Exit wounds...

[rjgoos]

Sometimes I get a little bit of finger squeak when tapping, when leaving one string to go to another. I call it an "exit wound".

Any suggestions on how to reduce this annoyance?


Jay

[jbassman]

that's a common thing, I guess... I had the same problem. Got rid of that by making some kind of "slide" motion when the finger leaves the string.

[rpmartino]

I wonder if one of those string lubrication products like FastFret or Finger-ease might help... I clean my Stick strings with FastFret sometimes and having a smoother string seems like it could help. I don't notice squeaking when I play but I know people have different skin/oil chemistry.

[GaryOpenhill]

Originally posted by rpmartino
I wonder if one of those string lubrication products like FastFret or Finger-ease might help... I clean my Stick strings with FastFret sometimes and having a smoother string seems like it could help. I don't notice squeaking when I play but I know people have different skin/oil chemistry.

Hi rpmartino,
thats some beautiful tapping on your site. Sounds like mark knopfler ! We call that "soaking music" in my house.

Anyways...you're playing a grand stick. I acutally never saw one in real life, but as i understand the string spacing on them are 7 mm or something. Is that weird and hard to play? I like to have as much strings as possible, but wonder about that narrowness.

[rpmartino]

Hi Gary,

Thanks for the comments!

I'm pretty comfortable with the string spacing, although I suppose my fingers are on the thinner side. Especially with the left hand, with the way I finger chords (I have the bass strings in fourths rather than fifths) and reaching across the fretboard, I think it would be more uncomfortable if the neck/spacing were any wider. On the melody side, I find I am able to do bends and vibrato fine.

A wider string spacing would benefit an uncrossed tuning I think but I personally prefer crossed, since the hands are allowed to naturally extend more without scrunching up, while still being able to anchor your thumb on the fretboard.

[James]

RP's idea of GHS Fast Fret or other string lubricating products is a good possibility. I also read in a book about recording acoustic guitar that to avoid finger squeaking you could apply talcum powder to the strings. I haven't tried this though and I don't know if it could affect the dryness of the fretboard wood

You could also take the somewhat cheaper route of not replacing the strings for a while and see if the 'wounding' decreases with the strings' age

[rjgoos]

My problem is, I don't know exactly what I am doing to cause it. When, for example, I concentrate on my left hand only, and play slowly, there are few squeaks. When I am playing at tempo, my mind's attention divided between both hands, that my technique must change subtly, so that the squeaks appear. If I could figure out exactly what I am doing to cause it, I suppose I could stop doing it.

The other odd thing, few squeaks on the right hand, only on the left. Perhaps due to the heavier gauge of string, or perhaps due to a subtle difference in technique.

Jay

[rpmartino]

Just a shot in the dark, but might it have anything to do with the finger coming straight off the string vs. a bit of movement parallel to the string as you are coming off? (i.e. when you are concentrating on your left hand you may be more aware of the fingers lifting straight up, otherwise they may "slide" ever so slightly as they come off the string)?

[Dave1166]

Could this be because your left hand is next to your ear? I notice a lot less string noise when I practice with a headphone amp. Also, the squeaks decrease when the strings are closer to the fretboard.