How do I properly stretch my newly strung strings?

Question

I came across this string stretcher device. It's called The Stretcha. It claims to properly and evenly stretch new strings and maintain tuning.

I never really made a point to properly stretch newly strung strings. Can anyone comment on the practice of stretching strings and or the relevance of such a device?

Apparently: "A lot of musicians mistake their guitar tuning problems as a guitar problem. More often than not, the guitar is not the problem. Tuning problems are likely the result of strings that have not been stretched properly."

Answer 1

I generally tune them to pitch; get a finger under them one at a time and slowly but firmly pull them away from the fretboard. Tune to pitch again - then repeat and rinse as needed.

There is no need to buy a device for this.

Answer 2

I don't have the reputation to comment on DRL's answer (but I can and have upvoted it), but it describes exactly the method I've used for almost 40 years with no problem on electric and acoustic guitars. On my classical guitar, I don't pull the strings; I just retune several times until the strings stretch themselves out. No tools required.

Answer 3

Really don't think buying a string streching device is necessary but streching them out by hand does help with the tuning stability of new strings. I usually restring my guitar to pitch then go up and down each string, pressing down on the string with my thumb and pulling up with my index and ring finger a few times (holding the string down at the nut with your other hand usually helps it from popping out). Then i retune the guitar and repeat the process again two more times.

Answer 4

I usually tune the strings higher (about 1 semitone) than the usual tuning. Then I stretch them a bit by pulling them gently but firmly at the 12th fret, away from the fingerboard. After an hour, I check again - by that time, they're usually too low, so I tune them once again about 1 semitone over the usual tuning etc.

With this method, I find that my strings find their tune within about one day.

Answer 5

An old question with many answers... but the one thing no-one seems to have mentioned is that the care & attention applied in the actual stringing process can considerably reduce the amount of stretching required.

Method 1 - the sloppy way...

• Tuck the end of the string through the slot, then wrap as much of the rest as you can round the post before you have to give up & use the machine-head for the last bit.

Pros
It's quick.

Cons
'Stretching' could take days, or you could just blame the guitar for never staying in tune.
It looks a mess.

Method 2 - carefully...

• Cut the string to "length to the post plus 3 turns & a ½" 90° bend" for the low E, varying to 5 or 6 turns by the high E. (Takes some practice, so guess long until you get used to it, but if you cannot get all the string round the post without the last turn overlapping another, do it again, shorter.)
• Tuck the 90° bend through/down.
• Get your trusty string-winder (you do have one of those already, don't you?)
• Sit the string in the groove in the nut, use your forefinger to keep the line between nut & post exact, & thumb to keep it in the nut.
• Use any/all other available fingers to hold the string as tight as possible against the winding tension. (About this time you wish you'd put the guitar on a table or at least your lap - not a method that works well hanging from a strap around your neck;)
• Start to tighten the string with the winder, keep the tension on the string & guide it round the post so each turn exactly sits below the last. You can vary the method to better trap the first turn if your posts have the hole through the side rather than in the top, but the last turn must always be the nearest to the head, with no crossing-over
• Keep going until it's in tune, lifting trapped fingers out of the way as it gets tighter.
• Repeat with the other 5 strings.
• Tune it.
• Stretch once, by any of the previously-mentioned methods.
• Retune.
• Done.

Pros.
Looks neat.
Little room for slippage, string windings don't 'click' past each other as tension increases.
No twisting of the string as it is wound onto the post.
Stays in tune.
I have [fixed bridge] guitars done this way that pretty much stay in tune until next time I change the strings.

Cons
It's a bugger to get just right, first time ;-)

Answer 6

I don't think the strings need to stretch - much. It's more a case of them bedding in, on the ball end and particularly round the post. A lot of this can be alleviated by careful winding at the machine head end. Three turns is usually enough, and with really thin gauge tops, either turn the string on itself, or pass it twice through the hole, if there is one. Makes it a bit awkward changing next time, though.

I tune to pitch, then 'stretch' between finger and thumb, sideways, not like a bow and arrow, but 90 degrees to that. There's not so much neck strain then, I think.

Answer 7

I agree with all the above answers, no device is required to stretch the strings. I use a couple of fingers to hold the string I'm stretching; for the thinnest strings I'll use a clean cloth as well, to spread the pressure of the string on my fingers.

Grip the string around the 12th to 15th fret and pull the string perpendicular away from the neck and body. If the guitar is laying on its back, you'll be pulling up; if in playing position, pull away from your body. I use the hand I'm not pulling with to make sure the string I'm stretching doesn't leave its slot in the nut. Also, remember to wipe the string clean after you're done stretching it.

I mostly play electric guitars, and I will stretch new strings extensively when installing them. I usually stretch metal acoustic guitar strings with less force on each stretch, but more passes of stretching and retuning. This is because I worry about putting extra tension perpendicular to the guitar top on acoustic guitars.

On electric guitars with tremolo systems, stretching one string will pull the bridge and lower the tension (and pitch) of all the other strings. I'm usually able to hold larger trem units (Floyd Rose and related designs) in place with my elbow while stretching the string, but not strat-style trem bridges. One can also block the bridge, or use some other method to hold it stationary while stretching one or more strings.

In any case, after stretching one string to the point where it stops losing pitch to the stretch, check the tuning of the rest of the strings. Even on a fixed bridge electric, they might have gone slightly out of tune. Tune them all up, and move on to the next string to be stretched.

After I get all my new strings stretched, I'll tend to play for several minutes, trying to bend notes on all the strings. Usually by this point they won't need any further stretching, but sometimes it can take several iterations to get a new string to settle in. Just keep stretching and playing until you're satisfied with how the new strings are holding their tune.

Answer 8

Kaz brings up an interesting point:

Not returning to the original pitch indicates that the material has been extended beyond its elastic limit

This is mostly true, which is why you'll notice that stretching the top strings doesn't do all that much. However the wound strings (typically the bottom 3 or 4) absolutely need to be stretched, because the slack in the windings needs to be removed. I usually grab the string with a rag and pull firmly but with control up towards the headstock then down towards the bridge, all the way up and down the string. If you go sideways, you're not applying less stress to either 'connection' of the string to the body/neck, but you are adding a shearing force to the neck. Probably not enough to damage anything, but it just seems like unnecessary risk to me.

A normal guitar of decent construction quality should be able to easily withstand the force that this puts on the tuners/neck and bridge. If the construction of yours makes it vulnerable to this type of force in either direction, you'll have to be a little smarter about how you go about stretching. When I restring my double-locking Ibanez of the sort notorious for hair-line fractures in the finish behind the nut I always make sure to leave it unlocked until I finish.

Answer 9

Quality strings do not require stretching, and when an attempt is made to stretch them, they return to the original pitch when released.

Strings that stretch are not made of the proper string material known as spring steel or a facsimile thereof.

Not returning to the original pitch indicates that the material has been extended beyond its elastic limit. It does not have the properties of spring steel, and so is well suited for instrument strings.

Imagine if the springs in a car's suspension did that. Eek! You'd drive it out of the dealer's lot in an "off road" setup, and within a day you'd have a "low rider".

I find that Ernie Ball Super Slinky strings are very good in this regard. Not perfect, but very good. They are good enough that on a guitar with a double locking tremolo system, I can tune up with the headstock tuning machines once, lock the nut, and then just use the fine tuners to make very minor adjustments (in spite of string bending and tremolo use). With some other brands I used in the past, the strings would go so flat from bending, that I have to open the locking nut several times to use the tuning machines, because the fine tuners would run out of range.

So the proper way to stretch strings that require stretching is to keep pulling until they snap, and then throw them away.

Answer 10

On an electric I tune the strings about right, then pull on the whammy bar, maybe getting 3 semitones up a couple of times and then tune in again. On a Floyd Rose I'd do this the next day as well and then they'll be in for good, and on non-Floyd Rose's they'd be fine with just this.

On an acoustic I'd just tune the strings all about a semitone high then after a good strum I'd tune them right. Seems to work for me.

Regarding the point about pulling them away from the neck possibly affecting the curvature of the neck, my technique is to initially put one finger under the string and one over, forcing it into an S shape, until the tension is high enough that pulling away from the fretboard only gives me a centimetre or two.

Answer 11

Like many things related to the guitar, I don't understand why so many people insist on doing things that don't make sense. In this case, that would be stretching strings with their hands. Why not just use the devices built into the guitar for the express purpose of adjusting strings--the tuners? Just tighten each tuner until the string is tuned 1 step or 1.5 step high (how much is needed will depend on the strings you're using), wait a moment, then tune it to pitch. Repeat as needed.

Answer 12

Just cause the majority of people believe something dose not always make it true. I think any of us can think of at least one thing we know most people believe about something that is wrong and even may have strong evidence behind it.. After all its been said a person is smart but people are stupid so its no surprise that so many people pass along bad advice not knowing better. Stretching your strings is something people do because of Impatience and what seem like practical reasons not wanting to re-tune and all that. But stretching your strings no matter how done will shorten their lives by half sometimes. It creates weak points in places were you stretch. IF YOU MUST stretch your strings THE ONLY PROPER WAY TO DO IT IS: String BENDS.. NORMAL STRING BENDS.. do a shit tone of them.

Also know that many of the stretching techniques will do damage over time to parts of your guitar or extra wear on the fret wire or fingerboard finish