When I play the guitar, how do I keep it from buzzing or making a plucking noise?

Question

I just started to learn how to play the guitar today. My grandfather said that if I don't hold a string down hard enough while playing a chord, I deaden the string so it makes a plucking or buzzing noise. Is that true, and could I possibly hold the strings down too hard? I've tried barely touching, and holding the string hard while playing a chord, and they do the exact same thing. They strings won't make clear notes, and don't have good tone. Does anybody have advice, or answers?

It's not tuning, either. I had the guitar tuned today by a professional.

Answer 1

yeah u have to hold the string down hard so it will sound nice..if u dont it will sound bad

Answer 2

Depending on the guitar, there is a certain amount of force needed to fret a string. Too little force and the note doesn't ring, it just makes a "chuck" sound. Too much force and the note sounds, but it goes sharp. Anywhere in-between.

Did this professional check the action, or check for neck warpage? Too low of action will cause buzzing, and if a neck is warped it could tune just fine but still buzz at different points along the fretboard.

Also, don't pluck the string too hard. If you play too hard, you will almost always cause string buzz.

Saul