Why is one of my guitar strings buzzing?

Question

I have a black electric acoustic fender guitar and its brand new i got it just under a month ago. I haven't knocked it or anything and the 'D' string on it buzzes. Its a very loud buzzing noise. What do i do?
Thankyou

Answer 1

Buzzing can be caused by problems with the nut, neck, frets, bridge, or even other parts of the guitar. To diagnose it, we need to know not only which string buzzes but which frets you hear the noise on.



If you mean it buzzes only on the open (unfretted) string, most of the possible causes can be eliminated. Usually an open-string buzz is due to a too-deep nut slot which allows the string to hit the first fret. If this is the problem, a bit of aluminum foil can be jammed in the slot under the string to raise it up slightly and stop the buzz. A more permanent cure would be to have a new nut installed. If the guitar is new, this should be covered under warranty.



There is a rarer problem that is easily confused with an open string buzz, but it's much louder and more annoying. This happens when a bushing or screw on one of the tuners works loose and vibrates in response to the peghead vibrating at exactly the right frequency. You don't hear it on fretted notes because your finger damps the vibration of the string on the end toward the peghead. Check all the tuners, not just the one on the string that triggers the noise.



If you hear the buzz on fretted notes, we would need to know which frets in order to diagnose it further. Or you could take it to a guitar tech for diagnosis and an estimate. Raising the string height at the saddle may also provide a workaround.



Ignore the advice to adjust your truss rod. Not only is truss rod adjustment not a job for the inexperienced, but it is foolish to adjust ANYTHING on a guitar without troubleshooting the problem first. You're liable to end up with more of a problem than you started with.

Answer 2

Before making any drastic adjustments, ask yourself if you've been storing the guitar in radically different conditions than in the store. A change of humidity can cause things to swell or shrink and that can throw your guitar out of adjustment. A simple matter of a humidifier for your case...or a dehumidifier in your room might make all the difference.



Please ignore the first two answers that told you to adjust the neck. That's *one* possibility, but you should NEVER adjust anything until you're sure what the underlying problem is. I'll assume that your technique isn't the issue, but do make sure you're pressing the string hard enough, and not strumming ridiculously hard.



Start by *checking* the neck relief. Press the bass string on the first fret (or put a capo there) and at the same time press it on the 14th fret. While pressing, eyeball the gap (if any) between the mid-point fret and the underside of the string. There should be a whisker of space (a little less than the thickness of your high E string). If there is no gap, or too much, your truss rod needs adjusting. It's best left to a pro, but you tighten the truss rod to increase the gap and loosen it to decrease the gap. This is the ONLY purpose for the truss rod. It's NOT a string height adjuster.



When you've verified that the neck relief is correct, focus on the string height. If the string buzzes when you play it open, the slot in your nut may be too low. If it buzzes when you fret the string, it's not the nut. Unless you have a damaged or lifted fret, you'll need to raise the height of the string at the bridge. Most acoustic-electrics don't have adjustable bridges, so you'll have to shim up the bridge saddle.



Since the guitar is so new, your easiest solution is to bring it back to the store where you bought it and have them adjust it. That's one advantage of buying locally. If it was an internet sale, you can still bring it to a local shop and they'll probably give you a free diagnosis and estimate of cost for the adjustment. Then you can decide whether you have the skill to fix it yourself. Best of luck.

Answer 3

Adjust the neck, maybe the neck is a bit bowed. If the neck is adjusted and it's still buzzing then you have to adjust the height of the bridge. You have screws in the bridge, turn them and adjust the height. Remember to adjust it not too much. If it's too height, then it's unplayable.



Good luck

Answer 4

Sometimes if the string is too close to the fret it will buzz.

Answer 5

Your string is hitting the fret. To correct that you need to adjust the neck. There is place in the holed where you use a Allen Wrench to adjust it. I sure you have to tighten the bolt and bow the neck up and change the string height off the fret. I have a finder I bought 25 years ago and had to adjust the next several times.

Answer 6

Mine always used to do that.. So annoying man.