What is this scratchy sound on the acoustic guitar called?












3















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.










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    3















    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.










    share|improve this question







    New contributor




    isarandi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.























      3












      3








      3








      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.










      share|improve this question







      New contributor




      isarandi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
      Check out our Code of Conduct.












      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






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      isarandi is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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      New contributor




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      asked 5 hours ago









      isarandiisarandi

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          3 Answers
          3






          active

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          4














          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.






          share|improve this answer
























          • 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



















          2














          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









          share|improve this answer































            0














            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.






            share|improve this answer
























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              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes








              3 Answers
              3






              active

              oldest

              votes









              active

              oldest

              votes






              active

              oldest

              votes









              4














              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.






              share|improve this answer
























              • 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
















              4














              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.






              share|improve this answer
























              • 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














              4












              4








              4







              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.






              share|improve this answer













              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.







              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              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



















              • 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











              2














              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









              share|improve this answer




























                2














                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









                share|improve this answer


























                  2












                  2








                  2







                  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









                  share|improve this answer













                  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


















                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 4 hours ago









                  chasly from UKchasly from UK

                  49027




                  49027























                      0














                      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.






                      share|improve this answer




























                        0














                        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.






                        share|improve this answer


























                          0












                          0








                          0







                          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.






                          share|improve this answer













                          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.







                          share|improve this answer












                          share|improve this answer



                          share|improve this answer










                          answered 5 hours ago









                          Jarek.DJarek.D

                          8587




                          8587






















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