How the hell do you mute a single string on guitar

[Armueller2001]

I'm trying to learn "The World I Know" by Collective Soul and the tab is like this

7 G
0 D
x A
7 E

Basically the same fingerings at different positions on the fretboard thru the song... how do you mute the A string? I tried it with the pinky of my picking hand but its hard as hell. Eff this, I'm sticking to bass.

[Infernal Affair]

There's several ways to do it. You can use your unused fingers on the picking hand, but it might be more efficient and easier to use your fretting hand. What are you fretting for the high e and b strings? That would help.

[Armueller2001]

Originally Posted by Infernal Affair

There's several ways to do it. You can use your unused fingers on the picking hand, but it might be more efficient and easier to use your fretting hand. What are you fretting for the high e and b strings? That would help.

Nothing, they're unplayed.

After the fretting above, it goes to

2 3 5 7
0 0 0 0
x x x x
2 4 6 7

[Joey3313]

Originally Posted by Armueller2001

I'm trying to learn "The World I Know" by Collective Soul and the tab is like this

7 G
0 D
x A
7 E

Basically the same fingerings at different positions on the fretboard thru the song... how do you mute the A string? I tried it with the pinky of my picking hand but its hard as hell. Eff this, I'm sticking to bass.

Assuming there is nothing on the B or E, I would probably use my middle finger for the E string, mute the A with my index finger (pressing lightly on the string, but not enough to produce a note) and use my ring finger for the G string.


Edit: Just saw you're next post...I'd still do that for that chord, for the rest I'd still use the middle finger on the E string, but use the index finger for the G string, and mute with the ring finger.


Keep in mind, I'm terrible at guitar.

[JimK]

Originally Posted by Armueller2001

I'm trying to learn "The World I Know" by Collective Soul and the tab is like this

7 G
0 D
x A
7 E

Basically the same fingerings at different positions on the fretboard thru the song... how do you mute the A string? I tried it with the pinky of my picking hand but its hard as hell. Eff this, I'm sticking to bass.

I would use the index finger for the "E"-string/7th fret...enough skin/flesh of the index finger should be there to mute the "A"-string.

[dancehallclasher]

That chord only requires two fingers to play. That leaves you two more to mute with. C'mon man, get a little creative. Me, I'd probably fret the notes with my middle and ring fingers and mute the A string with my index finger. You could do it with the middle finger in most locations but I'd be afraid of a harmonic ringing out if I tried that at the 7th fret, better to use the index to mute a little farther back.

[Infernal Affair]

I would use part of my index finger brought down to mute the string below. But you can also use either of your two free fingers to mute them. You just gotta train your fingers gain the muscle memory for it with practice.

I'm not a very good guitar player, but I do enjoy playing at home. Don't give up on it yet. Just keep at it and you'll get the hang of it. And don't get daunted when you get to barre chords.

[baalroo]

Originally Posted by dancehallclasher

That chord only requires two fingers to play. That leaves you two more to mute with. C'mon man, get a little creative. Me, I'd probably fret the notes with my middle and ring fingers and mute the A string with my index finger. You could do it with the middle finger in most locations but I'd be afraid of a harmonic ringing out if I tried that at the 7th fret, better to use the index to mute a little farther back.

yup, pretty much exactly what I was gonna say. Whenever possible do the muting behind the frets that you're playing at on other strings so you don't have to worry about your muting finger getting lazy and interfering with the notes being played on the other strings.

The song in question is generally played with the ring finger on the E string and the middle finger on the G. This leaves your index finger in the perfect position to lightly rest on the A string. You can then just slide the fingering basically the same position up and down in the fretboard to play the entire riff.

[ii7-V7]

Use your middle finger to fret the notes onthe E string. Flatten that knuckle out a bit so that the pad of the middle finger touches the A string. You shouldn't have any issues with harmonics. You'll need that index finger for the chords on the 4th and 6th frets.

Or just play fingerstyle and use your index and middle fingers on the right hand to play the notes on the D and G strings.

This little chord run is similar to Dave Matthews "Tripping Billies".

[Armueller2001]

Thanks for the advice fellas.

[baba]

Originally Posted by JimK

I would use the index finger for the "E"-string/7th fret...enough skin/flesh of the index finger should be there to mute the "A"-string.

This.

[Deacon_Blues]

Originally Posted by baba

This.

Yes. No need to involve more fingers. Just bend down the finger a bit when pressing down the B and you'll mute the A string automatically.

[funkalicious101]

You could also play a D on the A string. It wont sound exactly right, but not many people are going to know why.