How to Change Your Violin Strings (Part 1)

[@RedDesertViolin]

I"m really glad it helped! There are alot of demos out there, but none of them explain the difference between changing the E string versus the G string, etc. Thanks for your comment.

[@fiddlefaddle1]

You're very welcome. I enjoy your videos and learning quite a bit from them. After forty years, I'm back to learning violin and enjoying a lot.

[@RedDesertViolin]

You are so welcome! I'm glad to have been able to help!

[@edwells535]

You are such a great teacher...as a good teacher does you K.I.S.S. "Keep-It-Simple-Stupid" so the student learns. The role of the teacher is to teach, not to impress the student how smart the teacher is....I appreciate that attitude.

[@AnNeLaNdOnTheseAreTheTimes]

I've just bought a violin, and I'm pretty much on my own now trying to learn how to play. I'm finding it quite hard just getting it in tune and ready to play x) My A string just snapped , as I was trying to tune it, so this video was pretty much heavensent lol as I have no idea what i'm doing. Thank you for this very excellent video - you have a lot of really great tips that have been really helpful to me:) I'm hoping to get ready to get the first sound out of my violin:) Anne

[@RedDesertViolin]

Great question! For some reason, winding your string under the peg intead of over makes it so your pegs slip. This also causes more stress on the string at the nut, and your string will tend to break there. It's not the worst thing you could do wrong. The worst thing you could do wrong, is to wind the string toward the center of the peg box, instead of toward the peg handle. This places a pull on the peg that makes it impossible to remain wedged in place, and your pegs will NEVER stay in place

[@5150DonutCity]

Nice video, very informative. Thanks for taking the time to make it.

[@SteppenwolfHarryHall]

I found this very helpful and clear. Out of interest, what happens if you loop the string under the peg, turning the peg towards rather than away from the violin? You said this should be avoided but I wonder why.

[@johnericsantiago28]

i have a problem with my bridge it keeps on falling and i fixed it to straight but when i tighten the strings...its not working..what should i do?? please help me... (i loosen the string and fix the bridge ... then when im tighting it its not working..then suddenly i break my string =(( )

[@karyengvalderrama3898]

Thank you for the very clear instructions.

[@RedDesertViolin]

Kar Yeng Valderrama Thank you for your patience with the long video! I LOVE giving all the details!

[@RedDesertViolin]

@edwells535 Oh yes, if the sound post falls, you pretty much need a professional to get it back into the exact right spot. (not too expensive....unless you live 3 hours from a luthier!!!) Thanks for the reminder! --Lora

[@Zxouf873]

Applause for your dedication ♥️ i changed my strings today and i always find it stressful.. especially with the clicking sounds and the amount of time of tuning..

[@RedDesertViolin]

Yes, it's tricky at first. But then it's easy. I've broken my share of strings while learning!

[@RedDesertViolin]

Well, if the screw itself isn't crooked, then I don't see a problem, although I'm not sure what part you are saying is crooked. If you are able to tune without fine tuners, I say go for it, but most beginners need the fine tuners until they get better at using pegs. You could try removing them, it's no big deal, and if you find that you need the tuners back, you can buy 3 new ones for under $12 and re-install them. I can help you if you have to do that. Good luck! --L

[@RedDesertViolin]

Well, it's a month later, and I'm still sniffling!!! I think the cold morphed into allergies. There's always something blooming in the desert! You'd never guess it looking at desolate dirt....but man, pollen is high out here! Thanks for the nice words!

[@RedDesertViolin]

Yes, you can ignore your fine tuners and just use the pegs. Better yet, you can easily remove the tuners....they screw on and off with a screw just below the tuning screw. (it's a little nut, really) But that means you have to loosen your strings, do it one at a time. Yes, if the tuning screws sit crooked, they are crossing the threads, and will strip out. It is a common problem, and yours are probably pretty much stripped. I'd take em off! --L

[@edwells535]

I just spent two hours setting the soundpost in a new violin.....when changing strings KEEP THE PRESSURE ON THE SOUNDPOST as you mentioned by changing one string at a time. Setting the soundpost is close to brain surgery!!

[@1430sl]

Hi! how often you have to change strings? symptoms are noticed that you do think that changing strings is necessary? Thank you!

[@milena6009]

Every 6 months i think. Changing is necessary, playing with old strings is awful to listen to.

[@1430sl]

Thanzs! :)

[@RedDesertViolin]

Hey 1430sl, to add to Coconut Cannon's reply, some of the tell-tale signs that you need to change your strings are: slugglish slow response, muddy sound, inability to play 5ths in tune, and a twangy E string. (E strings must be changed much quicker than the other strings) To be honest, with the price of strings, I stretch a set to last 6 months, but that is with LOTS of playing. My students who play much less, I tell them to wait 9 months, or put a new A and E on at 6 months, keeping the old D and G. Some people rebuke the idea of putting a new string on an old set, but once it breaks in, it's fine, UNLESS the D and G are truly spent....then obviously, they must be replaced.

[@1430sl]

Red Desert Violin Thanzs! ;)

[@RedDesertViolin]

You are welcome! :-)

[@fiddlefaddle1]

Someone has the sniffles. I was going to say, hope you're feeling better, then I remembered when this was posted. Oh, what the heck, "Hope you're feeling better"!

[@RedDesertViolin]

Anne-- Good luck to you! I'm impressed that you are brave enough to just go for it! Check out "Professor V" channel. His teaching is very helpful for beginners too. --Lora