i really didnt know what this type of thing is called, so i couldnt really search for it, so sorry if theres already something on it!

ok, so anyways, on to the question

i was looking through tabs, and i came across something like this

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---3---
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---2---
-------
-------

when i hear the song, it sounds kind of like a chord, but when i play it, i can never make it sound like anything other than 2 different notes, so my question is, how do you play something like this correctly? its probably a dumb question, but im fairly new to guitar , please dont flame me for my idiocy!

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Put your index finger on the 2nd position 3rd string. Put your ring finger on the 3rd position 5th string. Now with your index finger still in the 2nd position, mute that middle string(4th string) by laying your index finger over it muting it with the center part of the index. Then just strike all 3 strings and you want have to worry about the middle one ringing out. I attached a picture example of this.


Also you can pluck it with your thumb and index. Like grab the 3rd string with your thumb and the 5th string with the index and pluck.

Attached Images

me.jpg (48.0 KB, 91 views)

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cool thanks man! i wouldnt have ever thought of it haha

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Yeah man, pretty basic. Just be sure to mute the middle string as you would with an octave chord (You hear alot of those in punk like NOFX)

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Another way (I prefer this way) would be to finger the notes with your left hand like normal, but instead of muting the middle string and strumming the notes, pick the lower string with your pick and pluck the higher string with your right hand ring finger at the same time.

I've done that too. That's more of a classical and/or fingerstyle technique though.

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Yes you would have. I went through the same thing and one day I slapped myself on the forehead and wondered how I got to be that stupid.

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hmmm...well i dont use a pick so i'll try my thumb and index ..is it weird not to use a pick? i started out playing acoustic so i kind of got used to it..lol

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hate to say it man, but acoustic uses a pick too. You may be thinking of classical what you started out with.
With that in mind, you should use a pick if you're going to try out heavy metal, gets a better sound. And with THAT in mind, its much easier using a pick, there aren't any rest notes
Just mute the string with one of your fingers on either hand, it'll work

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Get into the habit of using a pick. You'll never be able to play super fast metal using only your fingers, and your sound will improve greatly with a pick.

alright i'll try to get used to a pick , ive tried but im just so used to actually feeling where the strings are!

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Just feel where the strings are with the pick; it'll get easier pretty quickly. Btw, it's not unusual to see a lot of soloists using their other fingers on their picking hand, whether it be for chords that don't require a certain string or if they just find it more convenient to use their middle finger for string skipping rather than bringing their pick all the way over the in-between string.

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