s them too far above the pitch at which they are
intended to stand. More often, however, they break from being rusty at
the point where they pass over the bridge or around the tuning pin.
The best instruction concerning putting on new strings is, follow
appearances. Make the string you put on look just like those on the
instrument. In most modern pianos the string is wound with three coils
around the pin.

You will, of course, have to take out the action; not the key-board,
however, unless it be one of those rare cases where the key-board and
upper action are built to come out together. In the square it is only
necessary to remove the shade over the dampers, and the dampers, which
are all removed easily by taking out the screw at the left. This
allows the whole set of dampers with their support to come out
together.

Treble strings are nearly always passed around the hitch-pin, one wire
thus forming two strings. Take out the old string, noticing how it
passes over and under the felt at the dead end. After removing the
string always give the pin about three turns backward to draw it out
sufficiently so that when a new string is put on, the pin will turn
into the block as far as it did originally. Run one end of the string
barely through the hole in the tuning pin and turn it about twice
around, taking pains that the coils lie closely; then unwind enough
wire (of the same size of course) from your supply to reach down to
the hitch pin and back. Place the string on the bridge pins properly,
draw it as tight as you can by hand and cut it off about three
fingers' width beyond the pin upon which it is to be wound. This will
make about three coils around the pin. Place the end in the hole and
turn up gradually, watching that the string is clear down on hitch pin
and properly laid on the bridge. New strings will require drawing up
two or three times before they will stand in tune, and even then they
will run down in a short time. It is well on this account to leave
them slightly sharp, calling the owner's attention to the fact.

[Illustration: KNOT FOR SPLICING WIRE.]

When a bass string breaks at the point where it starts around the
tuning pin, it can nearly always be spliced and the trouble of sending
it away to have a new one made be avoided. Take a piece of new wire as
large or larger than the old string and splice it to the broken end
by a good secure knot. A knot called the square or ruft knot is the
best for this pu