Muting Techniques Advice

[Ritchski]

Hi just joined the forum. I’m looking for some advice on a few techniques. I have been learning or attemping to learn electric bass under my own steam for a few months with the use of various tutorials but I need some solid knowledge on string muting.

At the moment I use my fret hand a lot but not sure if I am doing it the right way, I basically use all my fingers to mute the strings when muting from G string up, kind of lay them over strings (which can slow my playing down). Theres no real technique here I just kind of use what finger comes naturally to mute the string?

With my picking hand I use my index and middle finger and rest one of them on the above string to mute it which I find simple enough. I’m not sure how to effectively mute a string below with my picking hand though, say I play G string and go up to D string, how do I mute G string with picking hand and still be able to maintain quick playing speed?

Apologies if this is not making sense, its probably a simple thing starting me in the face, just seems that there are so many ways to mute that I want to make sure I'm on the right track. Thanks for any advice

Ritch

[EADG mx]

I'd recommend looking into floating thumb, which I find very beneficial (and maybe even essential for 5+ string basses). Basically you'll want to rest your plucking hand thumb on the string or strings below the one that you are playing, while your fretting hand takes care of the higher strings.

Muting is tricky and takes years of practice to perfect. There is no one way to do things. Some people swear by floating thumb, some people rest their thumb on the neck and rely solely on their fingers. You can use your right hand, left hand, fingers, thumbs, any combination of the preceding (as long as you don't let that fretting hand thumb over the neck, but that's a different story). Means to an end, right?

[H2ODog]

In this video it explains how to user the floating thumb technique. Hope it helps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU