When to change your guitar strings

When I bought my guitar it came with an extra set of strings. I thought that was pretty cool because I was worried that while trying to tune the guitar I might break a string. So I was happy to have a few spare strings just in case. I soon realized that tuning the guitar was not that hard, especially with an electric tuner, so there was no chance of me breaking any strings. Fast forward a few years, and I’m all proud of myself because I’m still using the same strings.
I’ve recently started taking guitar lessons for the first time. As a result I found out that changing your strings doesn’t only happen when you break one. It depends on how often you play. The strings get dirty as a result of the oils on your hands and fingers. This has an effect on the sound they produce. And in my case since it had been a few years it made a big difference.
 
When I inquired how often the strings should be changed, I was informed that they should be replaced at least every three months. More often if you’re playing more than 5 or 6 hours a week. I’m not sure if I’ll be following this advice to the letter. I’ll make a judgment call in three months and play it by ear (literally).  Until then, Rock On.