Pick scrapes/Open string sounds

  • Thread starter Thread starter TelePaul
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TelePaul

TelePaul

J to the R O C
Hey all. I am trying to record some very clean acoustic parts which consist of open strings to give a nice open, droney sound. They go like this

xx2100, xx9800, xx7600

E, B and A fragments I guess.

My problem is when I move up the fretboard, becuase of the open strings, the mics pick up the kinda scratchy sound. Is there any way to kill this without losing the nice open sound?
 
I'm pretty sure that is partly caused by caullosed fingertips. I think I've heard running your hands under water to soften them up might help, but I'm sure somebody has something better to suggest.
 
RideTheCrash said:
I'm pretty sure that is partly caused by caullosed fingertips. I think I've heard running your hands under water to soften them up might help, but I'm sure somebody has something better to suggest.
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Well i'll certainly try that, thanks!

Any other ideas guys?
 
Or play the part with some thin, tight, cotton gloves on or something. :confused:

Or how would this work?: x76x00 , xx9800, xx7600
 
if it is callouses then I'd suggest borrowing some moisturising hand cream (the gritty stuff is good too) from your gf/wife/freind who is a female to soften them.

How are you micing it? maybe if you are micing the fretboard then you could eliminate this and this would maybe reduce this sound. Just an idea.

Obstacle
 
How loud/quiet are the scrapes in comparison to the rest? If it's pretty quiet, you could try a gate at those times....in your software. If it's too loud, that won't work well. My last acoustic endeavor I had teh phones up pretty loud, and you could hear the click when I wasn't playing. I went in and gated the parts right before I started playing. It was quiet enough it didn't affect the guitar.
 
Dogman said:
How loud/quiet are the scrapes in comparison to the rest? If it's pretty quiet, you could try a gate at those times....in your software. If it's too loud, that won't work well. My last acoustic endeavor I had teh phones up pretty loud, and you could hear the click when I wasn't playing. I went in and gated the parts right before I started playing. It was quiet enough it didn't affect the guitar.
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Well the song is the one you listened to in the MP3 mixing clinic.
 
i've always liked the string sounds. guitar center sells something that you put on the strings and it makes it so it doesnt make that sound
 
Reggie said:
Or play the part with some thin, tight, cotton gloves on or something. :confused:

Or how would this work?: x76x00 , xx9800, xx7600
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Paul-I agree with Reggie-it would be best to keep the chords closer together on the neck. When you are sliding up the neck its hard to avoid the string noise on the wound strings.
 
Anfontan said:
Paul-I agree with Reggie-it would be best to keep the chords closer together on the neck. When you are sliding up the neck its hard to avoid the string noise on the wound strings.
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Yeah Reggie tabbed them out good!! I dunno...like there's something very organic about the progression as is...it's in the MP3 mixig clinic if ya wanna listen.
 
My fingers callouse up pretty badly when I play acoustic too. I don't mind a little finger noise but when it gets real bad, after I get out of the shower and my hands still a bit wrinkly/wet, buff them with an emery board. Afterwards a dose of hand lotion.

I'd usually say that excessive finger noises are due to poor technique. You should release the touch when transitioning from note to note but, in cases where you're trying to do a glissando for slide from note to note, there's not a lot you can do in the way of technique.
 
punkin said:
My fingers callouse up pretty badly when I play acoustic too. I don't mind a little finger noise but when it gets real bad, after I get out of the shower and my hands still a bit wrinkly/wet, buff them with an emery board. Afterwards a dose of hand lotion.

I'd usually say that excessive finger noises are due to poor technique. You should release the touch when transitioning from note to note but, in cases where you're trying to do a glissando for slide from note to note, there's not a lot you can do in the way of technique.
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I was gonna try a slight palm mute between phrases....but I'll try moisturise as well.
 
TelePaul said:
Yeah Reggie tabbed them out good!! I dunno...like there's something very organic about the progression as is...it's in the MP3 mixig clinic if ya wanna listen.
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I gave it a listen-its really a good song, especially those string sounds-the cello sound works quite well with the acoustic. The guitar strings being new may be causing a lot of the noise-the brightness of them. Its just the nature of acoustic guitar, part of the sound~
 
Go get an emory board and dress the fingertips a bit....buff off the rough edges...this will knock down the squeeks a lot!
 
jpw23 said:
Go get an emory board and dress the fingertips a bit....buff off the rough edges...this will knock down the squeeks a lot!
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Emery board...okay..is it...like a nail file?
 
A light rub with GHS fast fret helps quiet the squeaks but there is no getting rid of them 100%. Even the most proficient players in the world have some finger/string noise in there. I personally like a little in the mix. It gives a performance a live, dynamic feel.
 
great song

really like this one man. is this synful strings again? sounds great. the acoustic guitar tone is awesome, and i agree that the scratchy noise can add to a song sometimes. i like it how it is. maybe the tiniest bit of eq could help if the screeches are really bugging you. maybe try some elixirs next time :p

Adam
 
marshall409 said:
really like this one man. is this synful strings again? sounds great. the acoustic guitar tone is awesome, and i agree that the scratchy noise can add to a song sometimes. i like it how it is. maybe the tiniest bit of eq could help if the screeches are really bugging you. maybe try some elixirs next time :p

Adam
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hah thanks man, glad you like this one, it's the first song I've ever written so I'm really apprehensive about it! Yeah it's the Synful samples, converted to audio just before my trial ran out! I'll call over my co-writer friend, see what he thinks. Thanks again everyone, I'll try soften up my hands.
 
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