String squeaks are driving me completely insane

[bearfoot]

I have the 11-52 Nickel Bronze on my main acoustic. They are an interesting flavor. Loud, and a bit less zingy.

Coated strings, someone mentioned and I agree, have less noise. Ive never liked the sound on acoustics though.

If you find a light enough set, and can manage the steup - its a less known Beatle trivia their acoustics had regular flats on their earlier albums. So if you happen to be after a plunkier rhythm sound , it worked for them.

Also, how are you recording? Mic placement , and type, can help. Try a directional mic at the soundboard .

 

[StatesideRambler]

Changing strings, using lotion, Finger-Ease, sandpaper, et al. are all combined going to address maybe 5% or 10% of the excess squeaking. The majority of the problem is technique. If, as you said, it was far less troublesome in the past then some woodshedding is in order to get you back to where you once were. If you don’t touch the string at all while moving you’ll get no squeak at all, which we all know isn’t real-world playing. However, the lighter the touch while shifting positions, the less squeak.

An eon ago I took classical guitar lessons and one single-string exercise has been absolutely golden for me. More so once I got a Jack Casady bass using round wound strings after decades of playing only flats. That exercise is (using fret numbers):
0-1-0-8-7-5-0-1-0-4-5-7-0-1-0-10-8-7-0-1-0-5-7-8-5-6-5-12-10-9-5-4-5-7-9-10-13-12-10-8-7-5-8-7-5-4-2-0
If you prefer note names, here they are for the E string:
E-F-E-C-B-A-E-F-E-Ab-A-B-E-F-E-D-C-B-E-F-E-A-B-C-A-Bb-A-E’-D-Db-A-Ab-A-B-Db-D-F’-E’-D-C-B-A-C-B-A-Ab-Gb-E
(E’ means E an octave above E.)
Metronome set to 100, play one note per beat. When you can play this etude three consecutive times on each string with minimal squeaks, step up the tempo.
HTH

 

[Bodeanly]

Do you mean you've tried all the EQ and filter configurations in your DAW? Those are not likely to work for what you want to do. There is another way or two.

Have you tried literally surgically removing the string squeaks from the track by editing them out? That should take care of it. You can't hear something if it's not there.

FWIW, I think some string noise between chords is natural to the steel string acoustic guitar, and adds authenticity to the recording. Sounds kind of neat actually if recorded properly.

The other way is if your working with an engineer or assistant and recording chords, just record each chord separately. Then there's no shifting involved, and zero string noise. I've done this in sessions. PITA, but sometimes producers want it. It permits tuning each chord to just intonation which provides a richer, fuller tone on the recording from the acoustic guitars. Well, depending on the other instruments involved you can't always get it perfectly just, but you can sweeten the tuning enough to make a difference.

That also goes for recording one phrase at a time. It's a recording. Not a live performance. Levels of perfection are required with recordings that are by and large unobtainable live. That's the game. Total PITA, but edit the phrases together and behold, a perfect guitar part with no string squeaks. Now you get to watch the road band try to figure out how to play it on stage!

PS: I was no session musician, that's for sure. But I did do sessions from time to time when certain guys they really wanted couldn't make it. It can be grueling. I think recording at home is even harder. It really helps to have somebody play engineer. Good luck.

Yeah, I've notched them out with automation. It was super time consuming and a great learning experience, but I'd rather not have to do that. I've edited phrases together as a map, but prefer the final track to be done in one pass. It's easier to do it that way (for me), since it's just acoustic and vocal.

If you are convinced that it's because of the dry weather, why don't you just use the lotion? I get that you feel that the lotion is gross, but really, a squirt of lotion is on the hands for like 1 minute and then its absorbed. You'd rather wait till spring/summer than just put some lotion on your dry skin?

I'm weird, dude. My hands are dry from washing them and lotion makes me immediately want to wash them. Waiting until Spring was kind of a joke, but recording my acoustic tracks isn't the only thing I got going on.

Remove the string squeaks? Pfft! I love string squeaks and I consider it "character."

I agree, but they are too harsh for my taste.

I have the 11-52 Nickel Bronze on my main acoustic. They are an interesting flavor. Loud, and a bit less zingy.

Coated strings, someone mentioned and I agree, have less noise. Ive never liked the sound on acoustics though.

If you find a light enough set, and can manage the steup - its a less known Beatle trivia their acoustics had regular flats on their earlier albums. So if you happen to be after a plunkier rhythm sound , it worked for them.

Also, how are you recording? Mic placement , and type, can help. Try a directional mic at the soundboard .

I will try the nickles if the Finger Ease doesn't work. Or maybe the flat tops that someone else mentioned. My mic is generally placed about 12-18 inches away from the 12th fret. It's an Audio-Technica AT2035.

 

[Bodeanly]

Changing strings, using lotion, Finger-Ease, sandpaper, et al. are all combined going to address maybe 5% or 10% of the excess squeaking. The majority of the problem is technique. If, as you said, it was far less troublesome in the past then some woodshedding is in order to get you back to where you once were. If you don’t touch the string at all while moving you’ll get no squeak at all, which we all know isn’t real-world playing. However, the lighter the touch while shifting positions, the less squeak.

An eon ago I took classical guitar lessons and one single-string exercise has been absolutely golden for me. More so once I got a Jack Casady bass using round wound strings after decades of playing only flats. That exercise is (using fret numbers):
0-1-0-8-7-5-0-1-0-4-5-7-0-1-0-10-8-7-0-1-0-5-7-8-5-6-5-12-10-9-5-4-5-7-9-10-13-12-10-8-7-5-8-7-5-4-2-0
If you prefer note names, here they are for the E string:
E-F-E-C-B-A-E-F-E-Ab-A-B-E-F-E-D-C-B-E-F-E-A-B-C-A-Bb-A-E’-D-Db-A-Ab-A-B-Db-D-F’-E’-D-C-B-A-C-B-A-Ab-Gb-E
(E’ means E an octave above E.)
Metronome set to 100, play one note per beat. When you can play this etude three consecutive times on each string with minimal squeaks, step up the tempo.
HTH

The squeaks happen mainly when sliding up to a note or chord. The slide is part of the song.

 

[Bodeanly]

Do any of you people file your calluses? I just read something that said to do that.

 

[Clark W]

I use D'Addario Chrome Flats on a 2019 Fender California Series Kingman V2 acoustic bass. Now its always played through an amp but I didn't lose as much volume as one would think by changing out the cheese graters for strings they call phosphor bronze. So if you can find some flats for your acoustic they may just work. Made a world of difference on the acoustic bass when it comes to string/finger noise.

 

[Camarillo]

It’s part of the sound of the acoustic guitar.
Considered that, how do you recorded the guitar? Plugged or microphone? How do you EQ?

 

[LT131]

Cannot believe no one has mentioned bacon.

 

[BeyondFiredUp]

Get a quality noise gate. Also, it may have already been mentioned, but filters in the software also in whatever DAW you are using.

 

[Andy Daventry]

Another vote for the Nickel Bronze. If you like the sound (and that's not a given) string noise will be down a bit. I have 12s on my Larrivee.

 

[swink]

Never used this particular one, but I might start with these.
https://www.guitarcenter.com/DAddar...ight-Acoustic-Guitar-Strings-1274034478106.gc

even in extra light

 

[Jazz Ad]

I can't think of a good reason to use an acoustic bass if you don't like squeaks. They're all about it. Weak in lows, they compensate with shiny, extnded highs and upfront hi-mids, ie lots of squeaks.

 

[Richard Martin]

Get a 31 band EQ and dull the squeaks in the recording.

 

[4sight]

I kinda like the squeak..

 

[Allan Allan]

1: Go to Amazon
2: Flatwound Guitar Strings
3: Find the brand that has your desired size
4: Purchase those

Jazz guys use flats on Acoustics. It's a niche market so there aren't a lot of options. I'd try Swing Jazz if they have the gauge you like.

Or just put some lotion on, as an adult we do things we don't like all the time, at least with this the end result is playing better music.

 

[orichtvuna]

You can't really use nylon strings on a steel string guitar. The nylon strings are used on classical and flamenco guitars which are braced differently. They are a lot less tension so the bracing can be a lot weaker. I imagine you will lose a ton of tone putting nylon strings on even a parlor guitar let alone a dreadnaught.

I do this with my parlor and the guitar never sounded better. Plus I don't have to worry about rust in the humid Land of Smiles. It's a bit quieter but that was honestly to be expected anyway, and the nylons suit my sensibilities much more anyway. Of course you can throw nylons on acoustic; it'll sound like a soft classical and you'll need a setup, but then it's totally fine and even has advantages.

 

[ThinCrappyTone]

a pro producer friend recommends talcum powder to alleviate this. Never tried it, but he’s legit, and it sounds legit to me.

No idea what it will do to strings or anything though.

 

[Ekulati]

You need coated acoustic strings, most companies now offer them.

But the other thing is what's wrong in your recording setup? String squeak is not a new problem. Maybe try getting some tips from a pro recording forum?

 

[mexicanyella]

didn't read the whole thread to see if this got suggested already...but in case it didn't, you might try these...?

Link Removed

 

[James Collins]

I do this with my parlor and the guitar never sounded better. Plus I don't have to worry about rust in the humid Land of Smiles. It's a bit quieter but that was honestly to be expected anyway, and the nylons suit my sensibilities much more anyway. Of course you can throw nylons on acoustic; it'll sound like a soft classical and you'll need a setup, but then it's totally fine and even has advantages.

You can use nylon. I do think there are better options, like choosing an inexpensive classical guitar. I say the original poster is trying to record, not playing around his bedroom.

Regarding rust: silver, copper, brass, bronze, and stainless steel (for the most part) do not trust. All of them will corrode or tarnish, but bronze is much more resistant than the silver plated-copper wound nylon strings. Honestly, I do not change my strings often enough, but I have to change the bass strings on my classical guitar once every two months or it sounds bad.

In the land of smiles, coated stainless is probably your best bet for longevity.