unwound counterparts, and they tend to have more volume, presence, and sustain. It is likely that they have done extensive string experimentation on their instruments and have selected the strings that they believe perform the best.

There are different types of bridges, but by far the most popular is the tiethrough design, which we will focus on here.