Muting

Muting is the process of dampening the strings using the palm or fingers. Muting breaks down into two categories: muting for an effect (meant to be heard) and muting to dampen stings (meant to get rid of unwanted ringing of open strings). First consider muting as an effect.

Palm Muting

In heavy metal music particularly, placing the palm of the right hand on the lower strings to produce a muffled sound is a common and effective technique. Usually palm muting occurs with down picking strokes. Try playing power chords and alternating palm mutes in the same position.

Finger Muting

The fingers of the left hand may also serve to mute the strings. Simply lift fingers enough to dampen the strings, but not totally off the fingers. Finger muting may occur on chords or individual notes. Check out “Funk 49” by the James Gang to hear Joe Walsh use finger muting and palm muting.

Muting to Stop String Ringing

Unwanted ringing in open strings is a huge problem, particularly in heavily distorted or compressed effects. Use right hand palm muting (without picking the strings) to mute any strings lower in pitch than the notes played. To mute the strings above, flatten out the first finger to act as a mute. The first finger and palm need to track with the hand position, moving up and down with the scales.

This process works pretty well for all except the strings directly above and below the note played. The palm is just not accurate enough to dampen the adjacent sting without causing some dampening of the intended note. For the adjacent string, the best muting technique is to use the tip of the first finger to lightly touch the string just below (in pitch, toward the ceiling). Although the sides of other fingers could serve to dampen strings, using the first finger is best because that allows the other fingers to remain rounded to the fretboard. For the adjacent string above the note (toward the floor) the pads of the finger playing the note work fine.

This technique forces change in the rounded finger position best for learning scales and chords. This is an advanced technique, and beginning it too soon could hinder a beginner’s development.

Some players use cloths or Velcro straps to dampen stings. Consider using materials when playing with two-hand tapping techniques that do not allow for palm or finger muting.