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

[Captain Pike]

i do this but ive never got it to work for a five string i have flop my thumb down for that but it ends up being my hand really cause even though im 6'2 my hands are tiny

 

[DavC]

quarter note rings out for 1 beat ( 4/4 ) , ... half note rings out for 2 , whole for 4 ...

notes should ring out for as long as they are supposed to .. ! whatever technique is used to make them Rest when they should .. !

but , choking/muting every note as short as possible doesn't seem right ... everything is not staccato

 

[bonin in the boneyard]

I use the same technique on my acoustic, and it's essential. The bridge transmits a lot of vibration to the other strings, especially if I'm playing an A on the G string: my finger will come to rest on the D string, but the A string will ring like crazy. And since the plucked note isn't that loud to begin with, the resonating open string can really muddy the sound. So yup, I've developed a habit of moving my ring finger to the A string.

The technique is slowly finding its way to my electric playing as well, where it makes delicate pieces sound cleaner.

 

[winegamd]

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

This is how Gary Willis mutes.

 

[Atshen]

quarter note rings out for 1 beat ( 4/4 ) , ... half note rings out for 2 , whole for 4 ...

notes should ring out for as long as they are supposed to .. ! whatever technique is used to make them Rest when they should .. !

but , choking/muting every note as short as possible doesn't seem right ... everything is not staccato

We're talking about muting unused strings.

 

[bolophonic]

OP, as long as your muting isn't causing you pain or steering your technique in an unhealthy direction, you should develop your style as you see fit.

 

[d-dave]

Obviously I don't really think you're a loser (well, maybe you are. I don't know you.) but that was my only option other than saying I did the same thing. Perhaps "Carrots" as an option next time?

 

[Sixgunn]

If you figured that out YOU ARE NOT A LOOSER.

Not looser than what?

 

[Fingerpickingood]

I'm the hackiest hack of all the hacky hacks, but I would think that the only time a playing technique is "wrong" is if it causes a physical detriment, such as carpal tunnel.

 

[Roxbororob]

(Re-reads post)
(thinks)

Yes, the way it reads is exactly how I meant for it to come out.

Its not appropriate.

 

[Stewie]

I used to do the same thing, until I lost half the middle finger on my right hand in a bizarre gardening accident. Now I play with my pointer and my ring finger. I probably still do some sort of muting. Never looked at my right hand while I was playing

Just checked. My thumb sits on the E til I hit it, the others just rest on the next string til I need them again

 

[Captain Pike]

I used to do the same thing, until I lost half the middle finger on my right hand in a bizarre gardening accident. Now I play with my pointer and my ring finger. I probably still do some sort of muting. Never looked at my right hand while I was playingView attachment 888210

Just checked. My thumb sits on the E til I hit it, the others just rest on the next string til I need them again

Ouch....

 

[DWBass]

I use my left hand to mute the top strings. Floating thumb for lower strings.

 

[catcauphonic]

I only voted for 'loser' cuz it made me chuckle when I read it . If it's not impeding your progress or giving you hand cancer ... I don't see a problem

 

[catcauphonic]

I used to do the same thing, until I lost half the middle finger on my right hand in a bizarre gardening accident. Now I play with my pointer and my ring finger. I probably still do some sort of muting. Never looked at my right hand while I was playingView attachment 888210

Just checked. My thumb sits on the E til I hit it, the others just rest on the next string til I need them again

User name makes total sense now D'oh!

 

[Rev J]

I used to do the same thing, until I lost half the middle finger on my right hand in a bizarre gardening accident. Now I play with my pointer and my ring finger. I probably still do some sort of muting. Never looked at my right hand while I was playingView attachment 888210

Just checked. My thumb sits on the E til I hit it, the others just rest on the next string til I need them again

It's funny first one of Spinal Taps drummers, then Jeff Porcaro died in freak gardening accidents. You got off lucky.

C/S,
Rev J

 

[BigBobbyBass]

If I understand you correctly, my muting technique is very similar. Rock on.

 

[Bondobass]

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.

So, if you wanted to mute all 4 strings, you would lightly touch the index to the G, middle to D and so on?

 

[Atshen]

I'm the hackiest hack of all the hacky hacks, but I would think that the only time a playing technique is "wrong" is if it causes a physical detriment, such as carpal tunnel.

That, or if it makes you sound bad.

So, if you wanted to mute all 4 strings, you would lightly touch the index to the G, middle to D and so on?

Why would you want to do that? Just use your fretting hand for that, or lay your plucking hand flat across the strings.

 

[maturanesa]

I tried that, but it restricts my hability on 1 and 2 fingers. So in the end when i start to pick freely with the 1 and 2 fingers, the pinky and ring finger
adopt unconsciously the most natural and relaxed position (that is not having ring and pinky fixed and 1 and 2 moving) or they mimic the movements of 1 and 2 fingers...