Hi Everyone!
Hope all is well with everyone here.
I wanted to ask about not making string noise. How can you do it? I'd love to hear some of your tips and advice.
For me, I'm trying to work on lifting my fingers and then moving to the next position. I don't know what else can work, maybe some type of muting?? What if you are sliding, what happens here? How can you make that a quieter process?
Thanks in advance for your replies. Have a great day!
Thank you for making this thread!
For me, try to use my left hand pressure (less)
Great question!
Thank you.
Tomo
Yeah, that is one area that I've recently been focusing on since I have recovered from injury. I noticed that I was pressing strings too much and yeah I think that is one aspect of quiet strings.
This one is good to remember for sure!
Thankjs!
Good job Michael!
Play each note as full value (Sustain all the way)
then switch to next note (next finger) without any noises.
Press any strings as light as possible!
That's what I focus on... all the times.
Thank you.
Tomo
Hey Michael, to me lately it is light touch quick straight lift from the wound strings. I tend to slide more on non-wound string and get less noise yet slight lift to slide around. Definitely muting on one or both hands too given a chord motion. It is something I totally notice on recordings nowadays and I cringe like ouch. 90s music big time, like it was a thing. Great to work on and is very challenging to be very little noise, yet it is still there for me to get better at. I was checking this out just the other day, less noise (: - johno
Thank you Johno for sharing your experience.
Definitely record your playing will help!
Tomo
Not mentioned yet, and worth trying in certain situations:
-using the softer part of fingertip just below the hardened part when switching position with wound strings (found on a classical guitar channel)
-some coated strings make a notable difference
Thank you for sharing!
That's why I don't use any coated strings. (very easy to develop bad habit!)
Tomo
It's also finger placement (location). For me, I have MUCH more stretch between pointer and middle fingers, ring and pinkie. I have almost no stretch between middle and ring fingers. So when I place my ring finger, I don't place it close to the fret. It's more in the middle where the dot marker would be. That way, when I lift the ring finger I have a better chance to lift it straight up off the string. If it's too far forward, it's going to pull back just a bit and there will be the dreaded scraping noise from the string.
Thank you Matt for sharing your experience. Great point! I really care about my finger's placement (I try to make evenness).
I try to spread my fingers evenly possible. This way my left thumb position will help my other finger position.
I never thought about "To place my finger close to the fret"
I hear each note / tone /sustain etc.
I made 4 chromatic scale lesson videos on my YouTube Channel.
From next week, you will see those lessons on Friday 3pm EST.
I explained a lot of details about finger positions and more details.
Thank you.
Tomo
Interesting Matt!
I think due to our physical limitations with between the middle and ring the way you suggest sounds pretty logical. I think at times one might have to sacrifice perfect finger placement to play a chord or note. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Tomo!
Come to think of it I've had some thoughts on my thumb placement and used to place it where I perceived what finger needing support. But lately I've been experimenting and yeah I've noticed if the thumb does help with the fingers. I'm not sure that would help me with avoiding string noise but we shall see.
Thanks for sharing gentlemen! So much nuance in guitar.
Thanks for starting this Michael. I don't have any advice, but I'm struggling with one thing in particular. I can do ascending chromatic exercises pretty much noise-free. And descending is so-so on the higher frets. But as I get down around the 7th, I get tiny squeaks on the wound strings when I pull off, no matter how slow I go. Not sure if it is joint mechanics or what. I've tried moving my left elbow away from my side as I get to the lower frets, hoping that would better align my wrist. Seemed to have helped marginally, but I'm not sure if that is "good" technique. I'm going to work with Matt's suggestion tonight.
Hi Clay!
Yeah, I was in your place a number of months ago. Now rarely do I make a squeak at all. Like Sammi says below it does take time and control is definitely part of it. Fingers will stretch and become stronger, and you'll start to have to angle your fingers to the fretboard at an able rather than perpendicular to it. As you get closer to the nut the frets are indeed wider.
Oh, I can now reference Pythagoras!! :) Since your fingers are at an angle the hypotenuse will give you more length with your fingers to reach those frets without squeaking. We can thank that old Greek guy for more than finding out how the major 4th and 5th intervals are the most pleasing tone or something like that.
Good luck Clay you'll get there soon enough!
Hah! Nice pythagorean weave. Thanks!
Thank you, Michael, for starting this thread! Johno, Mija, Matt, and Clay, your insights are incredibly helpful. I should mention that working on eliminating string noise can be frustrating, but don’t worry! It’s like physical exercise; it will get easier as you develop better control.
Keep sharing your struggles, tips, and everything in between!
Check this out too! Maybe something will click for you.
Hi Sammi,
Yeah, you are right there is some control aspects to having not string now. Over the past few years that has gotten better and for sure it's my fingers knowing where to go and where to place them instead of adjusting them once they are on the strings. And also more confidence with changing chords and lifting off the fretboard whereas before I'd keep my fingers glued to the strings almost unnaturally since I couldn't change chords and I guess I developed a bad habit.
Thanks for your insights! Hope all is well :)
Hi Clay
The wounds strings are the worst! For me I found a couple of thing which may help. I have a tenancy for my thumb not being under the middle of my fingers, when it is there is an improvement. Also on the wound strings rather than thinking lift straight up I think push (slightly) away and up. Fingers perpendicular to the neck is another one that works for me. Also! I tense up when thing go wrong or hard so relaxing is something I try and control.
Well that's more than a couple of things you could see if they help. Main thing is ENJOY!
all the best
Andrew
Thank you Andrew for sharing your experience.
Yes! Very important to enjoy!
Tomo
Nice! Thanks for your insights. :)
Thanks Andrew -I'll work those ideas in. I've played my strat for years, and just bought an SG. I actually do better with it (not perfect). Not sure why, but pleased. However, even though I want to keep playing on the new baby, I might keep doing chromatic exercises on the strat since I know if I can nail it on that, I should be good on anything (electric).
Not a bad idea, Clay. Practice the hard way, so everything else becomes easier :)
Hi all
Just read Mija's post about using the soft part of your finger which made me revisit Tomos FB Blues Shuffle Bassline video at the beginning where he runs up to the V chord. I see he uses the soft part, and I might be wrong but, I think he pushes away very gently but it seems to work, just need to get consistency! Also a cheat... moisturizer your hand before playing :)
Enjoy
Thank you Andrew!
I always to try using less pressure as much as I can.
Thanks for sharing this.
Tomo
Just an update. Thanks Tomo for the latest chromatic scale video on YouTube. My problem is only on descending, and on the lower frets. I realized the other night that when I repositioned, I would stretch my thumb out toward the headstock. I think this was causing my fingers to just barely slide back as I pulled them off the string, causing noise. I tried to pay attention to keeping my thumb directly behind my pointer finger when I reposition. This has helped. Then I watched today's video, and confirmed that whenever Tomo repositions, he moves his thumb directly behind finger 1. Super helpful. I think with more practice, I'll rid myself of this little squeak.
Good eye Clay! Thanks for sharing this super helpful detail!
Kurt
Thank you for your update!
You're very welcome! I am focusing on foundation at my YouTube channel.
Basically you want to play as slow as you can without any noises.
Thumb position. Always moving and less pressure.
How relax your fingers are...
Move your fingers off frets straight (not sideway)
Good job!
Keep working.
Practicing is really fixing more than learning something new.
Thank you.
Tomo
Thanks for the update, Clay! Good detail. "Practicing is really fixing more than learning something new." That is some good wisdom right there!