Guitar Setup: How Much String Buzz Is Normal?

What is fret buzz?

Before we talk about how much fret buzz or string buzz is normal, we need to learn what the causes are and how to prevent it from happening. It’s not uncommon for an electric guitar or acoustic guitar to have a few frets that buzz, particularly as the guitar ages. There are quite a few factors that can cause fret buzz (sometimes described as string buzz). Here are some of the most common causes that contribute to fret buzz.

What causes fret buzz?

1. Low string action
   • Adjust the string height
2. Not enough neck relief
   • Adjust the truss rod
3. Uneven frets
   • Even out fret height
4. Technique
   • Fretting fingers
   • Plucking finders
   • Changing guitar string gauges
5. How much fret buzz is normal?

Low string action

Action height is a very common cause of fret buzz. We all want to make sure we’re not putting too much pressure on the strings, as we might get fatigued faster. However, the lower the action is, the more susceptible a guitar is to fret buzzing. Adjusting the action is always a compromise between setting it as low as possible and dialing in the most amount of fret buzz you can comfortably tolerate.

Adjust the string height

You can change the string’s height by adjusting the bridge saddle. Many guitars have either a Fender or Gibson style bridge. Depending on which type of saddle style you have will determine how you can adjust the height. Check out our article to learn more about adjusting the action of your guitar!

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Not enough neck relief

Another cause of fret buzz is too little neck relief (backbow). Back bow will not only cause fret buzz, but it can cause intonation issues, as well. You can easily see if there’s backbow by sighting the guitar neck or performing a tap test. If the neck relief is off, you’ll need to adjust the truss rod. 

Adjust the truss rod

If, after you’ve sighted the neck or perform the tap test, you see that it’s a bit off, you’ll want to adjust it. Even adjusting it just the smallest bit can fix all of your fret buzz problems! It’s important to note that you should make tiny adjustments and be sure to retune before each adjustment. Learn more in our article about how to adjust the truss rod. 

Humidity damage

Humidity levels where you store your guitar is one of the most common causes of string buzzing. If the humidity is too low or too high, you can crack or warp the neck, which, in turn, causes fret buzz. Depending on the severity, the neck may be damaged and will need to get repaired or replaced. To avoid this, simply investing in a hygrometer, humidification system, and guitar case can easily help eliminate the possibility of the neck warping or cracking.

Constantly tuning your strings lower and higher

If you’re constantly tuning from, let’s say, standard E and down to drop B, then back up again, that will have an impact on the guitar’s neck. So if you’re starting to experience fret buzz in these instances, you may need to adjust the truss rod.

 

 

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Uneven frets

Suppose you know that your guitar is stored correctly and that the action and neck relief are set just right, another reason why your strings buzz is because of different fret height. A couple of things could cause a buzzing sound — improper installation or wear, the latter being the most likely culprit. 

Even out fret height

Uneven frets are caused by how much you play around those frets. There isn’t a “set amount of time” as there are a few factors that come into play. That’s just a regular “side effect.” Evening frets can be achieved, but it’s all dependent on how much unevenness there is. To learn more about how to check your fret height, check out our article here!

Using the Plek machine to fix uneven frets

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Technique

Defects in your guitar aren’t the only cause of strings buzzing. It can also be due to playing technique. 

Fretting fingers

Sometimes, string buzz can be caused by not putting enough weight (pressure) when fretting the string(s), because the strings aren’t making enough contact with the frets. Along with finger pressure, your finger’s location shouldn’t be equidistant between two frets, but rather leaning against the higher one. Your fretting technique also ties in with strumming or plucking too hard.

Plucking and strumming fingers

 

Plucking or picking too hard is often a culprit for fret buzz. The harder you pluck or strum, the more vulnerable you are to have buzzing strings. This is particularly true if your pickups are too high or the action is too low. So if you’re naturally a “heavy hitter” consider raising the action of your guitar, or lowering the height of the pickups.

Changing guitar string gauges

This isn’t necessarily a “technique” flaw, but changing the gauge of your guitar strings can most certainly contribute to strings buzzing and fret buzz. Lighter gauge strings require less tension when wound, so if you’re switching from, let’s say, a .13 gauge to a .9 gauge, the tension will be less, and you’ll more than likely need to readjust your guitar to accommodate those strings.

Jared James Nichols Talks Guitar Technique

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How much fret buzz is normal?

Determining how much string buzz is too much comes down to the issues mentioned above and also the player’s personal preference. Because of different style preferences, some players are okay with a little fret buzz as long as their action is as low as possible. However, others may find even a little fret buzz distracting and uncomfortable. Below are some guidelines that will help you determine whether or not the buzz you’re hearing is abnormal.

“Too much” string buzz:

• Any string buzz that prevents the note from sustaining.
• If the pitch doesn’t change when playing adjacent frets.
• If you can hear the buzz through your amp.

OK string buzz:

• String buzz that is not audible through an amp.
• A note that buzzes only during the initial attack of the note.
• String buzz that does not affect how long a note sustains.

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