What is this scratchy sound on the acoustic guitar called?
This is surely a basic question, but I have no idea about guitars.
Take the following song as an example:
At the 7 second mark, but more prominently between 8 and 9 seconds (and many other times) you can hear some kind of "transitioning" screechy sounds.
Does this have a name? Is it intentional and part of the music or an undesirable byproduct? It seems to give some "texture" to the sound, but I have no idea. I do hear it often in many songs though.
acoustic-guitar
New contributor
add a comment |
This is surely a basic question, but I have no idea about guitars.
Take the following song as an example:
At the 7 second mark, but more prominently between 8 and 9 seconds (and many other times) you can hear some kind of "transitioning" screechy sounds.
Does this have a name? Is it intentional and part of the music or an undesirable byproduct? It seems to give some "texture" to the sound, but I have no idea. I do hear it often in many songs though.
acoustic-guitar
New contributor
add a comment |
This is surely a basic question, but I have no idea about guitars.
Take the following song as an example:
At the 7 second mark, but more prominently between 8 and 9 seconds (and many other times) you can hear some kind of "transitioning" screechy sounds.
Does this have a name? Is it intentional and part of the music or an undesirable byproduct? It seems to give some "texture" to the sound, but I have no idea. I do hear it often in many songs though.
acoustic-guitar
New contributor
This is surely a basic question, but I have no idea about guitars.
Take the following song as an example:
At the 7 second mark, but more prominently between 8 and 9 seconds (and many other times) you can hear some kind of "transitioning" screechy sounds.
Does this have a name? Is it intentional and part of the music or an undesirable byproduct? It seems to give some "texture" to the sound, but I have no idea. I do hear it often in many songs though.
acoustic-guitar
acoustic-guitar
New contributor
New contributor
New contributor
asked 5 hours ago
isarandiisarandi
1161
1161
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3 Answers
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It's caused by sliding the fingers along the wound (usually bottom three or four) strings. It often can't be helped, and is just part of guitar playing. There are strings available that are smoother, so don't produce anywhere near that sort of string noise, and some modern players use a plectrum to make those sounds on purpose.
It's never actually prescribed for most performances on guitar, and more discerning (?) players will try to avoid making those sounds.
String noise or string scratch is about as technical a term as it gets.
Another descriptive phrase I hear a lot is "string squeak."
– David Bowling
4 hours ago
"Fret noise" is the term I've heard and read most often.
– Todd Wilcox
4 hours ago
@ToddWilcox - could be. Another misnomer, as it really has nothing to do with frets themselves. I suppose it follows tremolo and vibrato - it wasn't coined by a Mr. Fender, was it..?
– Tim
3 hours ago
I think "fret noise" is a shortened version of a phrase like, "the noise made when changing frets or when fretting notes". Also, it seems to be more recording engineers who use the term "fret noise" than musicians, so perhaps that's not the most helpful term.
– Todd Wilcox
2 hours ago
add a comment |
I have always called it string squeak. It is particularly noticeable on acoustic guitars. It seems that others use the term.
How to get rid of guitar string squeak
add a comment |
I don't think it has a name.
It's an unintentional byproduct but for many it's strangely comforting element of music as it adds a bit of grit and "natural" feel to the performance.
In classical guitar world modern players rather strive to minimize those sounds and a fluid and quiet transitions are a mark of modern virtuosos. As an example check out Marcin Dylla performances.
add a comment |
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
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votes
active
oldest
votes
It's caused by sliding the fingers along the wound (usually bottom three or four) strings. It often can't be helped, and is just part of guitar playing. There are strings available that are smoother, so don't produce anywhere near that sort of string noise, and some modern players use a plectrum to make those sounds on purpose.
It's never actually prescribed for most performances on guitar, and more discerning (?) players will try to avoid making those sounds.
String noise or string scratch is about as technical a term as it gets.
Another descriptive phrase I hear a lot is "string squeak."
– David Bowling
4 hours ago
"Fret noise" is the term I've heard and read most often.
– Todd Wilcox
4 hours ago
@ToddWilcox - could be. Another misnomer, as it really has nothing to do with frets themselves. I suppose it follows tremolo and vibrato - it wasn't coined by a Mr. Fender, was it..?
– Tim
3 hours ago
I think "fret noise" is a shortened version of a phrase like, "the noise made when changing frets or when fretting notes". Also, it seems to be more recording engineers who use the term "fret noise" than musicians, so perhaps that's not the most helpful term.
– Todd Wilcox
2 hours ago
add a comment |
It's caused by sliding the fingers along the wound (usually bottom three or four) strings. It often can't be helped, and is just part of guitar playing. There are strings available that are smoother, so don't produce anywhere near that sort of string noise, and some modern players use a plectrum to make those sounds on purpose.
It's never actually prescribed for most performances on guitar, and more discerning (?) players will try to avoid making those sounds.
String noise or string scratch is about as technical a term as it gets.
Another descriptive phrase I hear a lot is "string squeak."
– David Bowling
4 hours ago
"Fret noise" is the term I've heard and read most often.
– Todd Wilcox
4 hours ago
@ToddWilcox - could be. Another misnomer, as it really has nothing to do with frets themselves. I suppose it follows tremolo and vibrato - it wasn't coined by a Mr. Fender, was it..?
– Tim
3 hours ago
I think "fret noise" is a shortened version of a phrase like, "the noise made when changing frets or when fretting notes". Also, it seems to be more recording engineers who use the term "fret noise" than musicians, so perhaps that's not the most helpful term.
– Todd Wilcox
2 hours ago
add a comment |
It's caused by sliding the fingers along the wound (usually bottom three or four) strings. It often can't be helped, and is just part of guitar playing. There are strings available that are smoother, so don't produce anywhere near that sort of string noise, and some modern players use a plectrum to make those sounds on purpose.
It's never actually prescribed for most performances on guitar, and more discerning (?) players will try to avoid making those sounds.
String noise or string scratch is about as technical a term as it gets.
It's caused by sliding the fingers along the wound (usually bottom three or four) strings. It often can't be helped, and is just part of guitar playing. There are strings available that are smoother, so don't produce anywhere near that sort of string noise, and some modern players use a plectrum to make those sounds on purpose.
It's never actually prescribed for most performances on guitar, and more discerning (?) players will try to avoid making those sounds.
String noise or string scratch is about as technical a term as it gets.
answered 5 hours ago
TimTim
104k10107261
104k10107261
Another descriptive phrase I hear a lot is "string squeak."
– David Bowling
4 hours ago
"Fret noise" is the term I've heard and read most often.
– Todd Wilcox
4 hours ago
@ToddWilcox - could be. Another misnomer, as it really has nothing to do with frets themselves. I suppose it follows tremolo and vibrato - it wasn't coined by a Mr. Fender, was it..?
– Tim
3 hours ago
I think "fret noise" is a shortened version of a phrase like, "the noise made when changing frets or when fretting notes". Also, it seems to be more recording engineers who use the term "fret noise" than musicians, so perhaps that's not the most helpful term.
– Todd Wilcox
2 hours ago
add a comment |
Another descriptive phrase I hear a lot is "string squeak."
– David Bowling
4 hours ago
"Fret noise" is the term I've heard and read most often.
– Todd Wilcox
4 hours ago
@ToddWilcox - could be. Another misnomer, as it really has nothing to do with frets themselves. I suppose it follows tremolo and vibrato - it wasn't coined by a Mr. Fender, was it..?
– Tim
3 hours ago
I think "fret noise" is a shortened version of a phrase like, "the noise made when changing frets or when fretting notes". Also, it seems to be more recording engineers who use the term "fret noise" than musicians, so perhaps that's not the most helpful term.
– Todd Wilcox
2 hours ago
Another descriptive phrase I hear a lot is "string squeak."
– David Bowling
4 hours ago
Another descriptive phrase I hear a lot is "string squeak."
– David Bowling
4 hours ago
"Fret noise" is the term I've heard and read most often.
– Todd Wilcox
4 hours ago
"Fret noise" is the term I've heard and read most often.
– Todd Wilcox
4 hours ago
@ToddWilcox - could be. Another misnomer, as it really has nothing to do with frets themselves. I suppose it follows tremolo and vibrato - it wasn't coined by a Mr. Fender, was it..?
– Tim
3 hours ago
@ToddWilcox - could be. Another misnomer, as it really has nothing to do with frets themselves. I suppose it follows tremolo and vibrato - it wasn't coined by a Mr. Fender, was it..?
– Tim
3 hours ago
I think "fret noise" is a shortened version of a phrase like, "the noise made when changing frets or when fretting notes". Also, it seems to be more recording engineers who use the term "fret noise" than musicians, so perhaps that's not the most helpful term.
– Todd Wilcox
2 hours ago
I think "fret noise" is a shortened version of a phrase like, "the noise made when changing frets or when fretting notes". Also, it seems to be more recording engineers who use the term "fret noise" than musicians, so perhaps that's not the most helpful term.
– Todd Wilcox
2 hours ago
add a comment |
I have always called it string squeak. It is particularly noticeable on acoustic guitars. It seems that others use the term.
How to get rid of guitar string squeak
add a comment |
I have always called it string squeak. It is particularly noticeable on acoustic guitars. It seems that others use the term.
How to get rid of guitar string squeak
add a comment |
I have always called it string squeak. It is particularly noticeable on acoustic guitars. It seems that others use the term.
How to get rid of guitar string squeak
I have always called it string squeak. It is particularly noticeable on acoustic guitars. It seems that others use the term.
How to get rid of guitar string squeak
answered 4 hours ago
chasly from UKchasly from UK
49027
49027
add a comment |
add a comment |
I don't think it has a name.
It's an unintentional byproduct but for many it's strangely comforting element of music as it adds a bit of grit and "natural" feel to the performance.
In classical guitar world modern players rather strive to minimize those sounds and a fluid and quiet transitions are a mark of modern virtuosos. As an example check out Marcin Dylla performances.
add a comment |
I don't think it has a name.
It's an unintentional byproduct but for many it's strangely comforting element of music as it adds a bit of grit and "natural" feel to the performance.
In classical guitar world modern players rather strive to minimize those sounds and a fluid and quiet transitions are a mark of modern virtuosos. As an example check out Marcin Dylla performances.
add a comment |
I don't think it has a name.
It's an unintentional byproduct but for many it's strangely comforting element of music as it adds a bit of grit and "natural" feel to the performance.
In classical guitar world modern players rather strive to minimize those sounds and a fluid and quiet transitions are a mark of modern virtuosos. As an example check out Marcin Dylla performances.
I don't think it has a name.
It's an unintentional byproduct but for many it's strangely comforting element of music as it adds a bit of grit and "natural" feel to the performance.
In classical guitar world modern players rather strive to minimize those sounds and a fluid and quiet transitions are a mark of modern virtuosos. As an example check out Marcin Dylla performances.
answered 5 hours ago
Jarek.DJarek.D
8587
8587
add a comment |
add a comment |
isarandi is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
isarandi is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
isarandi is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
isarandi is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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