5 Ways to stop finger noise “squeaks” on guitar

[@JaxonBurn]

Bro that was the most effective start to a video I’ve ever seen

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thanks! Glad you liked it

[@DavidBostock-ti2fv]

Like nails on chalkboard and then not. Like nails on chalkboard and then not. Like nails on chalkboard and then not. Like nails on chalkboard and then not. Like nails on chalkboard and then not.

[@jeroenritmeester73]

That intro is all an intro needs to be. Just great.

[@nothingissomethingworthdoing]

Nice video. I wanted to get over my scratching noise and I looked up on KZbin and found your video. But then, I saved it for later because I didn't have the time to watch it then. This happened 6 months ago. And, just now, I finally got to watch your video. And, I gotta tell you that it's exactly what I needed. Thanks.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Glad it was helpful! Better late than never. :) Thanks for your comment.

[@VincentMersich]

Your instructions are always so clear and practical.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you :) I always take time to map out what I am going to say so the teaching can be concise.

[@marierandazzo9003]

I love that there is material from Classical Guitar Corner on KZbin! Simon, your lessons are all so clear and easy to understand and implement. I was so impressed with the lessons that I signed up for the Academy. Now I have access to an incredible array of materials and opportunities for such a reasonable yearly fee.

[@kconroyjoy]

This is such a great lesson! Super good points to implement. My fav was #4, finger placement! I'm even one of those who files down calluses occasionally 😅. For #5, another tip too is to use Fretfast on new strings to slightly help minimize the squeeky bright sound (it feels nice on the fingers too). Thank you for the great instruction, Dr. Powis! 👍

[@donnaz6069]

Another great instructional video! About 10 years ago, our church got a new organ. It included synthesized sounds. The “guitar” sound had string noise on every note! 😂

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Yes! Sibelius used to have those also. A little odd if you asked me but also quite entertaining.

[@nino8256]

The funny thing about this is that i was looking for this video as I was practicing Lagrima. This is a great video, it really helped me overcome the squeaks I couldn't get rid of while playing this beautiful piece. Thank you!

[@thenosebud]

That must’ve felt awesome. You were like, “well whaddya know, this is EXACTLY what I need”

[@GodsStoryteller]

You are a maestro! Tip 3 and 5 hit home. God bless you for improving my efforts at the guitar journey. I subscribed.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you and glad the video was helpful!

[@lethiapage4767]

I usually like that zwipp noise but I think you demonstrated here that maybe in classical guitar it can sound messy. In rock guitar both acoustic and elec i have always thought it adds to the music because it sounds authentic by product of the instrument. It's like...sometimes you might hear a singer breathe. If it's too prominent it's distracting but if you clean up all the human noise then you aren't listening to a person anymore.

[@fraimaimfr4942]

Nice job...super happy to see you on the "tube"

[@vishalquake3]

Gosh your videos of late have been so helpful !! Thank you & happy to see you recover to good health ! 😇🙌❤️

[@JPElectric]

This is such good advice and well presented. I love that you acknowledge, and appreciate that the guitar strings will make some noise. But then give really helpful advice on ways to play to minimise unwanted noise. Thank you.

[@cybythesea]

TOTALLY EFFECTIVE START TO CATCH YOUR EYE! (or ear) ! Great video! Probably one of the best instructional videos in how to play well!

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you and glad you enjoyed it!

[@freddiemanapat]

Excellent tips, as always! Thank you so much, Simon, for these helpful advices that make my guitar playing more alive and fulfilling. Glad to see you looking great, by the way!

[@russpalmeri]

Wonderful!! Great information well-presented.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you so much! So glad you fount it helpful

[@2011BIRR]

You are very good teacher! If I was some 40 years younger I´d enlist.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you! We actually do have Academy members in their 80s...in case you decide to give it some consideration. ;)

[@matthewgoss7577]

Perfect timing Simon - working on HVL No 4 at the moment, and I have this specific issue to deal with in the Animato. Thank you.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

That is a tricky passage on multiple levels!

[@mycofairbanks3321]

Thank you. Best lesson on the topic I have seen so far. String oils like Fast Fret could be useful to a small degree as well. In this case every little bit helps.

[@urbansocrates]

An excellent lesson. Thanks!

[@kylebohlinger6085]

so very informative!! i’m playing a folkier song, but the string noise is just decimating the lyricism of my phrasing! thank you so much for the help :-)

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Hi Kyle, so glad this was helpful! And, yes, these tips apply to multiple styles of guitar! Best wishes -Dave B

[@brendajet591]

So helpful ! thanks. You are very good at explaining.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Glad it was helpful, Brenda! Thanks for your nice comment.

[@BadEconomyOfficial]

I just wanted to say as a Black and Death Metal guitarist who needed a refresher on finger noise: Lagrima is one of THE MOST toughest songs you can play on classical guitar 🎸. Just subbed to your channel.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you and we hope you enjoy the content here!

[@BadEconomyOfficial]

@@ClassicalGuitarCorner No Problem 😉

[@LeleCapoeira]

Thank you so much!! Even better as I've been practicing Lagrima for a few months and the squeaks need to go!

[@JonHarris77]

Nice video! These techniques also apply to steel string guitar. Finger angle is my favorite one. Also, moisturizing or lubricating your fingers and/or strings can help, though you don't want to gum up your neck with any old thing. They make products for this such as Fast Fret.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Glad you enjoyed it! And, yes, these tips do indeed transfer across to steel-string -- great tip about moisturizing. Best wishes. -Dave B

[@FrancescoDiMauro]

Amazing! This is the kind of lesson that, at the right time in your development as a guitar player, can really make the difference on how good you're going to get. That's why I'm always skeptical of self-taught players...

[@ShutupAndPlayGuitarTutorials]

Excellent vido! Thanks.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you and glad you enjoyed it!

[@Chris-TMH]

Great video and beautiful playing btw. Do you ever use string and fretboard lubricant? I was wondering because I really do like to slide my fingers on the fretboard, I love the contact. Do you think that it's better to train your muscle memory to lift and shift?

[@mycofairbanks3321]

I was thinking the same thing. I use it and found it doesn't eliminate it without other measures employed such as finger angle and pressure.

[@Chris-TMH]

@@mycofairbanks3321 That's really useful information. I've never used the fretboard/string lubricant but I've heard it was good but if it does not eliminate the sound of the squeaks then I think I just need to perfect my movements accordingly. Thank you for the information. 🎸👍

[@williamespinoza1540]

The tip on the altering the angle of the fingertips for slides is actually insane. The string noise was completely ruining this one section of a song for me and that instantly fixed it. Do you ever do any tips that are oriented to non classic acoustic guitars?

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Hi William, I am so glad this video was helpful! Regarding your question, at the moment there is no plan to do tutorial on non classic material.

[@meangreenmachine616]

Very helpful thank you for this video! Just beginning my venture into classical after years playing electric only, different discipline entirely but I just love playing classical music 🎶 🎵 😊

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Welcome to the journey, Mean Green Machine! We hope CGC can help get you on your way. We're always here to help out. -Dave B

[@sprucesp]

Excellent video

[@chadwicks_guitar]

When you say “polished” , are you referring to flat wound strings. I have them on one of my electrics and there is virtually no string noise and it gives a very mellow tone.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Hi Chad, I believe that they are two different types of strings. Polished and semi-polished start out as normal strings but the edges are polished by machines to be smoother. Flat wound strings use a different metal shape from the beginning.

[@ALXandroATS]

Great tips, thanks.

[@hayesdabney]

Badass intro!

[@nevaemusic]

Thank you so much 🙏

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you for your comment!

[@vaunjeis6751]

Powerful intro.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Hope it was useful for you in your practice and playing!

[@michaellauinger7406]

Beautifully played.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you!

[@nadeemkhan-official-music4522]

Very good video - it was helpful

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you, Nadeem!

[@AaronWillmon]

I’m working on an arrangement right now that is very squeaky!

[@ashgonza92]

this helped me with playing bass guitar

[@joelpenazzo7248]

Great tips.. Thank

[@CosasdeDios1089]

Great unformati9n and well presented. Thanks. What happens with carbon fiber strings? Are they squeeky too?

[@dariobarlocco]

grazie maestro per i consigli preziosi

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thanks for the comment, Dario! Glad it was helpful.

[@natalia._.whattt]

I love that noise sm

[@Skinny_Karlos]

I found a breakthrough in this regard from John Williams who uses Daddarrio EJ45LP (lightly polished) and he swears by them as reducing string squeak. Try them, they're great tonally andreduce string sqeak by a lot, a LOT !! Dadarrio EJ45LP !!

[@LL4love]

Thanks very much! it is quite useful to me. How about using wax to cover the base strings? I think it can reduce the scrag of these strings, can't it?

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

You are very welcome! I believe there are some products (like Kari mentioned here in the comments with Fretfast) that can coat your strings for a smoother feel. I haven't used them myself so I can't say if it helps. When in doubt... experiment!

[@kromatikstudio]

you are fantastic..

[@jeremybroun8657]

Apart from the useful finger techniques shown here Its a mystery to me that some of my nylon strung guitars squeak and others dont. You dont mention equaliser settings when amplifying the guitar. I find this together with wearing in new strings seems to eliminate this irritating squeal without dulling the tone of the guitar.

[@fortybirds2035]

Good stuff.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thank you!

[@zensational.]

I use sliding chords/notes as a big part of my playing, I have started using Monel strings (nickel wound instead brass) and playing "custom light" gauge strings. I finally got a Martin - but the strings on it look good and sound great, except when I slide - they're SO scratchy sounding. Tried to clean them and I just can't get it to stop. Going to have to prematurely change them and I usually play them way past their prime. They must of oxidized too much and the gauge is too heavy for how high the action is. Pressing harder helps but not completely and it hurts.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Hi Zensation, Simon's tip of sliding off angle when you have to slide may help, but those nickel wound brass strings will squeak even more than our bass strings on classical! -Dave B

[@zensational.]

Yeah very true! I use to have a nice classical but it was stolen, it's was very smooth.

[@evangarydeans]

Can someone help, I can’t find anything anywhere on google on KZbin. But each time I remove my finger from a string it’ll play that note. It seems like the string sticks to my fingers, and I’ve tried pressing down less hard- I’ve even just left my finger on the string and not pushed down- but when I take it off it plays the note. This makes it impossible to play any music as every time any of my fingers move it plays the string note flat. I cannot fix it, does anyone have any help?

[@isaactuberoso4443]

Get new strings Practice coming off gently Make sure left hand position is on point You may still be pressing to hard Practice that as well

[@joelpenazzo7248]

Great 😊thanks

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SaenzFonsi]

Thank you.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

You're welcome! We hope it was useful. - Dave B

[@Watupm]

Thanks man

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

You're most welcome and hope it was helpful.

[@persiaguitar]

Any oil or some thing to make life easier?

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Many string companies make polished bass strings, which are made to reduce squeaks for recording specifically -- other than that, the only way out are the tips Simon offers here! Best of luck. - Dave B

[@UrbFoxFact]

dude.....the only squeaking i get is with the right hand fingerpick. how do you get rid of that?

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Hi Julian, this has to do with angle of attack, consistency of point of contact, and the length and shape of nails. In other words, it will take a bit of experimentation to narrow down what is causing these clicks and squeaks in the right hand. Sometimes it's just one of these, other times it's a combination of them. Hope this helps. -Dave

[@UrbFoxFact]

@@ClassicalGuitarCorner thanks dave….i think for me it’s probably the strings themselves. i have no fingernails. 🤟🏻

[@18CC]

I thought there is a product to drop on the strings to "oil" them.

[@SB-ht6kf]

The technique he is teaching is not good habit to progress technical playing. What you want to get to is subtle muting of the string right as you slide with your picking hand. If done correctly you will not hear the slide of the fretting hand...and you can slide with contact on the strings for better note to note transitions. The way you do it is to roll the meat of your index finger lightly down across the strings right as the transition happens, then resume finger picking once the chord transition is complete. You can also achieve this with a palm like mute with very light pressure on acoustics. Tomomusic has some great videos how to mute properly. You can use his funk techniques for classical guitar as the same principals are applied for proper muting.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

There are some instances where you want to maintain legato on the strings and shift quickly, however. Lagrima and the Villa-Lobos Prelude 4 are both examples where right-hand muting will interrupt legato and make the sound choppy. In these cases you need to use the "lift and shift" strategy or some other solution to reduce the squeaks. Thanks for your comment and best wishes.

[@sirpanek3263]

I was playing a song for my gf and she said she didnt like the squeeking. So here i am

[@Guithulhu]

My biggest challenge, especially when recording classical guitar.

[@jesseawiten8480]

when i lift my finger,guitar strings make a sound how to stop it

[@markus-hermannkoch1740]

Found an important squeak source: Putting the recording smart phone onto the nearby table. Artfully situated, around 5 inches from the fretboard, and around 20 inches from the sound hole. 🤪

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Hi Markus, good point! Squeaks can be more apparent on recordings if mics are too close (the same goes with breathing). ;) -Dave

[@skyfisher]

im actuallt learning lagrima right now

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Perfect timing then!

[@silverwings1843]

The only real cure is Flat Wound Strings. But then you have lost all vibrant frequencies. So its up to the mixing talents to alleviate !!!!

[@pascalsolal]

But I love squeaks! It's a part of the playing.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Hello Pascal, of course the squeak is part of the playing! It's just good to know some strategies to reduce it when we feel the need to. Niki form CGC

[@ItDawnedUponUs]

So it's impossible? Got it

[@-Banana-Bro-]

I am in a guitar class and all I hear from my classmates is string noise

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Give them these tips! ;) In a nice and encouraging way of course. :)

[@oceantree5000]

Next we’ll eliminate the sound of the grooves from vinyl albums…

[@DeathMonky22]

Every time i hear this sound, i basically feel like the artist stopped actually caring about their song, and immediately lose interest. It urks me. I don't see how this noise adds anything, except by those that think imperfections are what make a piece special instead of the actual effort behind a great piece with great execution.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

Thanks for sharing your perspective. Luckily it's a noise that can indeed be controlled, even if it can't always be completely eliminated.

[@dustinrolstad752]

I was hoping you were going to have an amp setting or something that didn't require me being talented.

[@ClassicalGuitarCorner]

LOL! No talent needed! Just have to be a bit crafty. The "lift and shift" technique is difficult to coordinate at first, but with some practice you can do it! -Dave B