Dear zipporah,

I've been enjoying reading your blog posts lately, as well as listening to those which feature recordings of you being musical.

It kind of hurt, though, for me to hath heard how squeaky those guitar strings were in your "Home Tonight" video! If it wasn't for how exceptionally beautiful your singing is, I probably wouldn't have been able to have watched/listened to that entire video. Not that I have much moral right to criticize, as mine own guitar playing is not yet always squeak-free.

Last week or so, and after the squeaking of mine own guitar playing happened to be very loud, and even louder than in your "Home Tonight" video, I did an online search using the keywords "how to stop guitar strings from squeaking" and learned that there are many tutorials and comments at message boards which teach about the science of how to prevent them from doing so.

From what I have read thus far, and experimented with, too, guitar strings can squeak when the fingers are slid along them, rather than placed and bounced upon them—when then I did that in regards to mine own guitar playing, I did experience for myself that when the harsh sound from squeaking strings is decreased, a warmer sound that emanates from the body of the guitar is increased.

Apparently, there are also guitar string friendly oils that can be used to prevent the strings from squeaking, and that some guitarists will wipe their fingertips onto an oily part of their face or ears before playing.

I hope you find that information to be helpful. I really do admire your talent for being musical.

From Lannie.