Man this is the greatest video I have seen about restringing a Violin/Fiddle my sisters boyfriend broke my A string and I want to get it fixed. I really liked this video though I dont know if I am gonna string it myself this time because I dont want to break it. Thank you so much man great camera work!
This is by far the most helpful video I've found on changing strings. All the others I found on youtube visibility was poor, and voiced tips were average. This video I can actually see what you're doing, the lighting is great and the instructions you gave are superb. Thanks so much, that little tip about leaving .5" hanging out of the peg and then criss-crossing over it was extremely helpful. I heard that same thing mentioned in a different video, but I had no clue what they were referring to.
Thanks fiddlerman. I recently bought one of your bench made instruments and having never tuned a nice violin I wasn't used to the pegs "gliding" instead of "popping." Used too much power and popped a string on my first tuning. Lesson learned! This was extremely helpful in replacing it! Love my instrument by the way, just absolutely stunning in tone and looks. I will have it for life. Happy Holidays to you and yours!
You just saved my life with this and the Resurrect a Fallen Bridge video! No one in my area knows how to change strings so I had to do it myself...your videos were incredibly helpful! Thanks so much and here's a click on that subscribe button! :-)
Thank you for this tutorial. I especially appreciate how you showed the winding on the peg when it was not in the violin and I could see exactly how you wound the string. It was a bit scary changing the strings at first, but by the time I got to the E, I felt like an expert! Thanks again for a wonderful, informative channel!!
@TheDarkGoby - Great question. I should have addressed that. I have both bone implanted in my bridge under the E string and I have a small piece of drum skin under to protect the string :-) I never used those things because it will dampen the E slightly. Don't get me wrong, you should use them if you don't have protection on your bridge to keep the E from digging in too much.
@JaderGater2 - I know that some say that. Apparently you put a little extra stress on the point that crosses. I only do it once in the beginning to avoid slippage. It has never caused any damage in all my years of intense playing and tuning :-)
I tighten it to about the width of a pencil at the closest point between the hair and stick. It might be the amount of pressure that I am applying that gives you that impression. I can easily apply so much pressure that the hair touches the stick. Different bows have different amounts of tension (arches and stiffness) which results in the need for varying amounts of tightness.
Yeah I am. At the moment I have the gut Olivs on G and D but then I have a steel A and E. I have two ball end fine tuners for the A and the E but they change the afterlength behind the bridge by quite a significant degree and I've heard that that can reduce the resonance of the upper strings. It looks like your tailpiece doesn't alter the afterlength and it looks neater than those which have the additional metal protruding out of the bottom so I was wondering what it was.
So, once you have crossed over the end of the string tail on both sides, you can carry on winding it toward the peg post side. Nice video. You make it look very easy. Thank you.
There are several possible problems. If the pegs are too loose even though you are pushing in hard enough at the same time, then you can try peg drops. Peg drops keep pegs from slipping. They may even have too much peg compound on them. If this is the case, use fine 0000 steel wool on the peg rods.
@ruby117able - If you have bone implanted in the bridge under the E string then yes, this would be a likely reason for your E string breaking at that point. I also have bone implanted and drum-skin over. If you have the skin over the bone you won't need the plastic tube. As far as the strings getting stuck, peg dope usually takes care of that well. I sell two different types on Fiddlershop. com :-)
Thanks for thiis video it was really informative! In regards to @TheDarkGoby said, did my E-string snap at the bridge because I forgot to put the little plastic tune over the bridge? Also, I haven't practised my violin for 5 months. In addition to my old strings being out of tune and snapping, now that I have put new strings in it (except for the new E string that just broke at the tail!), my peg are being very difficult to turn. What should I do about this? The E peg was stuck like chalk.
The ball on the Zyex E string is made to be very easy to take off (loose). I always do it for my violin and other violins we set up here at Fiddlershop. com
If you have a bridge protector on top of the bridge as on this violin, you don't use that plastic protector. The bridge protector is a little piece of tough parchment paper or drum skin that is glued over and around the top of the bridge slot where the E string will be sitting.
Hey fiddlerman, what about the green piece on the E string that goes over the bridge to keep the string from cutting in? You didn't align it in the video. Just wondering why. Great video as always! Thanks! :D
They are supposed to be identical. However, there are different models with slightly different curves. Generally though, they are basically all the same.
Hi Fiddlerman ! Please help. I refer right hand and left hand Violins. The 2 curves below the fingerboard where the latter joins the Peg Box, are those 2 curves identical ? There goes the V shape of the thumb and the index finger sometimes. If not, I suppose there is a difference for the right hand and left hand violins respectively. what is the difference if there is any ? Can the curve makes the base of the index finger a bit uncomfortable ? Thank you and Cheers.
hey, what kind of tailpiece to you have? I was thinking of getting one with the 2 integrated fine tuners which don't change the afterlength of the higher strings.
Hi! I have a question on this topic. I have a fine tuner for the E string made for loop strings. I need to change the E string and I found a pirastro chromcor string, however it has a ball ending. Do you think it is easy to remove it in order to have a loop? Any suggestion? Thanks a lot!!
Yes I do. Then I tune it and tighten the fine tuners only enough that they are not loose and rattle. It's a great way to start. Strings usually need to be tightened to raise the pitch rather than loosened, especially if they have been completely loose or are brand new.
Is it necessary to change strings on a violin that has been in a closet, unused for 10 years? my friend does not use it and gave it to me. As of right now it sounds pretty bad. Thanks
+MartyMartin87 In one way, they are like people of a family. All individuals. I run across pearls within the masses. However, yes. My favorite patterns so far are the Holstein "Plowden" and "Panette" that we sell. Those patterns made by our favorite luthier and adjusted by us here, make for a fantastic instrument.
What did you use to lubricate it? Yes there are peg drops but I recommend you take off the peg and use 0000 steel wool. You'll find that at Home Depot.
Snoop Doge The Hill Peg Compound is the best. I don't think you can even over lubricate with that one. With the steel wool, just take off the peg and rub hard on the shaft. A circular motion is good to make sure you do it evenly. Sort of twist it between your fingertips in the steel wool. Make sure you don't get course steel wool, rather 0000. You'll eventually get all the old dope off and the peg shaft will be nice and smooth.
Hi my violin has 4 fine tuners. I bought a loop-end E string and regret that decision later because I think I should've bought the one with a ball-end. Can I use this loop-end E string and how do I install it? Many thanks! :)
My question is, when do you know it's time to change strings... I've heard from around 6 months to a year depending on how much you play... but I have a used violin from a local shop and have no idea how old the strings are and how much they've been played before I got a hold of it.
Depending on how much you play, the climate, your equipment (sharp nuts can wear the string) your tuning technique (some people tune above the note too much and back to the correct pitch) and the type of strings. You can easily get 6 months to a year out of your strings if everything is perfect but 3 months and 300 hours of playing would be the fresh period with the best sound. :)
Yeah, I play an hour everyday (more if I get the chance) and have had the violin close to 4 months. I tune usually from the flat up as that's what my violin usually falls too. Also, I live where it is very cold. I try and keep her warm though.
You will very likely have your strings until you feel that they are a bit flat and dull sounding. Sometimes a person doesn't realize it until they actually change the strings.
If there is tension on all the strings it makes absolutely no difference. If you are taking off all the strings or there is no tension you might want to, though it's not necessary, start in the middle to balance pressure. If you start on the E or G the bridge could slide over as you tighten it. All that is necessary is to maintain the correct location as you are increasing pressure on the strings.
9 times out of 10 you can remove the ball. Sometimes you need to bend the ball back and forth once and it breaks. Often you can get it off with a needle nose pliers.
Pusch model tailpiece. Call Fiddlershop. com and we can get you any model you want with 1-4 fine tuners. You'll want two of course. :-) Tulip or English/Hill shaped with Ebony, Rosewood, and Boxwood (Hill only) with Black or Gold colored screws.
Man this is the greatest video I have seen about restringing a Violin/Fiddle my sisters boyfriend broke my A string and I want to get it fixed. I really liked this video though I dont know if I am gonna string it myself this time because I dont want to break it. Thank you so much man great camera work!
This is by far the most helpful video I've found on changing strings. All the others I found on youtube visibility was poor, and voiced tips were average. This video I can actually see what you're doing, the lighting is great and the instructions you gave are superb. Thanks so much, that little tip about leaving .5" hanging out of the peg and then criss-crossing over it was extremely helpful. I heard that same thing mentioned in a different video, but I had no clue what they were referring to.
Thanks fiddlerman. I recently bought one of your bench made instruments and having never tuned a nice violin I wasn't used to the pegs "gliding" instead of "popping." Used too much power and popped a string on my first tuning. Lesson learned! This was extremely helpful in replacing it! Love my instrument by the way, just absolutely stunning in tone and looks. I will have it for life. Happy Holidays to you and yours!
I'm so happy to hear it Ryan. Happy Holidays to you as well. 😁
Im a new fiddler and I just changed my strings for the first time last week. Good to know I did it right! Thx alot.
You just saved my life with this and the Resurrect a Fallen Bridge video! No one in my area knows how to change strings so I had to do it myself...your videos were incredibly helpful! Thanks so much and here's a click on that subscribe button! :-)
Thank you for this tutorial. I especially appreciate how you showed the winding on the peg when it was not in the violin and I could see exactly how you wound the string. It was a bit scary changing the strings at first, but by the time I got to the E, I felt like an expert! Thanks again for a wonderful, informative channel!!
You are very welcome and thanks!!!
You are very welcome :)
Amazing how you make everything look so easy. You should seriously consider writing a book.
I don't even read books. ;) Thanks for the kind words brother.
@TheDarkGoby - Great question. I should have addressed that. I have both bone implanted in my bridge under the E string and I have a small piece of drum skin under to protect the string :-) I never used those things because it will dampen the E slightly. Don't get me wrong, you should use them if you don't have protection on your bridge to keep the E from digging in too much.
@JaderGater2 - I know that some say that. Apparently you put a little extra stress on the point that crosses. I only do it once in the beginning to avoid slippage. It has never caused any damage in all my years of intense playing and tuning :-)
I tighten it to about the width of a pencil at the closest point between the hair and stick. It might be the amount of pressure that I am applying that gives you that impression. I can easily apply so much pressure that the hair touches the stick. Different bows have different amounts of tension (arches and stiffness) which results in the need for varying amounts of tightness.
Yeah I am. At the moment I have the gut Olivs on G and D but then I have a steel A and E. I have two ball end fine tuners for the A and the E but they change the afterlength behind the bridge by quite a significant degree and I've heard that that can reduce the resonance of the upper strings. It looks like your tailpiece doesn't alter the afterlength and it looks neater than those which have the additional metal protruding out of the bottom so I was wondering what it was.
Great video man, simple and clear with very nice tips, by the way what kind of violin do you have just for curiosity?
Changed my first set of strings ☺, thank you for your video!!!
I'm so glad that you found the video helpful. Cheers!
Good idea. Are you using a steel A string? Otherwise you only need one.
So, once you have crossed over the end of the string tail on both sides, you can carry on winding it toward the peg post side. Nice video. You make it look very easy. Thank you.
Very welcome :-)
There are several possible problems. If the pegs are too loose even though you are pushing in hard enough at the same time, then you can try peg drops. Peg drops keep pegs from slipping. They may even have too much peg compound on them. If this is the case, use fine 0000 steel wool on the peg rods.
hi, do you think you could do a video showing what you carry in your case and give some advice on what to bring to concerts / rehearsals etc?
I changed my first violin string! Thanks Maestro :)
@ruby117able - If you have bone implanted in the bridge under the E string then yes, this would be a likely reason for your E string breaking at that point. I also have bone implanted and drum-skin over. If you have the skin over the bone you won't need the plastic tube.
As far as the strings getting stuck, peg dope usually takes care of that well. I sell two different types on Fiddlershop. com :-)
How did it go for you?
Thanks for thiis video it was really informative! In regards to @TheDarkGoby said, did my E-string snap at the bridge because I forgot to put the little plastic tune over the bridge?
Also, I haven't practised my violin for 5 months. In addition to my old strings being out of tune and snapping, now that I have put new strings in it (except for the new E string that just broke at the tail!), my peg are being very difficult to turn. What should I do about this? The E peg was stuck like chalk.
The ball on the Zyex E string is made to be very easy to take off (loose). I always do it for my violin and other violins we set up here at Fiddlershop. com
If you have a bridge protector on top of the bridge as on this violin, you don't use that plastic protector. The bridge protector is a little piece of tough parchment paper or drum skin that is glued over and around the top of the bridge slot where the E string will be sitting.
Hey fiddlerman, what about the green piece on the E string that goes over the bridge to keep the string from cutting in? You didn't align it in the video. Just wondering why.
Great video as always! Thanks! :D
They are supposed to be identical. However, there are different models with slightly different curves. Generally though, they are basically all the same.
My teacher said that it's bad to cross wind your strings. Does it matter if you do or not?
And then is there a steel loop, or a silk one? Thanks!
you have a cool case *.* by the way i have a problem on my violin.... my pegs are rotating and my string loose what should i do? T.T
Hi Fiddlerman !
Please help. I refer right hand and left hand Violins. The 2 curves below the fingerboard where the latter joins the Peg Box, are those 2 curves identical ? There goes the V shape of the thumb and the index finger sometimes. If not, I suppose there is a difference for the right hand and left hand violins respectively. what is the difference if there is any ? Can the curve makes the base of the index finger a bit uncomfortable ?
Thank you and Cheers.
I've never tried soap but I have used peg dope. What kind of soap?
hey, what kind of tailpiece to you have? I was thinking of getting one with the 2 integrated fine tuners which don't change the afterlength of the higher strings.
thank you sir, you really helped me out. Just broke my string. But now it's good as always.
Very welcome. Sorry about the string.
Hi! I have a question on this topic. I have a fine tuner for the E string made for loop strings. I need to change the E string and I found a pirastro chromcor string, however it has a ball ending. Do you think it is easy to remove it in order to have a loop? Any suggestion? Thanks a lot!!
Are there loop end e strings on the Zyex brand?
what case are you currently using
Do you back the fine tuners all the way out when putting a new string on?
Yes I do. Then I tune it and tighten the fine tuners only enough that they are not loose and rattle. It's a great way to start. Strings usually need to be tightened to raise the pitch rather than loosened, especially if they have been completely loose or are brand new.
Is it necessary to change strings on a violin that has been in a closet, unused for 10 years? my friend does not use it and gave it to me. As of right now it sounds pretty bad. Thanks
Thank you for the video. Very good information
I'm glad that it was helpful!
do you have a personal favorite violin?
+MartyMartin87 In one way, they are like people of a family. All individuals. I run across pearls within the masses. However, yes. My favorite patterns so far are the Holstein "Plowden" and "Panette" that we sell. Those patterns made by our favorite luthier and adjusted by us here, make for a fantastic instrument.
Why do you keep your bow so loose?
ok what ifyour brige fell down?
I over lubricated my peg is there anything to give the peg extra grip
What did you use to lubricate it?
Yes there are peg drops but I recommend you take off the peg and use 0000 steel wool. You'll find that at Home Depot.
I used some W.E peg dope but what am i supposed to do with the steel wool?
Snoop Doge
The Hill Peg Compound is the best. I don't think you can even over lubricate with that one.
With the steel wool, just take off the peg and rub hard on the shaft. A circular motion is good to make sure you do it evenly. Sort of twist it between your fingertips in the steel wool. Make sure you don't get course steel wool, rather 0000. You'll eventually get all the old dope off and the peg shaft will be nice and smooth.
Thank you...
Awesome instruction
Thank you so much!
Hi my violin has 4 fine tuners. I bought a loop-end E string and regret that decision later because I think I should've bought the one with a ball-end.
Can I use this loop-end E string and how do I install it?
Many thanks!
:)
You can. Either you put the loop over one end of the fork on the tuner or you insert a ball in the loop.
Fiddlerman Thanks, will try later
mydreadmail1
Good luck :)
My question is, when do you know it's time to change strings... I've heard from around 6 months to a year depending on how much you play... but I have a used violin from a local shop and have no idea how old the strings are and how much they've been played before I got a hold of it.
Depending on how much you play, the climate, your equipment (sharp nuts can wear the string) your tuning technique (some people tune above the note too much and back to the correct pitch) and the type of strings.
You can easily get 6 months to a year out of your strings if everything is perfect but 3 months and 300 hours of playing would be the fresh period with the best sound. :)
Yeah, I play an hour everyday (more if I get the chance) and have had the violin close to 4 months. I tune usually from the flat up as that's what my violin usually falls too. Also, I live where it is very cold. I try and keep her warm though.
You will very likely have your strings until you feel that they are a bit flat and dull sounding. Sometimes a person doesn't realize it until they actually change the strings.
Please add to your description in what order you replace the strings...is it D, A, G, E?
If there is tension on all the strings it makes absolutely no difference. If you are taking off all the strings or there is no tension you might want to, though it's not necessary, start in the middle to balance pressure. If you start on the E or G the bridge could slide over as you tighten it. All that is necessary is to maintain the correct location as you are increasing pressure on the strings.
very help full video! thank!
9 times out of 10 you can remove the ball. Sometimes you need to bend the ball back and forth once and it breaks. Often you can get it off with a needle nose pliers.
You're welcome!
very well
Thanks :-)
You are very welcome.
Pusch model tailpiece. Call Fiddlershop. com and we can get you any model you want with 1-4 fine tuners. You'll want two of course. :-)
Tulip or English/Hill shaped with Ebony, Rosewood, and Boxwood (Hill only) with Black or Gold colored screws.
Thanks :-)
Happy to be of some help.
smitz5555 You just prop it back up. I'm probably too young to get it right, and I just got a warped bridge fixed today, but you simply prop it up.
:-)
Rosin, rag, extra strings, two bows, pencil, nail clipper, aspirin.... A pencil is good to have a rehearsals and a tux for concerts ;-)
I don't think I'm brave enough to attempt it yet
thanks it worked :)
Thanks a lot my dad an I's first time thanks allot
you can also use soap for sticky pegs
thanks :)
It's steel. :-)
You're welcome.
These are the strings that Lindsey Stirling uses!
😁