muffling strings with a sponge

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rafapak

Posts: 271
Joined: Aug. 9 2015

muffling strings with a sponge

i saw videos where people mffle strings by putting some sponge under the strings at bridge area. are there any rules for doing this ? is sponge proper material ? im interested in the whole idea because i share house with other people and i have to play as quiet as possible in order not to make other people angry

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2023 16:09:08

Ricardo

Posts: 14854
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: muffling strings with a sponge (in reply to rafapak)

quote:

ORIGINAL: rafapak

i saw videos where people mffle strings by putting some sponge under the strings at bridge area. are there any rules for doing this ? is sponge proper material ? im interested in the whole idea because i share house with other people and i have to play as quiet as possible in order not to make other people angry

Only rule is that it doesn’t interfere with the right hand attack. I use the polishing cloth.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2023 17:02:05

rafapak

Posts: 271
Joined: Aug. 9 2015

RE: muffling strings with a sponge (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

Only rule is that it doesn’t interfere with the right hand attack. I use the polishing cloth

you mean the one people use for drying plates etc after wasching them ?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2023 17:17:13

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: muffling strings with a sponge (in reply to rafapak)

quote:

i saw videos where people mffle strings by putting some sponge under the strings at bridge area. are there any rules for doing this ? is sponge proper material ? im interested in the whole idea because i share house with other people and i have to play as quiet as possible in order not to make other people angry

i use old washing up sponge, cut into strips about 10mm wide with scissors. Seems to work best with an old used sponge that was about to get thrown away. You can experiment with thickness to according to the action on your guitar, and you can get a lot of strips out of one sponge.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2023 17:19:48

devilhand

Posts: 1610
Joined: Oct. 15 2019

RE: muffling strings with a sponge (in reply to rafapak)

Check this out. Maestro himself.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2023 17:26:12

orsonw

Posts: 1942
Joined: Jul. 4 2009
From: London

RE: muffling strings with a sponge (in reply to mark indigo)

I use a mute for technique practice as it highlights rhythm and attack inaccuracies.
Sponge works fine. But I splashed out a few dollars for one of these. Works great. I use it very often. Had it 2 years, still works fine.

https://www.stringsbymail.com/rosette-flamenco-mute-practice-tool-15281.html

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2023 18:22:49

rafapak

Posts: 271
Joined: Aug. 9 2015

RE: muffling strings with a sponge (in reply to devilhand)

quote:

Check this out. Maestro himself.

looks like he has delicate sponge, you can hear sounds well

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 16 2023 18:32:57

Stu

Posts: 2549
Joined: Jan. 30 2007
From: London (the South of it), England

RE: muffling strings with a sponge (in reply to rafapak)

I've just started doing this after many years of playing.
Dunno why I only thought of it this last month. I have 2 children who I don't wanna wake!
I'm enjoying it. And like Orson says. It seems to show up certain things.

I like the notion of people getting angry when hearing a musical instrument! 😄

Reminds me. I met up with harry in London recently. Henry from the foro.

He was in London for a martial Arts course and we met up for breakfast and catch up. I brought my guitar along and just as we finished eating I cracked it open and he had a little play. Few snippets of solea and solea por bulerias.

Suddenly a rather pissed off looking waiter appeared and said in a rude exasperated manner. 'Please guys, it's a bit loud!' And stomped off
We were on the veranda by a busy road with road workers drilling and cars passing with maybe 2 other customers in the place!

I think Harry looked up shocked and said..'philistines!' 😂

Should've had some sponge to mute the strings!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 17 2023 12:43:07