Are mutes at the nut cheating?

[beaubrummels]

I've noticed a number of jazz/fusion/shred players using things to mute open strings at the nut or first couple frets. Usually it's when they are tapping and they are not using the open strings. My assumption is this is to avoid stray open notes and keep the playing clean, and also to not have a wrong note punch through because tapping is rather quiet and snapping an open string would be piercing if their levels are up to hear the tapping.

Do you think this is 'cheating'? Shouldn't the player be able to play without striking stray notes? (Not saying I could do any better, just asking ...in your opinion is this a cheat?).

Sure, mutes have been on guitars for more than 50 years, but those were to accommodate changing the sustain, not covering up technique issues. The first instrument I learned on, banjo, also had a mute, but that was to be able to practice quietly (because banjos are freaking loud).

I'm on the fence: it could be just the tool of the trade for a tap-shredder, or it could be viewed as a cheat to get to YouTube impresario accolades quicker without doing additional work to fix technique. What say you?

 

[ICTGoober]

Is using a pick cheating instead of using fingernails?

 

[Top-L]

I guess its a bit like a noise gate.

I think its understood they have a good enough technique to play it clean, but during recording or live, anything you can do to make the performance better is fair game.

There may be people who use it as a crutch and never learned how to mute the other strings, which is one of the primary skills playing distorted guitar.

 

[Seashore]

I don't think there really is "cheating" as long as you're playing what you want to be playing. I can imagine handling noise being a problem sometimes even if your muting technique is good. My Floyd-equipped Schecter is particularly prone to that. I use open strings a lot and I don't do enough tapping to make a mute worthwhile, but if it made sense for what I was playing I would try one.

 

[Demanic]

I don't think that it's cheating. I mean. if it helps you get the sound that you're looking for, fine.
But I would think that it could restrict range. If you learn how to mute as part of your technique, then you can also choose when to let a note ring out.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

I always thought they looked dumb/dorky..if an unwanted note rings out so be it. Keep it real. If it bothers your OCD ass learn to mute better...

 

[NegativeEase]

I tap and two hand a lot through loud amplifiers and havent needed this -although I strategically mute other strings using the sides of my tapping fingers to control the open strings.

Maybe I'll try it and see what its like

 

[Mincer]

Chapman Stick players have built in string mutes. I think for regular 6 string guitarists who have no use for open strings, it is fair game, too.

 

[Lucius Paisley]

Mutes, tremolos, picks, capos, cables, etc. It's ALL cheating.

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

There are lots of tricks to employ while trying to minimize extraneous string noises.

I don't think anything is cheating if you're working towards your desired outcome, especially when you use a lot of gain .

I use a gate... I've stuffed foam here and there on certain guitars, especially when recording.

I don't think I'd use those Michael Angelo Batio string clamps.
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Just my thoughts.

 

[Securb]

Mutes are not cheating. An electric drill that is a different conversation

.

 

[GuitarDoc]

If you start learning guitar using a mute then you're limiting your progression and I suppose you could call it cheating...trying to overcome your personal deficiency of never learning to play well.

But if you have learned to play well and you are using a mute occasionally as an aid, it's no more cheating that using a wireless system instead of a cable, or an amplifier with an acoustic guitar, or as was stated earlier, a pick or tremolo.

I just use about a 9" long piece of the wife's pantyhose and tie it around the neck at the first fret. I only use it on a couple of songs. When it's not needed I just slide it up over the nut onto the headstock.

Now a capo...yeah that's cheating.

 

[Securb]

Now a capo...yeah that's cheating.

I am very anti-capo. I own one that was given to me but I never use it. Like any tool, it can be abused. When I see it being used above the 7th fret or so to simulate mandolin-type of stuff I get it but it is still not me. When I see it being used closer to the nut I think to myself "Learn the freaking chords" and see it as a crutch.

 

[Blille]

I use one every now and then. I generally feel stupid for not using it earlier. You should practice without one IMHO so you develop good muting technique but if then you can use one to perform, why not? Because the three wannabe guitar players in the first row at your gig are going to criticize you? Who cares?


Here is Herb Ellis using his fancy mute design (similar to the one of Jennifer Batten) in 1979

https://youtu.be/ZIxyd1nmlb4?si=6c2GfIZ_YKM7bcCA

 

[Blille]

I am very anti-capo. I own one that was given to me but I never use it. Like any tool, it can be abused. When I see it being used above the 7th fret or so to simulate mandolin-type of stuff I get it but it is still not me. When I see it being used closer to the nut I think to myself "Learn the freaking chords" and see it as a crutch.

I am with you on this. In Churches it’s super normal to have the Worship Leader with one and folks can forget to remove them, they can define the guitar etc so it’s pretty annoying. I did see one with a half capo and that was very cool, it was like doing an alternative tuning. Similar to what you say about the mandolin vibe.

 

[beaubrummels]

I use one every now and then. I generally feel stupid for not using it earlier. You should practice without one IMHO so you develop good muting technique but if then you can use one to perform, why not? Because the three wannabe guitar players in the first row at your gig are going to criticize you? Who cares?


Here is Herb Ellis using his fancy mute design (similar to the one of Jennifer Batten) in 1979

https://youtu.be/ZIxyd1nmlb4?si=6c2GfIZ_YKM7bcCA

I had seen those before, the built in kind, but it was only on old guitars in old vids, but always with good players and not always in use. So it made me wonder, why do you need it. Obviously they can play without it, and sometimes they do, so what are the reasons that cause them to decide to use it?

 

[Blille]

I had seen those before, the built in kind, but it was only on old guitars in old vids, but always with good players and not always in use. So it made me wonder, why do you need it. Obviously they can play without it, and sometimes they do, so what are the reasons that cause them to decide to use it?

I think George van Epps designed it to avoid overtones and feedback of the open strings self oscillating.

Here’s more info http://scottymoore.net/dampers.html

 

[beaubrummels]

Ah, so it's feedback was the problem. That makes far more sense, particularly for tapping where you kind of need the volume up and some compression to even out the attack, open strings would be a problem if you couldn't spare some fingers to dampen the strings.

FWIW Matteo Mancuso moves his around between the nut and 1st, 2nd and 3rd frets. Not sure why, seems like just at the nut would be enough to stop feedback.