Guitarists: Open String Noise?

[loansindi]

I am, as many of you know, a self-taught guitarist.

To date I mostly play rhythm, however I do have a problem I keep running into.

When I'm playing lead lines, or rhythm lines on my upper strings, I have issues keeping open, unplayed strings, from ringing out. Sometimes it's very hard to mute these strings with my right hand without causing almost as much noise with hand motion.

Sometimes I can mute these strings with my left hand, but other times I inadvertently cause them to ring.

So tell me, are there any tricks I haven't read about for managing string noise, or is it just something you've got to fight until you get the reflexes built in?

[Nosferatu-of-Worms]

Best advice is to just get used to dampening with your fretting hand. It took me awhile, but it definitely helped.

And I guess developing your coordination further would help some too.

[ZStriefel]

hey I'm not sure if this is something you've read about but a good way to practice is by playing "house of the rising sun" which is just Am C D F and start really slow just strumming each chords slowly and keep your attention on your (I'm assuming you strum with the right) left hand. Be aware of it at all times.

If a string that isn't supposed to be played is being strung use the nearest finger to gently mute it.

I'm not guitar instructor and this is probably like.. complete common sense. but maybe it'll help?

[PGegen]

If you're working only on the higher frets you can tie a sock around the neck near the nut, so it dampens the strings. Works on the same principle as The MAB String Dampener.

[loansindi]

At 9/21/09 02:02 AM, ZStriefel wrote: hey I'm not sure if this is something you've read about but a good way to practice is by playing "house of the rising sun" which is just Am C D F and start really slow just strumming each chords slowly and keep your attention on your (I'm assuming you strum with the right) left hand. Be aware of it at all times.

This is fine, but I don't generally have an issue with chords because it's fairly easy to mute unused strings. My problem really shows up playing lead lines or 1-2 string rhythm lines on the top strings.

If you're working only on the higher frets you can tie a sock around the neck near the nut, so it dampens the strings. Works on the same principle as The MAB String Dampener.

I've seen this before, reggie wooten does it sometimes (Granted he has a less than traditional playing style). But it's not really a good solution so much as a stopgap in my opinion.

[ZStriefel]

At 9/21/09 02:37 AM, loansindi wrote:

At 9/21/09 02:02 AM, ZStriefel wrote: hey I'm not sure if this is something you've read about but a good way to practice is by playing "house of the rising sun" which is just Am C D F and start really slow just strumming each chords slowly and keep your attention on your (I'm assuming you strum with the right) left hand. Be aware of it at all times.

This is fine, but I don't generally have an issue with chords because it's fairly easy to mute unused strings. My problem really shows up playing lead lines or 1-2 string rhythm lines on the top strings.

I'm sorry I didnt read the OP closely enough. My bad.
Well what I do is I palm mute by the bridge with my right hand and lightly lift up when you play each string. but no matter how much good advice Its defiantly something that takes time to develop. I guess the best advice would be practice as often as you can 2-3 hours a day every day or more if you can. you'll be shred'n like a badass in no time.

[thecoreman]

Make sure that when you shift one finger from a string to another you don't "pull it off". Also, the best technique to learn in order to avoid this is Sweep Picking.

Sweep it like a janitor, my man!

[LaForge]

At 9/21/09 01:19 AM, loansindi wrote: or is it just something you've got to fight until you get the reflexes built in?

Yes.

[Metaljonus]

Learn how to play LOL jk. It takes some time to develop good posture I guess. If there was a video or something of you playing it would be easier to give you advice. I need a visual man!

[SineRider]

Tie a sock to your fretboard :)

[Metaljonus]

lol a jizz sock would work or a thick hair tie.

[loansindi]

At 9/21/09 04:10 PM, Metaljonus wrote: Learn how to play LOL jk. It takes some time to develop good posture I guess. If there was a video or something of you playing it would be easier to give you advice. I need a visual man!

I think in the end it's just going to be a matter of balancing left and right hand muting.

RE socks'n'shit... i still don't consider that a proper, permanent solution so I'd rather not rely on a crutch like that.

[Dimoria]

At 9/21/09 07:12 AM, thecoreman wrote:

. Also, the best technique to learn in order to avoid this is Sweep Picking.

That is very not true.
Sweep picking is one of the hardes techniques to learn and master.
Do you do very long strokes when you do your downstrokes ?
Since a smaller motion will most likely not hit unwanted strings.
And as an above user said , try muting with your left hand as well. If I play powerchords on the 5:th and 4:th string I just use my pinky to mute the 6:th string and my first finger ( sorry forgot it's name ) to mute the other 3 . And if you do it right you can play how hard you want without getting so much if any unwanted string noice.
Listen to my songs and you will hear not so much unwanted sound or nothing.
If you have any more questions pm me.

[Metaljonus]

At 9/21/09 06:43 PM, loansindi wrote:

At 9/21/09 04:10 PM, Metaljonus wrote: Learn how to play LOL jk. It takes some time to develop good posture I guess. If there was a video or something of you playing it would be easier to give you advice. I need a visual man!

I think in the end it's just going to be a matter of balancing left and right hand muting.

RE socks'n'shit... i still don't consider that a proper, permanent solution so I'd rather not rely on a crutch like that.

It really does come down to that but when it comes to playing solos its alright to tie a sock around the neck to get rid of unnecessary string noise. AND! Its good for tapping too. And Dimoria you tell him girl lawlz. Sweep picking is a hard technique to get down but with practice and lots of pot you'll get it in no time haha jk.

[Sialys]

Just use a bandana.

Put it up on the first fret high enough that the notes can still be played well and not mute the strings.

That was my solution.

[loansindi]

At 9/21/09 07:09 PM, Dimoria wrote:

At 9/21/09 07:12 AM, thecoreman wrote:

. Also, the best technique to learn in order to avoid this is Sweep Picking.

That is very not true.

Right.

Since a smaller motion will most likely not hit unwanted strings.

The issue isn't hitting unwanted strings with the pick. It's noise from sympathetic vibrations mostly.

And as an above user said , try muting with your left hand as well. If I play powerchords on the 5:th and 4:th string I just use my pinky to mute the 6:th string and my first finger ( sorry forgot it's name ) to mute the other 3 . And if you do it right you can play how hard you want without getting so much if any unwanted string noice.

Well that's fine, but my issue isn't with power chords, especially on the bottom strings.

[jarrydn]

Fredrik from Meshuggah puts a piece of tape over the bottom three strings in this video.

[the-aenigma]

I've done work on many guitars and bass guitars. The problem it sounds like you are having may be easily fixed. The problem with the extra string noise and vibration is usually caused by the grooves not being properly cut on the nut. Even many new guitars have this problem. Everytime you change the nut, you have to always make sure you file down the grooves so that the strings fit perfectly. Otherwise when you strum it, you will hear extra vibration noise.

You may want to check the nut to make sure the strings are sitting properly in the grooves. If not, simply remove the string, take a nailfile, and file the groove as deep as it needs to be. Be careful though. If you file too much, you'll have to replace the nut!

[Kor-Rune]

It kind of becomes natural, like MJ said. Palm mutes the lower strings and left hand mutes the upper strings whenever you're playing. Eventually, as you gain finesse with playing, you will learn to hear for the extra noise, and it will bug you so much you'll find a natural way to mute it.

[Wahnsinn]

if you're recording it just manually cut the guitar samples. sounds natural as long as you put some kind of percussion hit at the exact moment the guitar stops. live just put a wristband/sock on your strings.

[Wahnsinn]

with experience though your reflexes will naturally start to make your playing sound better / tighter also.

[thecoreman]

At 9/21/09 08:27 PM, loansindi wrote:

At 9/21/09 07:09 PM, Dimoria wrote:

At 9/21/09 07:12 AM, thecoreman wrote:

. Also, the best technique to learn in order to avoid this is Sweep Picking.

That is very not true.

Right.

What I meant be that was that if you learn how to sweep pick, you will reflexively fight against that noise, therefore you will develop the muting technique.

[loansindi]

At 9/27/09 03:41 PM, thecoreman wrote: What I meant be that was that if you learn how to sweep pick, you will reflexively fight against that noise, therefore you will develop the muting technique.

Sweep picking isn't really related to lead lines.

[Alchemist94]

At 9/27/09 03:41 PM, loansindi wrote: Sweep picking isn't really related to lead lines.

I think he's talking about the way you learn to stop open string noise while sweeping, because when I first started sweeping, I could hear more open string noise than anything else, but now I've learned to stop it.

[Kor-Rune]

At 9/27/09 03:41 PM, loansindi wrote:

At 9/27/09 03:41 PM, thecoreman wrote: What I meant be that was that if you learn how to sweep pick, you will reflexively fight against that noise, therefore you will develop the muting technique.

Sweep picking isn't really related to lead lines.

The muting comfort you get when you learn sweep picking reaaaally helps add a natural feel to it. But really, if you've got down sweep picking, you've bound to at least got a decent grasp on muting already.

[Metaljonus]

I thought sweeping was side to side????

[Kor-Rune]

At 9/27/09 11:14 PM, Metaljonus wrote: I thought sweeping was side to side????

no silly, sweeping is that end part on eruption. learn your guitar

[Metaljonus]

oooooohhhh ok. Sorry mang I am a totally noob when it comes to guitar.

[loansindi]

At 9/27/09 10:46 PM, Kor-Rune wrote: The muting comfort you get when you learn sweep picking reaaaally helps add a natural feel to it. But really, if you've got down sweep picking, you've bound to at least got a decent grasp on muting already.

Yeah. Sweep picking is way beyond me, as a guitarist.

[thecoreman]

At 9/28/09 12:37 AM, loansindi wrote: Yeah. Sweep picking is way beyond me, as a guitarist.

I also thought this mate, I'm really not that a good guitarist. The only thing I am any good at is improvising and songwriting. Technique is my weak point. But I meant that you should mutings through sweep picking, because it's the most challenging way and therefore trains you the best.

But you know how you learn everything, in the end. Turn on your metronome and practice for hours. Either you get better, or you will have a psychotic episode which will result in a massive killing spree.

It's up to you