Noises when fingerpicking

[FernandoC]

Hi guys. I've recently started playing fingerstyle electric guitar (I don't know if that's what this is called, but I mean I started picking the strings with the fingers on my right hand). The thing is I've noticed that there are some noises when I play like that, something like scratching noises. It's like if I could hear the digitals on my fingertips scratching the strings.

I'm picking with my fingers, not with nails. I'm using .009 strings, round wounded.

Any hints on how to stop these annoying noises?

Thanks!

[VidKid]

I rub a mixture of Vaseline and Baby Powder on my fingers to prevent "scratching sounds"

Take a small glob of Vaseline and melt it in a pan, then stir in Baby Powder till it looks like split pea soup. Pour the mixture into a jar and let cool. Just rub the mixture on your fingering hands and no more scratch sounds. It's an old Classical Guitar trick. You can also use Baby Oil or Muir Oil, but these will not last as long during a performance as the above mixture.

Also, proper nail attack on the strings is needed to prevent "scratch sounds". The Segovia techique is to "swipe" the string from the side, producing a much warmer sound (nail and flesh), reducing "nail sound".

Another classical trick for instant nails- ping pong ball and Crazy Glue.

L8R,
VidKid

[FernandoC]

I guess that would work...but won't it make a huge mess? I mean, won't the strings get sticky?

I'm really into jazz guitar and when I listen to legendary jazz guitarists, I hear no "scratching". Do they use this formula?

Would flatwound strings work instead?

Thanks a lot!

[DarkDragon]

Grow some nails. Thats what my guitar teacher wants me to do, even though getting good nails can require quite a bit of care. This might be too much of a hassle for some, especially us guys ;).....Anyway professional jazz guitarists play with their nails I believe so if you wanna play like them, you know what to do!

[VidKid]

I guess it could get messy if you rub too much into your fingertips or the mixture is not right. You only need a very small amout. I've used this mixture for classical an jazz picking for years and it seems to work for me to reduce string noise and to reduce the finger tension over the strings much easier. There will be a some buildup on the strings, but not much if the mixture is correct and it should not effect the sound. You need to pour in A LOT of the Baby Power to thicken the mixture. Once on a gig, I actually used the oil/salt from a bag of potato chips in an emergency. Not sure of the brand name, but they were sure greasy. LOL

Growing nails will help, but I suggest not growing them too long or you might get a more "nail sound" than the warm "flesh sound" when fingerpicking.

VidKid