Does anyone else play like this, or am I just weird...?

[Zkenny99]

I've gotten it drilled in my head from day 1 that all the strings had to be muted at all times when I'm not playing them, and basically never give a string the chance to ever ring out or make any noise ever. so I developed this technique on my own that I have never seen anyone else do.

Most people do floating thumb, or use their plucking/picking hand, or their fretting thumb, etc... Well I don't do any of those things to mute my strings.

Basically, take the tip of your pinky and put on the E string. Now put your ring finger on the A string and just let them rest. That's how I play, always. If I have to go down to those strings, say the A string, my ring finger moves to the E string and my pinky just chills in the air (but it's not flying). If I have to play the E string, then it's just my thumb on the pickup. So basically, at pretty much all times, my other two fingers mute the bottom two strings when I don't use it and I switch them around quite often when playing all of the strings a lot.

It's strange because I haven't seen one person do this besides me, and hopefully I'm not completely alone. It's not a technique I'm going to try to get out of either unless some doctor on this forum tells me I'll get hand cancer or something. It really well for me and it doesn't compromise any of my playing at all.

So pretty please with a cherry on top, tell me that you're also doing that. If not, feel free to call me a loser.

TLDR: my ring finger and pinky are always on strings on not using as my only way to mute them, at the same time, my thumb always anchored on either the pickup or E string.

 

[Clef_de_fa]

Oh I see, some of the old players do that like I know John Patitucci do that sometimes

 

[MalcolmAmos]

If you figured that out YOU ARE NOT A LOOSER. I don't use it, as I cheat with flats and foam rubber at the bridge. Helps cut the sustain and gives a sound I like. But, yes we do have to mute the beast - someway. Looks like you've figured out a way that works for you.

 

[ZenG]

A foam mute near the bridge will take care of your problems.

I only mute the E when necessary.. I don't even consciously think about muting other strings.

They don't seem to need it really (even without the foam mute).

 

[quickfix]

You have a natural muting technique that works very well.
I try to do as you're doing...but don't have the motor skills. I'm getting there.
Right now I'm using a combo of floating thumb for the lower strings not being played, resting stroke, and left hand muting for the higher strings not being played.

 

[Bondobass]

Interesting...being a pick player who likes to hit open notes, myself, I need to mute strings...often with the pinky or any other finger, on a non-harmonic fret if possible. I'm speaking of stopping a note of course, sounds like you are squelching a string before it gets a chance to ring which seems like awesome technique.

 

[psyoniksoundz]

I'm by no means a pro - but at the moment my muting is: Floating thumb for E & A strings and pinky & ring muting D & G strings... Still very new so the accuracy and finger strength needs work, but I'm thinking with more practice it'll turn into some clean playing

 

[ClubberDang]

I was just watching a video on muting last night at scottsbasslessons.com. He was talking about just such the type of muting you were doing. He said Jaco used it, so you are in good company. You are lucky it came naturally to you. Myself, there is no way I will ever be comfortable using the floating thumb I don't think. And I pluck with three fingers so I'm becoming concerned about my muting technique or lack thereof.

 

[lz4005]

So pretty please with a cherry on top, tell me that you're also doing that. If not, feel free to call me a loser.

I do something similar, except I jam my ring finger between the E and A strings.

It's a bit more efficient because I can mute either or both strings with just the one finger.

Any effective muting technique that doesn't hurt your hands is good muting technique.

 

[Rev J]

I use a subtle variation of that since I play a six with a 3 finger technique. My thumb floats between my B E and A strings muting the strings below it. My pinky usually mutes 2 strings below where I'm playing and I'm also muting unplayed strings with part of my left hand index finger.

C/S,
Rev J

 

[Atshen]

I do something very similar and never have unwanted strings ringing, so it must not be bad!

 

[Lo-E]

I change my right hand playing position up quite a bit, depending on the sound I'm going for, so I end up using a lot of different muting techniques - both left and right hand - throughout the course of a set. Sometimes I do something similar to what you're describing, though not identical. Other times it's almost all left hand muting. It just depends on the tune. I think everybody ends up developing a muting system that works for their physiology and the way that they play and everyone tackles the problem a little differently.

Now, as to whether or not you're weird... well, let's just say that might not have anything to do with muting.

 

[Atshen]

I'm by no means a pro - but at the moment my muting is: Floating thumb for E & A strings and pinky & ring muting D & G strings... Still very new so the accuracy and finger strength needs work, but I'm thinking with more practice it'll turn into some clean playing

Sounds uselessly painful to me. Your fretting hand should take care of muting the higher strings.

 

[Roxbororob]

My technique is not far off yours, fellow not loser!

 

[Slapstyle]

I tend to use the E as a thumb rest and do most of my muting with my fretting hand and sometimes the meat of my picking hand palm, usually more for slap stuff.

 

[Roxbororob]

Sounds uselessly painful to me. Your fretting hand should take care of muting the higher strings.

Yes to adding this to your technique.

 

[InhumanResource]

Nothing wrong with that! I like the left-hand mute personally. My right hand may be anchored on a pickup or "floating" at any given moment. There's a sweet spot on my jazz bass that I like, but it isn't really comfortable to get at from an anchored position. Placement totally depends on what sound I need at that moment.

 

[Callused Finger]

I'm reading the OP asking myself, do I mute strings when playing?
I must but it's something I guess I've never really thought about.

Good thread, would read again. Thanks.

 

[Wolfenstein666]

There's no 'wrong way' to mute, or to even play for that matter. There's better ways and worse ways, but you seem to have found a way that works for you, and that in no way makes you a freak.

I personally float my thumb, and if anything below the string I'm playing needs muted my left hand gets it. It's what works for me.

 

[SirMjac28]

I play with one finger and my thumb gets the E and D with my pinkie taking care of the other two.