Palm muting: wrist or elbows?
- Thread starter Pierre
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zenmindbeginner
New member
Re: Palm muting: wrist or elbows?
I tend to use my delts, pecs, bicep, brachialis and forearm muscles along with my wrist.
Sure, "wrist only" picking employs the least amount of effort... but making the delicate and complicated wrist do all of the work every time you pick is just asking for wrist problems somewhere down the line.
I do "whole upper body picking" so that my individual muscles can all pitch in and help the wrist. I simply do NOT want wrist problems or carpal tunnel syndrome ever developing.
Plus, using all muscles from your wrist up to your pecs allows for a more natural sound for brootal muting.
You can see it here in this latest video I did. The little checkerboard guitar that the skeleton is playing on my shirt is dancing around because my pecs are engaged as I pick.
I tend to use my delts, pecs, bicep, brachialis and forearm muscles along with my wrist.
Sure, "wrist only" picking employs the least amount of effort... but making the delicate and complicated wrist do all of the work every time you pick is just asking for wrist problems somewhere down the line.
I do "whole upper body picking" so that my individual muscles can all pitch in and help the wrist. I simply do NOT want wrist problems or carpal tunnel syndrome ever developing.
Plus, using all muscles from your wrist up to your pecs allows for a more natural sound for brootal muting.
You can see it here in this latest video I did. The little checkerboard guitar that the skeleton is playing on my shirt is dancing around because my pecs are engaged as I pick.
CTN
The Drama Dude
Re: Palm muting: wrist or elbows?
I use a combination of wrist and fingers. Using only wrist is begging for carpal tunnel.
Using elbow/entire arm is a grotesque waste of energy imo and might result in cramped muscles.
But what's moost important I think is to minimize the effort and energy expended, don't choke down on the pick or hold it in a death grip. Relax, and slowly build up your speed until it's comfortable and no longer hurts.
I use a combination of wrist and fingers. Using only wrist is begging for carpal tunnel.
Using elbow/entire arm is a grotesque waste of energy imo and might result in cramped muscles.
But what's moost important I think is to minimize the effort and energy expended, don't choke down on the pick or hold it in a death grip. Relax, and slowly build up your speed until it's comfortable and no longer hurts.
everdrone
New member
Re: Palm muting: wrist or elbows?
+1 to the others comments. also, dont play sitting down. it is a very small movement; less movement is better, use a sharp pick, to me it is pronation/supination by a centimeter; any repetitive stress movement for long period of time can cause probs, so make sure to change things up every now and then...
look at your approach then. you know you are doing something wrong. you should not get pain quickly. maybe you are tensing up for "intense songs" and overcompensating for tone that is not as percussive?
ok, that is step one of admitting you have not looked into it. check out what others do, and smartphone videotape yourself as you might not know what you are doing without looking in a mirror and videotaping would let others make better comments on it.
+1 to the others comments. also, dont play sitting down. it is a very small movement; less movement is better, use a sharp pick, to me it is pronation/supination by a centimeter; any repetitive stress movement for long period of time can cause probs, so make sure to change things up every now and then...
look at your approach then. you know you are doing something wrong. you should not get pain quickly. maybe you are tensing up for "intense songs" and overcompensating for tone that is not as percussive?
ok, that is step one of admitting you have not looked into it. check out what others do, and smartphone videotape yourself as you might not know what you are doing without looking in a mirror and videotaping would let others make better comments on it.
Pierre
Stratologist
Re: Palm muting: wrist or elbows?
Oh I fully do admit it
I've never taken lessons and I'm not interested in it. I never played to be better or faster, just to noodle around and be happy doing so. I'll see if I can maybe tape me doing an Iced Earth song or something (I learnt to palm mute via Iced Earth tunes).
Barely anyone's ever heard me play mind so I doubt I'll post it, but I'll see if I can compare to other videos.
Oh I fully do admit it
I've never taken lessons and I'm not interested in it. I never played to be better or faster, just to noodle around and be happy doing so. I'll see if I can maybe tape me doing an Iced Earth song or something (I learnt to palm mute via Iced Earth tunes). Barely anyone's ever heard me play mind so I doubt I'll post it, but I'll see if I can compare to other videos.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Palm muting: wrist or elbows?
Wrist. Strumming from the elbow while palm muting would necessitate rubbing your palm back and forth on the saddles with every stroke, and also doesn't give you as much fine control. I am trying it right now, and going WTF? I can't really do it from the elbow. However, the pressure on the palm does come from my arm, while the wrist does the picking. Maybe you are trying to to control both the muting and the picking from the wrist, and your wrist is getting overwhelmed.
Wrist. Strumming from the elbow while palm muting would necessitate rubbing your palm back and forth on the saddles with every stroke, and also doesn't give you as much fine control. I am trying it right now, and going WTF? I can't really do it from the elbow. However, the pressure on the palm does come from my arm, while the wrist does the picking. Maybe you are trying to to control both the muting and the picking from the wrist, and your wrist is getting overwhelmed.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Palm muting: wrist or elbows?
Only use you wrist. I was trained to NEVER move my arm, and to not rest it on the guitar either. Classical teachers are very uptight about that, but it sure does pay off. My fretting hand will always get tired before my strumming/picking hand would, and that takes a while.
Only use you wrist. I was trained to NEVER move my arm, and to not rest it on the guitar either. Classical teachers are very uptight about that, but it sure does pay off. My fretting hand will always get tired before my strumming/picking hand would, and that takes a while.
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Palm muting: wrist or elbows?
Your right arm is supposed to touch the edge of the guitar in "classical" positioning. Holding it away from the guitar creates tension in the arm and takes away control from your wrist. You're not supposed to put your whole arm on the guitar, but your arm should definitely not be floating out in space.
Your right arm is supposed to touch the edge of the guitar in "classical" positioning. Holding it away from the guitar creates tension in the arm and takes away control from your wrist. You're not supposed to put your whole arm on the guitar, but your arm should definitely not be floating out in space.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: Palm muting: wrist or elbows?
Correct. My teacher(s) were just butt-hurt about it for some reason. I still do touch the edge body with my arm at times, but I don't use the guitar like an armrest :lol:.
Correct. My teacher(s) were just butt-hurt about it for some reason. I still do touch the edge body with my arm at times, but I don't use the guitar like an armrest :lol:.
El Dunco
Sock Supplier to RHCP
Re: Palm muting: wrist or elbows?
I use my wrist for precision palm muted tremolo picking. I always perform standing up and use the stubby picks (the insanely thick ones, generally meant for bass) with sharp tips. I find this gives me absolute control over the attack and pick flex isn't a factor. Even with the aforementioned techniques generally thought to be required to pick softer, I still manage to get the attack to be quite hard and loud. I haven't had any wrist issues so far.
Turn the pick very slightly sideways, just off parallel to the strings and practice this with a clean channel and even unplugged and get used to what your natural brute-mute really sounds like. This will also make you very, very precise as well as doing wonders for your tone. You'll actually start to really enjoy just how brutal you can sound starting literally at the pick to the string before distortions even come into it.
If there's crunchy muting in a slower more crushing song and speed isn't involved, then getting a bit of a wind-up by adding a bit of elbow (think of it as a flicking motion but with a full follow-through of the target strings) can add a lot of power and punch. Especially if you're like me and love clear, lower-output pickups running almost under-gained it's awesome for dynamics and lets your tone breathe.
It's like tee-ball. You want to go through the strings, not stop at them.
I use my wrist for precision palm muted tremolo picking. I always perform standing up and use the stubby picks (the insanely thick ones, generally meant for bass) with sharp tips. I find this gives me absolute control over the attack and pick flex isn't a factor. Even with the aforementioned techniques generally thought to be required to pick softer, I still manage to get the attack to be quite hard and loud. I haven't had any wrist issues so far.
Turn the pick very slightly sideways, just off parallel to the strings and practice this with a clean channel and even unplugged and get used to what your natural brute-mute really sounds like. This will also make you very, very precise as well as doing wonders for your tone. You'll actually start to really enjoy just how brutal you can sound starting literally at the pick to the string before distortions even come into it.
If there's crunchy muting in a slower more crushing song and speed isn't involved, then getting a bit of a wind-up by adding a bit of elbow (think of it as a flicking motion but with a full follow-through of the target strings) can add a lot of power and punch. Especially if you're like me and love clear, lower-output pickups running almost under-gained it's awesome for dynamics and lets your tone breathe.
It's like tee-ball. You want to go through the strings, not stop at them.
speed2dirt
Butterball
Re: Palm muting: wrist or elbows?
Both methods offer a different sound/attack. I primarily do wrist and fingers because it's smooth, consistent, and easily sustainable. The full arm hitting the string is much more aggressive, but also more fatiguing. I think both methods can/should be utilized depending on the feel you're going for. Try it out and see what works for tonally. Either way, less muscle and more technique will reduce your pain greatly. As others said, RELAX!
Both methods offer a different sound/attack. I primarily do wrist and fingers because it's smooth, consistent, and easily sustainable. The full arm hitting the string is much more aggressive, but also more fatiguing. I think both methods can/should be utilized depending on the feel you're going for. Try it out and see what works for tonally. Either way, less muscle and more technique will reduce your pain greatly. As others said, RELAX!
Powdered Toast Man
New member
Re: Palm muting: wrist or elbows?
If you want a real challenge try learning how to mute using your fretting hand like Chuck Berry style rhythm. That took a bit of time to get used to!
If you want a real challenge try learning how to mute using your fretting hand like Chuck Berry style rhythm. That took a bit of time to get used to!
Pierre
Stratologist
Re: Palm muting: wrist or elbows?
You mean like skanking? I practically started on Ska...
Good feedback y'all, thanks a lot
I feel less stupid and yes, I do try to relax all the time, I'll try harder.
It seems I'm also holding my pick wrong, I've never seen anyone hold it like I do: at the very end of my fingertips, which are all extended (including the thumb). I'll try other postures.
You mean like skanking? I practically started on Ska...
Good feedback y'all, thanks a lot
I feel less stupid and yes, I do try to relax all the time, I'll try harder. It seems I'm also holding my pick wrong, I've never seen anyone hold it like I do: at the very end of my fingertips, which are all extended (including the thumb). I'll try other postures.
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