Muted Strums
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Muted Strumming is a percussive effect on the guitar. Iit is usually something that will happen naturally when you learn how to play. There is a couple of ways you can do this style.
- Fretting Hand Muted Strum
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(this is the left hand for right handed players)
Description
This is when you strum normally but lift the tension from the fretting (left hand). When you strum, the guitar will produce a "thud" or a muted sound from the strings. Be careful not to release your fingers all the way off the strings and produce an open string sounding.
Good Points
This style of muted strumming can be done on both the down and up strum.
Bad Points
It doesn''t work well for open chords because you either have an open string sounding out or have to reshape your hand for a muted sound, then place it back to the chord shape again. This style of muted strumming is best kept for bar chords.
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Audio Example
- Picking Hand Muted Strum
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(this is the right hand for right handed players)
Description
This style of muted strum takes a little more practice than the other, and you can only use this style on a down strum. As you strum the strings the bottom of the palm of your hand hits the strings first. I usually describe it to my students as karate chopping the strings on a bit of an angle and allowing the pick to follow through. To understand this style better you should view the video example.
Good Points
You don''t have to move the fretting hand out of the chord shape to produce a muted sound on either bar chords or open chords.
Bad Points
It is slightly more difficult to learn and you can''t use it on an up strum.
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Video
Audio Example
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