How To Change Your Violin Strings The Right Way

[@LC-th1hy]

Thank you for a thorough walk through of changing strings! It helps for not snapping right away when you want to insert it carefully. ^_^

[@sleepless_160]

I don't play Violin, I play guitar, but I somehow randomly wondered how you violin players go about changing your strings and this is a fantastic video, which I have no use other than entertainment haha.. I just love the techy side of instruments ^^

[@nickelandimed]

This is by far the most detailed restringing video on KZbin, complete with physically showing us not just telling what to do. I played for 10+ years and am starting again after a 20-year hiatus. Thanks for sharing all your tips and insights!

[@Rt-uu4yo]

This bit on tuning after string change and the necessity of straightening bridge was something I wish I knew, when I got my used violin restrung. The violin tune kept going off about a 1/8 note every day for two weeks, and the bridge got warped somewhat. I saw how to straighten the bridge on the recent video, so now I watch my bridge often and fix it if it is needed. Thank you for useful information always.

[@banaabekwegirl5731]

thank you. i just bought a 1/8 violin in a thrift store, in good shape except for the strings. this video and your one on bridges really helped me put it together, my grand nieces will be thrilled, fortunately, the sound post was stable, despite the strings being off and/or completely loose. thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@mscathyaz]

Thank you so much! I am new to a Violin. I was learning to tune the Violin and the first turn of the peg, the G string broke. I went to the music store last night and they wanted me to leave my Violin for 2 weeks. I didn't want to wait that long. I bought the string and watched your video and was able to replace the string. Also, thank you for all the other good tidbits when replacing a string. I will be ordering additional strings and supplies to do it myself. I didn't know the sound post would fall. Glad I watched your video. Will watch your other videos.❤

[@ohnothingspecial]

Just successfully changed my strings for the first time! Thank you for a great informative tutorial. :) Now it's time to break them in!

[@PatriciaDHarden]

Wow, the tip about greasing the E-string fine tuner! Never heard about that, might try that out soon next change I have to switch strings

[@ChrisEbbrsen]

I got.some needle nosed pliers and will be commencing to flatten all my strings. I've done this already with hemostats with gorgeous results but want to use the same procedure as Mr. Grawart. Thank you Sir, it's working and sounding like an orchestral violin! Finally! After 40 years I am getting symphonic sound from my violin shaped object. Many, many tanks! I'm playing Once burned Twice Shy by A. FALTSKOG AND IT SOUNDS GREAT! 😅

[@peterbaxter8151]

I like to use pencil lead for the fine tuner instead of vaseline. It works just as well but doesn’t dry out and clog up the threads over time.

[@colet7645]

This is really a good suggestion, graphite is excellent at filling pores in metal and creating a boundary layer preventing surface on surface contact. We use it in lubrication of gearing for this purpose. Thank you for the suggestion!❤

[@gulmiraparayil9807]

Thank you for sharing this little but important secret

[@peekingundertheblindfold3300]

This is fantastic!! Just got an old violin for $20. From everything I've researched, it looks like good quality and in good shape, except the bridge was leaning and I JUST broke the E string 😂 Thank you so much sir!

[@6co1n]

samee i broke the e string but all the other strings were fine i touched the bridge once and it just fell 💀

[@222eal]

20$?! Only 20$?!

[@MekwokStudio]

Thanks for the most detailed walk-through!

[@josephbingham1255]

Thank you for the educational video. 2:17 Reminds of an old VW cartoon. The VW bug is in the shop. The service manager says to the customer that if he doesn't treat it better they might take it back :) 6:45 90 degrees to Base not the top of the arch as shown in other videos. A good tip.

[@stellajacobson231]

I so needed this!! I've just waited for the instrument maker im using me of to finally come to the same conclusion as me and my previous teacher (bought my viola via him) did last spring, that it was the tail piece that made the buzzing noise ive been hearing. So after some rougher appointments at the luthier it's finally time to change strings😍 so thank you so much for this good step by step guide!

[@allenmiquel]

I'm about to venture into the world of playing this instrument, and doing the best I can checking tutorials for everything I can think of before my new (first) violin arrives. I've watched a few other re-stringing videos and this one is by far the best, even answering questions for a beginner that didn't even occur to me, and answers to possible future trouble-shooting about things I DID wonder about. Thank you very much for this video and taking it slow as well. Been playing guitars for years but it's starting to dawn on me just how different a violin will be without even factoring in the bow. It's exciting!

[@ThomasLecoq-bd7qj]

This has come at a perfect time. My pegs keep coming loose. But I changed the strings to a better set and did NOT wind next to the peg box. My left eye has lost central vision so it's hard for me to judge fine depth. I'll have another go at it. This vision issue also makes it difficult to get the graphite just in the string slot on the bridge, so I have drawn a line on my bridge as I fumbled to graphite the D string slot. Please don't take my violin away Olaf! I love my instrument, and promise to do better. Wish I had a real violin maker or violin luthier somewhere closer than 200 miles.

[@michealt.92]

Great tutorial! I restrung my son’s violin somewhat successfully with tips from this video😂. Lots of golden tips in here from an obvious seasoned master at his craft. Thank you for sharing this tutorial, especially the troubleshooting part! A++

[@customjohnny]

Thank you so so SO much for this valuable info!! Also, thanks for recording with a decent mic, the audio sounds great haha👍🏼

[@rachaelokunade4970]

Thank you Olaf really appreciate it

[@wakingtheworld]

One I will refer you next time. Thanks Olaf. Also I heard that you have to change the set of strings every so often depending on the level you play at and how many hours practice you do. Olaf, could you tell us what would indicate the need to do so. The Hilary Hahn's of this world change strings every month I gather but learners like myself... ?

[@ThevonMusic]

Never thought Arnold Schwarzenegger would help me out tuning my violin. Thanks! ;-)

[@blabla44235]

Thank you for all those advise, it help me.

[@mellissadalby1402]

I love my Piere Lomont violin! Exactly what I was hoping for. I also really like the Flueriel bow better than my Dorfler bow.

[@chrisma3256]

Thank you for the tutorial ❤

[@ronsindric4241]

Am watching this while attempting to re-string a sub 4/4 instrument purchased at a Thrift Shoppe for $5.00 USD. The instrument was amazingly clean, no warping, no cracks but had no bridge and the "E" string missing; so that is where I started. I noticed that when you turned the peg. You rotated CCW which is the same way I wou,d turn when restringing a guitar . Will probably do the same with two other used instruments. Balalaika and Taisho Goto / Nagoya Harp. Would this direction be right for a Shamisen, Sitar, and Santoor ?

[@stuchly1]

Happy to be one of the first people here. The timer is not even over yet. Super excited to see the video. 😂❤

[@WillYounger]

Very informative !! Thank you

[@alphamale068]

Thanks for such a great piece of content - very much appreciate the detail provided!!

[@angelarighi9480]

So helpful!!!

[@abcarlson6319]

Awesome video, thank you Olaf!

[@chrisma3256]

My local luthier is such an idiot, he changed all my strings at the same time and when I said I totally dislike the new ones since they sound horrible on my violin he admitted that the soundpost collapsed... he repositioned it after that, but it still took my teacher to make my violin sound as good as before

[@chrisma3256]

My teacher complained that he didn't put graphit either.

[@SF-ru3lp]

Hi Olaf. Great video. Thank you! Is there a particular order in which to change the strings? Is it G, then D, then A, then E string? G Ire

[@eduardoventura4186]

Thanks!!! I need this videos in my life!, finally

[@path3359]

Really helped a lot, thanks!

[@ezraschwartz5201]

Thank you Olaf! Is it the same for cello? 🙏

[@zapa1pnt]

And bass, as well. They are all set up the same way.

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

Yes, very similar... Straightening a cello bridge is a little bit different because of the gap between the bridge and the fingerboard.

[@zapa1pnt]

When lubricating anything on a wooden instrument, do Not use any lubricant containing Any Bit of silicone. It can make finish touch ups/repairs very difficult to impossible. P.S.: Beeswax would also work, to lube the fine tuners. 😁✌🖖

[@user-vo3hi4fz6e]

Love his shirt.

[@southernflatland]

I'll be honest that I have no experience with violins, but I've learned quite a bit about tuning up guitars. My late father gave me his old electric guitar from back when he was a kid. But for some reason the string bridge was completely missing, and I mean *completely* missing, didn't even have any bolt holes or any such mount points for one. What did I do? I used like 4 Lego plastic parts, no joke. I didn't do this just willy nilly either, I also had Harper's Dictionary of Music plus guitar tuner equipment to dial in the tuning and even intonations! Yes the string bridge area is a right pain, especially when the original bridge is completely missing, but I found that with some due diligence and stupid creativity, it's possible to build and even tune a bridge made entirely of Lego. Anyways, thanks for sharing, I'm sure you know way more than me, but sometimes a redneck just figures out how to make things happen for their garage band buddies.

[@Meatwadlicous]

THANK YOU SO FUCKING MUCH I WAS STRUGGLING BEFORE FINDING THIS VIDEO!!!

[@maxwarfield6699]

Hello, I’m new to all of this. At 1:48 you say to put graphite in the string groove. What is that for? Please let me know. Thank you kindly

[@DarthPotato1123]

It helps keep the tuning stable and easier to tune I believe

[@hannajarvenpaa5079]

Thank You💙💜💖❤️

[@Zarunias]

I have a question: The screw on my bow turns a little bit too hard (maybe because of rosin dust that accumulates with time). What would you use to lubricate it? Vaseline? Bycicle chain oil?

[@KonradTheWizzard]

Oil sounds like a bad idea - it could ruin the varnish. I would take the screw out and clean it with alcohol (as pure as possible, e.g. that bit of disinfectant alcohol that we all still have lying around) - the alcohol dissolves the rosin. Dry it with a paper towel, then give it a few hours to dry on the air. Now put a small dab of vaseline on a paper towel and distribute it all over the screw threads - put only a thin film on the threads, it should not be visible as "clumps" or "smear". Put the screw back into the frog. Done. Note: if when you screw it back into the frog you see vaseline accumulating: take the screw back out and clean away the excess vaseline with a fresh towel, rotate the screw over the towel a bit. The lubricating film should be invisible to the naked eye. Note 2: make sure the alcohol does not touch the wood finish on your bow or violin. It might dissolve it as well, as some finishes are rosin based. [Disclaimer: I'm not a violin player or maker, just a tinkerer, so take my advise with a grain of salt (or vaseline)]

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

I usually put some graphite on the end of the bow where the bow meets the screw... You can also put a small quantity of grease, Vaseline or even graphite on the thread itself... The prerequisite is that the thread has been fitted straight... Be extremely careful if you take the frog off, because if it falls through the hair, it could get tangled up and it's nearly impossible to untangle. If these things don't work... Time to go to the violin maker

[@Anvanho]

Wow, great video!

[@tessahoward6044]

thank you great video 🇬🇧

[@wade4452]

Good luck taking anything from me! Just funning,,, maby 😂. Thanks for the information as usual.

[@gailrivas762]

Thank you Olaf!!

[@angelarighi9480]

Awesome!!!!

[@terrystaggs2537]

Thanks

[@Ekomshiro]

A trick I learned for quickly break in new strings from Thomastik-Infeld kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4W3p4KKi7mdi9k&ab_channel=Thomastik-Infeld

[@wakingtheworld]

That was an entertaining way to show us.... Not that I'll never need to be concert ready in 10 minutes!!

[@sophia4465]

thank you for this video!!!!

[@DBK415]

How high can you tune an E string on full size violin past E?

[@ab-zg8pt]

2:14 - 2:23 lolololol I used to work at a luthier's, and saw the names of strings drawn onto the bridge as well. That is exactly what I felt like doing.

[@danmozartino2864]

Pretty awesome, subscribed!

[@tamcooper7093]

Nice video thank you !

[@colet7645]

Excellent content ❤ you have a dedicated follower out of me 😊

[@2ysur]

Really good. Can you show how the string cylinders nestle in the tailpiece? (still learning names of the parts of the violin) - at 10:46 you show the part. I would like to see the mechanics of that. One is just putting them in their hoping that it stays. Great video. I am now a subscriber.

[@Matt_IsaBird]

Hello, I can’t create an image or video showing you the mechanics. But I have the next best thing. the keyhole shaped area on the tailpiece (looks like a circle with a line at the top) you thread the cylinder bit of the string (aka the ball end) into the circle, then hook it into the dash at the top of the hole making sure that the straight edges of the ball are aligned with the dash (the circular holes in the ball end should be facing perpendicular to the dash (outwards left and right). And you want to make sure the ball is just barely under the tailpiece, not threaded through like a sewing needle, the ball should be touching the underside of the top piece of wood, not all the way through everything, then you slide it upwards into the dash, making a firm hook, and if I feels firm and doesn’t shift or release when pulled on, It’s in the right position. If you have fine tuners, you’ll see putting in the string is pretty straight forward for those. I don’t know if I am of much help but that’s my two cents. 😂 good luck!

[@2ysur]

@@Matt_IsaBird Very helpful. It worked! Thanks so much!🥰

[@Matt_IsaBird]

@@2ysur I hope you have a fun and rewarding violin journey! 🎻

[@KenFullman]

You appear to have a small piece of yellow tube around your E string where it goes across the bridge. (clear to see at 6:12) Yet you make no mention of it in your commentary. Is this a modification you made yourself? Does it come with the strings? Should it be removed from the old string and put on the new?

[@lauralake7430]

I am new to the violin, an adult learner. Can you comment on the fine tuners? My teacher feels that all beginers should use them.

[@dpet7756]

Yes, they should

[@wewatchmovies4446]

Thank you for the instruction! Is that a new zealand accent i hear?

[@yunanchen911]

I have a small question! Recently I bought a set of Evah Pirazzi Gold (viola) And there is a tiny rubber ring that comes with each string in the package. What are those??? And how to use them?

[@brimusic33]

Place those on the bridge

[@srinitaaigaura]

Those are string savers. They prevent damage to both the string and the bridge where they meet. They are supposed to be on the groove.

[@jonathanfelso]

Can you please teach me everything from now on?

[@hunterblakely87]

Noooo you can't have a violin if you're going to draw lines all over it! 😂

[@angelafoxmusic7265]

Oh yes you can! 😊 It sounds just as marvellous...

[@auroraborealis6009]

We used to put chalk on our pegs in high school

[@charlenestevens1860]

You didn't cover the angle of the pegs! They have to be right for easy tuning. It involves cutting the string after marking it so the peg is at the right angle when the string is tuned to it's pitch.

[@westernwagal9493]

My violin A string keeps snapping every time. it will not let me move the peg anymore and then it snaps

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

It looks like you need to get your pegs looked at by a violin maker. It sounds like they don't fit properly. Maybe check out my video on pegs

[@westernwagal9493]

Will do! thank you! Do you think higher quality strings could help too? @@AskOlaftheViolinmaker

[@nickiemcnichols5397]

@@westernwagal9493did you get this remedied? How please.

[@Edwardruffy0304]

Jokes on you i havent changed my strings after 1 year

[@hannaq9691]

@ask olaf the Violinmaker i need help with mt violin

[@bobbiecat7139]

Stupid question: Could they make pegs out of material that does not slip???? (Obviously I am not violinist lol)

[@KonradTheWizzard]

It has to slip somewhat otherwise you won't be able to turn the peg - which you need to tune the violin string (hint: metal stretches under force, hence strings slowly de-tune). On the other hand it has to have just enough friction to not slip and go out of tune fast while you play. This is a very delicate balance. The kind of hardwood that the pegs seem to be made of is very close to this balance point and needs only very little adjustment (hence peg paste). Most other materials will be too slippery (most plastic, metal) or too sticky (softwood, plastic with grooves). In short: no you can't make them out of a material that does not slip, because then you would not be able to tune. It would however be possible to use guitar tuners, which are far easier to use and which do not slip because of the way the mechanism works (this would also make the fine tuners unnecessary). But most violin players seem to find them ugly for some inexplicable reason. Dare I call that vanity? Maybe not, I don't want to anger them... 😁

[@bobbiecat7139]

@@KonradTheWizzard Thank you. Now you know why, in playing the piano, I never got beyond Schumann's "The Happy Farmer." A musician I am not, but I love learning about and hearing people who are. Thanks again 🙄

[@KonradTheWizzard]

@@bobbiecat7139 That's about as far as I got with the piano as well, that was a long long time ago. I'm not a musician either, I just tinker a lot and sometimes have to solve similar problems. That's why I watch Olaf's videos almost religiously - it's enlightening to watch professionals at work.

[@bobbiecat7139]

@@KonradTheWizzard So if you listen to Olaf, thenTwoSet Violin must be standing near by lol

[@wakingtheworld]

@@bobbiecat7139 It's through TwoSet that I'm here (and was inspired to take up the violin) but Olaf gives me the knowledge about how a violin is constructed, how to look after it, what to look for when buying one, and much more... I'm still renting btw. So the lads haven't inspired you yet then??? 😉

[@rizunify]

You can grease pegs with a piece of chalk if you don't have a 20$ special peg grease.

[@AskOlaftheViolinmaker]

@@rizunify just chalk doesn't work. It just makes the pegs stick and nearly impossible to turn... Pegpaste uses graphite and a chalky powder that creates a balance between being slippery and holding firm. Combine that with well fitted pegs and putting the strings on correctly and you have smoothly turning pegs that3hold well but don't stick.

[@chrisma3256]

I'm changing the tailpiece for my kid's violin, so I need to take them all down 🙃

[@kenkeisler2235]

You should of mentioned witch way to turn the peg clockwise or counter clockwise, you make a video on how to change a string but don't inform the person on the correct peg twist 🤔

[@shangyien]

Looks like we use the same strings.

[@neosharkey7401]

Huh maybe I should have watched the guide before changing the strings and making a lot of problems for myself.

[@miemora5920]

I'VE HAD TO REMOVE AND ADD THE STINGS 10 TIMESZ NOW AND IM ABOUT TO HAVE A MENTAL BREAKDOWN ILØSDKVUJHB

[@marrowofdoom4733]

I need to take my poor violin to an expert for a long-overdue full service... 😬

[@derlissi9754]

:^) wo schaust Du immer hin, wenn Du nicht in die Kamera schaust?

[@fenixfp40]

Why don’t Violins have machine head tuners like guitars? Surely it would be easier and better. Please don’t tell me it would ruin the sound as I just don’t believe that.

[@fasteddie8782]

They do have machine tuners for the fiddle..I've seen them in some catalog..it is a bitch tuning up a fiddle..wreaks havoc on hands..I need peg paste..!

[@thegreatsiberianitch]

🤷‍♂️

[@mkdijkstra4855]

2:15 hilarious

[@mas3ymd]

Is your accent Australian or South African?

[@alphamale068]

Thanks