Important guitar question:?

Question

i tried changing my strings today...i totally messed up on the treble strings...so right now, i dont have a high e string (lightest string) on my guitar.

im not gonna be able to put one on for about three days or so....b/c i need to find someone to change my strings first.

is it harmful to leave that high e string off of the neck? im guessing its not as bad as having all of the strings off. by the way..could someone recommend a good video/dvd to buy that shows how to change strings?

Answer 1

Changing strings is not the mystery that everyone makes it to be. It's really very simple. It takes some time and patience, so block out about an half hour to do it properly.
You will need:

Needle nose pliers
Tuner winder
a stable, safe surface

First, you want to separate the strings in this way:

1. Low E&G
2. A&B
3. D&High E

Start with your first set, lowest first. (The reason for this separation is that it eases the tension on the strings across the neck.) As you pull the string through the hole of the tuner, a good rule of thumb for a cutting point is to stretch out the strings to it's extended length a cut just above the distance between two tuners.
I don't have space to go into more detail, but another thing I wanted to suggest is that when to get to the thiner, higher strings, don't be afraid to use a little more pressure on the string to make sure it winds correctly around the tuner, i.e. pulling on the string to increase some necessary tension.
For more info, go to:
http://www.fretnotguitarrepair.com/stringing.htm

Answer 2

Howdy,
First if this is an acoustic guitar one string won't hurt it short term
Second, if you don't have an electronic tuner get one.
Go to a good guitar shop and ask for help. There is no greater
issue with playing guitar than TUNING. When you put your
strings on it is real easy to go past the e on that high string.
The tuner will help you ease up to the note. Also you can
press down on the strings and feel the tension. When you have it
right next time, just try pushing down and get a feel for the proper tension. I wish I knew of a good DVD for that but perhaps
the guitar store can help.
We have a rule we live by...Tune it Or Die!
Keep going! It is SO worth the effort!

Answer 3

It's not a big deal if you don't have a string on for a while. I've known people who mainly play on the low strings, so when they break their high E they procrastinate replacing it for a while. Don't worry it won't be a big deal.

As far as a video of changing strings... I doubt it because there are many different ways for different bridges/guitars. If you really want to find out how on your own, I guess search on the internet. Just make sure you get the right steps for your right setup. I'd recommend you just bring it down to the music store you bought it at, (or even one you didn't buy it at) and ask them to show you how. Most stores are pretty good about helping out new musicians with that kind of stuff.

Answer 4

There are tons of sites on the web, that will explain how to do this without spending money on a dvd. Google "changing guitar strings" or "guitar maintainance".

As for the e string being left off, theoretically yes it can cause damage, but for three days, you should be safe. The neck has to have tension on it, or the neck will bow from the truss rod settings. Since you still have tension on the other five strings, it will be enough to keep the neck from going out of line. Just tune them up to your standard tuning, and replace the string once you can.

Answer 5

It isn't bad for a guitar to have missing strings, or even no strings at all. Guitar necks are made strong enough to handle the stress of strings on while being played.

Changing the strings just takes practice. Have someone show you the correct way, then just practice.

Answer 6

nah, it won't hurt it to leave the high E string off. at least it didn't on my electric ibanez...sadly i don't know of a video that teaches you how to do it. my friend works at a guitar shop, so he always comes in handy!