I have a sort of probnlem. I have trouble playing high speed at palm mutes and i was wondering if it was my technique.

My hand isn't very big so i mute the guitar with my pinky and then pick at 60-45 degree angle. If this is wrong can someone tell me otherwise. If it's right can someone give me some low-end speed builders.

I play an Ibanez RG 3
and dunlop .66m

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Well I think you're suppose to use the side of your palm to mute strings when PM. I think you just have to practice more to get more speed. BTW when trem/alternate picking try to use wrist motion instead of the whole arm.

Whell actually Thorns i do play from my wrist but A. it is very uncomfortable to bend my wrist at a 45 degree angle to get a good angle with my Pick:string. You can get carpal tunnel syndrome. My hand isn't big enough for my palm to cover the strings and play.

PS I used to play from my elbow, and i got royally screwed when i stood up so basically that year of practice was worth nothing.

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Higher speeds will probably require palm muting with the palm of your hand. Which would be the most effective way for any palm muting, for that matter (hence the name). Your picking fingers will fuck up any attempt at using another finger to mute, simply because of the motion. With your pinky, you're definitely going to screw up here and there. The thing is, your hand doesn't have to be big enough to cover all the strings when PMing, it only has to be big enough to cover the strings you're playing (whether it's lower strings or higher strings, you can shift your hand slightly upward or downward). So unless you're trying to palm mute full open chords, anyone can use their palm to palm mute. I know you wanted a different answer, but trust me, with a little practice you can definitely reap the benefits of normal PMing.

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Thx
I was just worried because in order to do that (PM correctly) i have to cauk my hand at like a 70 degree angle doesn't that give you carpal tunnel syndrome. Have you guys ever got it?

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my advice: bass.

Actually no, but to be honest I don't really understand the angle problem. Personally, I just play along as usual when palm muting, with the only difference that my hand is closer to the strings...
To further expand this honesty though, it took me almost a month from that first highly awkward jam session before I could actually play good with PM.

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There's no need to worry about carpel tunnel syndrome with palm muting. And if you want to take extra precaution, for one thing you can stratch your wrist around before you play. Some guitarists stretch their hands and fingers out so that they won't get cramped (though some never get cramped anyway so it doesn't always matter). Also, make sure that whatever positition you're holding your hand in isn't uncomfortable. With the side of your palm resting at or near the bridge, it shouldn't hurt at all to pick. Also, if you stand while playing, adjusting your strap might help release any tension on your wrist. Just try to find a comfortable positition with it all. And as long as you're not in any pain, you shouldn't have to worry about any future deformities. At least not guitar-related.

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Im probably not the best of PalmMuters? but I feel adequete with the way I do it. With my Rg370 , I place the bottom side of my hand across the strings , between the floyd and the bridge pickup. It looks like the bottom of your hand is lined across the strings. Its pretty hard for me to pick up but , downwise its a piece of piss for me. Just try it out , see if it works.

Thx

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it depends on how low you play your guitar...

If you play at a comfortable height, and Im not talking down to your knees, then you should be able to mute the top string at or near the first crease line below the pinkie...its the crease line that goes from the far left side of your right hand, if your right-handed, 1/2 inch below the pinkie, all the way to the right side of my middle finger...im not sure if all hands are the same...lol...but you should know what one im talking about!


keep the top string near that crease when palm muting and practice down picking!! It's all in the wrist my friend! A Lot of people use their arm when picking, but i think its just out of laziness!!! Down Pick!!!!!!


If You cant down pick at the speed you are wishing to pick at, dont worry about it, just keep practicing at slower speeds and before long you will work your way up to the speed you desire!


\m/

Alternate Picking.

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alternate picking is easier, but you dont get the same "chunk" as you do when down picking...down pick and you will get all the balls you need!!!


\m/

ok...play some morbid angel, decapitation, necrophagist, and all others and we will say who has the fuckin balls

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ok, let me rephrase...lol...


if you want to play Music...lol...then practice your down picking...you won't be sorry when you start getting faster at it...



\m/

Your kinda right, especially with PMing chords. But when it comes to fast PMed picking, i'd love to see someone downpicking the riffs in some of the songs done by the bands Hippy listed

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yeah...i hear ya there...some things are just impossible when down picking...but don't let that intimidate you...whats easy for some is very difficult for others! There are limits, but limits for some are different from the limits of others! Challenge yourself, break the mold!

Yeou are so wright oabout the whole "chunkiness" thing. You guys have been great

Can you give me an excersise or a nasty song made out fof Pwnage so that i can eat it (gimme a good one)

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well how old are u? i used to have that problem, but thats when i was 13

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YJ you guessed correctly

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practice makes perfect.