Too much noise

[Kevinmach]

Sorry if this sounds like a silly question.. it's not intended to be.

I am picking up a lot of noise from my fingers sliding across the strings when I am playing my left hand, when moving about the fretboard.

Part of the problem is, because I like a brighter tone... it seems to be more audible.

Aside from cleaning up my technique... which I am working on .... are there any tricks you guys know... to help reduce this a bit? Like maybe a different style of strings (using D'Addario XL nickel wound 50-105 at present), or some type of filter/noise gate?

Thanks!

[bongomania]

Using a filter would kill or mitigate a lot of the bright tone you like, unless you had a super-precise notch filter, which would be expensive. And a noise gate would do absolutely nothing to help.

The more rough texture the strings have, the more finger noise you get. Flatwounds have the least finger noise. In between you have groundwounds, coated strings, and softer nickel wound. IMO the best compromise would be Elixir coated strings.

[Kevinmach]

Thanks for the quick response. (and for the great links in your signature line )

In another thread, someone suggested I try rotos given the description of the tone I was going for- will these increase this noise even more?

[Slax]

Originally Posted by Kevinmach

Thanks for the quick response. (and for the great links in your signature line )

In another thread, someone suggested I try rotos given the description of the tone I was going for- will these increase this noise even more?

Roto rounds I've find to increase finger noise. Flat wounds, which I am currently playing, seem to dampen most of it. Other than that, it's a lot to do with technique of playing....

Edit: I've played Roto rounds for over a year and love them... In my person experience though...: