How to Fix String Buzz on an Electric Guitar

How to Fix String Buzz on Electric Guitar

Every guitarist knows the feeling: you go to pluck a string or play a chord, and instead of beautiful notes, you get a buzzing sound. At best, string buzz is an annoying inconvenience. At worst, it can make the guitar feel unplayable, rendering your prized instrument a fancy ornament.

Fortunately, guitar string buzz is a sickness with a cure. This guide looks at ways to fix string buzz so you can get the clean sound you’re looking for as you’re strumming rhythm, shredding a sick riff or improvising a soaring solo on your new guitar strings.

What Is String Buzz?

First, we should define string buzz for newer musicians. Sometimes called fret buzz, it’s the sound produced when a guitar string doesn’t have enough room to ring and instead vibrates against a fret. There can be string buzz on a single fret, a few frets or the whole guitar. In addition to electric guitars, string buzz can affect any fretted instrument, including acoustic guitars, bass guitars, ukuleles and mandolins.

What Causes String Buzz?

At its core, string buzz happens because the string is too close to a fret or frets. However, there are many reasons why this might happen — and each has a different solution. Here are the six main causes of fret buzz and how to fix them.

1. The String Action Is Too Low

Most guitarists want strings to be as close to the neck as possible. This makes the axe easier to play and doesn’t tire your fingers out as quickly. You must strike a balancing act, though, as setting the action too low makes string buzz more likely.

Solution: Increase the guitar’s action by raising the bridge height. How to do this depends on the saddle design, but many involve a slot-head screw. Height is typically measured at the 12^th fret using a string height gauge; 2.4mm for bass strings and 1.6mm for treble strings is a good starting point. From there, you can adjust the height further to get the action as low as possible without string buzz.

2. The Frets Are Uneven

This is another common string buzz culprit. If some frets are higher than others, the string can buzz along those frets. Uneven frets often happen on older electric guitars due to wear or gunk build-up. The problem can occasionally occur on new guitars, though — especially cheaper guitars which are more prone to poor construction quality or manufacturing defects.

Solution: Use a fret rocker tool to compare the height of three sequential frets. If you’re able to rock the tool like a see-saw, the middle fret is higher than the other two. We recommend bringing the guitar to a professional luthier or tech to have the frets serviced or replaced. For preventative maintenance, use a fret polishing cloth to remove debris.

3. There Isn’t Enough Neck Relief

Neck relief, also known as curvature or back bow, also affects buzz. If the neck doesn’t curve enough, the strings end up too close to the frets. This problem is more common if you regularly re-tune since you’re changing the amount of tension. To check your neck relief, do the “tap test” or use a guitar capo and height gauge. The ideal neck relief is between 0.2 and 0.3mm depending on the guitar.

Solution: To increase the neck relief, use an Allen wrench to turn the truss rod nut counterclockwise. Adjust it a quarter-turn at a time, then re-measure the relief. Be aware that adding neck relief can also affect the intonation and action, so check them afterward and re-adjust them if necessary.

4. Your Playing Technique Is Off

Yes, you may be the one causing string buzz — although we know you don’t mean to. One possibility is that you aren’t putting enough pressure on the strings with your fretting fingers, which means insufficient string-to-fret contact. Another is strumming or plucking the strings too hard, making them vibrate more vigorously and contact the frets.

Solution: If the cause is a lack of pressure, use a finger exerciser so you can press harder or lower the string action so the strings are easier to press. (Just don’t lower the action so much that it causes a buzz of its own.) For the heavy string hitters, you can play more gently, raise the action, or lower the pickup height.

5. You Switched to a New String Gauge

Changing strings can affect many things about your guitar — and string buzz is one of them. A lighter guitar string gauge reduces neck tension, which in turn means less neck relief and lower action. Conversely, a heavier string gauge requires more fretting pressure due to the combination of higher tension and increased action.

Solution: Whenever you change string gauges, give the guitar a full setup. This includes checking the action, relief and intonation and making any necessary adjustments.

6. Damage from Humidity Levels

Finally, improper storage can lead to string buzz. The wood in a guitar’s neck will tolerate a certain humidity range, but too much or not enough may lead to cracking, warping and shrinkage. This can lead to string buzz via low action, uneven frets or other issues that can’t be adjusted away.

Solution: The best option is preventative maintenance by getting a proper guitar case plus a humidifier system if you’re keeping the guitar in a dry location. Once the neck is damaged, you’ll need to repair or replace it.

Avoid String Buzz in Your Electric Guitar

Experiencing guitar string buzz may be inevitable, it doesn’t have to stay for long. By going through this checklist and doing regular maintenance, you can prevent fret buzz or quickly solve the problem. That way, the only buzz will be the excitement you feel with a guitar in your hands.