The nut is often the Achilles heel of a guitar. For such a small item, they have an enormous effect on the instrument’s playability. On nearly every new guitar I’ve tried, the nut will have sharp edges and corners that really hurt when brushed against. It only takes a few minutes to sand them off. The slots are another matter. I use the folded sandpaper method. It works well.
Amen! after 20 years of playing a Taylor with re stringing through the bridge - I am dealing with bridge pins! Changed over strings. Been shopping at the General store. Of which I should hope you guys have tech tools at the store ! Way to go Jake!
But what if it's the saddle? All the videos I watch, there is only thr solution for the issue involving the nut. How to I fix it if the buzz happens when it is fretted?
Thanks. This is great. I needed confirmation that the cut angle on the nut was responsible for the sitar zing on the E and B. Now I can actually see it just looking at the nut. Next thing will be to work out if I have anything thin enough to file a steeper angle at the back of those slots.
@@samia2233 yes. Just give your guitar for servicing in the guitar store and show them the problem..It may be due to the nut slot or some problem in the neck and can be fixed by repairing the slot..hope this helps.
I have an expensive Taylor and it buzzes on 1st four frets b string, though gets worse in strumming they can’t fix it. Pretty much told me to play softer and I still get it. Taylor Never again
My high e string buzzes when I fret the string, in this situation the string was really high and you filed the nut down but in my case I think the string is too low. What should I do ?
Thanks. My high E string buzzes, but only when played open. When I fret the string it does not buzz. I hope cleaning it out and and adding a touch of pencil lead will fix 'er up proper.
According to what I've seen on stew macs site for lowering action at nut you would also need to file the height of the nut down. Its not enough to just deepen the slot. The E string should only be sitting in the slot 1/2 the diameter of its thickness. In other words it looks to deep here as well as the other strings. That's what Dan of stew mac says anyway. Not sure the logic of it but he's a master luthier so I take what he says as law. It could eliminate possible buzz from touching slot walls but filing a bit wide near top would help minimize that.
I'd of liked to have seen you tape off the work area. One little slip or drop and you gash the nice guitar. JUST read it was your own guitar, so that makes me feel better. Great information though and really helped.
So if the first couple frets buzz it has to do with the nut. I changed the gauge from 10-46 to 11-56. I adjusted the trust rod incrementally and intoned and have relieved someone of the first fret buzz but still have some. Is the nut the main culprit
The nut on my Epiphone are pointed on the ends, instead of rounded, is it possible to file or sand the ends down so not to stick in my hand playing at the first fret? Don't want to damage guitar or the nut
There could be so many things, just about impossible to guess without seeing the guitar. Very likely it's an issue with your nut, but added to fret/action issues.
@@THECREATORHUB my problem (or at least what I was told) was that the part at the bottom (I think it's called a bridge, it's the part at the bottom where the strings go into the guitar) had a little slot thing where the string would sit in, making it make that noise. So make sure that piece is smooth and doesn't have any.. slot..cut things (idk how to explain)😭😂
i recently changed all string of my guitar, and now when i play the songs i like it sounds so bad like off key/tune and i already watched countless of videos on how to tune
Bought a new Yamaha guitar and the action was too high for me. Took it to a tech and he adjusted the truss rod, filed down saddle. The action was still a bit high at the first fret so he cut the string slots deeper. The first 3 strings seem to set pretty well but the bottom 3 strings (especially the B and E) are sitting down in the slot a bit. I'd say they are down in there approximately 2-3 times the thickness of the string on the B and E and about double the thickness for the G string slot. Is that a problem?
Yes that's a problem. The E A D strings should only sit about halfway down into the slot and the G B E should barely be below the surface, not 2-3 times deeper. The entire top of the nut needs to be filed off.
@@jmdbb There is no buzzing at the moment. Can you please explain how the strings low in the nut slot will affect performance of the instrument? And I checked again and the B and E are approx. 2 times thickness below the top of nut. The G string about even with top and the low strings about half-way-ish. Thanks
@@neilmartin99 I'm not sure it makes much difference on tone. It just doesn't present a properly finished instrument. There's some discussion in this thread with a diagram that may help. www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=296611
It's common, but not normal. Most likely some kind of grit got in the slot of either your bridge or nut. Loosen strings one by one and clean out the slots with something small and pointy, being careful not to carve the slot depths in deeper. That will probably fix it as invisible lint can settle in the slots and cause the buzz.
@@xenram4637 nah didn’t work, I honestly don’t know what’s wrong with it, I cleaned out the nut and the bridge but I even used my old low e string that was working on it before to test and still the same issue, I think it’s a problem with the nut though cause it’s buzzing on the first few frets and while I play it open. Gonna bring it to a shop and get it looked at sometime, meanwhile at least I have my electric to rock out on.
My guitar is getting a buzz whenever I play string D, A, thick E. The buzz comes into picture only when I press at 1st and 2nd fret of these strings. Please help me out
I bought a new guitar and it buzzes. Only if fret the. Strings. But only on the. E A D strings. And my action isn’t to low because it did it before adjusting the action. What would you recommend on tackling this problem ???
Ok this was a life saver I was so stumped on why the string sounded like a sitar 😂
#Realtwistyfresh is this work on ur guitar
@@itsdeav2068 yeah
same here
Did your frets also sound like sitar? My first two frets of E and B string sounds like that. Did this video solve it? Thank you
So what did you do? Did you file out the nut to get rid of the sitar sound? My Eastman sounds like a sitar too on the b string!
The nut is often the Achilles heel of a guitar. For such a small item, they have an enormous effect on the instrument’s playability.
On nearly every new guitar I’ve tried, the nut will have sharp edges and corners that really hurt when brushed against. It only takes a few minutes to sand them off. The slots are another matter. I use the folded sandpaper method. It works well.
Amen! after 20 years of playing a Taylor with re stringing through the bridge - I am dealing with bridge pins! Changed over strings. Been shopping at the General store. Of which I should hope you guys have tech tools at the store ! Way to go Jake!
Thanks for the video, totally saved me having to take my guitar in.
Awesome, good stuff!
Thanks alot..it really helped me diagnosing and fixing the problem in my guitar..😊
Finally someone not only shows me how critical a string sitting on a nut is, but shows how to correct it. With lifelike photography. Kudos Jake.
Thanks I needed this, Love your playing and the music you all add to our world
Thank you sir for making this video, it really helps. 👍
You solved my buzzing problem from an open string. Thank you!
many thanks it fixed my G string right up 😁. (and no comments from the peanut gallery )
ha....ha
my A and D string is buzzing, ty for this
But what if it's the saddle? All the videos I watch, there is only thr solution for the issue involving the nut. How to I fix it if the buzz happens when it is fretted?
Thanks. This is great. I needed confirmation that the cut angle on the nut was responsible for the sitar zing on the E and B. Now I can actually see it just looking at the nut. Next thing will be to work out if I have anything thin enough to file a steeper angle at the back of those slots.
Thank you so much! My guitar has had a ringing high e string ever since I bought it and nothing seemed to work.
This comment is giving me hope
@@BrunoNeureiter 3 years on and this is the comment i'm looking for :) Ive got a Fender Tele with a feral high E. Gonna file that bad boy right now
Thank you I love you you have saved me from the never ending buzz
I have this problem with my E string same in the vid problem happens when i strum the string but when i solo the E i hear no buzzing
I also have same problem and also the high string was too stiff and tight and i was unable to bend the strings
@@dashking5059 got any solution?same prob bruv.
@@samia2233 yes. Just give your guitar for servicing in the guitar store and show them the problem..It may be due to the nut slot or some problem in the neck and can be fixed by repairing the slot..hope this helps.
I have an expensive Taylor and it buzzes on 1st four frets b string, though gets worse in strumming they can’t fix it. Pretty much told me to play softer and I still get it. Taylor Never again
My high e string buzzes when I fret the string, in this situation the string was really high and you filed the nut down but in my case I think the string is too low. What should I do ?
Perfect explanation for my problem
you elaborate it very clear, awesome
Thanks. My high E string buzzes, but only when played open. When I fret the string it does not buzz. I hope cleaning it out and and adding a touch of pencil lead will fix 'er up proper.
Pencil lead only helps when the string bindes with the nut, if it’s doing that lead won’t do anything
According to what I've seen on stew macs site for lowering action at nut you would also need to file the height of the nut down. Its not enough to just deepen the slot. The E string should only be sitting in the slot 1/2 the diameter of its thickness. In other words it looks to deep here as well as the other strings. That's what Dan of stew mac says anyway. Not sure the logic of it but he's a master luthier so I take what he says as law. It could eliminate possible buzz from touching slot walls but filing a bit wide near top would help minimize that.
Great explanations. Very helpful. Earned you another subscriber.
I'd of liked to have seen you tape off the work area. One little slip or drop and you gash the nice guitar. JUST read it was your own guitar, so that makes me feel better.
Great information though and really helped.
Thx! Just did this to my Yammie. Def helped matters.
Resonator saddles have slots as well.
What's the difference between "noting the string" and "fret the note"?
Hi, great video. I was just wondering, could a badly cut nut even when the guitar is tuned, cause open chords to sound really bad? Thanks
So if the first couple frets buzz it has to do with the nut. I changed the gauge from 10-46 to 11-56. I adjusted the trust rod incrementally and intoned and have relieved someone of the first fret buzz but still have some. Is the nut the main culprit
The nut on my Epiphone are pointed on the ends, instead of rounded, is it possible to file or sand the ends down so not to stick in my hand playing at the first fret? Don't want to damage guitar or the nut
My tone of the guitar became hard now...how t9 get back the best tone
You didn't mention what is probably the most common cause of string buzz - neck relief.
Confused with mine,,strings look even but have a buzz on D string when capo is on
Ronald Howell bruh turn the capo or the problem is with a fret, string or bridge
Or playing style
I have a question.. my first e string is making a weird noise from frets 5-12 and I'm not sure why. I changed the string but it's the same thing 😭
There could be so many things, just about impossible to guess without seeing the guitar. Very likely it's an issue with your nut, but added to fret/action issues.
I have also the same problem I go to the shop today but they tell that I have no solution for this what to do 😭😭😭😭😭
@@THECREATORHUB my problem (or at least what I was told) was that the part at the bottom (I think it's called a bridge, it's the part at the bottom where the strings go into the guitar) had a little slot thing where the string would sit in, making it make that noise. So make sure that piece is smooth and doesn't have any.. slot..cut things (idk how to explain)😭😂
My guitar's d string is buzzing without freting when i fret there is no buzz how to fix pls tell🙏🏻
That's most likely a problem with the nut. Check to see if it's too low.
Also, go to the big buzz list on Frets.com. it's a really good resource.
i recently changed all string of my guitar, and now when i play the songs i like it sounds so bad like off key/tune and i already watched countless of videos on how to tune
Get the app GuitarTuna to tune your guitar, it listens to the pitch of your strings and tells you if it’s too low, too high, or just right
There are right and wrong ways to string a guitar to keep it in tune.
Only the D string buzzes and buzzes at all notes. Please suggest
my number 3 and 4 string are buzzing and rattling on open string; how to diagnose and fix it?
Bought a new Yamaha guitar and the action was too high for me.
Took it to a tech and he adjusted the truss rod, filed down saddle.
The action was still a bit high at the first fret so he cut the string slots deeper.
The
first 3 strings seem to set pretty well but the bottom 3 strings
(especially the B and E) are sitting down in the slot a bit.
I'd say they are down in there approximately 2-3 times the thickness of the string on the B and E and about double the thickness for the G string slot.
Is that a problem?
Yes that's a problem. The E A D strings should only sit about halfway down into the slot and the G B E should barely be below the surface, not 2-3 times deeper. The entire top of the nut needs to be filed off.
@@jmdbb There is no buzzing at the moment.
Can you please explain how the strings low in the nut slot will affect performance of the instrument?
And I checked again and the B and E are approx. 2 times thickness below the top of nut.
The G string about even with top and the low strings about half-way-ish.
Thanks
@@neilmartin99 I'm not sure it makes much difference on tone. It just doesn't present a properly finished instrument. There's some discussion in this thread with a diagram that may help. www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=296611
My guitar is 1 2 and 12 fret in 1st string buzzing and 13 14 fret sounds of the same note.
If it's not the nut, how do you fix the saddle?
It’s definitely the nut, but it rattles for ever string. Is it because I need to clean it out?
Yeah, just pop each string out one at a time and gently clean out the slot.
@@BanjoBen okay thank you, there was one guy saying that the tone of his guitar sounds different after doing that. Will I have any problem like that?
@@yacob_witha_y2805 No, if any change it should be for the best.
Please help! When im tuning my guitar, It causes big buzzes and idk what to do…
How do I remove a nut like this as the headstock finish rises above the back edge of the nut? Thanks
My high e string buzzes while playing frets too. Should I replace the string? Thanks!
Yep, I would start with that.
@@BanjoBen okk thank you soo much☺ I feel there's some issue with my bridge slot have you made a video about that?
@@np2007 Not yet but I'll do that!
@@BanjoBen Ok thank you soo much for taking out your time 😊
thankyou so much that was very helpful ^_^
YES!!!!!!.....🤟🤟🤟🤟Just got latest ibnz advncd w buzzin hi open e AND solved!!! Huge THX!!!🤟🤟😇😇
So how do you raise it
Thanks man
THANK YOU SO MUCH
This happened while I was restringing my new guitar for the first time, is it normal to have a buzz when it didn’t before?
It's common, but not normal. Most likely some kind of grit got in the slot of either your bridge or nut. Loosen strings one by one and clean out the slots with something small and pointy, being careful not to carve the slot depths in deeper. That will probably fix it as invisible lint can settle in the slots and cause the buzz.
@@BanjoBen I will try this, thank you for the reply!
@@rowlo9358 Updare bro..?
@@xenram4637 nah didn’t work, I honestly don’t know what’s wrong with it, I cleaned out the nut and the bridge but I even used my old low e string that was working on it before to test and still the same issue, I think it’s a problem with the nut though cause it’s buzzing on the first few frets and while I play it open.
Gonna bring it to a shop and get it looked at sometime, meanwhile at least I have my electric to rock out on.
@@rowlo9358 how is it now?
My guitar is over fret buzzing pls tech me how to stop the fret buzz
Does the low e not to have to be half in half out the the slot . When you finished it was flush . Does this not matter . Cheers
That would depend on what string height you want. Thanks!
@@BanjoBen sorry what I mean is , is it ok to be flush ? I does not effect tone in any way . Thanks
My guitar is getting a buzz whenever I play string D, A, thick E. The buzz comes into picture only when I press at 1st and 2nd fret of these strings. Please help me out
There can be a lot of things going on! Easy answer is take it to a pro to have the frets examined and crown/level them.
How do I fix it if it’s from the saddle
You didn’t cover what to do with the saddle?
I'll make a note to cover that in a video!
@@BanjoBen alright thanks 👍
Someone help pleaaase. My B string wont even stay in the nut. It keeps sliding off!
Hi. What if the guy who filed the nut on each of the rows went too low that now the strings hit the first fret? What can I do to fix his mistake?
Shim under the nut (piece of thin cardboard cut to fit) it will barely raise the entire nut therefore bringing the slots that are too low, higher.
Life Saver!
I bought a new guitar and it buzzes. Only if fret the. Strings. But only on the. E A D strings. And my action isn’t to low because it did it before adjusting the action. What would you recommend on tackling this problem ???
Buying a new guitar seems like a reasonable option.
Info on final polish...?
There is always a buzz, in the slot, in the edge of the nut...I need a CLEAN edge ..2020, covid sux
Mine has a chip next to the low e 🥴🥴🥴
Is that Blake Shelton talking?? 😂😂
I dont have the tools :(
You did not really show how to troubleshoot the bridge
I searched up rattle nut and got here
If you're watching this, you're lucky
always make sure your nuts and slots are clean
It's just basic care.
My guitar sounded like fuzz pedal.
😂😂😂
Too late already bought new Guitar.
Worse things have happened...
I tried to clean the nuts but there reslly dirty
I had nut buzz the moment I got my guitar :/. I love this guitar to death but I couldn't play without cape for ages because it would sound bad