Hey, what's up

Basically, I'm new to the game. Been playing for a month or so, I played acoustic for a year or so, but I'm still new to electric. I'm teaching myself, too, so excuse me if I should have learned some of this stuff on day one.

Wasn't sure whether or not to post this here, as I'm sure the question has been answered countless times: I'm not sure whether I'm playing right. Every guitar that I hear these days doesn't seem to ring at all, mine does so when I play quickly the notes quickly overlap each other and it sounds like a big mess of shite. I'm wondering whether making my notes crisp, short and heavy was a technique thing, a hardware thing or if I needed any special pedals or anything.

Of course I'm not saying I want to jump straight into the game and play like the pros, it's just that even when I play a simple 0000 recurring it sounds like ass.

I'm currently using a ~$400 Yamaha job since I didn't want to fork out thousands for learning on. If any additional info is required then I'll happily oblige.

Cheers.

just wondering, do you have this problem since you started playing guitar on a electric??

if yes, you hafto learn to mute the strings your not playing, wich is a problem for every beginner, everyone has dealt with that, and with practic wyoul learn it, and after a while you automatically mute the notes and strings your not suppose to hear.

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Not sure whether I understand what you're saying. I've been having this problem since I started electric, I guess. What I don't understand is what you're saying about muting the strings I'm not playing, is this still necessary if I'm only playing one string?

The problem has nothing to do with your gear and everything with your technique. The palm of your picking hand should 'just happen' to mute all the other strings except for the ones your playing, and this can only be achieved through playing and practice. Of course the left hand plays a role in muting as well, for example if I do a fast gallop on the low E string 3rd fret, my left hand instinctively mutes the 5th and 4rth strings. You just have to stick through it... everyone knows from experience it's hard to 'sound good' as a beginner and it's something you just have to work towards.

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Alright, that clears that up then. Thanks a lot for your help guys, I'll stick with it.

Like others have said you need to mute strings not in use, wether it be the right or left hand depending on the situation. Other strings will ring out causing a distorted mess. Even when striking two string power chords, im usually picking 5 or all 6 strings wether it be down or upstroke, all being muted except the strings I want to ring, which is usually muted with the left hand. Example, if im picking a powerchord with the low E and A strings, I use my first and pinky finger to make the chord and the rest of my pinky mutes the other strings. A powerchord from the A and D strings, same thing but my second finger will mute the low E string, the pinky the rest. For single note string switches, normally its the palm of the right hand that mutes the string between notes or by lifting your finger up off the fretboard of the played note but not completly off the string thus muting it. Youll get it eventuallly, it takes time ya dig

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Here's a very important tip that nobody ever listens to, and knowing what I know now, I wish I had: practice everything slowly at first. Play it as slow as you need to until you can make it sound perfect, and then you can begin to play it faster and faster, but only as fast as you can keep it sounding perfect. It also helps tremendously to use a metronome (8th notes at 2 notes per click, for now.. or even quarter notes at 1 note per click if that's tough). ..And, oh yeah, don't forget to have fun.

Awesome. Thanks again for all the help. No problems having fun with it here either. Metal for life!

^^ Let me just clarify that if you use the metronome, then how many clicks or fractions of clicks you hold notes for will depend on the song you are trying to play. If you're doing something more rhythm-neutral like a scale run, then you can choose a rhythm like 1,2, or 4 notes per click, etc.