It is very easy to change a Banjo string. All the tools that are needed to do that are a pencil, a chromatic tuner, wire cutters, a string winder, fresh strings etc. So let us see how you can change the strings on your five-string banjos.
How do you change a banjo string?
Step one: mark the location of the bridge
Trace around the banjo’s bridge carefully with a sharp and fine pencil.
Step two: loosen & remove each string
Loosen all the strings until there is no tension & the strings get floppy. Cut the strings carefully, ensuring they do not try springing back at you. As you are done cutting the strings, start unhooking the strings’ bottom half from the bridge & unwind the other half on top of all the tuning pegs.
The bridge will start falling off after you remove the strings. Do not lose it! Also, if the Banjo includes a compensated bridge, keep a track of which side is the back and front of the bridge.
Step three: Clean the Banjo & oil the fretboard
With every string removed, it will be the perfect time for cleaning the hard-to-reach areas which are usually under those strings. It is also a good time to clean & oil the fretboard of the instrument.
Step four: layout of the new strings
It will always be a good thing to arrange the fresh strings so that you do not mix them up accidentally. Most of the strings will remain either packaged in different envelopes with the sizes of them marked or colour-coded by size.
Step five: uncoil the 1st string carefully & Install it on the tailpiece
Keep the first string away from the face and eyes of yours as you uncoil it. Next, hold the end loop of the string & hook it on the designated pin up on the bridge. Try feeding the string through one matching hole or right under the bridge’s matching tab. Hold slight tension upon the string and thus it will not slip off the hook upon the bridge.
Step six: trim the string to lengthen
Hold the string next to the tuning peg of it while keeping tension upon it. Now measure almost 3 inches from the tuning peg of the strings & cut it to a certain length with the wire cutters of yours. Enough slack should be there for allowing 3 to 4 winds around the peg.
Step seven: wind the string
Put a bend of 90 degrees into the string approximately 1/2″ from the end of it. Now hook the string’s end into the peg & wind the string. You won’t need too much tension for the string. Just make sure it does not unwind from the peg. Repeat each of the steps for the remaining strings. Stretch the strings after that. You will be all done then!
I own a music instruments shop. My go to instrument is a banjo. My business makes it easier for me to access the instruments from various brands and of various types. I will give my honest opinion here to help out others in choosing the right instrument for them.
