Palm muting

[Cloudsky]

Is it true that you need some metal-style distortion before you can execute this technique? Coz i tried it on my fender strat on a vox 15 watt amp(with distortion on and max gain). I tried to do some basic metal riffs using that technqiue but it doesn't seem to work :lol: . Btw my strat has a HSS setup. Anyone willing to share their explanation? Thanks

 

[sofyan]

he

i think u just need distortion for a nice palm mute.

 

[fish]

i think thicker strings help..

 

[vernplum]

Well, you can execute the technique without distortion, but I assume you are going for some kind of Thrash/Death metal chunk like Metallica, Slayer, Pantera etc.

Yes, you need reasonably thick distortion (must be the right kind - not Fuzz or Overdrive, but Distortion which works best), the volume knob on your guitar probably wants to be on full, and you need to 'scoop' your EQ, which is to boost the bass to 10, mid to 0 and treble to 10.

Make sure the edge of your palm rests quite firmly (without bending the tremolo up) on the low E string (or whatever) as close to the bridge as you can so the pitch isn't altered.

Start with heavy downpicks in this position and progress to alternate picking for faster riffs.

 

[Cloudsky]

Is palm muting necessary for classic rock riffs and solos?

 

[vernplum]

Is palm muting necessary for classic rock riffs and solos?

Can be.

Like what? Depends what you mean by Classic Rock.

Led Zeppelin's "Communication Breakdown" uses P.M. in the main riff.

Black Sabbath "Paranoid" P.M. in the main riff.

Ozzy's "Bark at the Moon" P.M. in the solo.

Pink Floyd "Another Brick in the Wall" P.M. in the main riff.

 

[psionic]

palm muting is prolly one of the basic techniques that every rock guitarist must know

 

[Chang]

Does the scooping really give a better chug? I like my settings with lotsa mids and lesser on the bass and treble, but i can't seem to get a very nice pm sound with my OD turned on. I'm using the same technique too, but i just can't seem to get it really right.

 

[vernplum]

Does the scooping really give a better chug? I like my settings with lotsa mids and lesser on the bass and treble, but i can't seem to get a very nice pm sound with my OD turned on. I'm using the same technique too, but i just can't seem to get it really right.

Yeah, it does. You might not have enough distortion as well. You need very high gain for those thrash metal type chug. Try overdriving your amp and then adding a distortion pedal to boost it some more.

 

[koolguy74sg]

i think thicker strings help..

It is not thicker string that can cause better palm muting. Look, acoustic guitar have thin string,but they can use for palm muting well.

It solely depends on the techniques of your palm muting, and also the type of wood that you hit on while you strike the strings.

As you are experienced with palm muting, even thin strings you also can mute well. The type of wood for the guitar body also counts.

Rgds
kool

 

[vernplum]

i think thicker strings help..

It is not thicker string that can cause better palm muting. Look, acoustic guitar have thin string,but they can use for palm muting well.

It solely depends on the techniques of your palm muting, and also the type of wood that you hit on while you strike the strings.

As you are experienced with palm muting, even thin strings you also can mute well. The type of wood for the guitar body also counts.

Rgds
kool

I will have to agree with fish a bit on this one - thicker strings do contribute to a heavier sound for chunking - thicker string = more mass = more tone. Dime Darrell for example (rest his soul) tended to put heavier gauge for bottom 3 strings (low E at .52 I think instead of .46).

Generally also, acoustic guitars have heavier strings than electrics.

 

[koolguy74sg]

thicker string may not be heavier string. Lighter string may not be thiner string.

Rgds
kool

 

[vernplum]

thicker string may not be heavier string. Lighter string may not be thiner string.

Rgds
kool

Quite true, such as a G acoustic nylon string is very thick, but light.

Generally I think it is the case though.

 

[fish]

heavier gauge helps what... more chunk and power..i mean who can palm mute 0.10s and get the same chunk as a 0.52.. but actually it's more to technique...

 

[Myself]

Techniques to play high speed guitar

Just hantam, just dribble your lousy fingers across the fret like Malek Malmsteen did. You would surely produce speed and extra noise with that. It really takes a dumb to appreciate your music.

 

[sofyan]

whatever makes you chug!

 

[RoRK]

You can also mute with your left hand. Instead of doing a full-on fret press, just touch the strings lightly.. The results are similar to right-hand muting. Left-hand muting comes in handy when you want to mute the high strings. It's really difficult, for me at least, to mute the high E and occasionally B strings. But muting with the left-hand on those work alright.

Cheers
RoRK

 

[sofyan]

yeah! throughout my 3 years of playing guitar i just came to know that u can mute with your left hand, how sad is that.

 

[markedymark]

chugga chugga chug chug chugga chugga chug. WHEEEEE

 

[gibbytones]

its more of which area you place your 'palm' to palm mute.
if you notice the closer you place your hand to the bridge gives you a different kinda sound compared to placing it further away from the bridge.

and as distortion wise... a high distortion would be able to give you a better palm muted sound. sorta makes the muted sound feel tighter.

and a not so high gain would still give you a mute but then its more of how well you can palm mute to get that muted sound.

and strings? i dont think they play a big role in making a difference