Quickly change a guitar string in 5 easy steps

From strumming `round the campfire to belting out your favourite rock anthem, who doesn't love the sound of a well-played guitar? This guide will teach you how to quickly replace a broken string so you can keep the music going.

1. If you're changing a string on a steel-string acoustic guitar, turn the appropriate capstan to loosen the old string so that it isn't under tension.
2. Have a cloth ready to clean the guitar beneath where the string usually sits.
3. Pull up the little peg (bridge pin) that holds the string in place. You may need a pair of pliers or wirecutters to do this. Insert the ball-end of the new string into the hole, and replace the pin.
4. Thread the other end of the string tip into the capstan on the headstock, and pull through so that there's 3 to 5 centimetres (1 1/4 to 2 inches) of slack. Bend the string to one side, then tighten by winding the key attached to the capstan.
5. Trim off the excess with wirecutters, or wind it into a neat loop. If you're changing all of the strings at once, remove and replace them one at a time. Begin with the thickest one and work you way to the thinnest.

Use these steps to quickly replace a string whenever it breaks. That way, you won't miss a beat. And neither will your fans.