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Neil- I just watched your lesson on Nancy Wilson's Silver Wheels and I noticed that you didn't squeak the strings once. I know you aren't using flat wound strings but rather phosphur bronze, I think D'Addario .013's as I recall.

What's the secret? I try to lift my fingers when changing chords quickly but on those long slides there is always annoying squeaking. I know even the great fingerstylists occasionally get squeaks but you rarely do.

Thanks Neil!

Bear :cheer:

Generally the squeaks are at a constant fixed, regardless of how hard you hit the strings- kind of a signal to noise ratio problem. Play soft, slide slowly and the squeaks seem loud. Play hard, slide quickly and precisely, and they are minimized. I think that's most of it, along with only pressing hard enough to get the tone you need- watch out for the death grip on the strings.

Neil

P.S. D'Addario phosphor bronze medium gauge (.013-.056) are what I use.

TGNeil wrote:

Generally the squeaks are at a constant fixed, regardless of how hard you hit the strings- kind of a signal to noise ratio problem. Play soft, slide slowly and the squeaks seem loud. Play hard, slide quickly and precisely, and they are minimized. I think that's most of it, along with only pressing hard enough to get the tone you need- watch out for the death grip on the strings.

Neil

P.S. D'Addario phosphor bronze medium gauge (.013-.056) are what I use.

Thanks Neil! String pressure does make a huge difference. Glad I asked.

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