Muted Strum

Bluesyzep · #1 April 18th, 2007

Not to be confused with palm muting. Can do that.

"While strumming a chord with your right hand, let the heel or side of your palm hit the strings a split second before you strike them with your pick. The result should be a muffled percussive sound."

I'm not getting this at all. Not sure what I'm doing wrong. Need a fresh perspective. Am I supposed to be palming the strings while strumming (sounds like palm muting to me) or be really quick with the transition between palming and strumming? I'm not getting this muffled sound and am getting frustrated.

cshude · #2 April 18th, 2007

I can't see a physical reason why palming a string BEFORE strumming it would make it muted. That doesn't make any sense- no wonder you're getting frustrated. Is there a particular song that you're trying to play that calls for this technique?

6string · #3 April 18th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by cshude

Is there a particular song that you're trying to play that calls for this technique?

Maybe as in the beginning of The Summer of 69 by Bryan Adams

skinnybloke · #4 April 18th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesyzep

(sounds like palm muting to me) .

I think youv'e answered your own question.

Stratrat · #5 April 18th, 2007

It sounds to me like the "chick" in a "boom-chick" strum sequence. Listen to CCR's "Bad Moon Rising" to get an idea of the sound. It's hard to write out what it sounds like, but I'm thinking of the intro where it goes something like "Da Daaaaa, Da Da, Da (chick) Da (chick) Daaaaa". Does that make any sense?

Bluesyzep · #6 April 18th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by skinnybloke

I think youv'e answered your own question.

Palm muting was a separate lesson and is denoted with an "pm". The lesson song is "The Muted Strum"

I wasn't feeling that great last night so maybe I'll have better luck tonight.

Bluesyzep · #7 April 18th, 2007

Here is the tab.....

0 X 0 0 0 0 1 X 1 1 1 1 0 X 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 0 0 0 0
1 X 1 1 1 1 3 X 3 3 3 3 0 X 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 0 0 0 1
2 X 2 2 2 2 2 X 2 2 2 2 1 X 1 1 1 1 1 X 1 1 1 1 2
2 X 2 2 2 2 0 X 0 0 0 0 2 X 2 2 2 2 2 X 2 2 2 2 2
0 X 0 0 0 0 ------------ 2 X 2 2 2 2 2 X 2 2 2 2 0
------------ ------------ 0 X 0 0 0 0 0 X 0 0 0 0 -

First time writing tab so hope that helped. I see it came out all screwed up but hope you can pick out the pattern.

allthumbs · #8 April 18th, 2007

Sounds like the kind of strumming done in Cold Shot by SRV.

LeeB · #9 April 19th, 2007

I found this Dude's video lesson to be helpful. He calls it a "chop" strum. So get yourself a Mohawk cut and you will be on your way

seriously..as anything guitar it takes practice before it sounds good. Once you get it ..you will wonder how you made it sound so bad in the beginning. I use this precussive sound in many songs.... even where the original doesn't.

cheers
Lee
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3qVxpDJvSY

doug russell · #10 April 19th, 2007

I think what your describing sounds like chunking the the string's. You just don't let the string's ring. but you can still hear the tone of the chords. Like most technique's it will come with practice. You will find you will have to just keep practicing untill you have found that chunk or chopping sound. Remember every technique takes patience and practice,practice,practice.

agent0064life · #11 April 19th, 2007

Are muted strums used in "Swing Life Away" by Rise Against? If so I've been trying to figure that out ever since I started playing... still can't get the right sound from that song. What I did to get real close was take my unused fretting pinky and use that to kind of do the mute. It's hard to explain... basically mute the strings the millisecond after you strum them with your pinky while holding the notes down... that's the best way I can explain how I do it if we're on the same page as to what you're trying to accomplish.

Bluesyzep · #12 April 19th, 2007

Thanks for everyones help. The link did the trick. Just needed a demonstration.

I went back and reviewed the palm muting lesson which was a few pages before. Personally, I don't see the difference. If there is one it's pretty vague.

agent0064life · #13 April 19th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluesyzep

Thanks for everyones help. The link did the trick. Just needed a demonstration.

I went back and reviewed the palm muting lesson which was a few pages before. Personally, I don't see the difference. If there is one it's pretty vague.

Where in Florida are you? Trying to find more people to jam with.

Bluesyzep · #14 April 19th, 2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by agent0064life

Where in Florida are you? Trying to find more people to jam with.

PM sent.