Guitar Mod Foam String Mute

This song is recorded with this mute!

[@dannystumpf321]

God gave us palms for a reason 😅 EDIT: I know this is an actual thing for certain styles I was just making a joke

[@jcee6886]

🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝🏝

[@19boris57]

My thought exactly..

[@jamesmichell7256]

Bahahaha I was about to say what a waste of time as I have palms on my hands for a reason and if you can't palm mute practice just like everything else on guitar!!!

[@dartawnasailo4449]

Exactly,, this is so unnecessary

[@flatsixx]

But let’s say you’re out on the town and find yourself in an impromptu jam session - you’re not always gonna have your palms with you.

[@dextersbeard3472]

Its ridiculous how many people are bothered by the fact he didnt do it with his palm. He knows how to, relax. This gives a slightly different sound, are we not allowed to experiment or what?

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

💯

[@Mechanicaladvan]

Good man

[@noelitotolentino8261]

Nice😂

[@carlpanzram7081]

What I don't understand is, don't you have infinite ability to change the sound in electric guitars anyway through pedals and programs? On an acoustic this makes sense, but why use a piece of foam on a electric guitar? You can make it sound like a piano or a drums et if you wanted to.

[@SitNSpinRecords]

If he knows how to then he’d do it instead of take the time to do this. I dont play flutters because i play a les Paul and never learned to use a tremolo correctly. I use my volume knob for swells and delay. Fx You can use the switch, but i like the knob with my pinky. The only tool i use on guitar is a dewalt drill playing poundcake. Doing this is a quick fix until you can develop the skill to actually play it. It works, but it doesn’t beat learning palm muting because you can control the amount of mute on each string unlike this method. I love the sounds of a dropped d palm mute with sustain. Cant do that with foam.

[@jr.7185]

Kinda sounds like a mix of “boys don’t cry” and ragae

[@arianowongsosetro6871]

Sounds more like Just Like Heaven to me

[@erndog64]

I was going to say cure-just like heaven.

[@CummiesnFarties]

You sound like a regaeys don’t cry

[@shadowhunter2846]

Hahaha could be 😂

[@tomasmaturana3028]

Take a listen to : un amor violento by Los tres

[@stainpain77]

Yes kids. We have been putting foam under the back bridge and under the front head strings in the studio since the '70s. It is a shame this technology is being lost

[@uncleericsguitarmoddingand1401]

It's here again I guess. I did something similar on my bass.

[@beauhatman4395]

Hahaha.....since the 70's!?! It's a little older than that, friend.

[@morpheoist]

the same reason why today we tend to use too much compression for the voice: because singers don't know how to use the microphone 😅 and this is because they consider their vocal cords as an instrument rather than the microphone.

[@morpheoist]

​@@beauhatman4395not before 1930🤣🤣

[@Jodyrides]

A device came standard on the 1960s fender jaguar guitar. It was mounted near the bridge, and could be positioned by pushing on a rocker lever, and up would come a device, I don’t remember exactly what it look like, I think it was sort of like a wiper blade, it would contact the strings and mute them slightly..

[@Изгой157]

True. In fact, a lot of vintage guitars from East Germany and Czechoslovakia had such a device too

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Yes! I have one such guitar, that was the idea for this video. This is an easy way to try string mutes without an expensive mod or rubber bridge.

[@Allguitarinfo]

I use the palm of my pucking hand luje every other player. Lol​@@FrankOlsonTwins

[@jacobglenn3224]

Do you mean the bigsby tremolo

[@Изгой157]

@@FrankOlsonTwins Let me guess. Is that Musima Eterna?)

[@jijayjijayjijay]

The amount of people claiming to understand how to play guitar with palm muting and compare it to this sound experiment is damn high., Man, it is a different thing, for different purpose,.

[@AdMBandLeader]

It's not even an experiment but a decades-long thing to play in certain styles.

[@davidgerlach1132]

@@AdMBandLeader It's amazing, how there are styles.

[@TheScottJeter]

Also there's palm muting in the sample....

[@MichalBaginski-m3b]

Have fun and experiment. In music ther is nor boundaries or rules. Hail .

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Exactly!

[@vegaskelvin6632]

Así es el arte no tiene límites

[@MrLeftfootlouie]

However, in spelling, there are many.

[@Shrewparadox]

​@MrLeftfootlouie it doesn't mttaer waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the only iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit porbelm.

[@todmarks175]

You're right. But at least have a reason. What was this supposed to do?

[@plamenpenkov2865]

That is an excellent solution to a problem I didn't know existed.

[@FloridaManMatty]

Carol Kaye used something similar to this on a lot of the Wrecking Crew sessions in the 60s at their peak. Just about every major “classic” pop song from that era that wasn’t MoTown was TWC, and the bass was almost always Carol. Amazing lady and one hell of a guitar and bass player.

[@camilo1455]

James Jamerson

[@my2cents370]

I second that motion! Little piece of foam, a whole lot of hit records

[@firedevzz]

PLEASE PLEASE MAKE THIS A FULL SONG! This is so relaxing and I'd listen to this all day

[@JasonBrockStick]

Thank You! I’ve been playing the Chapman Stick for year’s and wrote a few great idea’s relying on mute the string’s on the bass side and a few in the lead… I’d bring a piece of fuzzy cloth sometimes due to losing the wrist band that worked well (But nothing was perfect). This idea is simple but genius as well - actually measuring the string gap’s and cutting a slight channel! I’ll be writing more and pulling out my old idea’s again! Great work - Thank You for sharing!

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

That's great! I just like to get inspired by new sounds and instrument variations! Thanks for checking it out

[@caseyholford]

Palm muting and mechanical mutes give different effects and allow you to do different things. I like palm muting because it gives you greater control and nuance, but you can’t do a big open strum while palm muting that’s for sure!

[@Randomthoughtsat301am]

Wanna bet? I do them as a percussive strum. Technique should be a must for everyone that is serious about learning guitar.

[@nuthinbutlove]

​@@Randomthoughtsat301amI was going to say, I've been doing them for decades

[@Damir_35519]

Nice trick for a consistent sound.im playing for 30 years and this didnt even cross my mind for some reason to try it out.

[@OneIdeaTooMany]

You don't know how excited I got when I thought you were going to clean your strings but then you didn't..

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

I just changed them... they're already too clean!

[@lewislane9727]

Doesn't take you a lot to get excited does it lol I'm joking please don't take offense 😊

[@Motocicleiros]

Great tip! I only play my guitars once in a while (sometimes it takes months until I unhang it from the wall) and when I pick it is always for recording and it's not rare that I am completely rusty. Such tricks are a life saver for dudes like me!

[@arnlmndza]

Been doing that on my bass since 2018. Works as well as the $25 mutes out there.

[@leewilson1368]

It’s called “playing” music, not working music! Play on!

[@arthurbrands6935]

Use any toy you want!

[@rickyholt1280]

I do this when practicing on my flamenco guitar. Great for practicing scales and modes!!

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Agree, a muted instrument can really reveal your timing!

[@tomskehan8656]

Very clever, another way to apply the technique!😃

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Thanks!

[@ronaldgenendlis6423]

I just love this oriental music. I did not know u could do this on a guitar!!!

[@sknapp19911]

Did something similar on bass with a hair tie, doubled up on the strings by the nut. Helped to mute it.

[@AndrewHannon-hc7wz]

This is a little trick I use to mute sustain for an upright bass sound,great idea,I've already done it,works great!

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Oh yeah, bassists def know this trick!

[@jkay3735]

*palm muting: am I a joke to you?

[@Callatenioqui]

Yo soy de latam y no puedo tocar por mis vecinos, ni siquiera con auriculares

[@ElliotPooley]

Now try fingerstyle, and/or playing anywhere except 2cm from the bridge

[@SyNKevN]

​@@ElliotPooleyno problem. Unless you mean percussive strumming or excessive strumming..... Finger style/"chicken pickin", or many other finger style playing is not very difficult to do while palm muting...

[@ho11owbone]

​@@ElliotPooley it's very easy to palm mute with finger style.

[@ElliotPooley]

@@ho11owbone only right next to the bridge though. The tone quality suffers because of a mixture of hand angle and position. With a mute you're free to go closer to the neck and get that more soft, hollow tone

[@J.A.L_Beatmaker]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Que buena idea🤔 asi no se llena de pelusa esa parte😊 🎼🎸💯.... Buen Mute 👍🏻

[@The_Victor_16]

I made of of these for my bass a while ago but was to lazy to mark the slots but it still worked.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

I made one with foam and felt for bass, works pretty good!

[@Nigel-ry1po]

MOTOWN bass guitar had the 'popping' a piece of foam would create no SUSTAIN look at old videos, Midnight Special concerts we can see the FENDER basses with the FOAM under the strings at the bridge

[@chrisvaughan2462]

Oh so that’s how you got that juicy muted sound, i thought it was one of those videos where they rebuild the guitar…

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

One way, of many!

[@jamesbates9038]

Another trick for those with tremlos. You can buy coated springs to reduce spring noise. Or just put foam like this around your tremlos springs

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Solid tip!

[@DreidMusicalX]

Or you can get some Velcro, the soft side and stick it to the inside on your cover plate just where the springs are. It touches ever so slightly to stop and spring noises and doesn't get in the way that binds the springs from returning to 0 tuning.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

@@DreidMusicalX Good tip!

[@DreidMusicalX]

@@FrankOlsonTwins Glad I can help. I figured it out while adding Velcro to my pedal board and I was actually working on a guitar and tried it and been doing now for about 6 years. On some guitars the cavity can be deeper, and one layer might not touch the strings so just stack a second strip on top of each other and that works too! I only had that problem on a thicker guitar cavity, aka FENDER strat.

[@ThisTimeTheWorld]

Heat shrink, you dont even have to do the whole spring

[@keefjunior4061]

Love the little bit you’re playing! 🎉

[@boopsnoot2807]

Before someone says “tHat’S WhY wE hAVe pALms” palm muting and using a muting device provide different kinds of resonance and allow for different hand motion. When you mute your hand is subject to having to stay on the bridge and can’t have a ton of mobility. When you use a muting device of even a piece of foam it has a different tone because your picking hand will have more freedom and mobility. It’s like how you can play a chord anywhere on the neck but it sounds different and has different tonality where you play it.

[@Ike_AW]

The difference isn't enough to matter

[@Spectre5390]

And, you can do muted taps!

[@joerod0]

Another option is turn down the gain.😱

[@boopsnoot2807]

@@Ike_AWthen either you’ve been doing it wrong or aren’t listening

[@boopsnoot2807]

@@joerod0turning down the guitar lowers your volume but doesn’t mute your guitar. Again, texture is very different and plays a huge part in the feeling of the song. Palm muting vs muting w/device vs lower volume all have different tones and textures. Saying they’re all the same is to black and white of a statement and doesn’t provide the nuance that the different tones can provide

[@CKILBY-zu7fq]

I always wondered why we have them for the violin but not the guitar 🤔, 👍

[@trimegz3105]

Guitarists refuse to buy the cheapest accessories possible but we’ll gladly get a new guitar any day of the week

[@kufazuke]

Love the sound! Gotta try this for my next platinum album...

[@domitianbaicu7970]

When everyone is looking for sustain you're just killing it 😂😅

[@MartyMcFlyV]

I think it's cool. Usually done on bass. Gretsch Guitars had built in 'mutes' on some models years ago.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

You never know what will spark inspiration!

[@robertwilkerson1720]

The foam just cuts out any under tones that could get picked up from a sensitive mic in the studio. I mostly see foam or something similar under the strings above the nut, but putting it by the bridge helps too on some guitars.

[@JamGtrMusic]

Clever. Guitarists tend to do this with their wrists. A kind of playing technique.

[@argentsilver928]

Palms, not wrists lol

[@JcuntAfuckKshitE]

If you weave a piece of card between the strings near the bridge you can make your guitar sound kinda like a steel drum, Martin Taylor style 👍

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

I'll have to try!

[@jayallen4785]

Nice sweet sound.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Thanks!

[@Deadroseswish]

I love it!

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Thank you!

[@caseyholford]

I like this because it’s showing you that you don’t *need* a rubber bridge to get this muted sound that’s such a big fad right now.

[@zmibbles]

I guess, it's a hack/shortcut but you can practice palm mute moving alongside which strings you're going to pick. Pretty common to modern guitarist styles

[@danhicks1319]

This also works great for tight djenty chugs when using metal distortion, although it can be frustrating when you are ready for sustained notes. I need to find a guitar with a Sustainer pickup and try this with that.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Yes, this is all or nothing!

[@LookingGlass69]

That was lovely

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Thanks!

[@mikeyfranz]

If you want to see this in use, on a bass guitar, back in 1969 live at Hyde Park, the bass player for Blind Faith had a big piece of sofa foam tucked under his strings down by the bridge. I had never seen this before or after, But it's on KZbin if you want to see it

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Good tip, gonna check it out!

[@mikeyfranz]

Here's the link to the foam on the bass guitar, I should have attached it before. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHuspq2iZs-rbdksi=ljZMqe5t0U8gi77D

[@jeffhill6769]

Almost sounds like an electric uke. Would love to hear a guy like Mancuso play with one of these.

[@snapascrew]

I’ve done this between the tail piece and bridge, and beyond the nut on the headstock…. But anywhere between the saddles and the nut for me personally is a no go. Do what ever you want tho lol

[@elguapo5467]

This is not a substitute for palm muting, which is used to stop a plucked string from ringing. This is used to stop an open unplucked string from making noise when you hit it accidentally.

[@redforest6872]

100% incorret. Every steing is muted. No notesare going to rig out.

[@tylerarrigoni7700]

Now, let’s just add a sustainiac system to this guitar and we’ll be all set

[@spartiaugustin364]

since ages i have a 6120 from 1964 - foam damper version. never used that damper.....

[@erikzirger2131]

Every bass player in the chat is shaking there heads at how guitarists seem to be just now discovering this

[@antidepressantsensitivetrance.]

The AC/DC rhythm guitarist is using a sponge similar to that very large on his Gretsch Malcolm Young signature guitar he uses. You can see it in the concert videos of the current 2024 tour. If that guy who placed Malcolm Young uses it, it's because it must be good. I will try to use it.

[@my2cents370]

MRS. BROWN, YOU'VE GOT A LOVELY DAUGHTER!! Very early 60's That was a snot rag. It did the job well

[@TheMilford]

Glad my Jaguar has one at the flick of a switch. Same with my Bass VI and my 4003.

[@my2cents370]

Not that easy on that Rick bass. Two goofy screws to bring up your mute. Never use it (4001)

[@nifty3000]

Great job! Now all i need is a guitar and the brains to learn how to play it!

[@BlueberryStinkFinger62]

Excellent job 👍👏

[@marvinbrown7869]

I do that to the tremolo springs to cut down on the noise.

[@skullheadwater9839]

Now that's smart, I don't have tremolo on most of my guitars because I don't really use it, well I did in the 80's trying to imitate EVH etc but have developed my own style and I just don't really use it. I may try this thanx

[@terryeaster1]

Very cool man thanks

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Hey, thanks!

[@sleepyheadgaming416]

I use a long sleeve jacket n make sure is over my palm. When I palm mute I'd say it give a similar sound to this.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

That's a good idea!

[@noorvanprasetyo9437]

Lovely.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Thank you!

[@arthurbrands6935]

Original Telecasters had a foam strip in the 'ash tray'. Back then, sustain was viewed as a problem rather than a feature.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Wow, great tip! Was it in the cover?

[@arthurbrands6935]

@@FrankOlsonTwins Yup. about an 1/8"-3/16" behind the front edge. It's where the filter rested, unless you were playing the gig, then it either hung from your lip, or was stuck into the string ends on the head.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

@@arthurbrands6935 lol, truly multi purpose!

[@my2cents370]

And that's why they stopped putting that stupid cover on Teles and the Basses, especially.

[@keithw32]

So the tune playing is the effect from the foam..got it thanks

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Yep.

[@taylorhackney9275]

Beautiful song in the back, had Crash Bandicoot early lvl vibes lol

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Thanks! I made the song with the mutes!

[@rmathew3595]

​@@FrankOlsonTwinsany name for this or Full song?

[@Bjowolf2]

Use a c. 6 - 7 cm long thin ( c. 1 cm wide ) , flat ( c. 0.1 - 0.2 mm thick ) and hard, but flexible plastic strip and braid it across ( in between) the strings next to the bridge - it will make your guitar sound like a Caribbean steel drum band 😎

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

I'm gonna try it!

[@Bjowolf2]

​@@FrankOlsonTwinsSo? 😊

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

@@Bjowolf2 I tried a thin strip of hard, flexible wood(I couldn't find plastic) braided across the strings and the sound is really cool. Almost like a vocoder or ring modulator effect! I'll keep my eye out for a strip of plastic, but I imagine the effect is similar. Nice tip!

[@Bjowolf2]

@@FrankOlsonTwins Well, it has to be flexible and thin, but hard, so that it can distort the string oscillations in the right skewed way. Maybe a strip of plastic cut from the plastic wrapping of some electronics product or similar?

[@michaelgarner4200]

I might try this on my Jazzmaster guitar.😊

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Perfect candidate, Jassmasters often used foam mutes!

[@Ein-Stuck]

Pultec in the background...nice!

[@CELERYLAWN]

Nice work!

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@normanmacfarlane6724]

Paul McCartney was doing this on his Hofner bass in the 60s😂❤

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

I guess I'm in good company!

[@rastanz]

So was Ernieball in the 70's, my musicman sabre had little foam pads installed for each string at the bridge.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

@@rastanz Neat, I'll have to look up an old sabre. My Sabre II does not have them!

[@EcoCentrist]

cool tip - going to make one and run these plucky sounds into some Chase Bliss pedals now lol

[@bligotblam]

You know you can achieve the same effect by using the palm of your picking hand... It is called palm muting, and not only is it free, but you can take it off in transistion.

[@bobbysavagehill]

Hey, that's a cheap and neat lil mod.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Thanks! Easy too!

[@skateup2291]

That melody at the end sounded so similar to a melody from a cure song

[@Zebakiin]

Do you have the chord progression, it just has mad vibes

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

@zebakiin7403 If I recall correctly, A, Bm, D 😊 Thanks for saying so!

[@3.k]

Just yesterday, SUSTAIN was almost everything. 🤯

[@KeithKelso-e7z]

Cool. It could go over the strings just as well.

[@Opinionated1292]

I never thought of CUTTING the foam 🤯! My whole world has changed 🙃

[@terminallychill9580]

In my day, we just rollled up some TP and put it in there

[@peterkeisam5895]

Just like the palm muted string sounds

[@davidmabus5666]

Thank you. You solved my ishue. :-)

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Glad to hear it!

[@Prophet-b9p]

Maybe solved one issue...now, about your spelling...

[@rolie25]

If you don’t have foam just tie a shoe string around the base of the strings.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

That's a good idea, I'll try that too!

[@claudevieaul1465]

I've seen this idea applied on basses for decades - Motown legend James Jamerson often had his Precision bass dampened like this, and many early Rickenbackers came with string dampeners too. Mainly to muffle the highs, rather than shorten the sustain, as those high harmonics can easily conflict with melodic instruments. This trick is what I always do on guitars with a long tailpiece *behind* the bridge, where there's a good length of string that I want to stop resonating - for instance on a Jazzmaster or Fender VI 🤣 Works great on headstocks too! No need for these very expensive wrap-thingies 😎🤘

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

This trick has definitely been around for a while... I think fender was putting this on bass guitars as early as the late 50's/early 60's!

[@tgirard123]

I wonder if your style would be different having a mute on constantly? Meaning, not having to think about palming all the strings but just playing the guitar and using your hands in other ways to bring out various tones from the instrument? Just a curious question from a keyboard player who never gets to have this kind of fun....

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Y'know, everyone uses these thing differently. For me, it's more about being inspired by a new sound, or a new variation of dynamics, overtones, damping, resonances, etc.... As you know, many of these same parameters are obvious on keys, not as much on guitars!

[@seanlahm4826]

Sounds almost like Franklins Tower. At least the chords do. Ive actually tried a similar hack for dampening . Your idea is a little better.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

One nice thing is, you can cut the foam smaller if you want less dampening...

[@jono_young_music]

This is fun and clever, but the palm is more powerful than the foam☺️ 🤘✌️

[@JohnBricksmith2048]

Got that african vide. Reminds me of one of Fela Kuti's guitaris' sound

[@ThisTimeTheWorld]

A rolled handkerchief is fast and effective.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Good to know!

[@CarlosEduardoCaldas]

Just go for the tennis racket muffler. Looks good for gigs too.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

I'll try it!

[@marcuskuehnel3734]

Those who learned to play these sounds properly do not need any of such „Inventions“. They just play and have fun. Others have foam and struggle for nothing.

[@shawnlennon1947]

If your palm is muting you couldn’t really strum it like how he strums the main chord progression, think of all the cool stuff you can do now that your hand is off the bridge! Palming is something you better learn regardless because it can be used as an expressive tool, but you wouldn’t palm mute a whole piece(you could but you normally wouldn’t). This makes the instrument permanently muted without mods. Think of the tonal possibilities!!!!!

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Absolutely, this works in tandem wroth palm muting, New sounds lead to new riffs, new songs, etc!

[@iansutherlandcraig]

Fender should return the switchable mute to the Jaguar.

[@michaelwhyte7446]

All I hear is Just like Heaven…

[@Adunb78]

Some minds don't sleep. Get some sleep, let the palm do the job.

[@Prophet-b9p]

If it helps, just look at this idea as a muted, hairy palm.

[@_Yep_Yep_]

Sounds like an old Dave Matthews lick. Its nice, man.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Hey thanks!

[@68humbertob]

I think my phone spies on me. That's what I have been doing lately, practice with a sponge under the strings...🤔

[@ronmounts8075]

They will start selling these for $52.00 a piece at guitar stores lol!!!!

[@my2cents370]

I'll be opening up my SPONGE store on eBay for half the price! LoI

[@robertwieser822]

Sounds like a xylophone

[@pokegenerations]

Cool idea for a spare guitar you don’t use that much.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Perfect for a 2nd or 3rd(or 4th!) that you can just pick and jam on

[@capkan16]

Damn just put your Palm Down here it’s the same

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

Palm muting is awesome, but this is not quite the same

[@rafacatito]

Can you palm mute while tapping

[@scottashe984]

​@@rafacatitoSure. Would'nt want to though.

[@mgggg-rc3nl]

@@rafacatito yep

[@bubblerings]

​@@rafacatitoI imagine that the whole point is for two handed fretting techniques, can include tapping or 'finger style'.😮

[@ベース-l2y]

I tried this idea with my bass guiter. My bass guiter got a tone like james jemerson.

[@FrankOlsonTwins]

This is a staple for some bass players

[@NemoO4567]

Мы просто шерстяную нитку продевали между струн и всё))

[@Thunder_Lightning_and_Fury]

The unwavering palm mute???!!!!💪❤️