• From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 851

Topic: Proper Palm Muting method

Greetings,

    i've been having a bit of a fit getting my palm muting technique down good.
What i'm noticing is that the same placement of the edge of my hand on the lower strings will not give the same effective muting when moved to the top strings.

And when I move to the top strings there doesn't seem to be any middle ground. It's either wholly unmuted or overmuted/deadened and not audible.

What is the secret to properly palm-muting the top three strings?
Should I even be attempting to palm mute these strings?
Does palm-muting only apply to the E-A-D strings?

confused,
Dm

"Talent instantly recognizes genius,
but mediocrity knows nothing more than itself."

-Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle

Detman101's Website

  • From: NY
  • Registered: 2009-08-26
  • Posts: 4,320

Re: Proper Palm Muting method

Oh no, I hope there's no "rules" to palm muting!  LOL!  I just do whatever seems to work, but then... people haven't told me what's right or wrong so...  smile

I find most of the time I can mute all the strings fairly evenly, but my upstrums tend to allow the top notes (trebles) to ring out.  I've accepted this as sounding alright for the songs I'm playing.  BTW... when I mute strings, I don't hold my pick traditionally.  I only hold it between my thumb and index and spread the rest of my fingers out and brace them on the guitar.  Again, no clue what's right or wrong, it's just the only way it seems to work for me.  When just strumming, my fingers are generally all curled up with the pick in more of a "fist" type shape.

Art and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder.
What constitutes excellent music is in the ears of the listener.

mekidsmom's Website

  • From: NY
  • Registered: 2009-08-26
  • Posts: 4,320

Re: Proper Palm Muting method

On a side note... you probably know WAY more about this stuff than I do DM!  I'm still a "newbie" (although my one year anniversary of when I first picked up the guitar IS coming up!  Whoo hoo!).  Pix did upload a video to youtube a while back to kind of show me a few different techniques for palm muting and such.  I haven't watched them in a while.  Do a search on his youtube channel and maybe you will find them!  wink

Art and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder.
What constitutes excellent music is in the ears of the listener.

mekidsmom's Website

  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 851

Re: Proper Palm Muting method

Ah! Thank you! I will search his channel and see if I can get an answer there.

=]

I believe it may come down to my own particular guitar setup. It's probably something I did (Right/wrong) when putting it back together.

Thanks,
Dm

"Talent instantly recognizes genius,
but mediocrity knows nothing more than itself."

-Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle

Detman101's Website

  • From: The Land Of Song
  • Registered: 2007-12-10
  • Posts: 5,704

Re: Proper Palm Muting method

i'd never even thought of this until you posted!
as i started out in heavy metal bands it just came naturally to me. i had to pick up the guitar now to see if i got an even dub....and i did!

what i did:
heel of hand on E, A, D and G strings. little finger on B and E. i was wondering where that callous came from

phill

Ask not what Chordie can do for you, but what you can do for Chordie.

Phill Williams's Website

  • From: NY
  • Registered: 2009-08-26
  • Posts: 4,320

Re: Proper Palm Muting method

Oh DM... looks like Pix removed that video.  He did just kinda throw it together quick for me.  Sorry!  Like Phill, I use the heel of my hand pretty much across as many strings as it will span... but I tend to just mute everything out fairly heavy and strum heavier while muting (on the down strokes and not strum so hard on the ups which are "fairly open").  Also, I'm using an acoustic and that probably makes a big difference!!!  I'm still working on being able to do this AND not lose my rhythm through an entire song.  I inevitably get sidetracked somewhere in the song while switching on and off muting more so than when just strumming.  Practice as usual!

Art and beauty are in the eyes of the beholder.
What constitutes excellent music is in the ears of the listener.

mekidsmom's Website

  • From: Frederick, MD
  • Registered: 2006-12-28
  • Posts: 851

Re: Proper Palm Muting method

Actually, that technique of just strumming harder will probably help me more.
I'm heavy handed on the guitar anyway and it will suit my style juuuuuust fine.

I'll give it a try and let you all know how it works out.

Thank you!!!

=]
Dm

"Talent instantly recognizes genius,
but mediocrity knows nothing more than itself."

-Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle

Detman101's Website