I've never heard anyone address this squeaky-ness! Thank you for this video, I've been clueless how to address this! I find the better the guitar, the more responsive it is, the worse my squeaky-ness is!
Hi Daniel! That's also true because great guitars resonate a lot more than cheap ones! Maybe that's the reason many beginners are not yet concerned about it?? 😄🤔
I wish I had understood these basic principles of not tensing and cramping the hands 20 years ago when I started playing! When you just play rock music and are self-taught there is no one to stop you and say "Hey, you're making it more difficult on yourself!"
I'm a bassist and I've never heard of this technique before. It's exactly what I need to clean up my playing and I can't wait to get started. Thank you so much!!
I remember I went to a session recording one time and the producer actually wanted this kind of noises🤷🏻haha I ask him why, and he reply that he want to make sure that the people knows is a real guitar 😂
Interesting remark from the producer... Guitar playing will anyways make noises when playing that 'proof' that is not midi guitar or anything alike, so its kind of funky to me that he asked you to try to get more of these noises on purpose... LOL!
This is a eureka moment for me. I am always working on trying to produce clean notes, but sometimes those squeaks get through. Some days seem better than others, perhaps because I am lazy in my technique one day and another I am unconsciously doing the (correct) technique you have described. But I could never put my finger on on it (that's a pun 😆) until now. I think this explanation will go a long way to improving the clarity and separation of notes in my playing. Just proves you are never too old to learn. Thank you.
I'm an electric guitarist and have this problem, so this was useful to me. I will practice now to get rid of it or at least minimize it, to an acceptable level.
so nice Merce!! wonderfull video and you explaining very easy way....!! I am myself professional Indian Musician and Vocalist and i am Vocal Teacher from last 15 years. i lives in Spain now days. Iast year i have got Interest to Play Classical Guitar and one day i saw your Guitar Tutorials videos. really you doing such amezing job..and very easy way.!! i have watched your so many videos. all were great!! !one day will come that you will have millions of Subscribers))) please let me know if you will have your concert arround in Spain. i have been many time in your country in Netherlands))
Thanks for the video. The well-known Prelude 1 by H. Villa-Lobos is one of those pieces where the string noises can kill the performance, given the number of featured portamentos in the score. In his master class book on selected works by the Brazilian composer, A. Carlevaro reiterates what you discuss here: "The opening portamento B (5) to E (5), will only sound perfectly clear and neat if the arm is used to perform it" (page 6). Cheers!
In a master class, Christopher Parkening said before his first recording he used sand paper to dull the bass strings while still on the guitar from the 1st fret to the 9th fret. Since the class was via zoom it was unclear exactly what gauge sand paper it was but appeared to be about 320.
I started this a few months ago, and I've found that the lift-shift-press combo needs to be done very quickly yet very gently so it doesn't sound like a pull-off or hammer-on. Lifting the finger up towards the ceiling rather than outward perpendicular to the fretboard also helps, but I don't know why. Excellent tutorial, as always! 👍
Absolutely! Practicing with this approach it helped me a lot getting rid of unwanted open strings sounds when you take the finger away from a fret! Thanks for the comment Josh! Wish you a great week!
Thank you. Fantastic video.No one explained just using your arm to move up and down and not the fingers. Just from that, I improved in two minutes. I'll keep practicing!
Thanks for this video. Wouldn't it be interesting to also talk about the attack of the 3 bass wound strings by the right hand which can also causes an unpleasant creak, as far as I'm concerned. By changing the angle of attack? Wouldn't it be interesting to talk about that? Thanks !
At 0:25… the way she delivers with devastating directness what we all need to hear “… the main root of the problem is - your technique”. Love this video series - subscribed & supporting!
A great lesson. I wish someone will make a lesson of the same problem but in ONE position, when unpressing a bass and especially when a unpressing a chord, both open and bar chords. I started to hear the squeaks on most of my bass changes, as soon as I started recording myself with a microphone. AFAIU by analyzing my hand movement, the reason is exactly the same: ANY horizontal finger movement on the bass string produces the squeak. There are lots of lessons on the subject, but almost all of them concentrate on a position change. I get less problems with a one finger position change, but unpressing a chord or an angled finger on a bass is a huge problem...
I can imagine that for bass the problem multiplies quite a bit! If you feel you have this issue then I'd focus more on essential positioning and hand control movements on one position at a time. I'm sure you know the exercises 1234 (string 1), 1234 (string 2) etc... Well, I'd start with such combinations taking care of your position and the lifting up and moving (do as little movement as you can!). In fact I did these but starting with only double finger combinations (eg. 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 1-3, 1-4, 2-4). I did them ascending and descending. Then you can do the ones of 3 fingers (1-2-3, 2-3-4,1-3-4,1-2-4). Same, ascending and descending and multiple variations of it. Then build up to the 4 finger combinations. If I may say, you just need to polish and refine your movement, so such exercises are based on control and developing your hand so you should do them slowly and super clean. Only this way your fingers will start lifting up properly from the string and you will avoid all this noisiness when changing strings on the same position. Hope that helps and happy new year!! :)
@@MerceFont Happy new year Merce and thank you for your answer. Probably my wording wasn't perfect. I meant the bass strings on a classical guitar :) I spent some more hours on analyzing my hand movements and realized that the problem is actually the same as when jumping between hand positions: I am starting to change the finger position before unpressing the string. Should be a very basic and common technical problem, but now I at least understand what needs to be fixed.
thanks for the upload Merce. I think while we have to learn the mechanism of this movement we shouldn't concentrate on that as a practice. I think like many of our unwanted noises this gets better gradually and during a long process.
Indeed, obsessing over this without a real purpose is not a meaningful goal that we should have. Yet, on certain pieces the bass string noise can become excessive with the wrong approach/technique to the point that might disturb the listener and the music. This video is to help players who might in this sort of moment. :)
@@MerceFont Yes. specially the part you point out the direction of the left hand before changing its position was very helpful, like all of your videos. Thanks Merce for your kindness and generosity.
There's a Joe Satriani piece where he riffs all over the fretboard, very clean, and then suddenly sweeps his hand down along the strings to use the scratch sound deliberately. Masterful 😄
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Also ... I just wanted to share a related "squeaking" story .... I recorded "Yesterday" (Beatles) / audio only / guitar arrangement. Didn't tell my wife. Played it in the car while we were driving. She started humming along. I started thinking ... "this is good ! My wife thinks it's a PRO playing". Then ... she hears the squeaking of the strings. She turns to me with a naughty smile and says ... "It's YOU !!!!!". Bwahahahaha.
Thank you Merce for the lovely sharing lessons, as always. I'm here in the tropical country border of Malaysia-Singapore. Where my fingers ✌️ get sticky to the strings. It create bing sound of the string. I would tap my left fingers with talcum foot powder and that helps. Though one may need to reply at times. Woulfe
Yeah, I have known also players who tend to get very sweaty fingers when playing and they also used these powder when playing. I guess each player needs to find their own way around these little details! :)
Thank you so much Merce, Your attention to detail is magnificent. I always look forward to your videos. Wether it be on RUclips, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You're Gorgeous and absolutely one of my favourite guitarists and social media personalities. Bless you and enjoy your weekend dear. 🙏 ❤ 🎸 🎶
Thank you Merce for all the great videos that help us all a lot! Concerning the squeaking noises: I still wonder how to play for instance Villa Lobos etude no 12. Given the rapid tempo: is it possible to lift the fingers for every single fret move here? Would really like to know. Thank you!
i am very appreciated to watch your classsical guitar technical videos Really helpful i think it is the most valuable to this kind of music instrument teaching from all the internet I am from china a country which is lack of this very right resource for people who wants to learn classical guitar . really hope your team can be to our country to teach students here . we dont have many teachers who really know about classical guitar. a few of teacher know but they set a very high payment which is beyond your mind and few student can learn it well .it is unbelievable . hope you think about if its possible to start your career in china .me will be your first chinese student ！ thanks again
This is such a great video on an often ignored topic! I have been playing for a long time but lately more interested in developing my fingerstyle technique. You are a wonderful teacher! Also.. Fast Fret is an excellent product! I was introduced to it 20 years ago and use it religiously on all my guitars. Doesn't cost much, lasts for ages and really does make playing far more enjoyable. Also it does increase the life of your strings and keeps the fretboard in good condition. So glad I found channel today.☺ Subscribed!
I really respect your attention to details. Thank you for teaching this very important technique. I'm still working on your other left hand exercise video and I am looking forward to mastering this one no matter how long it takes. Keep up the great videos!
Спасибо, Мерс! Ваши уроки просто бесценны. С наступающим Новым годом Вас и Ваших близких! Здоровья, счастья и новых творческих успехов! С глубоким уважением, Николай из Санкт- Петербурга.
Thanks for your videos. What do you recommend when you have to play some glissandos on the lower strings? For example in the first prelude of Villa-Lobos where we are forced to slip on the rope! 😁
So so valuable. My second video with you. Ill make your channel a home of some sort, in my view times. You are awesome. ... and pretty. God bless you for doing videos that a somewhat different but dead useful. Just imagine what your valuable tips would make of a beginner. Just imagine. They're coming at the perfect time. I'd watch out for squeaks.
That's because you might be hitting the nails with other strings, try practicing right hand alone the precision of attack. With some awareness practice you can quickly see results, but you need to be very accurate when you do it ;)
When I was being trained on rifle and handgun, I was told “you learn first slowly and smoothly, then later you move quickly and smoothly.” As bad as that situation was in general it’s very good way to learn things.
your site isn't working well even after paying. No tengo acceso a notas, ni videos ni cursos ni nada. nunca vi una cosa asi por cierto. sin embargo, muchas gracias por la musica
Querido Vlad! Lo siento que tengas problemas con la plataforma! mi equipo te ha mandado un email para resolver lo que sea que este sucediendo. Estamos en contacto! :) un abrazo!
The squeaks can sound extra annoying on electric guitar with a lot of gain, this was very helpful, thank you!
I've never heard anyone address this squeaky-ness! Thank you for this video, I've been clueless how to address this! I find the better the guitar, the more responsive it is, the worse my squeaky-ness is!
Hi Daniel! That's also true because great guitars resonate a lot more than cheap ones! Maybe that's the reason many beginners are not yet concerned about it?? 😄🤔
I wish I had understood these basic principles of not tensing and cramping the hands 20 years ago when I started playing! When you just play rock music and are self-taught there is no one to stop you and say "Hey, you're making it more difficult on yourself!"
I'm a bassist and I've never heard of this technique before. It's exactly what I need to clean up my playing and I can't wait to get started. Thank you so much!!
I remember I went to a session recording one time and the producer actually wanted this kind of noises🤷🏻haha I ask him why, and he reply that he want to make sure that the people knows is a real guitar 😂
HAHA!!!!!
Old-school guys like Christopher Parkening used old, played-in strings....helps
Interesting remark from the producer... Guitar playing will anyways make noises when playing that 'proof' that is not midi guitar or anything alike, so its kind of funky to me that he asked you to try to get more of these noises on purpose... LOL!
My old college guitar instructor dismissed non-noise making as not realistic. Of course shifts are noisy! You're playing a guitar.
I like the sound of those squeaks. Especially if there is reverb or delay going on.
Came back to watch.
I'm going more, into Slide guitar so, i ran back to you.
Thanks.
Shift noises are awesome and define the sound of a string instrument. I really don't get the phobia many classical guitar players seem to have.
I loved the continous zoom emphasis on "Very, Very, Very, *very* many times"
This is a eureka moment for me. I am always working on trying to produce clean notes, but sometimes those squeaks get through. Some days seem better than others, perhaps because I am lazy in my technique one day and another I am unconsciously doing the (correct) technique you have described. But I could never put my finger on on it (that's a pun 😆) until now. I think this explanation will go a long way to improving the clarity and separation of notes in my playing. Just proves you are never too old to learn. Thank you.
I'm an electric guitarist and have this problem, so this was useful to me. I will practice now to get rid of it or at least minimize it, to an acceptable level.
so nice Merce!! wonderfull video and you explaining very easy way....!! I am myself professional Indian Musician and Vocalist and i am Vocal Teacher from last 15 years. i lives in Spain now days. Iast year i have got Interest to Play Classical Guitar and one day i saw your Guitar Tutorials videos. really you doing such amezing job..and very easy way.!! i have watched your so many videos. all were great!! !one day will come that you will have millions of Subscribers))) please let me know if you will have your concert arround in Spain. i have been many time in your country in Netherlands))
Thanks for the video. The well-known Prelude 1 by H. Villa-Lobos is one of those pieces where the string noises can kill the performance, given the number of featured portamentos in the score. In his master class book on selected works by the Brazilian composer, A. Carlevaro reiterates what you discuss here: "The opening portamento B (5) to E (5), will only sound perfectly clear and neat if the arm is used to perform it" (page 6). Cheers!
Uff yeah Prelude 1 of villalobos can get nasty with this issue... thank you for adding it here in the comments! 😊
@@MerceFont Don't mention it. Thank you for your quality content! :0)
You look so much like Enrique Iglesias 😃 Aren't you relatives:)?
Thanks for the great video!
Thank you 🙏🏻 dear Merce!! Learnt a lot. So valuable. Thanks a ton.
Espectacular, no podía esperar para verlo, esto es de mucha ayuda. A practicar se ha dicho!
😊
In a master class, Christopher Parkening said before his first recording he used sand paper to dull the bass strings while still on the guitar from the 1st fret to the 9th fret. Since the class was via zoom it was unclear exactly what gauge sand paper it was but appeared to be about 320.
I started this a few months ago, and I've found that the lift-shift-press combo needs to be done very quickly yet very gently so it doesn't sound like a pull-off or hammer-on. Lifting the finger up towards the ceiling rather than outward perpendicular to the fretboard also helps, but I don't know why.
Excellent tutorial, as always! 👍
Absolutely! Practicing with this approach it helped me a lot getting rid of unwanted open strings sounds when you take the finger away from a fret! Thanks for the comment Josh! Wish you a great week!
Thank you. Fantastic video.No one explained just using your arm to move up and down and not the fingers. Just from that, I improved in two minutes. I'll keep practicing!
awesome! so happy to read that :)
Thanks for this video. Wouldn't it be interesting to also talk about the attack of the 3 bass wound strings by the right hand which can also causes an unpleasant creak, as far as I'm concerned. By changing the angle of attack? Wouldn't it be interesting to talk about that? Thanks !
Thanks you Merce. I will piggy back off some of the earlier comments. I never heard or seen someone addressing the squeaky string issue. Awesomeness!
Thanks Eulogio!!! :)
This lesson really is helping when it comes to the dreaded ‘Squeak’’! 😃. THANK YOU… just subscribed!
At 0:25… the way she delivers with devastating directness what we all need to hear “… the main root of the problem is - your technique”.
Love this video series - subscribed & supporting!
Very detailed explanation. Very good systematic explanation. Thank you very much.
You are welcome!
Thanks for your wonderful tutorial. 😊
A great lesson. I wish someone will make a lesson of the same problem but in ONE position, when unpressing a bass and especially when a unpressing a chord, both open and bar chords. I started to hear the squeaks on most of my bass changes, as soon as I started recording myself with a microphone. AFAIU by analyzing my hand movement, the reason is exactly the same: ANY horizontal finger movement on the bass string produces the squeak. There are lots of lessons on the subject, but almost all of them concentrate on a position change. I get less problems with a one finger position change, but unpressing a chord or an angled finger on a bass is a huge problem...
I can imagine that for bass the problem multiplies quite a bit! If you feel you have this issue then I'd focus more on essential positioning and hand control movements on one position at a time. I'm sure you know the exercises 1234 (string 1), 1234 (string 2) etc... Well, I'd start with such combinations taking care of your position and the lifting up and moving (do as little movement as you can!). In fact I did these but starting with only double finger combinations (eg. 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 1-3, 1-4, 2-4). I did them ascending and descending. Then you can do the ones of 3 fingers (1-2-3, 2-3-4,1-3-4,1-2-4). Same, ascending and descending and multiple variations of it. Then build up to the 4 finger combinations.
If I may say, you just need to polish and refine your movement, so such exercises are based on control and developing your hand so you should do them slowly and super clean. Only this way your fingers will start lifting up properly from the string and you will avoid all this noisiness when changing strings on the same position.
Hope that helps and happy new year!! :)
@@MerceFont Happy new year Merce and thank you for your answer. Probably my wording wasn't perfect. I meant the bass strings on a classical guitar :)
I spent some more hours on analyzing my hand movements and realized that the problem is actually the same as when jumping between hand positions: I am starting to change the finger position before unpressing the string. Should be a very basic and common technical problem, but now I at least understand what needs to be fixed.
What a great tutorial! I am not a classical player, but you explained the technique perfectly. Thank you. Problem solved with a little practice.
Great to hear!
*This helps, thank you!*
I'm so glad!
Awesome vídeo. Once again it’s all about keeping things simple and going slow when learning a new technique.
Thank you dear Jose!!! Un abrazo!
thanks for the upload Merce. I think while we have to learn the mechanism of this movement we shouldn't concentrate on that as a practice. I think like many of our unwanted noises this gets better gradually and during a long process.
Indeed, obsessing over this without a real purpose is not a meaningful goal that we should have. Yet, on certain pieces the bass string noise can become excessive with the wrong approach/technique to the point that might disturb the listener and the music. This video is to help players who might in this sort of moment. :)
@@MerceFont Yes. specially the part you point out the direction of the left hand before changing its position was very helpful, like all of your videos. Thanks Merce for your kindness and generosity.
There's a Joe Satriani piece where he riffs all over the fretboard, very clean, and then suddenly sweeps his hand down along the strings to use the scratch sound deliberately. Masterful 😄
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Also ... I just wanted to share a related "squeaking" story .... I recorded "Yesterday" (Beatles) / audio only / guitar arrangement. Didn't tell my wife. Played it in the car while we were driving. She started humming along. I started thinking ... "this is good ! My wife thinks it's a PRO playing". Then ... she hears the squeaking of the strings. She turns to me with a naughty smile and says ... "It's YOU !!!!!". Bwahahahaha.
Thank you Merce for the lovely sharing lessons, as always. I'm here in the tropical country border of Malaysia-Singapore. Where my fingers ✌️ get sticky to the strings. It create bing sound of the string. I would tap my left fingers with talcum foot powder and that helps. Though one may need to reply at times.
Woulfe
Yeah, I have known also players who tend to get very sweaty fingers when playing and they also used these powder when playing. I guess each player needs to find their own way around these little details! :)
Thank you so much Merce, Your attention to detail is magnificent.
I always look forward to your videos.
Wether it be on RUclips, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. You're Gorgeous and absolutely one of my favourite guitarists and social media personalities. Bless you and enjoy your weekend dear. 🙏 ❤ 🎸 🎶
🙏🏻 thank you so much to YOU for all your kind comments and for sharing the videos!! I really appreciate your support!! 🤗
@@MerceFont The pleasure is all mine dear have a wonderful week 🙏😊❤
yet another super informative tutorial video , nice one Merce,
Thank you Haz!!!
Merce, thank you for your very informative video. I never realized that there was a product that could help clean the strings. Thank you so much !
Glad it was helpful!
@@MerceFont , it surely was, thanks so much ! ♥️
Love you and your content, Merce. Does classical guitar ever anchor the little finger on right hand?
Thank you Merce for all the great videos that help us all a lot!
Concerning the squeaking noises: I still wonder how to play for instance Villa Lobos etude no 12. Given the rapid tempo: is it possible to lift the fingers for every single fret move here? Would really like to know. Thank you!
Very very very helpful for me. Thanks a lot madam.
Thank you❤
i am very appreciated to watch your classsical guitar technical videos Really helpful i think it is the most valuable to this kind of music instrument teaching from all the internet I am from china a country which is lack of this very right resource for people who wants to learn classical guitar . really hope your team can be to our country to teach students here . we dont have many teachers who really know about classical guitar. a few of teacher know but they set a very high payment which is beyond your mind and few student can learn it well .it is unbelievable . hope you think about if its possible to start your career in china .me will be your first chinese student ！ thanks again
Thanks for sharing your knowledge 🙏🙏
My pleasure
You are amazing teacher. Thank you so much Merce 🙏❤
You are very welcome!!!🙏🏻
Thank you ☺️
This is such a great video on an often ignored topic!
I have been playing for a long time but lately more interested in developing my fingerstyle technique.
You are a wonderful teacher!
Also.. Fast Fret is an excellent product! I was introduced to it 20 years ago and use it religiously on all my guitars.
Doesn't cost much, lasts for ages and really does make playing far more enjoyable. Also it does increase the life of your strings and keeps the fretboard in good condition.
So glad I found channel today.☺
Subscribed!
Thank yo so much for the sub mark! 🙏🏻
Great advice. Keep making content like this one
Thanks, will do!
Thank you, Merce, for another great video!! 😊🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Thank you Arthur for always being there in the premiere! 🙌🏻😊
I really respect your attention to details. Thank you for teaching this very important technique. I'm still working on your other left hand exercise video and I am looking forward to mastering this one no matter how long it takes. Keep up the great videos!
Awesome! You can do it!
This is really good topic . Awesome as always
Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the video :)
Спасибо, Мерс! Ваши уроки
просто бесценны. С наступающим Новым годом Вас и Ваших близких! Здоровья, счастья и новых творческих успехов! С глубоким уважением, Николай из Санкт-
Петербурга.
Keep it up merce your tutorials are really helpful💜💜🙌🏻
Thank you Yazed for your kind feedback! Happy to help and thank you for watching! 😊
Another excellent video. Thank you
Thank you Kacy! Glad you enjoyed it! :)
Thanks for your videos. What do you recommend when you have to play some glissandos on the lower strings? For example in the first prelude of Villa-Lobos where we are forced to slip on the rope! 😁
The Beatles song black bird comes to mind.
Keep going . amazing
Thank you! 🙏🏻
Tks so much❤
❤️🎶🙏🏼 best guitar content 😊
Thank you! Very kind! :)
dang it, i like the squeaks
So so valuable.
My second video with you.
Ill make your channel a home of some sort, in my view times.
You are awesome. ... and pretty.
God bless you for doing videos that a somewhat different but dead useful.
Just imagine what your valuable tips would make of a beginner.
Just imagine.
They're coming at the perfect time.
I'd watch out for squeaks.
I noticed on your twitter page that it was just your birthday. Belated happy birthday, Merce! Did you do anything fun? New strings, perhaps? :)
I am still geting difficulties of this tehnics, but i am not stop to continewing to do my work(ind)
Hi Merce, How do I avoid noise made by my right hand ? I mean, noise by wrongly touching nearby strings.
You should see improvement practicing planting. That will increase your right hand precision when plucking strings :)
I have problems with sqeeks from my picking hand, NOT my chord hand! hahaha
That's because you might be hitting the nails with other strings, try practicing right hand alone the precision of attack. With some awareness practice you can quickly see results, but you need to be very accurate when you do it ;)
So many guitar players speak, it makes my head hurt. I’m trying to learn to prevent it before I even buy my first guitar.
When I was being trained on rifle and handgun, I was told “you learn first slowly and smoothly, then later you move quickly and smoothly.” As bad as that situation was in general it’s very good way to learn things.
EASY FIX! Make it a feature of your music~ LOLOLOLOLOL, Kidding
hahaha
I realised the squeaky noises were from a family of mice living in the sound hole. I often like eat toast when practing whoops
your site isn't working well even after paying. No tengo acceso a notas, ni videos ni cursos ni nada. nunca vi una cosa asi por cierto. sin embargo, muchas gracias por la musica
Querido Vlad! Lo siento que tengas problemas con la plataforma! mi equipo te ha mandado un email para resolver lo que sea que este sucediendo. Estamos en contacto! :) un abrazo!
@@MerceFont no hay drama, ya se va a arreglar