aaamusic | On 10, Jun 2020

Have you just bought your first guitar? Are you learning how to strum your way to a more musical you?

If so, then there’s one important thing that you need to know. If you want this investment into your musical equipment to last, then you need to maintain it properly. There are several little guitar maintenance tasks that you can employ to ensure that your guitar lasts for a long time.

In this article, we’ll introduce you to five such tasks to ensure that you keep strumming for a good long while.

1. Regularly Change Strings

The first maintenance task on your guitar is to regularly change the strings. After all, think about it. Your strings are what creates the music. If you want your music to keep sounding crisp, clean, and professional, you need to make sure that you’re not using worn-out strings. 

2. Keep the Fretboards Squeaky-Clean

Another important maintenance task for your guitar to keep in mind is to keep the fretboards clean. Over time, it’s easy for the fretboards to build up dirt. The oils from your fingers can also get wiped onto the fretboard’s surface.

All of this translates into a deterioration of the fretboard. You can avoid this by wiping down the fretboard with a damp cloth after every use. And every time you change the strings, you can do a more thorough cleaning.

3. Be Mindful of Temperature

The materials that guitars are made out of — wood and strings — are very responsive to the temperature of their surroundings. Thus, if you allow your guitar to sit around in very hot or cold environments, then you could easily start to see cracks in the wood and extensive wear on your strings.

Use a guitar case or bag to protect your guitar from exposure to extreme temperatures whenever you transport it.

4. Humidify Your Guitar

Another thing that guitars need besides a climate-controlled environment is humidity. If the guitar is in too dry of an environment, the wood can deteriorate. The best way to humidify your guitar is to make sure that you take it out of its bag regularly.

5. Use a Guitar Rack

Last but not least, make sure that you use a guitar rack to store your guitar when it isn’t in use. Don’t just leave it lying around your house. Not only will you avoid having your guitar stepped on, but there are other positive guitar rack effects to keep in mind.

Never Forget to Do These Guitar Maintenance Tasks

There you have it. Now that you know this quick guide to guitar maintenance, you have no excuse for not maintaining your guitar and keeping it in tip-top condition. With the right care, you can make sure that your purchase lasts for a long time. And if your guitar lasts for a while, then chances are that you’ll keep playing it and turn into that guitar virtuoso you’ve always dreamed of being!

For more general lifestyle advice, be sure to check out the rest of the website!