string noise - a question

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eccullen

Posts: 97
Joined: Aug. 14 2007

string noise - a question

What makes string noise louder on some guitars than others ?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 12 2008 15:57:47

Ricardo

Posts: 14801
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: string noise - a question (in reply to eccullen)

quote:

ORIGINAL: eccullen

What makes string noise louder on some guitars than others ?

depends which "noise" you mean? Buzzing comes in different forms if that is what you mean. There is the kind from low action, the string hits the frets between your finger and the bridge. The other kind happens BEHIND your finger against a fret between finger/capo and nut. That kind is caused by a sympathetic vibration (6th string typically) of a note in your fretted chord or whatever, under your barre or held note, or capo. In either case, the problem is fixed by putting a small shim under the saddle or nut depending.

Ricardo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2008 5:58:46

eccullen

Posts: 97
Joined: Aug. 14 2007

RE: string noise - a question (in reply to eccullen)

thank you, but I see that really was an unclear question: I mean the noise from touching the strings, moving fingers, sliding, up or down the string, etc.
For example my classical guitar which is loud has much louder finger noise from moving on the string, and it is more difficult to moderate it, than on my flamenco guitar which is also loud. The other usual differences otherwise exist between the two.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 12 2008 22:46:20

Pgh_flamenco

Posts: 1506
Joined: Dec. 5 2007
From: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

RE: string noise - a question (in reply to eccullen)

quote:

I mean the noise from touching the strings, moving fingers, sliding, up or down the string, etc.

I take it you are referring to the "swishing" noise made when your fingers move along or off of the wound strings?

I think Pepe Romero has developed his technique to the point that he no longer makes this noise or at least he has almost eliminated it from his playing. It might be a question of developing a more refined technique. On electric guitar people like Eric Johnson have spent years practicing to eliminate the clicking sound of the pick attack on the strings, too.

Strings might be a factor--this quote is from the D'adario website: "On our Lightly Polished Composites, each wound string surface is polished to reduce finger noise - great for recording!"

Pro Arte Composites - Laser Selected Trebles

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2008 1:13:42

Pgh_flamenco

Posts: 1506
Joined: Dec. 5 2007
From: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

RE: string noise - a question (in reply to Pgh_flamenco)

My response above posted twice for some reason...so I deleted it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2008 1:15:28

HemeolaMan

Posts: 1514
Joined: Jul. 13 2007
From: Chicago

RE: string noise - a question (in reply to Pgh_flamenco)

well if you are desperate to even it out, you can use baby powder or foot powder on the strings and finger tips

i did that once in the summer (104 degrees!) during a jury i had to do. i played a pieces with a section that had a ridiculous amount of movement and my hands were alll sweaty!! baby powder to the rescue!

just remember to clean it off afterwards. I didn't and everything got all gunky. luckily i threw that guitar in a river so its not my problem anymore!

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2008 3:56:25

eccullen

Posts: 97
Joined: Aug. 14 2007

RE: string noise - a question (in reply to eccullen)

I meant this question to be not about technique but about structural elements of guitars.
It seems that the swishing noise is a higher frequency sound. My blanca is "brighter", sharper, than my classical, both are loud instruments, yet the swishing noise is louder on the classical; it seems like it should be the opposite.
So I am curious what makes this quality or problem different from guitar to guitar?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2008 5:36:42

Ricardo

Posts: 14801
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: string noise - a question (in reply to eccullen)

I know exactly what you mean, and I don't really know for sure. I can tell my classical guitar is more sensititve and it comes out more, but the instrument sustains more and has many more overtones and such. The flamencos are more "percussive" they decay much quicker, so the noises are lost. For the same reason, any mistakes on the flamencos are BLARING, where as the classical guitar is more "forgiving" if that makes sense. That is all part of it IMO.

Having said all that, I will say that I personally LOVE those squeeks. That is the thing I like most about guitar, the noises it makes. I remember seeing Van Halen on TV as a kid, and hearing his finger slides on the strings (live w/out a net 87). I thought "man that guy is REALLY playing!" because that sound I hear from my dad practicing all the time (classical guitar). It makes a special "intimate" vibe for me that I love. Without those little noises and stuff, guitar recordings sound sterile to me.

Ricardo

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2008 7:23:28