Noise when I pick or pluck

[iamthe_eggman]

I've noticed a crucial difference between a song on CD or the radio or even live and when I try to recreate it at home. Whenever I pick or pluck a note, you can hear that I'm picking or plucking it (does anybody know what I mean?). When I hear music performed by real musicians, I do not hear that noise - even when it's live on the radio.

What do I have to do to get rid of this noise? Is it a question for the Gear section or the Technique section?

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ok, i'm not really the eggman

[robrules]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Times, Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by iamthe_eggman:
I've noticed a crucial difference between a song on CD or the radio or even live and when I try to recreate it at home. Whenever I pick or pluck a note, you can hear that I'm picking or plucking it (does anybody know what I mean?). When I hear music performed by real musicians, I do not hear that noise - even when it's live on the radio.

What do I have to do to get rid of this noise? Is it a question for the Gear section or the Technique section?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I think it is because their volume is alot higher than what we might practice, that is just what I think it is. BTW, what is a real musician?


[This message has been edited by robrules (edited 08-02-2000).]

[iamthe_eggman]

i don't think so, because when I turn up the volume, the noise gets even more noticeable.

Does anyone know what I am talking about???

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ok, i'm not really the eggman

[jake sommers]

better stuff used to record, i think it has something to do with the volume level, if i play really loud i can't hear it. what kinda amp are u using?

[This message has been edited by jake sommers (edited 08-03-2000).]

[loner92]

How thick of a pick do you use?

[ekstasis16]

It's because the noise gets lost in the rest of the band. Whenever you play solo, you'll often hear that noise.

[iamthe_eggman]

i use a fender frontman 25 watt, (i think) and a medium width pick.

i don't know how to explain this, but i was talking with my friend a while back and we agreed that music on the radio or CD sounded like the notes were just "there" - there was no picking or percussive noise that would let you know that someone was actually playing the note. when i play on my electric, it's like there's a "chunk" sound accompanying each of my notes.

i'm not sure if you guys get this, i hope what i said makes sense. does anyone else get this sound when they play?

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ok, i'm not really the eggman

[ekstasis16]

On recordings, the music is heavily tweaked with EQ and lots of things are going on in the frequencies. That noise gets buried in the sound. Some people thake extra care to hide it, but I've heard the noise on lots of albums. When playing by yourself, it's inevitable. Personally, I play with my fingers now like Jeff Beck to get rid of the noise and have more control.

[loner92]

Use a heavier pickm try at least a 1.00 mm, I use a 1.30.

[iamthe_eggman]

i'm positive that it is not from the pick - i get a similar noise when i pluck with my fingers.

thanks for the reply, erik. i guess i'll just have to suffer and play with my fingers as much as possible. (actually, i do prefer using my fingers.)

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ok, i'm not really the eggman

[spidrmage]

hold your pick at an angle if you already dont. it gives the least resistance against the string compared to picking it with the pick parallel. you'll hear less of a noise if you pick with an angle. something i noticed too. if i recall, in older recordings of rock bands, i think maybe on this hendrix cd i have, i remember faintly hearing the plucking noise, so i'd just say its technology being used at its best to reduce that noise, i.e. protools :P

[iamthe_eggman]

whoa......

major trip down memory lane there.... I think that was one of my very first threads.... :mad:

[Dr_simon]

So did you work it out ?

[TheDirt]

I've noticed that over time my pick noise has been greatly reduced except when I'm playing really fast (which isn't often except when practicing). Just getting better at picking has helped. Rather than striking the string with the pick, you can kind of set the pick onto the string, then push the pick through the string, so that the note rings without the harsh pick attack. This sounds like a huge effort that would greatly slow down your playing, but it's really not as complicated as it sounds. Practice this for a while, and it becomes a subtlety in your normal playing, and voila, less noise.

Also, running through a good EQ with a good sound tech can drop out some of the more noise-like frequencies has a big effect, which is why "real musicians" (i.e. - one's with a lot of money) sound better tone-wise.

[Dr_simon]

and there was me thinking it was compression ! Sshhesh !

[iamthe_eggman]

But, then, there's that pick noise that BB King or other "dimed" LP blues etc. players get, just a fraction of a second before the note sounds out. It sounds like they're muting a string, then plucking the muted string and the fretted string at the same time. Like in Shine On You Crazy Diamond; the very first note, or some of the others in that intro solo. It adds a really nice dimension to the note; kind of kicking it out there... very blues.

[HDJ]

I get that same sound when I pick a note. I've alway's wondered if it was my technique, but no matter what I did, it's alway's there. That "click" when a note is struck.....it's annoying. I've tried picking at an angle, perfectly straight, less distortion, more distortion, nothing gets rid of it... I'm looking for a solution to this also.

[finger_cruncher]

Eggman...

You're using gain/distortion? That'll do it. Turn down the gain/distortion...maybe turn down the highs on your EQ too. Also, try a different pick-up position. If you listen carefully, you can certainly hear the sound of picking on commercially produced music...just not as much.

[iamthe_eggman]

Yeah, I figure it's probably some kind of noise gate, or just the right EQ. Some kind of in-studio tweaking to eliminate it.

[Grassroot]

I think I know what you mean. I've been thinking about that too. but as others have said, the "real musicians" have better equipment and that's were the chunk noise disappears.

[nsx_swami]

I have the same problem with my Frontman amp. I think part of the problem is because it's a solid state amp, I tried a friends Mesa tube amp using my own set-up and I found that the picking sound wasn't as noticeable. It doesn't totaly eliminate the problem but it does make a difference.

Side note. I tried TheDirt's suggestion about picking technique and it helps. Thanks for the tip! :)

[AudioSlave]

funny thing is kind of like the authenticity of the picking noice you get from older LPs, like old BB King stuff. I especially think it adds a much needed touch to the blues.

I noticed with my noice that i was picking/plucking to hard. for me the 3 things that helped...help...

Thinner pick (wierd huh)
Turning UP the volume, tunes out the individual pick on string noise
and like everyone else, just picking differently.

i'm addicted to giving my two cents... so there you go.

[The Ace]

I had that problem in reverse awhile back. I was playing thru a digitech rp200a, and using one of my presets.... the problem with it was it sounded too processed and digital... it was like I was playing a keyboard or synth.... it bothered me so much because I really wanted to change the tone by how I played... like make a difference between plucking and picking... etc..

I've started to just play thru amps more often (when not in the metal kingdom), and it fixed my problem.