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String muting is another method that will allow you to define your own personal style. Muting will also enable you to generate cleaner, more impressive sounding chords and also solos be eliminating undesirable sounds from your guitar.

You will find two kinds of string muting, the palm mute with your picking hand and also the string mute with your fret hand. They serve very different purposes, but both are important to great guitar playing.

Fret-hand muting is especially important when playing chords and power chords. The aim is to use a section of you finger tips and fingers to mute the strings you don’t need to include in the chord being played. As an example the C major chord is played from the 5th string to the first, but you are not supposed to hit the 6th string. I use the tip of my third finger which is holding down the 5th string 3rd fret to rub up against the sixth string thus muting the string. I use this identical method as well with power chords, but in addition I use the fat part of my index finger to lightly rest on strings 1,2,three. With just enough pressure to mute the strings. The beauty is should you get somewhat wild with your pick it still sounds great. Fret-hand muting is utilised extensively.

Palm muting is more commonly used in distorted rock songs. The technique involves sitting the heel of your pick-hand palm over the strings as you pick. Many people rest it directly over the bridge, but it is possible to experiment with various positions for different sounds. Also try distinct levels of pressure to regulate the level of muting. This technique creates a percussive, muffled or chunky sound. Combine quick down strokes with palm muting in different patterns with moderate distortion for sounds comparable to Metallica or other metal bands.

With lead guitar playing occasionally it may be neccesary to further mute the fretboard. An easy way to achieve this is to simply attach a hairband around the neck of the guitar close to the nut. Be certain to have the hairband snug enough to muffle the open strings, but not too tight as to push the strings down on to the 1st fret. This simple tip will help “shred” style lead guitar players clean up their sound by muffling unwanted open strings.

Both fret hand muting and palm muting are very individual and stylistic approaches. Incorporate practicing this method each time you pick up your guitar and before long you’ll master this essential skill.

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