Mastering feedback

[Trendz]

I dunno if any1 else struggles with this problem but when in distortion it's very difficult for me pluck 1 string without another string vibrating and causing unwanted noise. Because of this i have to some extent, learned how to mute adjacent strings when this happens.

What i would like to know is : is this perhaps a guitar problem. I have a cheap Fender Squire Strat or is it a technique problem?? I would like to be able to say pluck open high e in distortion and let ring out but i find i cant because of this problem. Also i cannot play open chords in distortion for example say A major, because of excessive noise. Distorted only sounds nice when playing power chords.

Any ideas :confused: I've got a feeling that its my gear as well as my technique that needs a bit of sprucing up. thx

-Trendz

[phantom]

hi,
it not necessarily has to be a technical problem.
things like that are hard to solve over the net... hm..
nevertheless it is a fact that when playing with distortion you can't play all those open chords that sound good on a western guitar 'cause you have two thirds (most of the time) biting the root and the fifth and each other. :eek: :D
the next problem could be that the guitar is not perfeclty in tune, or that you are pulling/pushing stringswhile playing the chord which makes them go out of tune. try not to press the strings down so hard. :cool:

sven

[forgottenking2]

The answer to that lies within the "mysteries" of guitar effects, an overdrive/distortion pedal (different effects but same principle) compresses the signal and brings out the overtones of the notes you're playing that's why it's easier to play (and hear for that matter) harmonics (both natural and artificial) when you have your distortion cranked up. The best way to play distorted chords is using wide intervals (like 4ths or 5ths) and stack them to build your chords, that will improve the sound some but it's difficult to use more than 3 notes (besides the fact of those chords being very hard to fret) and keep a nice tight sound... sus2 chords stacked in 5ths sound good (r - 5 - 9).

G----9
D-9--7
A-7--5
E-5----

The problem of the single note lines running onto each other when using distortion here's the solution (Eric has pointed it out a thousand times) SLOW IT DOWN and see what's making the noise, no string will vibrate (even on a cheap guitar) unless you do something to make it vibrate, are you accidentally hitting it? Are you hitting the guitar somehow when you play? are you hitting the string too hard? are you using your whammy bar? Once you isolate the problem come up with your own solution: Mute with your left hand index, or with your right hand palm... whatever works for you that's really not much useful advice but like phantom said, it's hard to address those problems online... something else you could try is finding someone (a teacher, a friend who can play well) and have him/her show you what he/she does on that matter.

I hope that helps.

Regards,

[Alan(Lost)]

I think that the problem that you're having (with reference to the unwanted noise) is that you're picking a strings but not controlling the other strings. If you pick the E string and all the other strings are open, naturally the attack of picking the string can set the other strings vibrating even only slightly. Sometimes this can be heard over the one note that is picked. With a lot of distortion, you'll only hear your picked note at first, but when that begins to fade out, suddenly you hear what's been hiding in the sound.

You've got to control the strings with both hands. When playing notes, find some way of muting the strings with either one of your hands. I use the left hand for some, but the right for most.

[metalprep6969]

These guys are right, but I think a lot of it has to do with your guitar as well. Single-coils, especially those in Squiers, are very noisy, and often too bright (which makes the pickup focus on the scratches and scrapes more). I'd say get some humbuckers. A noise suppressor and/or compressor would probably help too. I have a Squier strat myself and I just hate anything that comes out of that guitar, once you play a better one you'll see the difference (even if it's a midrange guitar, not a Jem or a Les Paul).

\m/