If you own a ukulele, you must have suffered from its annoying buzzing noise. At that point, you will be hopelessly wondering, “Why does my ukulele buzz?” Do not worry! This post may solve your problem.
Why does my ukulele buzz?
There are two main causes of this problem:
- Your ukulele skills are not good
- Your ukulele has a problem
If your ukulele skills are not good, there is no other way but to persevere in practice. If you persevere, your skills will improve over time.
If your skills are good enough, the cause of the problem is your ukulele. Do not worry! The rest of the article will help you solve the problem.
How to fix your ukulele?
Before you fix your ukulele, you need to determine where the ukulele is buzzing. Need to determine if the fault is the fault of the strings or not?
Pick, pluck, and listen carefully to where your ukulele is buzzing. It can be headstock, nut, saddle, bridge, body, or on the fretboard. An experienced ukulele friend can help you locate the buzzing when you strum.
Once you have located where the buzzing is, you can read the guide below to fix your ukulele.
Buzzing from setup or instrument
1. The problem lies in the headstock
You spread your fingers over the strings and hold the strings for a while. You hear a sound coming from the headstock.
How to fix it?
The main cause of this problem is loose hardware in the headstock (or body). You need to make sure that the wires are firmly wound and tightened at the screws.
- You may need to replace the gears.
- If you install other devices on your ukulele, make sure they are also screwed tight.
- You should also trim the excess strings.
2. The body of the ukulele: Cracked
After tightening the screws, you still hear the noise when you shake your ukulele.
How to fix it?
Look on the ukulele to see if it’s cracked. This could be the main reason for your ukulele buzzing. If you find cracks, you can put your finger on the cracks and pluck them to check if there is a difference. Thanks to that, you can find the real cause of the buzzing.
In addition, the cause may be because there is something wrong with your ukulele body. Therefore, you should also check inside its body. You can inspect with simple tools such as a flashlight and a mirror.
3. The problem lies in the strings or nut
When you play open strings, your ukulele often buzzes.
In contrast, that doesn’t happen when barring the first fret.
How to fix it?
- Maybe it’s time to replace the strings.
Over time, your strings tend to wear out. That means they will gradually lose tension. Ideally, you should change your strings every few months. You should also clean them regularly to keep them in top condition.
- Maybe your nut is too low.
All you need to do is try putting a small strip of paper under the nut. Should that does not work; you need to get it fixed professionally. It is wise to seek the help of a professional.
- On the other hand, you should also check out the headstock.
4. Neck of the ukulele has a problem
If you notice the neck of the ukulele is slightly bent, that’s it!
How to fix it?
The main cause may be that the area you live in has too high or too low humidity. Therefore, you need to focus on your instrument properly.
It is best to get the help of a professional luthier to fix the neck of your ukulele. If they can’t fix it, replace it with a new neck.
On the other hand, you will need to purchase a moisture-proof container to store your ukulele.
5. The strings are too long
The ends of the strings are too long. Their ends hit something, causing the ukulele to buzz.
How to fix it?
You have to cut off the excess string.
6. The bridge is loose
Try to put pressure on the bridge. If your ukulele stops buzzing, the cause may be that your bridge is loose.
How to fix it?
Let’s start by looking at the space between the bridge and the body of your ukulele. If it is loose, you need to glue them together. You should also seek the help of an experienced guitar repairman.
7. The saddle is loose
If your ukulele stops buzzing when you try to put pressure on the saddle, maybe the saddle is loose.
How to fix it?
To solve this problem, all you need to do is raise the saddle. Specifically, you can line the bottom of the saddle with a piece of paper or a piece of wood. However, if you do, it may affect the sound of the instrument. Therefore, it is best to consider this as a temporary solution.
It is best to buy a new saddle. Make sure you choose the one that fits your ukulele.
8. High frets
You try putting a ruler across the frets. You realize that one fret is higher than the others.
How to fix it?
A high fret could be causing your ukulele to buzz. This can happen over time. Sometimes the frets may not be properly balanced from the factory.
High frets can prevent the strings from sounding correct. To remedy this situation, you can gently press the high frets with your fingers. If that doesn’t work, you will have to get the help of a professional who can tune the frets.
Buzzing from technique
1. Timing
Playing slowly is a good way to spot problems with the ukulele. Let’s start slowing things down before you can play fast.
2. Fretting cleanly
You should make sure your fingers are in between the frets. It doesn’t have to be exactly the middle of the frets. The minimum requirement is that you do not touch the metal of the frets. That creates a buzz.
3. Playing in sync with left & right hands
Coordination between the left and right hands is essential.
The solution is very simple. You need to press the frets with your fretting hand before the picking hand begins to strike the strings.
Conclusion
Hopefully, the above topic will help you get rid of the annoying buzzing sound of the ukulele. If the above methods don’t work for you, it’s time to take it to a reputable luthier.
