Guitar strings, Squeak or No-Squeak

[YoungmanGuitar]

Nice playing. I'm the kind of player that likes a little bit of squeak. As a classically trained guitarist I was taught how to control the squeaks with technique. This allows me to get the strings that create the best tone and not have to worry if they will squeak or not.

[damnation1928]

I like some squeaks but not too much.

[huntedrasta]

Jad Azkoul, like all true Carlevaro-style teachers, has a beautiful un-squeaky sound. One of the most intrinsic elements of the Carlevaro technique is the absence of unwanted sounds, such as squeaks (which in most cases is not on purpose). Also according to Carlevaro technique, it is not the instrument nor the strings ultimately which will dictate whether or not there are squeaks: it is the technique they use. Nice video by the way !

[pcfaulkner]

boil your strings for a few mins to loosen them up before stringing,(steel only) i never string up if they are cold, might be bullshit but its just the way i do things and they seem to last ages and can take some bending allright

[Sleyt707]

@pcfaulkner Boil?

[pcfaulkner]

@Sleyt707 yeah boil em, just a few mins give it a try

[Thunderklok]

It may depend on the song, I think. Sqeaks sound good in one spot and may not in another. I have (at least one) CD track that would have benefited from the squeakless strings. BUT - The squeaks sounds good to me when the parts are slowly getting harder to play and faster etc. -

[skyhighkyguy]

both sound like shit. the first one you just emphasized the shittyness

[lamecamera]

somehow i like both sounds

[ipoodaily]

no squeak

[floydxfloyd]

any tips on how to make your strings sound less like uhm whats the word? like make it so they dont vibrate? i just put on new strings that may be it but i want to know how i can stop this, and its an electric guitar.

[cbrandom]

@floydxfloyd You gettin fret buzz? If you have a cheap guitar, it's hard to elimate completely. You guitar needs to be set up. I.E. have the action set and more importantly, the neck may been to be tweaked.

[AlmightyPeter]

no squek if definitly more better . .

[Dave54600]

Help me out guys. I like squeaks when I'm listening to someone who knows what they're doing. As a beginner myself, my guitar is really frying my cabbage with the squeaking. Any suggestions on ways I can combat this?

[GameLevelEditor]

I have an ovation legend with med strings and slightly high action. The low e and a string needs a nut filing to bring it a bit closer to the fret and the neck relief could be straightened. Its in standard pitch.. Strings a bit tight pressing down to chord on frets so when i slide up to notes or chordal phrase "squeaks are more pronounced' on wound strings. I have an articulate style and aware to reduce noise by technique but neck setup and light strings might help more. Lubricant?

[RealEros1]

strange ha never knew people loved squeaks I personally prefer a smooth sound is there a site instead where I can go to order these strings?

[XxRockxTomxX]

What's a good brand that DOESNT squeak??

[Bo0kRevieweR]

Definitely NO SQUEAK !!

[bluesmann8]

finger ease sprayed on a pinched cloth. pinch the string and clean from top to bottom. one can will last a lifetime

[uribity]

Also, I want to add that it adds character to the song. What would Jack Johnson's "If I Could" be without the squeak?

[uribity]

I love the squeaks, and is one of the reasons I prefer acoustic versions of songs over the electric versions. I didn't even know what caused that sound until I got a guitar myself. I love the squeak sound so much I was Googling to see if there was a technical name put to it. That's how I stubbled upon this video.

[cmdiaz1]

oh i love the squeaks. more when they are amplified!!

[IcyMidnight]

Don't like the squeaks.

[Odin828]

I want to hear the music from the strings.

Squeaks are not music.

IMO

[allfatz]

Sometimes, squeaks sound good with the song.

[ueffect]

hmmm... when using echo the squeaks really stand out and disturbs, especially when the player slides often and not in constant patterns. Then again the polished strings lose a bit of the treble (understandingly) so they lose that extra ring there (almost reminds me of the nylon sound). Which is not a bad thing at all. These have a great a "clean" sound.

[bransonguitar]

Sorry, no edits and no EQ. What you see is what you get. Jim G.

[MieluChitaristu]

@bransonguitar so if I want non-squeaky steel strings for my acoustic guitar, is there a way to order them online without calling? (I live in Europe)

[Ataral]

If one concentrades on the music he/she has not idea about the question of if he had heart any squeaks after the performance..I personally am irritated by the squeaks coming my finger touchs to the guitar necks more than strings :)

[longislandmyniggas]

the squeaks are annoying while practicing...but give life to the sound.....btw you are amazing exceptional player

[redking15ca]

or you could just buy elixir polywebs.... for like 12-15 bucks... HMMMM

[drpiercy]

I'm presently trying to find some non-squeaking nylon strings for my classical guitar. The D'addario ones I have now squeak so much I can't stand the noise and don't like playing! Any advice is welcomed!

Dave

[bransonguitar]

@drpiercy Dave, try the D'Addario J51 Recording Strings. I invented them. You can order the directly from D'Addarrio.

Jim Greeninger

[drpiercy]

Thanks for that Jim, I'll get some.

Dave

[snowypetrel]

@drpiercy Stop putting new ones on just play what's on there and make them you own.Joao Gilberto never seemed troubled by it?

[drpiercy]

Snowypetrel - that really is a silly remark. I just did not want to hear the sounds produced by the guitar - I hated playing and so I didn't. I'm now using different strings, much, much better and love the sound I'm getting now. Regards Dave

[snowypetrel]

@drpiercy Condescending word "silly". Stick to your frustration with strings if you like, seriously if you are a musician do you not value the feeling of well worn in strings and a tone developed over time? I am not silly.

[drpiercy]

When the squeaks are louder than the notes, the sounds are no longer musical - to my ears at least. I've been playing for many years, so I'm not a newbie.

[beedaughter]

I'm just a listener and I prefer listening to NO squeeks...just the music.

[chingvang559]

Love light squeaks................makes it sound alive

[redking15ca]

same here even before i played guitar...

[sasumekyoto34]

I''m a listener and hope to be a player, and I like the squeaks.  It gives the guiar a persona...

[3applez3]

i like the squeaks too :)

[wzbzbz]

I'm a guitar player myself. I like the squeak more (to some extent, the shown example was a bit too extreme in my opinion). I think squeaks make it sound more natural and "real", which is something is a sound I like to emphasize when playing acoustic guitar.

[oconnaugh]

iM A PLAYER AND i HATE THE SQUEAKS

[Zaidalboy]

like it more without noise or squeak

i'm just listener

thanks though

[maximillion301]

What if there was no string noise? That's a noob question and noob playing.

[youoldduffer]

I'm a blue steel man me, although i like the sound of ernie ball slinkies i keep snapping them and the first string always unwinds.

[bransonguitar]

You may have a problem with the nut or tuning machine roller having too sharp of an edge.

Jim

[youoldduffer]

thought that too but its just with ernie balls, tried loads of other strings and no undue snappage.

[6y298]

Boy, this is a toughie - I've grown to just accept, even like the string noise as part and parcel of the unique character of acoustics (and some other instruments). This is especially true in a band context, the squeak helps define the acoustic.

[toober222]

Wow, so many here are defending a preference for squeaks. I wonder if some are doing so because they can't improve their own squeaky playing no matter what. (IOW, sour grapes?)

[farinhaguitarrista]

in my opinion ... depends a lot on the feeling you want to give o_O i myself really like to listen to the squeaks because like Beshimi said and very well, gives and intimate feel to the music AND! reminds you that it is a human playing xD that is very important for me :P gives a way diferent point of view when listening to a song ^^

[Beshimi]

i have always viewed fret noise as a completely positive thing. i think it gives a more intimate feel to the music, and reminds you that it is a human playing what you are listening to.

[nutmegger1957]

I was always taught that "technique" had a lot to do with how much "squeak" was present. All you'd have to do is play a bit more carelessly, to cause it.

On the other hand........

[ehrlich3]

It's about the music, not the squeeks...  Good job!

[hillstudios]

i have always liked the squeaks.. i feel thats a part of playing and it sounds good..

[alkalineburner]

It's like any other sound; it's another tool to make your song sound right. sometimes it's the right sound for the songs, other times it just distracts

[likskirtspleetscreen]

3.07 He's hand is oiled. true that u don't use oiled based material, but when i play i don't want fish style hand. There is the right balancing between squeak or not to squeak... this is the problem

[bransonguitar]

False. No oil or any other tricks, just great polished strings.

Jim Greeninger

BransonGuitar

[skempgmx]

hi, I'm hobby guitarist and think the squeaking noise is quite disturbing. I guess I'll try polished strings too some day.

btw beatiful guitar playing :-)

[lw216316]

since no price range is mentioned, I take it they are very expensive.

I'm interested, but give me some idea of the price first.

Are these for both steel and nylon string guitars ?

- Larry

[spectrumifs]

P.S. Beautiful playing!

[spectrumifs]

Much better without squeaks. Something, though, sounds 'rubber-y' and unnatural with the electronics.

[hezzart]

No matter what, it sounds fantastic. And I disagree that it sounds 'artificial'. I think it sounds unique and really jazzy!

In this particular, I do like the polished string-sound more because it sounds much warmer and full.

[dorielementary]

It's not the string noise that bugs me so much as the pickup you have chosen to use. It makes the guitar sound artificial and downright weird.

[bransonguitar]

Same pickup for both takes. The idea was to show squeak and no-squeak on the same guitar. It actually sounds quite good in person. Also, live everyone likes no-squeak.

JG

[Roscojo]

the perfect amount of squeak is the key.

To much is annoying.

To little sounds sterile and almost computer like.

I think rhe wd40 or lube trick is probably the compromise.

I do like the No-squeak strings.

I wonder if those strings can come in different grades to allow for more control.

For instance, less squeak on low E for an acoustic funk-bass sound.

[JohnnyWheelerMusic]

String squeak always annoyed me, from the time I started playing in the early 60's. I have always thought the sound distracting especially at higher volumes and higer tone levels. I really liked playing on flat wound strings. They impart a warmer feeling to the sound as well...I really like the sound of these strings though! They are bright and clean! Thanks for posting this.

Johnny

[EddieBear631]

I'm a 3+ decade player and listener. A certain amount of squeak sounds very natural. I'll admit, an excessive amount can be a bit annoying. And it makes me a bit sad to more often times see it suppressed in studio recordings. But it can be overcome using a lightly wiped coat of string lube or even WD-40 (yes, I'm sick; but it's effective). On a lighter note, that's some excellent and sweet playing. :) -EB

[CodyAllenmusic]

I am both a listener and a player. And I think that the squeek gives the sound a really natural feel, and you know that it isn't just some MIDI port playing the music, and it's a person.

[ukeespencer]

anyway you sound great. it depends on the music but more often than not no squeak is best but thats just personal pref

[MonaeJohnson]

show off, god i wish i were that good, hint:the end

[DamianRucci]

Well I guess it all depends on the music. Nirvana perfects this in their acoustic playings adding to its "grunginess" and roughness of musical sound. Great vid and topic.

[GYGsam]

i would say that it really depends on the music, i've heard songs that sound great with the squeak, it sounds musical, but in other cases, it sounds unprofessional.... not sure how that works, but it goes in my mind :D

[NailedSolo]

man

tabs plox XD

great job

[salvamg89]

i wonder what it feels like to play on those strings, they sure sound nice.

also, i watched you video on "recuerdos de la alhambra", awesome! i can't believe you were studying with andres segovia! you're so lucky!

[xneapolisx]

aha! That's what I was thinking! This man can play without strings, and it'd prolly sound amazing! xD

[TheBlueFuzz]

Wow! A video I can learn from. Clear, correct camera angle, cool music; walkin bass scales, what else can a man need. A+ on the camera work.

[RetinendParadox]

It's a real joy to watch you play.

[bransonguitar]

Thanks, I wrote it about ten years ago. I called it "Emerald City Blues" (about Seattle). Jim G.

[taylor410ce]

cool song.

[bransonguitar]

Artur,

I have the machine that precision polishes any make of strings. If you want some just contact me: jimmyguitar@juno(dot)com

Jim Greeninger

[donPabloArturo]

I remember 25 years ago my first Thomastic strings. This same effect. What firm and model of this new strings You use?

Greet. Artur

[guitar2adam]

i like a little string noise, but too much ruins the music. i do like the tone of the polished strings

[zbguitars]

your playing is awesome as always my friend. Thank you

[marcorusso70]

armonioso, mordibo, equilibrato