When vibrating the string a lot it bites into fretboard

[Lauri M]

This happens to me quite often.
I'm not sure if it does any damage to the fretboard but I don't like the feel of it biting the fretboard.
Has anyone else this problem? What to do to prevent this to happen?

[BrianH]

Hey Hon... ok, in my experience this is caused by...

1. badly polished frets.(doubt this is it)
2. dirty strings(take a cloth and clean them by grabbing each string and running it up and down after every play session making sure to get around the string and not just on top).
3. fretting to hard(don't press down so hard, you could be killing the note by taking it out of tune and hitting the fretboard, try to use as light a touch as necessary).

anyway, thats my suggestions and my experiences with this.

[BrianH]

OH and it can damage the board, I've done it... you could clearly see where it had been rubbing the board, however I know I could have cleaned it very easily with some 0000 steel wool. Someone wanted the guitar before I got around to doing this, so I sold it, I'm sure they done it though.

[Lauri M]

Originally Posted by BrianH

Hey Hon... ok, in my experience this is caused by...

1. badly polished frets.(doubt this is it)
2. dirty strings(take a cloth and clean them by grabbing each string and running it up and down after every play session making sure to get around the string and not just on top).
3. fretting to hard(don't press down so hard, you could be killing the note by taking it out of tune and hitting the fretboard, try to use as light a touch as necessary).

anyway, thats my suggestions and my experiences with this.

My guitar's brand new and I wipe the strings after every playing session.
I haven't done anything to the fretboard though. Would you recommend me to use the steel wool after every session also? Wouldn't it damage the fretboard (having steel in the wool)?
I think I press too hard. I've just changed from 0.11's (Strat) to 0.10's (RG).
The jumbo frets are also a bit of a problem for me, cause when chording, I press too much sometimes and I go then out of tune..
I think I just need to practice to play softer

[JESTER700]

Originally Posted by Lauri M

My guitar's brand new and I wipe the strings after every playing session.
I haven't done anything to the fretboard though. Would you recommend me to use the steel wool after every session also? Wouldn't it damage the fretboard (having steel in the wool)?
I think I press too hard. I've just changed from 0.11's (Strat) to 0.10's (RG).
The jumbo frets are also a bit of a problem for me, cause when chording, I press too much sometimes and I go then out of tune..
I think I just need to practice to play softer

If you're "bottoming out" with jumbo frets and .010's (on a strat, no less!), you're pressing too hard. If you can play a whole set this way, you must have lumberjack strength in your hands! You got it - learn to only press as hard as you need to.

[BrianH]

yea, give it time and only press as hard as necessary. You'll be surprised that it doesn't take as much effort as you think. I also doubt any real speed would ever build pressing that hard and chords will most likely always sound not quite in tune. If you are a new player, give it time and be aware of not over doing it.