A classical guitar is a great instrument to learn. It is melodious and fun to play. To see why you should learn guitar lessons with this instrument,check out: http://guitarlessonssingapore.com/reasons-to-learn-classical-guitar/!
But handling a guitar is a huge responsibility and the entire care for the instrument will fall on your shoulders. But you don’t need to panic about this. While classical guitars can be fragile, a little care can go a long way in ensuring that they remain in good shape for a long time to come. While you should know how to deal with it when things go wrong, you also need to develop a regular routine for your guitar maintenance. Here’s how!
Lubricate
To keep your classical guitar in good shape, you need to ensure that it is lubricated properly. This will ensure that your guitar can be properly tuned. The strings can get stuck in the nut slots, which can also be prevented through lubrication. Just add a mix of graphite and Vaseline and your mixture is ready. Move one of the strings to the side and put a very small amount of this mixture in the nut slot. Do the same for all the other strings. Wipe away any residue. You don’t need to do this daily, but keep an eye out for it.
Polish
When you handle your classical guitar, it is the frets that get the most handling. You need to keep touching this space while you play. Over time, this can really build up into a nasty mix of finger grime, sweat, and dirt, which affects the color of the fret board. This ought to be done regularly since getting out all the dirt after an entire year of playing can be hard. Use some nice mineral oil to clean the board. This oil soaks into the wood and brings all the dirt out to the surface, from where you can just wipe it off easily. An added advantage is that it will prevent excessive moisture from entering the wood.
Clean
This is a no-brainer. If you use an instrument, you need to clean it regularly. With use, the classical guitar becomes dirty, especially in hard-to-reach places like between the frets and around the nut bolts. For this, just try some elbow grease and rub it gently on the surface. Use a soft cloth to wipe it clean. You can also try dirt solvents available in the market for just this purpose to deal with stubborn grime. You can also use steel wool for this purpose but if you choose this alternative, you need to be very careful to avoid scratching the smooth surface. Make your strokes small and quick and ensure you are rubbing in the direction of the wood grain.
Change strings
All guitars need to have their strings changed periodically. It is one of the things you do learn in your basic guitar lessons because it is just so essential to a classical guitarist. You know your string needs a change when it becomes difficult to tune, produces a dull sound, or feels uncomfortable when playing. The notes can sometimes go off and the string itself can become darker and less polished. If this happens, it is time for a change. As far as strings are concerned, ensure you keep a set of spare ones with you all the time.
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