I get the question all the time, "when should I change the strings on my uke?" My easy answer is, "when they need to be changed!". Yet, I realize it isn't always easy to know when to change strings - especially if you are a beginning player. Even intermediate players will put off a string change because they know it will require a few days to get the new strings to "settle in" before they will sound true again.

Although there is no hard and fast rule for when to change your strings, there are a few hints that can help you make the decision.

First, how often do you play? If you play your uke every day and sometimes for extended sessions, you will need to change the strings more frequently than the person who only plays a few hours a month. Nylon, fluorocarbon, and synthetic gut strings (like Aquila Nylagut), are pretty durable but they all show their age and signs of wear sooner or later.

How do the strings look? Inspect your uke's strings every time you finish playing. Look for nicks, depressions from the frets, or dark marks from the oil on your fingers. They should look clean and solid.

How do they sound? New strings produce a crisp and clear tone. As the string ages, the tone can fade. Sometimes I'll notice that a string doesn't "ring" anymore or doesn't hold any sustain. Sometimes they can sound dull or "dead" - kind of a "thud" instead of a "ping". I notice this with hammers and pull-offs, or vibrato that doesn't seem to do much. Sound is the best way for me to determine when it is time to change the strings on my uke.

Do they hold their tuning? As strings age, they can seem to go off pitch easier and seem to be harder to keep in tune. Even if you have just tuned them you may notice that they don't sound quite right. This is especially noticeable when you are playing with a group of ukes and your uke sounds just slightly off-pitch.

Changing the strings on your uke

When you don't change your uke's strings often, it can feel like a chore but it doesn't have to be. Changing the strings isn't difficult. It does take a little thought and organization before you begin.

Set up a towel on a table and a second rolled towel to support the uke neck. Make sure you have your new string set at hand, a wire cutter, and a gear turner (of course, you can just loosen the tuners by hand). I don't recommend removing all the strings at once. Just change one at a time to keep some tension on the neck. Open the string set and place them in the order you will be replacing the strings.

Begin with the 4th string on the uke. Loosen the string with the gear turner (or your hand) until it is loose enough to wobble freely, then cut it in half and remove the top half of the string from the tuning peg and the bottom half of the string from the bridge.

If you have a tie bridge:

Open the 4th string packet and uncoil it. If you have a uke with a “tie” bridge, you’ll begin by threading one end of the string through the bridge hole. Make a loop, wrap the end in and over the side of the loop twice, and pull it through. Tighten it against the base of the bridge (You can snip off the excess when you have finished changing all the strings).

Now, guide the top end of the string over the bridge and up to the nut, resting it in the groove made for it. Thread one end through the tuner peg hole, and pull it through. (you'll cut off the excess later). You are going to wind the peg so the string is trapped under itself to prevent slipping. Wind the peg clockwise for the G and C strings. The pegs for the E and A strings should be tuned counterclockwise. Tighten the string until it is firmly in place, making sure it is still in the nut groove and tracking across the bridge. It doesn't have to be brought up to pitch but tighten it enough to hold some tension and make a note rather than a "clunk". Now move on to the 3rd string and repeat those same steps. Then the 2nd string. And finally, the 1st string.

If you have bridge pins:

If you have a uke with bridge pins, you’ll start by loosening the string and cutting it in half as described above, then pull out the bridge pin and the string. Take your new string, uncoil it, and tie a knot in one end. Feed the unknotted end of the string into the hole in the bridge, and if you have a little groove for the string, you’ll rest it in there. If there is a groove on one side of the bridge pin, line it up so the string will fit into it. Replace the bridge pin into the hole so that it is snug but not tight. Pull gently on the long end of the string until you feel the knot catch and settle into place. Then push the bridge pin more tightly into the hole. Continue stringing onto the tuners as described above.

When all four strings have been replaced, begin to bring up the tension a little at a time to get them closer to tuning. It may take several rounds of tightening to get them up to pitch. Work your way from G through A string by string to bring up the tension across the strings. Once you have it in tune, don't be surprised when it slips right out of tune! I like to let it rest a while before tuning again to let the strings stretch. And you'll probably have to tune it multiple times for a few days until the strings "settle in".

Taking care of your strings

Although strings are not really expensive, you want to take care of them to get the most out of them! Keep in mind just a few tips:

• Make sure your hands are clean when you play your uke. Hand lotion or food residue on fingers can affect the life of your uke's strings.

• Wipe down your uke's strings and fretboard after you play. Use a soft, lint-free cloth to remove hand oils. And wipe down the back of the neck too! I keep a cotton handkerchief in my uke case for this purpose.

• If you hang your uke on the wall, keep it dust free - especially the strings.

Try a variety of strings

There are so many different kinds of strings. And every set of strings sounds different on every uke! Read the reviews to see what kind of tone they make and try a different set each time you change strings until you find the ones you like on your uke. You may be surprised - and even amazed at how a different set of strings can improve the sound of your uke. Just one more reason to change your uke strings more often!