Squeek!

EricF · #1 09-19-2006, 06:34 PM

No matter how much I try to stop it, I can't get rid of sting squeek when I play. I know round-wound strings certainly contribute to the situation, but I need their bright tone for the music I'm playing. My guitar player insists that I have lousy technique because I can't play without squeeking.

Is this a normal and accepted part of bass playing, or am I just sloppy?

Is this something that is normally EQ'd out of a recording.

Alec W. Conway · #2 09-19-2006, 07:19 PM

Describe that squeek more precisely? I have no clue what squeek you might mean, sry...

lemur821 · #3 09-19-2006, 09:10 PM

Lifting up your fingers when you shift positions helps. You basically want to avoid sliding your fingers on the strings whenever possible. Lift to shift, and put your fingers right down where they need to be when you fret notes, rather than putting them close then moving them to the right place. Some level of noise is unavoidable (it isn't a completely bad thing -- you don't want to sound like a cheap synth) but if you're keeping it to a minimum a lot of it will get lost in the mix.

Alec W. Conway · #4 09-19-2006, 10:50 PM

Oh THAT squeeky sound.

**feels like a moron**

paulodumb · #5 09-19-2006, 11:17 PM

Rub your fretting fingers on your nose and get some of that nose grease on 'em. Seriously.

PrimusNut · #6 09-20-2006, 09:29 AM

lmao, nose grease?

I get that squeek noise all the time, usually i just ignore it, but lisfting you fingers off when you move certainly does the trick. I just find it hard to lift my fingers all the way off without the notes ringing. guess i need a right hand muting technique

EricF · #7 09-20-2006, 10:28 AM

I'm not talking about finger dragging squeek. It's not that much. Just the act of fretting a note at playing speed is causing a little bit of noise that is being picked up in the recording.

Maybe I'll try some nose grease

Alec W. Conway · #8 09-20-2006, 02:41 PM

NOSE GREASE

Thats a the best one I heard in a while. But I'll give it a try

Kosko · #9 09-20-2006, 02:51 PM

mandatory jaco-used-fried-chicken post

excane · #10 09-20-2006, 03:26 PM

Do you mean more of a fret buzz when you say squeek? Are you hitting the string with your fretting hand very hard? Also, how high is the action?

IanStephenson · #11 09-20-2006, 05:55 PM

I never found string squeak objectionable until I put ground-wounds on one of my basses. When I went back to another bass with round wounds on it was just horrible. I'm currenlty switching over to ground wounds for almost everything. They're not was wierd or thumpy as flats (which I don't like), but having tried grounds for a while they feel GREAT, and you can slide around all you like without squeaks or wearing out your fingers.

Ian

lemur821 · #12 09-20-2006, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricF

I'm not talking about finger dragging squeek. It's not that much. Just the act of fretting a note at playing speed is causing a little bit of noise that is being picked up in the recording.

Yeah, that's the second part of what I talked about. It's really easy to slide a finger up to position when you put it down or to slide a finger as you lift it. You've just got to make sure you don't put it on the string until you're done moving it laterally. This applies even when you're not shifting your whole hand to a new position.

EricF · #13 09-21-2006, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

I never found string squeak objectionable until I put ground-wounds on one of my basses. When I went back to another bass with round wounds on it was just horrible. I'm currenlty switching over to ground wounds for almost everything. They're not was wierd or thumpy as flats (which I don't like), but having tried grounds for a while they feel GREAT, and you can slide around all you like without squeaks or wearing out your fingers.

Ian

I actually love the sound and feel of flats, but for the music my band is playing, I need the bright tone of rounds.

Since technique can ALWAYS be improved, I'm headed back to the 'shed to tighten up my skills.

iplaybassguitar · #14 09-22-2006, 02:47 PM

lift your hands more, turn down the treble, and turn up the bass.

Tenma4 · #15 09-22-2006, 04:00 PM

I'll second the nose grease.

It works well. I use it for both hands. ....except for when I run out and have to get the stuff from the inside of my nose... Much like chicken grease, it's slippery like silicone until it dries out.

Hm. I wonder if I could type faster if....

Christopher · #16 09-22-2006, 11:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricF

I'm not talking about finger dragging squeek. It's not that much. Just the act of fretting a note at playing speed is causing a little bit of noise that is being picked up in the recording.

Maybe I'll try some nose grease

That's not a squeaking problem - it's a muting and problem.

Your left and right hands should be coordinated to the extent that you don't produce any noise until your right hand fingers actually attack the string. String squeaks are acceptable (and unavoidable on roundwounds) when shifting. But if you're producing little blebs of sound just from fretting the notes, you need to get your left and right hand muting happening.