String Muting at 80bpm #1

[ShirleyIplay]

Jamie, I am trying to get this string muting under my belt and am having a little problem. You can't tell from this video that my pick finger is almost straight up and down to the string, and I tried to bend it so the pick is "normal" like in your book. My fingernail sometimes hits the string is the result. Thanks for helping with this.

http://youtu.be/-6NYwhcQN1Y

I know there is more wrong here than just my pick holding.....

[shanejur]

Hi Shirley,
I saw this before you even posted it. Your going to be Stevie Ray before you know it. Anyways thanks for the input. I'm not sure if you were going for timing but, in the middle it got a little off. I'm struggling with a rhythm Jamie gave me. But, I couldn't even finger last week and now at least I'm strumming it. I guess that is vertical growth. Shane

[chefrusso]

Hey Shirley,

I have a suggestion for you. Generally, when I mute the strings, I use the right (picking) hand for the lower strings (4,5,6, etc.) than the one I am playing, and the left (fretting) hand for the higher strings (1,2,3, etc.). The way you're extending your pinky on your picking hand to mute all the strings looks very awkward and tense to me. I usually don't extend my fingers out like that at all because they act like a pendulum and can slow down my picking speed. It also lends itself to the nasty habit of anchoring, which I basically try to avoid as much as possible.

You should basically hold your hand in position so that the string you want to let sound rings out while all the others are silent. For your right hand, start at the 5th string and adjust your palm so that the 6th doesn't ring, even if you pick at it, while the 5th string is let alone. It'll take some fine adjustments to reach that point and you'll have to tweak it quite a bit before it becomes automatic. Now, for your left hand, play a note on the 5th string with your index, but adjust it so that your index touches the 4th string enough to mute it while still allowing the 5th string to ring. You basically want to flatten your finger a little towards the first string so that you can do this. I know this approach to the string is against the direct pressure and bend at the distal joint that you would normally look for, but we're muting here! Again, this will also take some fine adjustments for it to work consistently.

Repeat the same exercise for the 2nd and 3rd finger, but keep the first finger in position, as if you were going to do the bends. For these fingers, you can use your index to mute or the finger you're bending with, so you have a few more options. Basically your goal overall is to allow the string you want to ring to sound while preventing the others from making unwanted noise. Repeat these exercise for the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd, until you're comfortable with it on each string. Don't forget to work on string muting with real playing situations at no-tempo as you work through the solos. As soon as you bend a sting, it's going to change the whole dynamic and you're going to have to adjust your position as you do it. It's really a matter of touch here and it's going to take some time to feel it.

[Jamie]

'Shirley, I am not sure what you are going for here. Are you trying to get a muted sound on a shuffle? If so, you need to pull your hand toward the bridge, and, let more tone out. You have too much mute going going!

Do you know what I mean?

[ShirleyIplay]

Thanks everybody for your suggestions.

I was, Jamie, trying to mute the 4,5,6 strings on the shuffle, so that when I play over it, it won't be so prominent. My hand position is so awkward. I shouldn't have this much trouble with it. But..... Even while I view this clip, I had to laugh at my not being able to decide which way to hold my remaining fingers. Your illustration in the R&B DVD is what I was trying to use, but you are saying that may only be for string muting while bending and nocking out string noise from that.

Thanks Shane and Chef. I will try taking your advice from that. Will post again in a day or so. lol I love this stuff!!!!!

[ShirleyIplay]

Here is that same rythm track without muting. So now you know what I was trying to mute.
I's also welcome commets on that also. Thank a lot gang.

http://youtu.be/t0TIVQIrp8E

[chefrusso]

Sorry Shirley, you were muting the strings so much, I thought you were trying to silence them, not muffle them. That's an entirely different story!

What you need to do is hold your palm right next to the bridge, so that it muffles the sound, but doesn't cut it out completely. Just like the other muting, it's very sensitive to touch, too far away from the bridge mutes the strings completely and too close, they ring too much. You need to find that sweet spot through experimentation; slide your palm back and forth, a little at a time, until you discover it.

One thing you should know, is that it isn't necessary for you to cross all the strings when you do this. You really need to focus on the ones you're playing, so you won't have to extend your pinky like you did in the first video.

Just so you know, in the second video it didn't sound like you were muffling at all. Your palm should actually rest on the strings at all times when you're muffling.

[ShirleyIplay]

Thanks Chef. The second video wasn't muted at all. lol I was playing the one that in the first video I tried to mute too much. lol

I will work on your suggestions. I guess if I don't want the backing to sound so loud, I could turn it down so when I play over it, it will be sort of normal. go figure.

[chefrusso]

I'll try and make you a video after this trip is over, but that may be a while. We were supposed to finish up on Sunday, but it looks like the trip may be extended. Worse case, kids are back in school at the end of the month, so I'll be able to do it after then... actually I have a couple of videos I need to get going on!