How (and When) to Replace a String Heidi Muller

When you begin to play the mountain dulcimer, you may find changing your strings difficult. In fact, some people are terrified of this. But it is nothing to be afraid of. After changing your strings two or three times, you will find it easy. Here's how:

1. Remove the broken string entirely. If you're changing a string that has not broken, first unwind the tuning peg to loosen the string, unhook the loop or ball end, and then gently pull the remainder out away from the peg, turning the peg to help it along.

2. Hook the loop end or ball end of the new string over its pin and run it up over the bridge and fretboard, settling it into the proper slot on the bridge. Pull it up taut towards the peghead and rest your right arm on it to prevent it from detaching at the bottom.

3. Place your right hand sideways across the fretboard, run the loose end of the string up over your hand between the palm and thumb, so it bows up about 4" above the fretboard. This will give it enough slack to allow the string to turn around the tuning peg three or four times. Keep your arm on the fretboard and guide the string with your right hand.

4. Insert the end through the hole in the tuning peg with your left hand. Let the tail hang out freely. Whatever is leftover can be snipped off later, you don't have to wind all of it around the peg. Start to turn the tuning key with your left hand and keep turning until the string winds around once and catches itself. You will need to put tension on the string, pulling it back toward yourself with your right hand to wind it neatly. You may wish to wrap the tail of the string under the first coil to help anchor it, though strings usually hold without slipping if wrapped tightly at least three times around the pin. Continue turning until the string lowers over your hand. Tighten it while guiding it into its slot on the nut. Continue turning until the string lowers over your hand and tighten it while guiding it into its slot on the nut. When it pulls taut you may remove your arm and proceed to tune it up to pitch.

5. With wire cutters, snip the end of the string about a quarter inch from the tuning peg. You might also want to bend the end inward for safety's sake.

"When," you may ask, "should I change my strings?" Strings usually last for weeks or months, depending on how often you play, how dirty they become, and how much you vary your tunings. New strings ring out brightly and sustain their tone. When strings go "dead", there is a noticeable dullness to their sound and a lack of sustain with volume often dropping off quickly on slides, hammer-ons, and pull-offs.

To keep your strings clean, play with clean hands and wipe the strings with a soft, dry cloth after playing. This removes skin oils and perspiration and helps to lengthen the life of the strings.

Expect your new strings to go out of tune as they stretch. This will happen continually over the next few hours or days after you change strings. A way to hasten the process is to tune up to pitch, then take the string and pull it up from the fretboard to stretch it, tugging it gently and firmly but not snapping it. It will drop out of tune. Tune it up again and repeat the process until it holds its pitch. Play for five or ten minutes, checking your tuning, and the strings should settle in and stay in tune.

Heidi Muller is a musician and performer living in Seattle, Washington. Do you have comments or questions about her article? Contact Ms. Muller directly by e-mail. To learn more about her, see the Contributors section of Sweet Music Index.