Forum - Banjo Ben Clark

Discuss the Guitar lesson: There's a Buzz in My Guitar

#1

https://banjobenclark.com/lessons/theres-a-buzz-in-my-guitar-guitar-beginner

Got yourself a guitar buzz? There are many factors that could be causing it…including the picker!

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#2

Great topic! I know some players who like to have slight buzz in their playing, that is part of their signature sound.

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#3

:honeybee:

#4

Weren’t you going to put in a link?

#5

I think Jake was referring to this (banjo) video that visually explains the nature of buzzes:

Here are videos for guitar and mandolin that deal with identifying and fixing buzzes:


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#6

Not buzz question, but a mandolin tone question: On my Northfield Big Mon (standard neck width), I have trouble getting good tone on the G-course when fretting with my pinky, especially when playing a 4-course chord, or when, at other times, using my pinky for single notes on that course. I figure it is an issue with the way I am playing, but I am not sure what to do about it? It seems like my pinky tip is too small in diameter to cover both strings well, so the tone is “Thunky,” instead of clear and ringing. On the other hand, since children can do this and get a better sound, and Sierra Hull, who doesn’t exactly have sausages for fingers, or huge palms so that she has more reach than I do, doesn’t have this problem, then I need to do something differently, but I am not sure what. If I try to use the flat part of the end of my pinky, instead of the tip, to play that D on the G-course while playing the G-chord, my pinky gets too close to the higher strings, and I mute one of them. :frowning: Any suggestions of things to try are appreciated. Thanks.

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#7

I definitely don’t have big hands and have struggled with this in the past too, I find 2 things to be helpful for me:

  1. Be sure that you’re not picking too hard with the right hand. Since the G strings are the thickest, I’ve found it’s pretty important to not attack them too hard with the right hand or they’ll easily buzz against the frets
  2. Finger placement below the fret is even more noticeable on the thicker strings too. It’s important on every string to make sure you’re placing your finger directly behind the frets, but especially so with the G strings.

Hope those 2 ideas help! :slight_smile:

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#8

Thanks, Lucy_L! I will check my finger position. Perhaps that will help. Honestly, I have thought about trying thinner strings for the G-course, but that comes with its own set of issues. :slight_smile:

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