I've been there! Try shifting your index finger slightly up or down (toward the ceiling or toward the floor). Sometimes the string sits perfectly in one of the knuckle folds and causes that buzz.
In that case I either add a little pressure or use a partial bar with finger one. With the partial bar you lose out on the open string one (E), but there’s an E (the 5th of the chord) on string four, so it’s a fair choice. If you want all that note goodness, a full bar at fret 5 is great.
@@MarkNokesGuitarOne can also switch the middle and ring finger when making the A shape; just pretend you’re going for Amaj7 but slide the middle finger from the first fret to the second fret…. If anyone is accustomed to using the A shape up and down the fret board and partial barring/fretting for the bass note, then you learn the kind of freedom this provides for changes/freedom for pinky and ring to perform any florid melodic riffs; but it also is easier on the joints and grip if you have bigger hands/longer fingers - at least for me.
The frets will buzz for 99% of players starting off or on a new guitar that you’re not accustomed too. It could be your fingers, the fret wire itself, the action, it could be numerous things. And always have your guitar set up. Even if it’s a 200 dollar squier.
Haha! I just got my "200 dollar squier" bass guitar setup by a professional. He told me the same exact tip in this short. It works! I just need more practice so it becomes better and consistent.
It sounds like you may be referring to "string squeak" or "finger squeak." That's most commonly heard on acoustic guitars (including classical/nylon string guitars), and occurs most often when the strings are new. They tend to quiet down over time. The best way to improve that is to lift your fingers when you shift, and experiment with shifting using different amounts of pressure against the string. It's a delicate balance!
It’s really hard to say without seeing your instrument (and seeing you play it). Could be that you just need more time developing strength. It could also be the guitar. Is there anyone else around that can play it so you can see if they get the fret buzz too?
Haha, that's always the way it feels, right?! Better late than never! Btw, my guitar method book is available for free download at my site, ModernGuitarMethod.com. Check it out! I hope you find it useful :)
Oh, dang. That usually means that one of the frets is higher than the others, the neck is badly warped (or out of adjustment), or all of the above! It’s most likely a job for a luthier unless you want to take a super deep dive into guitar repair.
@@MarkNokesGuitar yup going to bring it to a luthier. everything looks straight to me with a proper bow. i'm filling frets like crazy now there like 6 fret playing the same note lol on the high e 15 to 22 around there. tried to put up the bridge. I like lowest action possible but still moved it up and it dont work. I will probably need some new frets by the time i'm done. lol thanks for responding :)
@@MarkNokesGuitar thanks hehe, yup since I discovered how easy and better I cant play with super low action now I want all my twelve guitars to be this way haha. having troubles with a few old second hand ones. funny how an old Kramer f-1000 can be put to extreme low action with zero fret buzes etc.. with even room to go down with the bridge and more expensive ones cant go as low. we should have a place that tells us the best guitars that can get this low action with ease. anyway I have a Jackson that I am trying to get down and I'm at a lost. it all good everywere, but only on the high e the 16th to 22th of 24 are rigning the same note lol. I am filling and tapping and nothing is working so far. I'm thinking it's a small warp, I dont know. I will have to bring it to a luthier cuz I give up.
It can be, but it’s most often a problem with technique. Some problems with the guitar that could cause fret buzz might be a neck that’s out of adjustment or warped, or frets that aren’t level.
It can happen on the bass strings if you pick hard. Try lightning your touch a bit, or maybe even a higher guage set of strings. Let me know how it goes!
Check out some of the other comments to see if your particular issue has been addressed. If not, let me know what’s going on and I’ll do my best to let you know!
@@MarkNokesGuitar ok! I think it has to do with notch the string sits in. I’d have to sand it down in order to fix it so I’d need a skilled guitarists help such as my dad. Thank you so much though!
Gotcha. That’s certainly one I didn’t address! Depending on how bad it is, a nut replacement is usually pretty inexpensive. Let me know how it turns out!
Does worn out strings cause fret buzz? I've notice that when i changed to new strings,the buzzing disappear. Then after around 1 or 2 months the buzzing comes back again
Practice scales trying to get to the sting to buzz..lol but that’s so I train my LH to lighten the pressure I’m applying. Reduces fatigue and unwanted stress.
Fret buzz can replicate a fuzz pedal if you turn your guitar and tube amp all the way up and most people won't know' then all the fans will stand up and cheer when you play your favorite song.
@@HITmark23 haha! Sounds like a more serious problem, like a warped neck or one far out of adjustment. In this case, that exorcist is a luthier or your local instrument repair dude 😁
This is much better advice than the other short I checked, which was advising that people file down their freaking frets?? Technique + practice > "life hacks" Every time.
Haha! In my experience it’s always better to start with the simplest possible solution and graduate as necessary. Also, if you do end up needing a fret job, it’s probably worth it to take it to a professional. My 2 cents 🙂
Hi I'm trying to learn how to play guitar how do I know if my cords are to tight. I don't get sound if the are tight , but if i loosen them the get really loose on there own
Yep. There are many times that it won’t work, and you just have to muscle it. As a general rule though, it’ll save you from over squeezing all the time :)
@@MarkNokesGuitar your method works to ease the minds for few minutes then you hear the buzz again ahhhhhh , I’m in the same boat. I am going to order the set of tools soon for sanding and crowning the frets
@@justinfleming7603 nice! I’m too big of a chicken to go that far. The last guitar I had with flat frets, I replaced with a new guitar. I miss that one sometimes 😅
This is a temporary solution that (in my opinion just to clarify) will make playing guitar harder in the long run, especially for learners if you have fret buzz anywhere on your guitar there can be a few causes and solutions for example buzzing notes can be because of a bowed neck or high/uneven frets, not every classical guitar has a truss rod but the majority of guitars do and you just need an Alan wrench to adjust it you can easily damage the guitar by doing this if you over turn the truss rod, but the best thing you could do as someone with no experience working on a guitar is to take it to a music store and pay for a setup, it’s usually affordable and worth it since your instrument will be a lot more playable
Didn’t want to make the first comment super long but some other causes for buzzing can be high frets, witch you can file down yourself but probably would be better off having it done at a workshop/ music shop, or maybe your string gauge is too high or low witch can also bow the guitars neck but a truss rod adjustment should compensate for a string tension change Could also be your guitars action (the space between the string and the fretboard) witch depending on the guitar can be easy or difficult, for example acoustic guitar action is a little harder to adjust, you would have to shave some material off of the nut/saddle On most electric you just need Alan wrenches to adjust saddle action but a guitar tech who knows what there doing can fix all of those issues and get it as close to perfect as it can get, if your serious about learning I’d say it’s great to know how to work on a guitar, especially if your starting to amass a decent collection (you can’t just stop at 1)😂
You’re right that there can be multiple reasons for fret buzz, and I think I’ve done a good job of explaining that in the comments. However, it’s absolutely not a temporary solution. It’s simply proper left hand technique.
@@MarkNokesGuitar I agree to disagree I believe having a playable instrument (that doesn’t buzz at all regardless of left hand technique) is much easier than having to force your self to place your fingers a certain way on the fretboard, maybe if you learned that way and adapted to it sure but for beginners it will only make fretting more difficult, for example when I teach people who are brand new to guitar pretty much everyone has trouble fretting notes and chords, playing right at the fret especially when playing chords at any common tempo is gonna make it hard as hell to land all your fingers in that specific spot for each fret especially for beginners, having a playable instrument with a good setup regardless of the price of the instrument will make it way easier to play, many people I’ve tried to teach give up because they can’t fret notes and get a clear sound. If you want to improve your guitar technique and really become a better player having an instrument that makes it harder for you to play will make that very difficult and may scare away new players
You’re not wrong, but you’re missing my point! My point is that what I’ve presented is a fact. You can disagree until you’re blue in the face, but finger placement matters and it’s a very common reason for fret buzz.
Sorry to hear that! Did my tips not help at all? There are many questions/answers in the comments too. You might try some of those and let me know if it helps!
@@Cami-cp2sz You guitar could be in need of a setup. That would include a neck adjustment, if necessary. Another possibility is that the frets are worn (if it's an old guitar).
It sounds crazy, but sometimes simply changing the strings can help. If that doesn’t work, you may need a neck adjustment, fret leveling…or both depending on the condition/age of the instrument.
This helped perfectly. I have the exact same fret buzz on the same chord and fret
Awesome! I’ll try to keep posting short tips, time permitting. Thanks for watching!
@@MarkNokesGuitar earned your self a follow from me that was the quickest help I’ve had
@@fabianai8721 awesome, glad I could help! I’m planning to continue posting as I find time. Thanks for subscribing!
This is perfect. Thank you!
Love to help! Thank you 🙏🏼
Not what I am looking for but hey it's useful
Well talking about fret buzz when I use my index finger like in Fminor the 3rd string always make a buzz.
I've been there! Try shifting your index finger slightly up or down (toward the ceiling or toward the floor). Sometimes the string sits perfectly in one of the knuckle folds and causes that buzz.
THANK YOU MY GUY HELPS ALOT ❤
You’re welcome! Glad it helps!
Thank you so much po! ❤
You're welcome 😊
late but thank you this helped a lot
Glad it helped!
What about when you’re playing an A major chord? You can’t bring the d string any closer to the fret
In that case I either add a little pressure or use a partial bar with finger one. With the partial bar you lose out on the open string one (E), but there’s an E (the 5th of the chord) on string four, so it’s a fair choice. If you want all that note goodness, a full bar at fret 5 is great.
@@MarkNokesGuitarOne can also switch the middle and ring finger when making the A shape; just pretend you’re going for Amaj7 but slide the middle finger from the first fret to the second fret…. If anyone is accustomed to using the A shape up and down the fret board and partial barring/fretting for the bass note, then you learn the kind of freedom this provides for changes/freedom for pinky and ring to perform any florid melodic riffs; but it also is easier on the joints and grip if you have bigger hands/longer fingers - at least for me.
❤
I play guitar when I can. Always had that buzz and never knew why. Now I know thank you so much.
The frets will buzz for 99% of players starting off or on a new guitar that you’re not accustomed too. It could be your fingers, the fret wire itself, the action, it could be numerous things. And always have your guitar set up. Even if it’s a 200 dollar squier.
Haha! I just got my "200 dollar squier" bass guitar setup by a professional. He told me the same exact tip in this short. It works! I just need more practice so it becomes better and consistent.
I really don't care if my guitar buzzes. It makes a good percussive sound effect 😅✌🏻but well actually I adjust the truss rod
Shouldn't have to be that careful. It shouldn't be buzzing..
Thank you, I just re-stringed my guitar and had this buzz. For once I got a straight answer instead of some sort of guitar riddle. Thanks a lot!
I have the same problem, but when sliding my fingers across the guitar, i get a buzz sound got any advice?
It sounds like you may be referring to "string squeak" or "finger squeak." That's most commonly heard on acoustic guitars (including classical/nylon string guitars), and occurs most often when the strings are new. They tend to quiet down over time. The best way to improve that is to lift your fingers when you shift, and experiment with shifting using different amounts of pressure against the string. It's a delicate balance!
Im new to playing guitar i have fret buzz and i tried this but it didnt work do you know any other way to fix this?
It’s really hard to say without seeing your instrument (and seeing you play it). Could be that you just need more time developing strength. It could also be the guitar. Is there anyone else around that can play it so you can see if they get the fret buzz too?
I needed this 12 years ago haha
Haha, that's always the way it feels, right?! Better late than never! Btw, my guitar method book is available for free download at my site, ModernGuitarMethod.com. Check it out! I hope you find it useful :)
Oooooh 🥺🥺 thank you sssooo much , i am beginner and cuz of that i thought i couldn't learn guitar 🌹🌹
Awesome! You can do it!!!!
I get it even without using the fret board. I’m new to guitar is there a problem with my guitar?
Could be that the neck and/or bridge saddles need adjustment.
What if the string is buzzing without pressing it?
I think I’ve addressed that in the comments. Have a look and let me know 😁
Open note
fret buzz you say? I have 3 frets that sound the exact same note?? second string, the 21-22-23 fret. zero video on this topic. wow,
Oh, dang. That usually means that one of the frets is higher than the others, the neck is badly warped (or out of adjustment), or all of the above! It’s most likely a job for a luthier unless you want to take a super deep dive into guitar repair.
@@MarkNokesGuitar yup going to bring it to a luthier. everything looks straight to me with a proper bow. i'm filling frets like crazy now there like 6 fret playing the same note lol on the high e 15 to 22 around there. tried to put up the bridge. I like lowest action possible but still moved it up and it dont work. I will probably need some new frets by the time i'm done. lol thanks for responding :)
@@christineblack4654 nothing beats that sweet low action! Hope it works out
@@MarkNokesGuitar thanks hehe, yup since I discovered how easy and better I cant play with super low action now I want all my twelve guitars to be this way haha. having troubles with a few old second hand ones. funny how an old Kramer f-1000 can be put to extreme low action with zero fret buzes etc.. with even room to go down with the bridge and more expensive ones cant go as low. we should have a place that tells us the best guitars that can get this low action with ease. anyway I have a Jackson that I am trying to get down and I'm at a lost. it all good everywere, but only on the high e the 16th to 22th of 24 are rigning the same note lol. I am filling and tapping and nothing is working so far. I'm thinking it's a small warp, I dont know. I will have to bring it to a luthier cuz I give up.
Is this a problem with the guitar tho?
It can be, but it’s most often a problem with technique. Some problems with the guitar that could cause fret buzz might be a neck that’s out of adjustment or warped, or frets that aren’t level.
I tried this on the only fret I get it on the second fret on the a string and it didn’t work no matter how close I got ;-;
It can happen on the bass strings if you pick hard. Try lightning your touch a bit, or maybe even a higher guage set of strings. Let me know how it goes!
@@MarkNokesGuitar oh alright thank you!!!
@@MarkNokesGuitar I went and tried it and it did help!!!
Thanks, ive had this problem since I started playing and this helped a lot.
Awesome! I’m so glad I could help!
Thanks dude! Real savior ❤
Thank you very much , ✨ that really helped me it's very crispy now
Thank you I was having a mental breakdown from this until I found this ❤
So glad you didn’t have a mental breakdown over it!!! And glad I could help 😄
I STILL WONT STAWPPPP
Sorry to hear it! Have you read through the comments. Lot of good advice down there 😁
Or repair it
It’s not always broken 😆
not that
Check out some of my other responses in the comments. Could help?
Can it be fixed ?
Check out some of the other comments to see if your particular issue has been addressed. If not, let me know what’s going on and I’ll do my best to let you know!
Still get it even behind it. My strings must be whack asf.
It could be a few other things. Take a look through the comments. I’ve addressed a few of them! Maybe it’ll help!
It could be a few other things. Take a look through the comments when you get a moment. I have addressed a few of them. Maybe it’ll help!
@@MarkNokesGuitar ok! I think it has to do with notch the string sits in. I’d have to sand it down in order to fix it so I’d need a skilled guitarists help such as my dad. Thank you so much though!
Gotcha. That’s certainly one I didn’t address! Depending on how bad it is, a nut replacement is usually pretty inexpensive. Let me know how it turns out!
@@MarkNokesGuitar ok!
For me it was me not pressing hard enough but this helped a lot too
aah thank you ily this has been bugging me
Does worn out strings cause fret buzz? I've notice that when i changed to new strings,the buzzing disappear. Then after around 1 or 2 months the buzzing comes back again
I think that’s possible, but I didn’t consider it. Thanks for pointing it out 🙂
Practice scales trying to get to the sting to buzz..lol but that’s so I train my LH to lighten the pressure I’m applying. Reduces fatigue and unwanted stress.
Thanks so much! Even though im working with TAB for the song im learning right now, the buzz is annoying, but thiabhelped ao kuch! Thank you!
So that is the problem finally , i thought my hand and my strumming is the problem turns out it's the Guitar itself thank you man
Glad I could help!
Fret buzz can replicate a fuzz pedal if you turn your guitar and tube amp all the way up and most people won't know' then all the fans will stand up and cheer when you play your favorite song.
Brilliant!
Dude this tip works thanks
Ahhh thank you sooo much for helping me 😅 im strees about the buzzing fret and now its not buzzing again 😊 🇲🇾
Awesome! I’m so happy it helped!
Can you help me man. When I'm holding a fret my guitar just makes a thud noise, no sound whatsoever...
How do I fix this
Doesn’t sound like a problem you’re going to fix on your own to me. I’d probably take that in.
How do you fix fret buzz when you're not even pressing the strings? I mean, its just there when i pluck or strum
You may need a setup. Neck adjustment and/or bridge saddle and nut.
Shut up my guitar is alr buzzing without even doing chords
Sounds like you may need to take it to an exorcist, LOL
Bro i meant open strings hahaha
@@HITmark23 haha! Sounds like a more serious problem, like a warped neck or one far out of adjustment. In this case, that exorcist is a luthier or your local instrument repair dude 😁
Man i think i found the reason my strings are vibrating on the 1st fret
@@HITmark23 I’ve seen that happen before. I was able to tap the fret down, but it only worked temporarily.
This is much better advice than the other short I checked, which was advising that people file down their freaking frets??
Technique + practice > "life hacks"
Every time.
Haha! In my experience it’s always better to start with the simplest possible solution and graduate as necessary. Also, if you do end up needing a fret job, it’s probably worth it to take it to a professional. My 2 cents 🙂
You have no idea how much this helped me. I thought I would have to take my guitar to a shop. 🙏
Woohoo! Glad to help :)
Alr, great tip, but how do you look like every System of a Down member mixed together?
Glad you liked the tip! To answer your question, I was a test tube baby. All the band members jizzed in a cup, and henceforth I was conceived.
@@MarkNokesGuitar sunday with the bros i guess?
Hi I'm trying to learn how to play guitar how do I know if my cords are to tight. I don't get sound if the are tight , but if i loosen them the get really loose on there own
You’ll need to learn how to tune your instrument properly. I don’t have any videos on that, but a quick RUclips search should get you some results.
Doesn’t always work though when you’re trying to play a gadd9 and your ring finger and pinkie are a space apart. Always get a buzzing in my b string
Yep. There are many times that it won’t work, and you just have to muscle it. As a general rule though, it’ll save you from over squeezing all the time :)
@@MarkNokesGuitar nice one, thanks for getting back to me. Appreciate it
Literally a complete beginner and was having trouble with this sound. Will try, thanks!!
You have a fret issue on the 3rd fret
I do my best 🤓
@@MarkNokesGuitar your method works to ease the minds for few minutes then you hear the buzz again ahhhhhh , I’m in the same boat. I am going to order the set of tools soon for sanding and crowning the frets
@@justinfleming7603 nice! I’m too big of a chicken to go that far. The last guitar I had with flat frets, I replaced with a new guitar. I miss that one sometimes 😅
love you bro!
This is a temporary solution that (in my opinion just to clarify) will make playing guitar harder in the long run, especially for learners if you have fret buzz anywhere on your guitar there can be a few causes and solutions for example buzzing notes can be because of a bowed neck or high/uneven frets, not every classical guitar has a truss rod but the majority of guitars do and you just need an Alan wrench to adjust it you can easily damage the guitar by doing this if you over turn the truss rod, but the best thing you could do as someone with no experience working on a guitar is to take it to a music store and pay for a setup, it’s usually affordable and worth it since your instrument will be a lot more playable
Didn’t want to make the first comment super long but some other causes for buzzing can be high frets, witch you can file down yourself but probably would be better off having it done at a workshop/ music shop, or maybe your string gauge is too high or low witch can also bow the guitars neck but a truss rod adjustment should compensate for a string tension change
Could also be your guitars action (the space between the string and the fretboard) witch depending on the guitar can be easy or difficult, for example acoustic guitar action is a little harder to adjust, you would have to shave some material off of the nut/saddle
On most electric you just need Alan wrenches to adjust saddle action but a guitar tech who knows what there doing can fix all of those issues and get it as close to perfect as it can get, if your serious about learning I’d say it’s great to know how to work on a guitar, especially if your starting to amass a decent collection (you can’t just stop at 1)😂
You’re right that there can be multiple reasons for fret buzz, and I think I’ve done a good job of explaining that in the comments. However, it’s absolutely not a temporary solution. It’s simply proper left hand technique.
@@MarkNokesGuitar I agree to disagree I believe having a playable instrument (that doesn’t buzz at all regardless of left hand technique) is much easier than having to force your self to place your fingers a certain way on the fretboard, maybe if you learned that way and adapted to it sure but for beginners it will only make fretting more difficult, for example when I teach people who are brand new to guitar pretty much everyone has trouble fretting notes and chords, playing right at the fret especially when playing chords at any common tempo is gonna make it hard as hell to land all your fingers in that specific spot for each fret especially for beginners, having a playable instrument with a good setup regardless of the price of the instrument will make it way easier to play, many people I’ve tried to teach give up because they can’t fret notes and get a clear sound. If you want to improve your guitar technique and really become a better player having an instrument that makes it harder for you to play will make that very difficult and may scare away new players
You’re not wrong, but you’re missing my point! My point is that what I’ve presented is a fact. You can disagree until you’re blue in the face, but finger placement matters and it’s a very common reason for fret buzz.
Question: what do i do if im not playing a chord?
The tip in the video applies to single note playing as well :)
Thank you sir. This helped me ❤
Awesome!!!
tysm❤❤🎉
I got buzzing on the first fret 😭
Sorry to hear that! Did my tips not help at all? There are many questions/answers in the comments too. You might try some of those and let me know if it helps!
I still get the buzz in the 5th fret third string
Sorry to hear that! Try some of my other suggestions in the comments 🙂
This is wonderful thank you sooo much
You’re welcome!
OMG THANK YOU SO MUCH AAAAAAA
Glad it helped!
I have buzzing but im putting my fingers on the exact place
Do you mean that you're putting your fingers directly on the fret?
My first 5 frets are making the buzz
@@MarkNokesGuitar wherever I put my finger they make that sound
@@MarkNokesGuitar They are making the really deep sound
@@Cami-cp2sz You guitar could be in need of a setup. That would include a neck adjustment, if necessary. Another possibility is that the frets are worn (if it's an old guitar).
Wow thank you !
You're welcome!
Amen Lord bless you guys and Mr Nokes This is one of the grates tip anyone can learn! And this carries on wile the years go by playable !
Thanks bruv
You’re welcome!
Thank you sir 🙏
You’re welcome ☺️
BRO THANK YOU
You’re welcome!
How do I stop a string from buzzing when I’m using a capo?
Is it buzzing at the fret where the capo is placed?
@@MarkNokesGuitar yes
Try moving the capo directly behind the fret…like, really close without touching.
@@MarkNokesGuitar I just tried that out and my d string still buzzes
It sounds crazy, but sometimes simply changing the strings can help. If that doesn’t work, you may need a neck adjustment, fret leveling…or both depending on the condition/age of the instrument.
Thankss
You’re welcome!
Thank you!!!
You’re welcome! Glad to help!!!
Thanks a ton !
Absolutely my pleasure!!!
didnt help
Sorry to hear that! I hope you get it figured out!
@@MarkNokesGuitar yea , still searching , thanks tho
THANK YOUUUUUUUUU💗💗💗
So happy to help!!!
This was AMAZING
Woohoo! Awesome!!!
He just didn’t pluck the strings as hard, u can’t fool me bro. 👍
this happens to me but only on My high E string when i’m Scaling 😭😭😫
Bummer! You may try a higher gauged string if you haven’t already. Let me know how it works out!
@@MarkNokesGuitar i think i just need to adjust the action on it. 😇
fixed it ! ✨✨ let’s gooo
@@wyspycremes6802 Sweeeeeet!