We need a word for finger-squeaks

Subject: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Cool Beans
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 11:40 AM

What do you call the squeaky sound fingers make on guitar strings when changing chords or notes? We need a word for this. I thought of slideburns. Any ideas?

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Nick
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 11:44 AM

What about 'squeak'?

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 12:03 PM

I've always called it "string noise".

I heard a story, probably an urban legend, but interesting.

Ronnie Hawkins was recording when he said to his guitar player,"What's that sound when you take a solo?"
The Guitar player said,"That's just string noise."
Ronnie said,"I don't like it. Play it again without that noise."
The GP said,"You can't play it without that noise. Even Andre Segovia makes that noise."
Ronnie answered,"And you'll notice he doesn't play in my band."

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 12:21 PM

Slithers

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Bernard
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 12:29 PM

'Eeek'...!

The only 'cure' is flatwound strings... tried them... once!

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:13 PM

"urk"s

~S~

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: SharonA
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:16 PM

"Chirps"

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: treewind
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:21 PM

I thought it was was usually called fret noise (e.g. by sound and recording engineers).

Yes, I know it's not all made by frets; most of it comes from rubbing wound strings, but everybody knows what you mean when you call it that.

Anahata

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: wysiwyg
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:22 PM

Is it from damp fingers?

~S~

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:25 PM

Sliding fingers = slingers.

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:25 PM

Early Julian Bream recordings were bad for string squeak. He learned a better hand position and squeaks are almost absent from later recordings. He was interviewed about this, but I forget the name of the artist who helped him.

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Ebbie
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:31 PM

On the plus side: I read once that patrons of Segovia's concerts tried to get seats up front so they could hear his fingers.

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Spot
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:32 PM

Allo...

    Always referred to it as squinkin', for some inane reason.... :-)

                Regards to all.... Spot

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: GUEST,Sharmagne
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:49 PM

Chet Atkins used to take a little "nose grease" from the sides of his nose or from behind his ears and rub it on the strings to eliminate string sqeaks.

Many people use Crisco, fretease, baby powder or corn starch to eliminate it but I rather like it!

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Bill D
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 01:57 PM

I was listening to the first Norman Blake album with someone many years ago...when it was finished, she said..."You know....I didn't hear a single squeak!" She was right.

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 03:40 PM

Most such noises are the result of exciting the longitudinal vibration of the string rather than the transverse vibration normally intended.

As a very rough approximation, for most strings, especially those with a steel core, the longitudinal frequency is approximately 6 times the transverse, giving a "squeek" about 2 and a fraction octaves above the note being played.

One might claim to be playing "superharmonics" of the note. "for the pleasure of the dogs in the audience" ... ? . ?

"squink" is as good a name as any, perhaps.

John

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Deckman
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 05:28 PM

A hundred years ago, when I played steel string, (yes, I actually did) I was very bothered by string noise. First I went to flat wound strings, "First Nighters" as I recall, which reduced the string noise but it also severly dinished the quality of the string tone. I then found a can of "spray" that I used for a while. It really helped to reduce the string noise. I imagine it's still very available ... I 'dunno! Bob

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 06:41 PM

"Fast-Fret" eliminates all the string noise imo.

and I like Cool Beans original suggestion of "slideburns".

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Muttley
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 07:21 AM

Finger -squeaks: FUEAKS!

Personally I like 'em they add 'character' - long live 'fueaks'!

Muttley

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: GUEST,tony geen
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 09:24 AM

Classical violinists talk about 'shifts', as in 'you can't hear his shifts'.

No need for any new word.

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: John of the Hill
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 12:30 PM

Spot, The first think that popped into my mind was squinks. I wonder if that term is floating around somewhere but I don't recall hearing it.

John

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Bert
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 03:08 PM

Ground wound strings are better than flat wound.

But lifting your fingers is the best way of avoiding them completely.

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Elaine Green
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 03:19 PM

I've heard it called 'speak,' but I'm not sure how it's derived.

I've been using D'addario half wounds lately, and they've helped a lot. A little speak is actually good, giving a live, human, and authentic feel, but too much (and I'm a lazy player for sure) is hideous.

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Muttley
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 04:27 PM

Now that I re-read the posts - I rather like 'squinks', too - what the hell! Long live 'squinks'

Muttley

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Jock O' Dreams
Date: 25 Feb 07 - 06:51 PM

"Skreeks" would be good as it's quite phonic!

Jim McAdams

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Scrump
Date: 26 Feb 07 - 09:56 AM

"String squeaks" => "Streaks"

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: GUEST,ib48
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 06:14 AM

Squinging

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Mr Red
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 07:49 AM

onomatopoeically speaking

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzeeeeek

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzeeeeeks (pl)

just about sums it up.

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Mr Red
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 08:02 AM

A friend of mine had a lubricant stick. A bit like a squat fat deoderant stick (remember them?)

Basically it was grease by any other name. Someone used it on a violin - oops.

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Artful Codger
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 06:07 PM

freep

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: GUEST,cmt49
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 07:49 PM

Try Elixir strings. Apart from lack of squeak / squink / zeek, they sound and last better than any I have tried (on a Martin, a friend tried them on his Gibson and they sounded very ordinary for some reason).

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: pdq
Date: 27 Feb 07 - 08:00 PM

I made up my own term: skritch (rhymnes with itch).

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Cool Beans
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 10:47 AM

A year later....
Tipsqueaks!

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 11:15 AM

Back in those 1960's when I was getting interested in folk music I bought every album I could find. Some of those purchases I regret but not many. I played Autoharp then but two of my friend were guitarists.
We were listening to Joan Baez's early albums, Vanguard records maybe, some songs of which were absolutely infested with those sounds. We called them "Baezes" as we didn't hear them often from anybody else.

" Hey Cathy, that sounded good."
"Yup, and no Baezing at all."

Don

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: breezy
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 03:41 PM

The squeak that annoys me is the one as the palm slides up the back of the neck rather than on the string side

I find Kate Rusby's 'Viiage Green P soc' is spoilt by it when a little talcum powder would have eliminated it, as well as wearing away the varnish!

IMHO

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Megan L
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 03:41 PM

Don't we already have one LTS

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Ned Ludd
Date: 27 Jan 08 - 05:20 PM

Lts's squeaks are not done with strings.....

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: Geordie-Peorgie
Date: 28 Jan 08 - 01:27 PM

When my youngest Rock chick was a wee bairn she was liteneing to me play nursery rhymes for her and she said "Whassat noise?"

I explained (as best I could) and she said,

"I like it - It's 'gweekie'"

And 'gweekie' it became

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 28 Jan 08 - 07:20 PM

Liz the Squink?

Squink is the word we always used where I grew up, around Washington, D.C. Doc Watson's first solo LP was full of them.

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: moongoddess
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 09:18 AM

I rather like the term "skritch" myself, as posted earlier. I think they add to a song played well.

Subject: RE: We need a word for finger-squeaks
From: pavane
Date: 13 Mar 08 - 09:24 AM

It is defined in General MIDI as 'Guitar Fret Noise' sound code 121
(even if it not from a guitar, I suppose)