I'm getting new strings tomorrow (hurrah!) but don't know how to change them. The simple answer would be to ask my teacher to (it takes her like 20 seconds to replace a string o_O) but as it's half term next week, im not gonna see her for like 2 weeks.
How stupid would it be to try it myself? I know it's clearly an easy thing to do but seeing as i have no idea how to do it i'm not willing to try. Better to play on my terrible strings for 2 weeks than strings atal!
But out of interest, how DO you do it? I can't believe i have no idea how to do so xD

Oh the pain i will have playing on my might-aswell-just-be-barbed-wire strings for 2 weeks, my nice new strings still in the packet >_<

There are some videos here, http://www.expertvillage.com/videos/intro-violin-strings.htm that may help.


My one piece of advice is make sure to only take off one old string at a time or the bridge and possibly the soundpost will drop.
Changing strings is quick and easy with practice. I used to work in a music shop so got plenty of practice at changing strings even before I played the violin.

Thanks very much =]]
Aah yes, i'll be so careful not to let the bridge drop i just HATE putting the bridge back up. Such an easy task yet i manage to make it so so difficult xD

I think you 'll have to be brave and learn, about time I think also, you don't want to be reliant on your teacher forever good luck let us know how it went

Haha well yeah i guess i should really. Can't believe i didn't have the slightest idea how to do so

I'm gonna be so scared to do it though because, if i do it wrong or whatever and can't get the strings on, i'll have no violin to play on for like nearly two weeks. ARGH! that'd be the worst possible scenario seeing as the general highlight of my days are my 2-hourly practises xD (not including my flute practises!)

then if you are that worried do it the day before your lesson

Changing strings is really a must have skill, imagine being in the middle of a gig and having a string do the dirty on you!

It really isn't too scary, just take your time, use common sense and you'll be fine.

Changing strings is something I like to leave to the luthier whenever possible (but that's most likely because mine removes the old strings, cleans the fingerboard, checks soundpost position, restrings, tunes and hands it back all for the price of the strings).

However if you do need to do it yourself, follow the advice already given - change one string at a time, gradually bringing it up to pitch before you work on the next one. The danger here is not the bridge falling, as is commonly believed, but the soundpost falling due to lack of pressure. Putting the bridge up is an easy thing to do - putting the soundpost back in place is much more tricky and best left to a professional.

Go one at a time, making sure that the string in the peg winds outwards towards the pegbox and gradually reaches pitch before starting the next one.

Many violinists also recommend changing all the strings when one of them breaks. I'm not sure whether I believe this or not. Trial and error and make you own mind up are the way forward here, I think.

My teacher told me that for a player who practices regularly (probably everyday or almost)...changing strings every 6-9 months is sufficient which presents me with a problem. I recently changed my A string in June because the metal at the scroll was 'cracking' but all the other strings haven't been changed since I got my violin in Nov last year. I KNOW I'll have to change them all when I get home but what am I going to do about the A string?