DIV - Posted - 07/28/2009:  19:48:50

---

Now I consider myself a fairly decent player with pretty good technique, but recently I've started "picking" (pun intended!) up this nasty habit of occasionally squeaking with my middle finger's metal pick. It's usually happens when I'm picking up speed and it's pretty much always on the 1st finger.

Any advice?


Dan Varadi

Richard Dress - Posted - 07/28/2009:  20:05:33

---

apply a little nose oil to the pick

Aaron Thomas - Posted - 07/28/2009:  20:22:49

---

i think certain humidity conditions etc effect this.. i spray fingerease on my metal picks if i have this happen

carteru93 - Posted - 07/28/2009:  20:27:58

---

Polish your pick on some leather, worked with a squeaky Dunlop I once had.

___________________________________________________
Carter
Blaylock Bear Tracks Banjo the "Growler"
You can''t fix stupid!

pasturepicker - Posted - 07/28/2009:  20:36:06

---

Try using stainless steel picks like Sammy Shelor's.

Pickin'' In The Pasture
Aug 20, 21, 22, 23 2009
Lodi, NY
www.pickininthepasture.com
2009 artists include Nothin'' Fancy, Junior Sisk, Danny Paisley, Summertown Road, Bluegrass Brothers, Dick Smith & Mike O''Reilly, Country Current, Lonesome River Band, Goldwing Express and more.

Julio B - Posted - 07/28/2009:  21:21:05

---

But be certain it's PRE WAR nose oil!
~Julio

quote:

---

Originally posted by Richard Dress

apply a little nose oil to the pick

---

Banjov1 - Posted - 07/28/2009:  22:32:03

---

I think over time fingerpicks will just wear out. You can clean em, polish em, baby em, but ultimately, if you play them enough, they're going to show wear and they'll won't sound as fresh. I've tried all sorts of remedies, but after about 4-6 months of hard playing, I can really hear a difference when I pull out a new set of Showcase 41s.

For me this is no big deal, but I can't imagine what people do with a really expensive set of patent pending Nationals.



Tony

shclandler - Posted - 07/28/2009:  22:58:07

---

I've found that brand new picks can squeak or grind a little bit until they've been burnished somewhat by playing. For me, every time I detect some squeaking it's because I'm not hitting the string accurately and deliberately, some right hand adjustment usually helps me.

Josh

DIV - Posted - 07/29/2009:  07:26:36

---

I'll check the surface of that pick again, but think Josh nailed it on the head: I might have developed a sloppy habit with my middle finger. I'll check things out and report back.

thanks guys!


Dan Varadi

pickNgrin - Posted - 07/29/2009:  08:44:21

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by DIV

I'll check the surface of that pick again, but think Josh nailed it on the head: I might have developed a sloppy habit with my middle finger. I'll check things out and report back.

---

I think that is a great attitude. A lot of people who have been playing a while mistakenly think their technique is "good" and then look to everything EXCEPT their technique when battling a particular problem. In reality, not that many hobbyist pickers have really outstanding technique. It is always a good thing in my opinion to look carefully at how you are executing the fundamentals... there is almost always going to be room for improvement.

That is a general statement... I'm certainly not impugning your specific technique, DIV (like I would even be one to talk!). But since you say that the problem shows up only when you speed up.. well that sounds like a technique issue for sure.

-matt

---

Edited by - pickNgrin on 07/29/2009 08:47:20

daren - Posted - 07/29/2009:  10:43:21

---

As your picks approach an already vibrating string, there is a buzzing noise that can be confused with a squeak. It's caused by the vibrations of the string against the pick and is of very short duration. The faster you play, the harder that string is still vibrating and the louder the noise is.

DIV - Posted - 07/29/2009:  12:34:39

---

Thanks Matt
Hi Dave--you raise a very good point. However, the problem is that I haven't noticed this before in the 20 years I've been picking. I'm first going to try a different set of picks and if that doesn't do it, I'll have to stop and take a break for some "physcal therapy" on my technique.

Dan Varadi

steve davis - Posted - 07/29/2009:  12:54:32

---

I think that hand location(distance from bridge) has a lot to do with pick noise.
As you move farther from the bridge the tone gets fuller and pick noise diminishes.
Try different plant locations.

Pool

Dustyone - Posted - 07/31/2009:  14:50:20

---

quote:

---

Originally posted by DIV

Thanks Matt
Hi Dave--you raise a very good point. However, the problem is that I haven't noticed this before in the 20 years I've been picking. I'm first going to try a different set of picks and if that doesn't do it, I'll have to stop and take a break for some "physcal therapy" on my technique.

Dan Varadi

---

Hi Dan
I once read that Earl use to have that problem ?? and he would rub the picks on his leather banjo strap ? so I guess after 20 years of picking
you finally hit the big time

jharbourmusic - Posted - 07/31/2009:  17:57:28

---

When I was in the studio recording, the sensitive mic would pick up the slightest little squeak. The engineer told me to rub my picks in my hair for approx 30 sec. After I done that, the squeaking stopped immediatley.

Jake

banjo_brad - Posted - 07/31/2009:  18:37:13

---

Check out Ben Freed's article in this month's (Aug, 2009) Banjo Newsletter, [/i]How to Maintain Banjo Strings and Picks.[/i]


Brad
------------------
www.PricklyPearMusic.net
http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/5/ My ezFolk page
http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/3371/ Tucson Old Time Music Circle page on ezFolk
http://www.totmc.org Tucson Old Time Music Circle Homepage

grm405 - Posted - 07/31/2009:  19:49:06

---

"engineer told me to rub my picks in my hair for approx 30 sec".

Doesn't work for me. Of couse I don't have lot of hair to rub it in anymore. Does a beard work as well??

Gerry

BanjoSKP

Bigbadbucksnort - Posted - 07/31/2009:  20:03:13

---

I probably had the loudest squeak of anybody out there, for years. Didn't matter how I bent the blade of the pick, or what picks I used, or whether they were new or old, or where I played in relation to the bridge, what strings I used, what technique I played with, and so on. One day I starting changing the way I bent the bands on my picks and the chirping went down about 90%. My picking improved, too. I still think the bands are as important as the blade.

I do second the suggestion of putting silicon on the blade: slicks them and protects them very well. I mean to try latex enamel one day, too, but haven't gotten around to it.

Tobias

Cogito Ergo Banjo