String squeak

String squeak is a term for the sound a guitar makes when a musician quickly slides their fingers along the string while playing. This normally takes place when the player must move a considerable distance up or down the neck of the instrument to reach a certain position, and is produced by wound, as opposed to unwound, strings, as the fingers brush by the coils of the winding.

Examples

String squeak is considered unprofessional by some listeners and music technicians. In fact, WL Gore and Associates holds a patent for string technology (used in Elixir Strings) specifically designed to reduce squeaking noises. [Cite patent|US|7217876] Some guitarists have long used "flatwound" strings, where the wrapping for the bass strings is flat rather than round, to reduce string squeak, although these produce a duller tone than normal "roundwound" strings; so-called "groundwound" strings are a compromise, being roundwound strings that have been partially ground smooth after winding. Also, it is sometimes eliminated through overdubbing. Others feel that it makes the music authentic. Some pieces where string squeak is evident are:
*"Every Breath You Take" by the Police
*"Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd
*"Hyperstation" by Sonic Youth
*"You Make Me Feel Like a Whore" by Everclear

String squeak is used as a dramatic device in the film Stranger Than Fiction. As the film's protagonist Harold Crick (played by Will Ferrell) is learning to play guitar, the soundtrack includes a section of guitar music featuring prominent squeaking.

References