muted runs for finger style players

[mambo4]

Inspired by another thread:

Palm muting lends itself really well to playing thumb style, or using thumb with index and middle fingers like some acoustic guitarists do, but I don't how you would utilize that when plucking rapidly with 2 fingers.

I was encountering this exact issue when trying to create some muted note runs, similar to how pick style funk players will use a palm mute. After several minutes trying uncomfortable and obstructive wrist angles, I decided palm muting was simply not for straight up finger style players.

what I ended up doing was extending my "unused" ring and pinky fingers and draping them lightly across the strings, to pretty good effect. I still need to work on my consistency but it seems to do the trick.

Have any other finger style players found a method that works?

 

[lowfreq33]

I use my pinky.

 

[mikeswals]

what I ended up doing was extending my "unused" ring and pinky fingers and draping them lightly across the strings, to pretty good effect. I still need to work on my consistency but it seems to do the trick.

I do it the same basic way, resting the edge of my palm and pinky fingers on the strings just ahead of the saddles to mute the strings and pluck away with my index finger. I simply wear my bass too low to palm-mute.

 

[cloclo]

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showpost.php?p=9058784&postcount=9

 

[christoph h.]

lay your pinky across the strings!

 

[Nashrakh]

Have any other finger style players found a method that works?

Rocco Prestia being a notable example... he uses his middle finger for fretting, and ring finger and pinky for muting.

I do it just like him. I do it to control dynamics instead of muting though; I play with a very light touch and it doesn't get that much quieter without using this to 'help me a little' with that (my band uses a very wide range of dynamics, including fades and whatnot... lol)

 

[mambo4]

so Rocco uses his Left hand to mute?

 

[Mr wiggl3s]

Good, palm mute blows.

 

[Art Araya]

so Rocco uses his Left hand to mute?

Generally that's true. He's so busy playing non-stop 16th notes with his right that there's no real way for him to palm mute with the right hand.

His instructional video explains this technique.

He uses a combination of left hand muting and ghosting of notes.

 

[lowfreq33]

Actually I should clarify, I use my right hand pinky to mute by the bridge. It's a little odd, I sort of stumbled across it by accident, but it works pretty well once you get used to it.

 

[christoph h.]

Left hand muting a la Rocco and Will Lee works great, too, but depending on the line, pinky muting maybe easier to do. or vice versa.

 

[S. Katz]

I use the side of my thumb and fleshy part of the palm below the thumb even though I play fingerstyle. This is because I never anchor the tip of my thumb. (Think of the floating thumb without resting the thumb on any strings.)

In other words, my thumb is perpendicular to the strings, pointed straight to the floor, while my picking fingers perpendicular (both horizontally and vertically) to the thumb. My whole hand falls naturally across the strings and I can mute even the string I am picking, while the whole hand stays relaxed.

To see what this looks like, start with a fist. Now let your thumb relax and stick out. Then relax your fingers and let them fall to a right angle at the side of the thumb. You can now either (1) do a Senior Wences routine, or pluck and mute with your bare hand in a relaxed posture.

 

[martskre]

You can alternate between palm muting and "pinkie-muting" for different sounds. Palm muting works really great, but you can get a totally different sound when pinkie-muting, cause you usually pick stronger and with a sharper sound with your index finger than your thumb.

If you like to play fast you can develop a nice muted three-finger technique with your thumb, index and middle finger while palm muting.

The techniques depends on how you strap your bass and how you place your hands, so you'll have to experiment on your own and find the best way to get your favorite sounds across.

 

[gai113]

I mute with my left hand.... works great.. for muting or ghosting

 

[PDGood]

I play the style described by the OP but I go about it a completely different method. When I want to mute I play with thumb and first two fingers and mute with the palm of my hand. It's totally comfortable and requires no unusual hand or finger angles, although it does require the bass to be at a moderate height - strap wise. For speed I play alternating the thumb and forefinger (in the same way you would normally alternate the forefinger and middle finger). A little practice is all it takes.
It's not the only style I play, but it's one of them and hard for me to imagine not having this option in the bag of tricks because thumb and two fingers also gives you the chance to add harmony notes and chord fragments.

 

[Kobaia]

I have a bass mute. i find that works best. but when i palm mute my thumb and index play just as fast as my index and middle finger. i also use left hand muting techniques