Guitar mute? (Full Version)

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Munin -> Guitar mute? (May 17 2009 9:54:14)

Okay, this thread has two purposes...

First, as a general question. Basically, I will be going to England in 2 weeks for 17 days, staying in an apartment where loud guitar playing is not allowed. However I really can't afford to take such a long break from practicing with my already shaky and neglected technique. So I was wondering what to do.

From my violinist girlfriend I know that they've got little "mute" things that can be put onto the violin and, well, mute the sound volume...is there such a thing for guitars - in some shape or form?

Which leads me to my second question...in the case I can't find a good way to mute my guitar during my stay - and I know we've had this thread a couple of times now, but I'll just include it now as well - what about the actual thing called "Guitar Mute" that is for example sold at Flamenco World? Those little pieces of woods with strings attached that claim to help you with keeping your technique in check even if you don't have access to a guitar. Is it useful for that purpose?

If anyone has some other suggestions on what I could possibly do, that would be great as well...thanks!



Escribano -> RE: Guitar mute? (May 17 2009 10:01:58)

1. Stuff a sock under the bridge
2. The Guitar Mute is very good for rasguedo practise but mine broke apart in the heat of Andalucia.



at_leo_87 -> RE: Guitar mute? (May 17 2009 10:33:33)

how's this thing?
http://en.woodbrass.com/POCK+MUTE+FOR+CLASSICAL+GUITAR

you can easily make your own. but you need some higher density foam/rubber. too light and it wont mute enough.

this video was posted in another thread. check out how vicente sticks some rubber looking thing in front of the soundhole between the strings and fretboard.
http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2009/05/06/cultura/1241603982.html



mark indigo -> RE: Guitar mute? (May 17 2009 14:51:37)

i sometimes use bits of washing up sponge.... you know, the ones about 5 x 7.5 cm and about 2 cm deep, with a bit of harsh scourer on the top. i usually use old ones when the scourer has been worn off by washing up with them, and cut strips to fit under the strings near the bridge. they don't completely silence the guitar, but they do limit the volume quite a bit. useful for playing along with cd's and still being able to hear the cd! you could use a sock instead![:D]



Güiro -> RE: Guitar mute? (May 17 2009 17:47:35)

Just use a piece of foam. This works real well. It mutes the guitar enough so the neighbors won't complain and you can still here what you are playing. I use this all the time once it gets late.



Güiro -> RE: Guitar mute? (May 17 2009 17:51:52)

here is a photo. When is was living in Sevilla most guitarists I knew also used foam as a mute since the walls don't have a lot of insulation and the neighbors would complain if you didn't mute the guitar.



Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px



HemeolaMan -> RE: Guitar mute? (May 17 2009 21:25:24)

i would seriously recommend not having a mute.

muted strings cause you to overplay them because you dont get acoustic feedback for the guitar to tell you what your technique is doing.

i used to use one. got some technique issues i had to fix afterwards and a lot of tendonitis.

see also, Glenn Kurtz' Practicing same thing happened to him



mark indigo -> RE: Guitar mute? (May 18 2009 5:23:24)

if you do the exact same thing with your hands when the foam is under the strings as you do when the foam isn't under the strings, you won't get tendonitis. if you do get tendonitis, you aren't doing the same things, you are, as HemeolaMan says, "overplaying". Don't overplay![:D]

it's not muted strings that "cause" you to overplay, it's you wanting to sound as loud with the mute in as without it in, and then playing harder to compensate for the foam under the strings. The idea is to be quiet, so don't try to sound as loud with foam under the strings as you do without foam under the strings![:D]



Piwin -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jun. 25 2020 10:03:40)

Quick question: any advantage to foam or sponge over just rolling up some toilet paper? Does it mute any better? Or are you all using foam just because TP has become a valuable commodity?

Also, if we took all the sponges out of the sea, would the water level rise?



gerundino63 -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jun. 25 2020 11:56:52)

Foam is easier to put on. Sound wise no different.

The sea level will get less, but not so much after you squeeze the sponge dry. Also, if you do not use the toilet paper on your guitar, it will end one way or the other in the sea, and that will compensate the sponge you took out the sea.

Happy playing!
You made a post from 2009 live again!



JasonM -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jun. 25 2020 16:02:41)

Has to be an endangered sea sponge from the Great Barrier Reef



rombsix -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jun. 25 2020 16:30:46)

quote:

Has to be an endangered sea sponge from the Great Barrier Reef


[:D] That makes your picado 10 x faster.



gerundino63 -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jun. 25 2020 17:05:38)

Ah! heard of that.....So there must be some thruth in it.



Piwin -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jun. 26 2020 6:20:03)

Haha. OK, thanks. I'll stick with toilet paper for now. [:)]



Auda -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jun. 28 2020 12:55:46)

quote:

I'll stick with toilet paper for now.


Try a sock since it can be rolled up a bit to dampen the strings even more should you like. I use one as well though I do find the difference in string tension can take some getting used to when I take it off. I like high tension.

Cheers



Ricardo -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jun. 30 2020 18:37:02)

I keep a polishing cloth in the case for each guitar I own. For wipe downs after heavy use or to drape over the side when playing outside in summer with short sleeves. I store guitars with this covering the sound hole to keep that new smell of the wood trapped in the Cypress (best smell) or rosewood box.

Turns out, the polishing cloth works the same way as a mute if you push it under the strings. Not as good as foam but it works.



rombsix -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jul. 1 2020 17:01:36)

quote:

(best smell)


I love that smell. [:D]



Richard Jernigan -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jul. 1 2020 21:53:05)

The 63-year old Ramirez blanca still has a distinctive aroma, though not exactly like a new cypress guitar.

It has lived in a case all the time it wasn't being played. For the last 35 years or so the cases have been Mark Leaf and Karura. Both are sealed with gaskets, the Mark Leaf is more airtight--but it weighs a ton.

RNJ



Ricardo -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jul. 2 2020 0:15:20)

quote:

the Mark Leaf is more airtight--but it weighs a ton.


My dad spray painted his silver to reflect sunlight. Airports where always concerned as it looked like top secret weaponry.



Piwin -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jul. 2 2020 6:39:41)

quote:

Try a sock


You know what's funny. All the time I struggle with single socks... And here the one time when I want a single sock to recycle it into a guitar mute, of course there are none to be found...



jalalkun -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jul. 2 2020 12:24:25)

bro...jong un looking like a snack in your profil picture [:D][:D]



Auda -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jul. 2 2020 19:38:58)

quote:

You know what's funny. All the time I struggle with single socks... And here the one time when I want a single sock to recycle it into a guitar mute, of course there are none to be found...


Those things happen to me all the time too.

Bon chance.



rombsix -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jul. 3 2020 18:50:45)




Auda -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jul. 3 2020 20:48:18)

It is my belief no sock should be left behind.



devilhand -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jul. 3 2020 21:01:27)

Maestro himself. Is it foam or sponge?




Richard Jernigan -> RE: Guitar mute? (Jul. 4 2020 0:27:54)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricardo

quote:

the Mark Leaf is more airtight--but it weighs a ton.


My dad spray painted his silver to reflect sunlight. Airports where always concerned as it looked like top secret weaponry.


Mine has a few-hundred-thousand airline miles on it. It has a big red stain on it. I have no idea where it came from, but when somebody asks I say, "It's from the last guy who tried to steal it." It stays in the closet these days, except when the guitar in it gets played. Karuras and Visesnuts are a lot lighter.

The Mark Leaf + Ramirez only went walkabout once. Flight was from Taiwan to Guam, via Saipan. Guitar got unloaded at Saipan. Took less than a day to get it to Guam.

Checking in with American Airlines in Austin headed for Marshall Islands, the ticket agent said, "Good case. I'm buying my boyfriend one for his mandolin for his birthday."

"Why do you say, 'Good case'?"

"I worked in baggage for ten years. Never saw an instrument damaged in one."

RNJ



devilhand -> RE: Guitar mute? (Mar. 18 2021 17:06:48)

quote:

ORIGINAL: devilhand

Maestro himself. Is it foam or sponge?



In the comment section of this youtube video Luciano Ghosn pointed out Paco's left hand ring finger at 0:54. Any idea why Paco's keeping his ring finger on the fingerboard?



RobF -> RE: Guitar mute? (Mar. 18 2021 17:23:55)

quote:

at 0:54. Any idea why Paco's keeping his ring finger on the fingerboard?


*edit* dang, I read it wrong and thought you were talking about planting on the top with his right hand. Joke isn’t nearly as funny as I hoped. Matter of fact, I’m going to remove it because it’s just stoopid [:(]



Ricardo -> RE: Guitar mute? (Mar. 18 2021 17:47:41)

quote:

Any idea why Paco's keeping his ring finger on the fingerboard?


As I stated many times, in E Phrygian key (vs mode) the scale we run is thought of as over an F chord or in place of it. That Is the Lydian sound, designed in context as a dominant-like tension we eventually resolve to E tonic. We do this thing legato in solea all the time where the F rings out under as we descend down the scale. Holding that note to create the sound presents a challenge of doing the run with pinky index and middle only. Paco is simply doing it as picado exercise instead of legato.



Scott -> RE: Guitar mute? (Mar. 18 2021 18:25:52)

Here is a another example of Paco holding the ring finger, and using that note, during picado on the higher strings. @ 0:12



Tab if interested PdL Picado Falseta



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