Proper Muting Technique While Soloing - Guitar Lesson - Rock - Metal - Jazz - Blues

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This lesson for GuitarLessons365.com focuses on controlling the unused strings while you are playing single string lines. Half the battle of playing guitar is keeping the unused strings quite during playing. The is especially important the more gain or distortion that you add to your signal, which is common during solos in just about every style of music.
The key is to develop a consistent muting technique that you do almost subconsciously so you can better focus on the notes that you are playing. There are a few different way to approach muting. The main way that I describe in this video is how I personally do it. I also believe that it is probably the most common way of muting on the guitar. I also talk briefly about alternative ways of muting as well.
Take your time to develop a solid muting technique. It is extremely important to pay close attention to what you sound like. I have had countless students start soloing for me and don't even realize that there are a few open strings just humming in the background. Proper muting will tighten up the sound immensely.
Take your time and have fun!!
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Lesson Taught by: Carl Brown

[@snooze0023]

Godamn it, I can barely remember all the theory and the scales etc now i got to worry about this complex string muting technique. Im gonna cry.

[@JohnLeaf]

jaajajjajajja dont give up :D

[@SneakyDSP]

Snooze00 step by step, everything is going to get along nicely. Learning how to play is a life process. Don't try to be a guitar hero lol, just try to sound better and better

[@shreeram9961]

indeed I too was thinking of giving up after long learning soloing and picking.. but now am improvising on it..

[@rachelmcgahey6302]

Yeah why, WHY!!!

[@starbattles1]

I'm already there!! I am so fucking pissed!!!!

[@emmetarnett4903]

You just salvaged my entire effort to playing. I was almost ready to give up. I thought I just couldn't learn to play. My other strings would ring out all the time. It's night and day now! Thanks!

[@dons8764]

I'm pretty new to playing guitar and this was the biggest thing I encountered that really bothered me. It's just not enough to learn the notes to play for a given riff, solo, song, etc. You can play all the notes correctly and it will still sound like crap with distortion on if you aren't muting properly. That was a very frustrating thing to encounter as a beginner. When you watch videos online often times the player doesn't even mention all of the left and right hand muting they are doing to make the piece sound right. My guitar teacher does all of the muting without even thinking about it as it is just second nature to him so he often forgets to even mention it. I'm now going back and pretty much re-learning to play guitar with the proper muting happening with my left and right hand. I have gained even more respect for guitarists that can jump around on stage and still maintain these incredibly precise movements to mute the strings not being played. Playing guitar well is extremely hard to do!

[@MadsHilde]

I know your post is 2 years old. But these where my exact thoughts just yesterday. It’s like I have to relearn every riff/melody I can play. Never thought of muting strings, but was very aware my playing didn’t sound like the tutorials I was watching. Now I know why, jeez. But Justin Sandercoe says not to overthink it and don’t use too much time practicing it.

[@yebro4636]

Just had the exact same thoughts like you two. Almost every topic is covered by thousands of people on youtube but it seems that muting isn’t given the proper attention yet it is so essential to sound good. I try not to worry about it and learn it as i go but it‘s really frustrating and almost feels like going back to zero and learning everything all over again

[@johnnyb5984]

Facts !!!!

[@nobbiestyles]

A masterpiece of how the teaching has to be done.

[@dons8764]

This video is incredibly important for anyone relatively new to guitar. Carl just covered in a 9 minute video things that took me a year to learn and figure out on my own through trial and error in learning guitar. I'm still re-learning guitar to incorporate the proper left and right hand muting techniques to get things sounding good on guitar. Excellent video my friend!!

[@AitorMorgado]

As it's being said in the comments, this is very frustrating for beginners, so I find this lesson one of the most important ones for a guitarist, ever. This should be one of the things that needs to be taught first to avoid re-learning everything in the future. Thank you!

[@astronomy7911]

There is so much perfection that goes into playing guitar, I just feel like giving up or just maybe keep playing stuff like seven nation army.

[@Ana-ls8rh]

I hope you didn't give up. I felt like you about 6 months ago, but I kept going. Eventually, all the hard techniques become second nature to you and you can do them without even thinking. Practice makes perfect!!

[@konfusionxD]

I hate how literally none of the guitar teachers I've come across taught about the importance of muting. I've been practicing for years and always wondered why my playing sounded like crap. Now it feels like I have to start all over again.

[@subucnify]

Holy hell I've been playing for YEARS and have always wondered when soloing and bending, why I see players use that index finger almost above the other two fingers. This makes so much more sense now. My strings have been ringing out for so long and its frustrated me. Idk why im just looking into it now..

[@maloiik]

I had came across all of this on different places, but this one is the most concise and thorough of all string noise muting videos or articles i've seen. Rally helped. Good job.

[@vincevaughn3189]

Great lesson! I've been looking for the secret to clean note playing and solos for years. My guitar resonates sooo much noise when I play. THANK YOU

[@qwertyuiop46853]

The muting technique while bending you showed was very useful, thanks.

[@foesfly3047]

The best lesson I've ever seen on this subject. Thank you.

[@CarvinSucks]

@GuitarLessons365 Right on. A big thing that I found was to RELAX. I have not changed my muting techniques at all, but I find I play much cleaner when relaxed; being tense and paying attention to not sounding sloppy will probably make you sound sloppy. If you relax, have good muting technique and focus on the music you will be fine. Don't worry about it too much is my advise, but learn the techniques and keep them in the back of your head.

[@DaKevMAN100]

The most comprehensive muting lesson on clean playing. Well done

[@momgguitarcovers4035]

Excellent video. Very informative. Now the only quarrel is in how to mute strings during a bend that requires your first finger to be on the high E string.

[@GuitarLessons365]

Oh and I agree, using the right thumb for muting can give some great results as well..

[@xeno126]

Great lesson, thanks! But what still baffles me is how to mute the sting above the current string (usually muted with the tip of the index) in these two cases: 1. When doing a vibrato with the index. 2. When playing a repeating lick that requires the index to be at the second string, for example, while having the third finger going to the third string. So at one point the current string is the third but you can't use the palm not the index to mute the third string. Any help is appreciated :)

[@nefzimohamed5533]

My same problem ! :'(

[@mysterybotts]

Your right hand maybe? I know this is forever ago but I would assume using your right hand to get everything above. Usually it’s a combo of right and left hand muting.

[@ZIMAFICATION]

That's also something I'm wondering

[@jens-mikaelstjernberg1037]

Use fretting hands thumb

[@CarvinSucks]

You did this in a video before, but thanks again. I found using the right thumb helps a lot for bends and such.

[@andrewsquest628]

Extremely insightful, as usual ❤

[@alfonsperez1367]

Thank you Carl Brown !!!!!

[@pauldrew4338]

I’m just learning to solo and my teacher has suggested I work on muting techniques. This video is perfect. I’ll be referring to this a lot in summer break so hopefully I’ll be much better when lessons start again in September. Thank you sir!

[@alfonsoruiz571]

This is the best lesson ever. I've been doing it wrong all my life. Thank you very much, Carl.

[@skaleras_]

BEST lesson of your channel hahaha THANKS

[@MjIoLhLaEnR]

Thanks! It's a great help 'cuz this is really my main concern on my playing. Playing it clean!!!

[@GuitarLessons365]

@CarvinSucks Yeah I touched on it before but I had some requests asking me to do a more thorough lesson on the technique as it is used in single note soloing. :)

[@GuitarLessons365]

@stoob1969 Yeah but I recently changed them back after joining an 80's hard rock tribute band out here in Vegas. It was kind of essential in order to recreate the sound I needed for those types of songs. :(

[@tephrosisOfficial]

Best video around about muting, I couln't get my head around it!

[@sinahejratypoor8598]

Thanks Carl 👋

[@pold92]

thank you, great video! helped a lot

[@MarlonVanderLinde]

really awesome technique that worked for me. Thank you!

[@3YearsApart1613]

very clear lesson. nicely presented

[@Rynowhite14]

Thank you! I was just doing a recording session yesterday...trying to figure out a way to keep a string from ringing out.

[@IamBaghel]

While going from high string to low sting and playing pentatonic scale, lets say i want to play on b string using pinky finger, how to mute high e string there ? As i am going in reverse pentatonic scale. Please help

[@coche9009]

That's exactly what i've been looking for.. Thank you so so mucho for the tips

[@mjt11860]

FANTASTIC! THANX!!!!

[@mbahcali]

Very good indeed

[@elianmaier]

I've been searching an explanation like this for days.

[@sudinstevevai]

You are the best on this lesson!!!!!!!!!

[@musicfreakscorpio]

Carl... Excellent lesson...

[@alex.c.pulickal]

Thanks man !

[@ceyx9173]

amazing lesson carl ur awesome!

[@Djdavidnyan]

Super useful! Thanks!

[@nivinangus3637]

Thanks for the lesson .. Good one

[@gmummy]

Thanks for the tip - great lesson!

[@qwertyuiop46853]

Could you please do a lesson on muting on classical/flamenco guitar?

[@kontrast4361]

I know this is basic but all it takes is one explanation for your brain to explode, thank you

[@alwaysprepared]

Excellent information! Thanx!

[@awesomefunnyvideoslol1857]

Thank you now i already figured it out thanks men

[@AmDsus2Fmaj7Am]

you explain very well. thank you

[@kevinp_25]

Like inflames, the section on muting while bending is super beneficial!! So's the rest too, but that part isn't covered often enough.

[@catalystdrums123]

Well done. Thanks

[@momigot]

This help me so much thx

[@DUBSTEPx5PRO]

Thank you very much!!!!

[@riichan2895]

very useful 🤠👍

[@lokabrunn6867]

Very nice video

[@emmetarnett4903]

Thanks so much!!

[@Darkhandsome]

Thanks a trillion. Very helpful.

[@Bigman-zo2lv]

The hardest thing for Technique for me is that half the time in songs it’s just thrown out the window in some parts then comes back again ! Any advice would be appreciated

[@shahriarafridi]

Thank You ❤❤❤

[@edmondchan6024]

so helpful, all the 365 videos are great. don't get this by just playing from tabs...

[@richardbennett3126]

I have a question... If you're soloing high up the neck amd need to use the index finger to support a ring finger bend, thus meaning the index finger cannot come accross to mute the strings above the top óf the bend, what is the proper technique for muting the strings above ? I just touch the underneath of the string above with the ring finger and use the palm of the playing hand to help so I presume this is the optimum solution considering the index finger is out of action?

[@WanderingBottle]

Hello, first of all very good lesson, your lessons are really helpful to me. I understood everything but it's gonna take some time to get it into my fingers, I only have one question how do you mute to string underneath the string you are playing on in a configuration where you are going down (in pitch, for example a 4-3-2-1 chromatic pattern on all strings). Since the index is not held down I can't mute all the strings that are underneath the one i'm playing on with it. Thanks for everything !

[@mahtabs7365]

Should have learned this 20 years ago

[@zarifk]

Thank You

[@lluiss123]

That's just what i was looking for. Thanks a lot.

[@latouselatrec]

What did all of you think when you heard string noise when you were trying to solo. Especially on bends and prebends.

[@xCrystal03]

You are absolutely wonderful, you know that right?

[@wretneck]

oh, thank heavens!!!

[@trdi]

One of the best string muting lessons I've seen, but how does that apply when solo is mixed with open string notes? Suppose intro to Thunderstruck, what is muting 1st and 3rd string during open string upstrokes?

[@N3rdGamerProductions]

The problem I have with using your index finger to tuck under the string above is that then I start playing flat fingered when playing guitar. Then my fingers just start slipping off the stings because of how flat my finger is on the string, I’ve been taught since the beginning to use the tips of your finger and play with my fingers at a high angle, is this normal?

[@isaacmoss3728]

N3rdGamerProductions same dude

[@ferntheyoutuber9960]

Cool vid helped me a ton. Quick question, what scale were you soloing with at the beginning?

[@SneakyDSP]

FernTheKZbinr chromatic scale, basically every note on the keyboard haha. Good scale for shreds

[@e_xcalibur578]

Those harmonics made my neck muscles twitch

[@michaelangelo6661]

10/10

[@stefanvorster4410]

This is just what I needed

[@wanlilu1680]

4:54 that's a great point, but what if I want to play an open string? I wouldn't have a fretted finger to dampen the adjacent string. Curious on your solution to this, thanks!!

[@Vadim_D]

Damn, it's good...!

[@ceyx9173]

awesome lesson my hands r to small to do it tho

[@cccccc4623]

How do ybou aplply that spider technique on higher frets?

[@mrleepads303]

Thanks for this video tips.. new frnds hre

[@dangraphic]

Thank you for this.. VERY useful. \,,/

[@yobetperez]

Can you make a lesson involving how you get your tone on your pod hd 500?

[@chrisking6695]

What you're showing is very confusing. Why? Because I was taught to form an arch with my fingers and when I do that I can't mute the upper strings with my index unless I don't arch that finger as much.

[@mjt11860]

PLEASE HELP! i notice u seem to be sliding the forearm up & down on top of the guitar when ur moving the palm from the thicker strings to the thinner strings & back. how do u keep the forearm from sticking to the top of the guitar?

[@AMaskOfGreen]

At 7:38, I thought you were going to begin playing "Down" by 311.

[@starbattles1]

I have gone past frustration and entered in to extremely pissed off over this shit. My problem is strings 1 and 2. If I try to touch the 2 string with first finger while playing 1 string.... the 2 string is super small and so easy to catch and press. I can palm mute but it causes the #6 low E string to un-mute and start ringing out. I really like using the palm as the pivot point, but when I play #6 string my pivot point comes off the bridge on to the body, this transition fucks me all up!!!Especially when moving back on to the strings going to 5-4-3 strings. I can palm mute the adjacent string just fine. But these 2 areas are seriously pissing me off to an extreme.

[@alfonsoxconti]

how about when you're tapping like when you're doing that part in the solo of crazy train?

[@08020394]

Hi, this system is good but i think it does not work for all situations. Just as one example. Say you are playing: 7th fret (b string), 5th fret (high e string), 7 fret (high e string), 5th fret (high e string). and repeating this pattern as a lick. Any rhythm say 8 notes. Each time you hit the note on the b string, the g string is exposed. Using same logic whenever the fingering combination of a lick is such that the first finger is not coming in the picture, the method wont work.

[@SneakyDSP]

rain you use legato to mute and play strings... Dude you're talking about chords made from scales. When you pull out notes like that, I HOPE you have the knowledge to incorporate legato in there haha

[@movieandmusicfriki]

I wish to see some Jimmy Page technique lessons, as strumming, or soloing, licks, y'konw.

[@Qoooba95]

And what when you play low E string? How to position my hand - behind the bridge or above strings..???

[@skeevybastid689]

Alright so playing from low to high seems doable but how about if you play high notes to low?

[@sammendez3381]

My problem is my guitar makes a hammer on sound when I'm trying to fret note while doing like a simple lick

[@stevenrodriguez6900]

What if the first finger isn’t involved in one part? Do you use your other fingers to mute?

[@ckalas]

how to apply mixolydian to a standard dominant 12 bar! as soon as i play mixo i end up playing some weird 16th note lame jazz sounding stuff!

[@aliciascigliano4501]

GuitarLessons365 and if u have to pick the 5th open string how would u mute the 6th string?

[@SneakyDSP]

Alicia Scigliano using the palm and stopping the sound of your 5th open string with the finger on the 4th when u need to. Just a little bend of your wrist lol

[@michaelcraig9449]

What kind of pickups on the Strat?

[@hritik427]

@GuitarLessons365 : I have a doubt. When I bend a string up, so while coming down on the natural note again, my fretting hand is accidentally touching strings which it's not supposed to. Any advice for that?

[@roidrage11]

@GuitarLessons365 why would you disrespect yourself by joining a tribute band?

[@ericsbuds]

the video i want to see next is how to save up money so i can get a bad ass guitar and amp :)

[@jkoeberli]

noise gate FTW :)