Practising more than just the right notes – a recipe for easy guitar care and maintenance
Aaron Hill – Product Manager Yamaha Guitars – Yamaha Music Australia
Owning your first guitar can be an extremely exciting life experience. Learning to place your fingers on the strings to make your first note, moving onto your first riffs and chords, then translating those chords and riffs into songs opens a new world of creativity and putting down the guitar can be a hard thing to do. By following this guide, you will discover some of the fundamental practices of proper guitar care and maintenance to make picking up your instrument an enjoyable experience every time.
Simple day-to-day care
The easiest and often most forgotten first line of defence in ensuring your guitars wellbeing.
Ingredients:
- Guitar
- Dry microfibre cloth
- Sink
- Soap
Method:
When inspiration strikes, it is always best to ensure that your hands are clean from dirt and oils that may corrode your strings. It is recommended to wash your hands before playing and keep a dry microfibre cloth nearby to remove any dust that may have made its way onto the surface of the body and/or neck of the guitar.
Guitar Storage
One of the most fundamental practises is correctly storing your guitar, it is something that we do daily and when not done correctly can often lead to disastrous results.
Ingredients:
- Guitar
- Dry microfibre cloth
- Guitar stand
- Suitable space
- Guitar case or bag
Method:
When it is time to put the guitar down, it is always best to wipe down its neck and body to reduce the amount of moisture, oil and dirt that may be left on the guitar. Once completed, the guitar will need to be returned to its storage area. Your method of storage may differ, depending on the time between play and your personal circumstances. It is always best to ensure that the guitar is stored on a stand or in a case, in an upright position away from direct sunlight. If you aren’t going to be playing your guitar for a few weeks, it is recommended to store it in its case and to slightly detune the strings to reduce the tension on the guitar.
Top tip: If the temperature is uncomfortable for you, it won’t be comfortable for your guitar. Try to find the room with the most comfortable climate in your house and place your guitar somewhere away from too much foot traffic, that isn’t directly in the line of the air conditioner or heater.
Changing your Strings
Are your strings looking a little brown or not sounding as bright as they once did? Did one recently break during an earth-shattering solo? If so, it might be time to change your guitar strings and knowing how is one of the most useful tools a guitar player can know.
Ingredients:
- Guitar
- Flat surface off the ground
- Clean, soft towel
- Peg/string winder
- 1-2 x dry microfibre cloths
- Set of guitar strings (always preferable to change all the strings at the same time)
- Guitar tuner
- Optional additions:
- Pair of pliers
- Set of wire cutters
- Lemon oil (rehydrates the fingerboard and makes the guitar smell great)
- Guitar polish (give your guitar that extra sparkle!)
- Guitar string changing tool/kit
Method:
To begin, clean hands and lay the guitar down on a flat surface with a soft towel underneath if placed on a hard surface to avoid scratches. Next, loosen the strings by unwinding each string at the tuning pegs. This can be done by hand or by using the assistance of a string winder. Once this is done, remove the strings from the guitar and wipe down the fingerboard, body, and neck with a microfibre cloth. Additional cleaning can be done during this changeover. Now it’s time to put on the new strings!
Please follow this link to see how to change the strings on your steel, nylon, electric or bass guitar: MAINTENANCE: CHANGING YOUR STRINGS
Top tip: While there is no set rule for how often you should change your strings, it is recommended that you change them at least every 3 to 4 months. There are several exceptions to this suggestion however, changing your strings regularly and keeping your guitar a clean are good habits to get into.
With these new practises in your repertoire, you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to maintain your guitar’s quality and ensure that it will last through many years of music making.
Keen to find out more about your guitar? Follow these links to learn more:
Aaron Hill
Aaron Hill
Aaron is part of Yamaha Music Australia’s Guitar, Amps and Drums team, in the role of Product Manager for Yamaha Guitars. With a bachelor’s degree in Contemporary Music and a strong passion for all musical instruments, Aaron has had varying roles across the music industry including performer, retail sales assistant, audio & lighting technician, and stage manager. Outside of his role at Yamaha, Aaron has an enthusiasm for cooking and outdoor adventure.