For example, it may be that you only squeak when transitioning between particular chords. If you know which chord transitions are difficult for your hand, you’ll have a better idea of what you need to do to improve your technique. If you video yourself playing (with the camera focused on your fretting hand), you can more easily pinpoint the areas where squeak is occurring and what your hand is doing to cause it.
When you remove your finger completely, you risk playing an open string. This way, your finger stays in position but without any pressure.
Since you already released the pressure on the string before you moved your hand, the string shouldn’t squeak when you take your finger off completely. Playing slowly can help you develop this habit. If you’re bad about sliding your fingers over the strings, it might feel like you’re learning how to play guitar all over again. But don’t worry — with practice, it will become second nature to lift, then shift.
The calloused tip of your finger creates more friction that causes the squeaks, whereas the pad of your finger won’t do this as much.
This technique only works if you’re playing notes on thinner strings. If you’re playing notes on thicker strings, your palm won’t be in a good position to mute strings for you.
If you’re not used to playing this way, it can be challenging at first to get used to resting your hand on the strings. Pick a solo you know well and slow down the tempo so you can practice your picking hand position. After a while, it will become second nature.
For example, if you’re bending a note, you can use the tip of your index finger to mute the string directly above the string you’re bending so it won’t make any sound and you’ll get a clean bend. [9] X Research source This technique might involve either extending your index finger forward or bending it back to mute strings behind the string you’re playing. For a clean sound, you want to mute all strings except the one that you’re playing.
Think about this like baseball players taking practice swings with a weighted bat. If you can eliminate unwanted noise with high gain, you’ll have no problem with unwanted noise when you lower it.
There are many different brands with different levels of quality, so it’s important to compare them before you buy. Guitar techs at music or guitar specialty shops might be able to recommend some for you based on your experience level and playing style. Because coated strings are slicker than regular strings, it can take some time to adjust your playing style to accommodate them. When you use them for the first time, you might find that you have a hard time keeping your fingers in the right place. Just play on them and take some time to get used to them. Coated or polished strings are also available for classical guitars, although they can be quite pricey. Work on your technique to eliminate as much squeak as possible before you make this investment. [12] X Research source
Play your guitar immediately after cleaning your strings and see if that makes a difference before you apply lubricant. If you clean your strings after every session, you’ll likely notice fewer squeaks. Only use a lubricant designed specifically for guitar strings. Other lubricants could damage either your strings or the guitar itself. Try working on your technique before you go with a string lubricant. If poor technique is the reason for your string noise, adding lubricant may not help and could even make the problem worse. [14] X Research source
String dampeners are most common in a studio setting, where the sensitive audio equipment will pick up sounds you might not even hear yourself when you play. However, many guitarists also use them in a concert setting, especially when playing complex solos. While you can buy a string dampener made especially for this purpose, a scrunchy or hair tie will likely work just as well, if you’re looking for a DIY solution or just want to try it out before you commit to using a string dampener while playing.
