[marc bolan]

in kirks lesson alway's on my mind part 1 on the tab it show's ( P.M ) does that mean pull of and mute

thanx

[si16]

P.M. normally means Palm Mute where the strings are dampened slightly by the picking hand up near the bridge. However I don't see or hear any palm muting taking place at that section so it was probably just put in by accident.

[marc bolan]

thanx

[Kirk Lorange]

Yes, sorry for the confusion, I usually remove those PMs from the tab image. They're there because sometimes, to make the midi sound right (the midi is created by the same program that creates the image), I use the PM to keep certain notes or chord short and clipped.

[marc bolan]

thanx for sorting that out for me

[Ralph007]

Hi
I have part one down , just need to fine tune it. Just started part 2. I'm glad I have patience, cause when I first start a new piece its very discouraging by what it sounds like. It seams like its never going to sound like music. Then after getting my fingers to do the new task, it starts to click. After I practice over and over again, seams like hundreds of times maybe more, it starts to sound half decent. Thats when the euphoria hits me and I know I'm getting it!
Having the video and the tabs is the best way for me to learn. When I first started playing a buddy showed me what to do. But this site is better I can watch Kirk play the piece and then print the tabs and go to work.
I also go to a blues site where the guy plays a video of him playing the piece, but its frustrating when I miss a finger position. I asked him if he could provide the tabs , but he never responded to me. I haven't been going to this blues site like I used to. I was learning a preaty nice song. but I got stuck on the second part. I could not pick up what notes he was picking. So here I was with half a song down , and now I'm stuck. I'm have zero minus talent for picking up something by ear!
I have over the rainbow down (intermediate version) to where it sounds preaty good.
Just like to say thanks Kirk for your excellent site!

Ralph

[Ledhead V-2]

Originally Posted by si16

P.M. normally means Palm Mute where the strings are dampened slightly by the picking hand up near the bridge. However I don't see or hear any palm muting taking place at that section so it was probably just put in by accident.

Why doesn't palm muting seem to work for me? I attempt to do exactly as you've described and all I get is a totally dead sound, like my amp was shut off. I've tried muting the strings as lightly as possible and still all I get is nothing. I'm obviously doing something wrong...

[Stratrat]

Originally Posted by Ledhead V-2

Why doesn't palm muting seem to work for me? I attempt to do exactly as you've described and all I get is a totally dead sound, like my amp was shut off. I've tried muting the strings as lightly as possible and still all I get is nothing. I'm obviously doing something wrong...

Try experimenting with your hand position at the bridge. If you get too far up on the strings you'll completely mute them.....if you get too far back on the bridge you won't mute them at all and they'll ring out. Experiment with different positions and different amounts of pressure and you'll find that "sweet spot".

[Kirk Lorange]

Originally Posted by Stratrat

Try experimenting with your hand position at the bridge. If you get too far up on the strings you'll completely mute them.....if you get too far back on the bridge you won't mute them at all and they'll ring out. Experiment with different positions and different amounts of pressure and you'll find that "sweet spot".

You've hit the nail on the head with the word 'experiment', Stratrat ... learning different techniques is all about experimentation. I think because we and our instruments are all built differently -- different hands, fingers, necks, string action etc. -- there never is any one way of doing anything. Experimentation is the only way to get there. The neat thing is that often you come up your own personal unique way of doing things that help give you 'your' sound.

[Stratrat]

See? I'm learnin' from ya, Kirk! Your playing is proof positive of what you posted - you definitely have your own sound, and it's a very cool one at that.

[Ledhead V-2]

Thanks, Strat and Kirk -- I'll try it and let you know how I made out.