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Question
#23
I just bought a new guitar, and my 6th string makes a buzzing
sound every time I play. Is there something wrong with my guitar?
Answer
There are a couple of reasons that you might be getting some
buzzing on your 6th string.
1. You could just be picking too hard. Sometimes guitarists who
are into metal or punk pick and strum the strings way too hard.
You can get a heavy sound without torturing your strings :) If
you pick too hard you could get some buzzing, and you probably
will break your strings more often than normal. Picking too hard
will also cause tuning problems.
2. It could mean that your neck needs adjusting. Especially as
the weather changes, the need for adjusting the neck is more common.
I probably would not do this yourself if you are a beginner. Take
it back to where you bought the guitar and see if they will adjust
it for free. If you bought it online or through a catalog, then
you will have to pay someone to adjust it.
3. You may need to raise the action (make the strings higher
off of the neck). For an electric guitar, there is usually a way
to raise and lower the action of individual strings. You do this
at the bridge, and often with a small hex wrench. You should have
received one with your guitar. Some guitars just have thumb screws
where you can raise and lower one side or the other of the bridge.
If that is the case, then you may want to raise the 6th strings
side a little.
4. You may have a high fret, So having particular fret filed
a little may take care of the buzz....not something that you want
to do yourself.
5. I have seen nuts that are cut too low that create a buzz.
If that is the problem, then the buzz will only be when you play
the open strings....fretted notes would not buzz.
If you bought this guitar from a local music store, take it back
and have them look at it. It should still be under warranty if
you just bought it. Most guitars are not set up when you buy them.
They should be, but they are not. Having your guitar "set
up" means that they will properly adjust the neck, adjust
the string height, set the intonation (a whole other story). If
you bought the guitar at a local music store, they should do this
for you for free (at least that is my opinion, but a lot of stores
rip you off on that). If you bought the guitar online or out of
a catalog, then you are on you own for the set up anyway.
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