How do I safely cut excess string?

Trimming is the last step of a string change, not the first. Cutting before the string is tuned risks leaving it too short to wind if it slips.

How to trim cleanly:

1. Tune and settle the new string so you know it's holding.
2. Hold the loose end between your thumb and finger.
3. Place the cutter blades close to the post, leaving a short tail.
4. Cut, and drop the offcut straight into a bin.
5. Use the cutter jaws or your fingertip to fold the stub down against the headstock.

Safety tips:

• Point the cut away from you. Steel offcuts can spring when they're released.
• Don't cut a string that's tuned up. Detune completely before removing a string.
• Keep offcuts away from pets and kids. They're sharp.
• Use cutters, not scissors. Scissors are dull on steel and twist the end.

On bass, the rules are different, because the cut point affects whether the string fits the post. See our article on cutting bass strings before you trim a bass string.