Can't eliminate extra noise

Robert Delahunt

Robert Delahunt

Showmasterologist
I'm having a problem where I can't seem to reduce the background noise of my playing. I'm trying to play something fast and I can't seem to get the higher strings that are not being played to stop ringing in sympathy (not because I'm accidentally touching them). Here's the lick:

4/4 tempo=70 this is one measure (four beats) and the notes are "sub-triplet", i.e. six in one beat.

-----------12-14-16----------14-16-17----------16-17-19----------16-17-19-21-
--12-14-16----------14-16-17----------16-17-19----------16-17-19-------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------


I can play it on tempo, and it sounds fairly legato. I'm not hitting other strings. Muting with the first finger isn't going to happen (due to needing it to play the notes). I'm trying to get my thumb as parallel to the strings as possible but I only succeed in muting the string higher than the one I'm playing. I'm trying to put more of my right hand's palm on the higher strings, etc, trying to mute them, but so far I still can't get enough mute on the other strings. Anyone got any advice? I've read Tom Hess - Stop Unwanted Guitar String Noise several times and I still can't seem to fully put my thumb that far down. As I try harder to do so, I can hear my thumb rubbing the higher strings (higher geographically, mind you, not higher in pitch).

EDIT: side note, can someone change my gloss to "Showmasterologist"?
 
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Re: Can't eliminate extra noise

OK, first, this is through a BOSS BR-80 and a cheap set of USB speakers. Second, when I play it unplugged, I don't hear nearly this much extra string sympathy noise on the higher (geographically) strings. Third, I've noticed that my thumb tends to arch against the strings, so some may never get muted. I'm currently trying to relax the thumb down (even though it's relaxed, I say "relax it down" because I'm not trying to force it down). Here's a birds-eye-view video....MAH04939.JPG http://www.puresimplicity.net/~delahunt/MAH04939.MP4 (Caution: around 9.4 MB file size)
 
Re: Can't eliminate extra noise

Robert,

If you ever want to know how to increase unwanted noise while playing ask me. I excel at some things.

Sincerely,
Laz
 
Re: Can't eliminate extra noise

A hair scrunchie - Used to damp open strings by some of the shred guys - And its stylish too!
 
Re: Can't eliminate extra noise

Sumthin' like dis:
huzjak-20111010-Ginger_Baker__Jonas_Hellborg_Group-170-photoSasaHuzjak_b.jpg
 
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