Lately I’ve had a lot of questions regarding muting out unwanted strings on your guitar when doing bends or playing single notes.

I actually made this video to include it in the Blues Guitar Unleashed course, but it wouldn’t fit on the DVDs and I found it not too long ago. It’s been reformatted to work here.

Downloads:


    195 replies to "Muting Unwanted Strings"

    • Marcel List

      If you cant turn over you must go under.

    • Llewellyn

      Hi Griff,
      Thank you very much for this technic..i’ve always had other Strings ringing out when playing solos, its sounds worse while using a Overdrive/Distortion…this lesson will surely help me a lot…i’m going to practice it right away….
      Thanks again Very Good as usual…..
      Llewellyn

    • Sandra Mahony

      Thanks griff, another great lesson, and one that I need to practice more.thanks so much.

    • chuck elkins

      Yes, I get this. I do this, but now with such a conscience. I always wondered about the thought of lead technique verses the letting the lead finger playing laying on the strings below the played strings to not be played and to be muted makes it a snap to think of it in that way. The concept defines the difference. Both techniques really are essential! More blues playing conscientiousness…LOL…thanks again Griff…FYI, I’m in music theory at college, and you’r courses have actually helped me get what they do not give because they expect you to already be knowledgeable; in other words, I go to college to get a degree, not to learn. If that makes any sense. I sometimes end up teaching the class with input. It can be pretty comical sometimes, but it’s definitely fun. One day I will be a blues master….

    • Bruce

      Yes , important to know as an electric guitar is so much noisier than an acoustic , if you start ,and get used to an acoustic ,and then switch over.

      • Rob

        Glad you posted this. I’ve seen this video before but repetition is part of learning and I for one need to be reminded every once and a while. Thanks.

    • Chief Rick

      Thanks for the video, Griff. This is a particularly thorny issue that I’ve been working on lately. You always seem to anticipate my needs.

    • Gary L.

      Thanks! Great lessen!

    • Rod

      Excellent, Griff. Some more effective practice coming up for me.

    • Mars

      Thank you much again

    • Paul Warner

      To me this is a critical issue in playing guitar and from my point of view it always needs work, at least for myself. To me, and I am a perfectionist, it is embarrasing to play and occasionally make a sound you didn’t want and is created by improper technique, or being lacksadaisical in playing, so it is continually on my mind. Second thing I regard as importantly is time and being able to easily count it to sheet music. Good lesson on this video and
      much appreciated.

    • MarkB

      Hi Griff,

      Have most of your stuff. What is that little lick you play at the start of the muting clip? One hears it so often in intros, but I cant quite get it.

    • Raymee

      Thanks BRO! That was very helpful.

    • skip

      Thanks Griff, This is one of my biggest issues.

    • Michael

      Thanks Teach ! A great approach to cleaning up my sound, and yes !
      practice-practice-practice

    • Clint

      Thanks Griff the video helps a lot, I do have a question? How hard do you supposed to hold down the strings? I find myself really pushing down pretty hard at times and me being a beginner it makes my fingers soar. I find myself watching how easy it looks for musicians when they play, and it looks like they are barely holding the strings in including yourself. Is it just because of me being an amateur?

      • enda

        yes, it just takes a little time for everyone

    • EDGAR MARILAO

      Great lesson, Griff…Thank you…

    • Bob W

      Thanks for this lesson, it’s something I’ve been concerned about for a long time. I know that even great guitarists have this issue (you can hear it all over Jimmy Page’s stuff), but learning how to use both hands to accomplish the same thing is a great concept.

    • Bob

      This was a very good lesson!!! Now I can do more of what I have been playing and do it better. Thanks.

    • Ben

      Great lesson that delivers the criteria for students to begin to answer their own questions about technique. The best kind of teaching there is! Quality stuff! Thanks.

    • Bill45

      Hey Griff, I just figured out that lick at the beginning!! I could not have even approached learning it before BGU. You’re teaching us the foundation and I was just able to use it to decipher that lick.

      Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

    • Bill45

      Griff, glad you mentioned you played classical guitar. I play classical and finger picking on a 6 and 12 string steel sting guitars where the emphasis is to let everything ring especially in open tunings.

      When I first started through BGU, I would listen to the CD’s through headphones and play on my electric guitar unplugged (in the interest of domestic tranquility). Then after I was getting decent at the first Am Solo, I decided to play the CD through my PA system and plug in to my amp using a little “crunch” when my wife was out of the house. What a mess! I couldn’t hear the solo for all of the other noise!! I started trying to mute stuff and it improved, but this video on muting gives me a better framework to work on it.

      Thank you for your insights and you willingness to teach the subject.

      PS, someone mentioned the solo at the beginning of the video. I responded to his comment and reiterate here, that solo is awesome and would really appreciate it tab form or even a short video on how to p;ay it!

    • Glenn47

      Does this muting technique work with an acoustic guitar or is is just for an electric?

      • tony

        yes it works the same

        • Vin

          I agree. But with electric it is especially important because of the extra sensitivity of the pickups to sense vibration, along with other electric variables like feedback, effects, etc. After playing only acoustic for years I found it a difficult shift to electric. Backing off on the pressure on the strings, as well as, all the muting skills Griff mentions.

    • faster

      As soon as i had received my copy of BGU alittle over a couple of months ago,my blues playing has gotten tight i now get compliments on my playing.i have learned so much ,with just 30 min´s a day of practicing with BGU.THANKS GRIFF.

    • faster

      BTW,I RECOMMEND BGU TOO ALL WHO WANTS TO BE A BETTER BLUES PLAYER.GRIFF IS THE REAL DEAL,HE´S NOT AFTER UR MONEY YES ITS NOT FREE BUT HE HAS WAY TO MUCH TO OFFER YOU. HE MAKE LEARNING FUN AND EASY,IMO HE IS ONE OF THE BEST BLUES PLAYER AND TEACHER.SO GO GRAP UR BGU.U WON’T REGRET IT.

    • faster

      Griff thanks for all ur hard work.i caint imagine how hard it must be putting all these lessons together.u rock,and and inspiration to me.

    • Alan

      Just started BGU, you make the lessons so easy to follow and this particular lesson is no exception. Daily practice is now something I look forward to and my 20 minute “fix” usually stretches way beyond!
      Terrific.

    • Pete

      Griff,

      I’m just up to lesson 6, and was having a ton of trouble with the ringing low e string with the torn down blues.
      Keeping it muted with my palm wasn’t working for me because I was wearing my guitar too high.
      I had set my strap so the guitar let my right hand rest between the bridge and the string Block…(Gibson SG)
      After lowering it about 3 inches, my hand now rests just in front of the bridge. Way easier to mute those pesky low strings:
      and the guitar feels more comfortable too!!!!!

      Thanks for the tips.

    • Anthony

      Nice Griff,

      so many new starters out there need to see this its the difference between good playing and getting frustrated and giving up completely.

    • Bruce Sankey

      Yes you are right Griff , l remember my first time playing an electric Guitar with amplification , l was shocked at all the extra sounds l heard , just moving naturally . Since l had learned on ,and mostly played acoustics at the time , when suddenly hearing every nuance , n sqeak, l was spooked , n backed off . So yes as you say ,in time playing with an amp u soon learn almost before you realize you are muting subconsiencly without much thought.

    • Keef

      Griff….right on brother.

    • Mike Lauretti

      I’ve been playing guitar off and on for 55 yrs.( Don’t let that influence you ). Just wanted to let you know I had a few teachers in my day, but your by far the best! Enjoy your lessons that you put out, even though I hardly pick it up anymore. Do you , or are putting out a CD?
      Keep up the good work.

      Fellow Guitarist,
      Mike

    • Ron

      Great information and a reminder. I stopped playing guitar for about 5 years and just started back up again. I noticed that when I plugged in, I was getting a lot more noise than I wanted. This lesson combined with I should always practice plugged in to hear how I really sound (missed notes, hum etc) is a great reminder of how to practice for me.

      Thanks!
      -Ron

    • rex perceval

      AWESOME !
      Amazing how clear you make things!
      When you want to come to Australia, bring your lovely wife and your family and hey, we have beds for you.
      You are more than welcome, Down Under!
      C’mon down !
      Slip under the radar, take a break!
      Rex
      Ps and the lady of my life. Maureen.

    • Jesse

      Awesome technique..I’ve been using it forever..but sometimes being messy fits in.it kind of fills in the holes…

    • Jerry

      Great Lesson!

    • B -

      All around the 2:22 mark when you (do not) show the heel of your hand. What part of the heel do you use to mute? The heel near the thumb side, or near the little finger side?

      • Jim

        Littl finger side

    • Tony

      Great videos griff, the best around for us amatuers professionals. Please consider some videos on amps, I have a Peavy Vyper 75 which I find confusing to set up for diff. styles. There are no real instructions it is hit or miss unless you already know how to set the controls for diff. styles and sounds. For us very unexperienced it would be a great lift.
      Thanks.

    • John P Caines

      Hi Griff ,Thank you for another video/lesson .You are always a great inspiration to me.Thank again. J.P.C.

    • kevin

      Hello griff
      Very interested in your conceps of playing guitar simple and to point
      I have 96 blues likes and rock quitar method dvd
      Don’t if should keep doing this or get your product
      Bing praticing for two years at age 55,finding hard to grasp
      I love scales and trying to fuse the sounds together
      learning!
      “kevin” from canada

    • Mike

      How’s the best way to mute strings if u use a thumb pick

    • Bill Sheehy

      another one … so many good things coming from you on top of the lessons I’m working on. So many it makes me wonder if you’ve got a life outside of teaching people like me… not that I’m worrying about you and expect or want a change. Nope, keep on keeping on!

    • colin bearman

      great stuff griff fantastic just like your course and backing tracks

    • steve d

      That is some fat tones you get from your strat style ax. Sweet! Good tips!

    • Akmonstet

      I took a few guitar lessons a long time ago. The teacher really emphasized the arcing of the fingers, and always having the thumb perpendicular to the back of the guitar neck. And NEVER hitching the thumb over the top string. I got serious soreness from this, very slow progress, and frustration. Griff…thanks for all your help. There is more than one way to get a good result. You are great at showing many possible paths for achieving whatever one wants in guitar playing.

    • Thom Keener

      Hi Griff,! I purchased Soloing Without Scales, also Blues Guitar Unleashed several weeks ago because I want to develope new perspective (a new psyche) about my playing abilities.

      I have tons of negative self-imposed limitations & self-consciousness. So while I am stoked about who I can become playing the guitar, in the same breath my ego goes into undertow.

      You see students and you know yourself how we talk ourselves into a confused and demoralized heap of confusion at times. How do we stop and keep it upbeat and end on a good note? What is the best way to overcome self-consciousness playing the guitar?

    • Jt

      Thanx Griff !

    • online backup

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    • Mark N

      Hey Griff, Thanks for the Great Tip! I have a new amp and w/OD I’ve noticed the extra string sounds where my old small practice amp did not have it! I’ve been practicing to mute the other strings this past week and your tip helped me a lot! Being disabled and with close neighbors, I can’t play to loud most of the time so now I use my headphones a lot. It’s little tricks like yours that make learning so much fun. Having a problem and solving it really feels good 🙂
      Thanks again, Mark

    • Lloyd

      Your emails are always the last ones I open, so I don’t have any distractions nagging at me. Great stuff, again.

    • Jeff Kear

      Another diamond from the coal face. Now, the pick needs taming! Thanks Griff.

    • Jeff

      Hey Griff, I’m like a lot of folks I’m sure, that when checking my emails, yours is always the first one I open. It’s makes you feel like you’re getting a gift in the mail. I have purchased your BGU course, and these emails help to keep me motivated. Keep ’em coming. Thanks!

    • Ed Barthel

      Thanks Griff… always the first email i open when you send one along… always good stuff…

    • Thomas

      good stuff an a reminder.
      Thanks

    • gypsy gerling

      thanks griff. it really is almost more about what you DON’T play,than what you do. i’ve been kind of seeing that in my attempts to learn slide in standard tuning.

    • Roy

      thanks for the lesson griff it addressed an issue i`ve been having much appreciated

    • Mike

      Very nice!

    • M. Rock

      I want to thank you for your unselfishness!!! I am not looking for a hand out, I am a disabled medically retired vet. with brain damage! You have been inspiration and adding in my therapy!!!!
      THANK YOU, I just Can’t tell you how much good you’ve done for me!!!!

    • leon

      thanks for the lesson .

    • Joe

      Hi Griff
      good stuff .thanks.
      dont know if this gets through,keep wiping it off the screen.
      friend gave me a cd which has a tune ( give me one reason ) guess 30s or 40s era
      very bear bones slow tempo strumming and a simple drawl. it bearly got out of first gear
      Slower than your recent blues in c ,love em both
      with a stunning harmonica at the end .
      T Chapmans version distant 2nd
      thanks……. Joe

    • Jack Aschenbach

      Griff,

      First off I just wanted to say how enjoyable it is to watch and listen to you teach. Your true passion is very visable and I certainly can connect with it. It’s funny you have this video up because I’ve been learning to play acoustic guitar (getting pretty good thanks to you and others) and I decided to venture into electric (learn the blues and some rock). To make a long story short, I’m on my third electric guitar. I first had the American Standard Fender. I couldn’t get it to sound right, so I took it back. Then I bought Gibson, same story (store was scratching their heads) and then I bought a great open body Ibanz which sounds a lot better because of something you said in one of your other lessons from the package I bought amount muting unwanted strings and you certainly have solidified the need to mute not just for effect, but to create the right note or sound. Lesson learned! Thanks again for your professionalism!

      Jack

    • Rocky

      Really useful video. I was doing exactly as yui said Griff, forcing my left hand fingers upright and only palm muting if the low strings got really out of hand. An ounce of prevention at the start I suppose works better.

      Cheers

    • Charles

      Great video I think it might help my picking. Especially the part were you let fingers and palm mute unwanted strings.

    • Alan McCarthy

      Really interesting, thanks Griff

    • bill

      good to know……….thanks

    • Mike K

      Excellent stuff Griff – never thought about this approach – makes perfect sense !!
      Thanks !!

    • Chris Moore

      Very informative Griff, thanks alot !!!

    • JJ Schmitz

      Thanks Griff!! The short story is: “As a long time strummer and a short term soloist, I never realizied that I was allowed to touch the strings with my right hand”. I only touched the strings with the pick and anchored my right hand with my pinkie. I’m so very happy that you pointed this out to me as I never tried laying my hands on the strings. My picking speed improved 100%, and the pick control improved the same amount. Nuff Said.

    • Gary Haley

      Thanks for allowing me to particpate in your teachings. It seems alot of times, your tips, such as this muting unwanted or needless sounds so that one can deliver the ” heart of the matter” notes and melody, could also apply to life lessons as well as correct delivery of music with the box. “Who the heck are you people?”. It’s sure helping me get thru some troubling times.
      GH

    • Anthony

      Hi Griff, it is interesting to note that we still have persons like you who can give out this video materials of yours for free. your lessons have been so great. May the good Lord continue to bless you. The truth remains that you are adding value to your generation and you will never go unrewarded. Once more thank you and God bless you.

    • Phil

      What effects pedal are you using?

    • dina

      what do you think of the new vox amp headphones

    • Duffy

      OMG , Thanks Griff, this kind of stuff keeps happening, BGU has taken me to new playing levels every time I open an email or pop in a dvd, you have the gift to teach and the tips and tricks just keep jumping out at me! I have been playing for 45yrs and it just keeps getting better, I made the best purchase, BGU. Duffy

    • erdogan

      thank you very much very useful, lesson thanks again.

    • sam

      Good info,Griff-man! Thanx again!

    • Steve

      Awesome tip, bud. Thanks for continually providing useful tips, licks and techniques. Please keep on keepin’ on. On a side note, Boscoe France can’t even carry your guitar case. Know what I’m sayin?

    • John

      Thanks again Griff, really useful indormation – you are a top teacher!

    • diddly do

      Cracked it again Griff.! Like many others this has been an issue for me
      Thanks for the clear explanation

    • James Smith

      Sounds like something that might be of value to many

    • juan benavidez

      thanks Griff ,seems you always know what we need,been having a bit of a problem with muting as of late. Going to practice this the way you show in the video.

    • Frank Luiz

      Wondered about muting and how to…makes a lot of sense how you do it. Thank you and will practice your methods. Great lesson Griff.

    • Audrey

      Great lesson. I’ve heard muting is something that has to be mastered but, no one explains how with any detail. Thank you for taking the time to demonstrate. I’ll have to watch this video more than once.

    • Dee

      FINALLY!!! This was my biggest stumbling block and the one issue I couldn’t find addressed. Now all of the licks and scales I have dutifully practiced might have a prayer of sounding good. Many thanks!

    • Colin

      Excellent tutorial as for all us newbies, unwanted string sounds is an issue.
      Any chance of you tabbing the10 second lick you use at the beginning of this tutorial?

      • Bill45

        Yes! Please write out that lick in tab. In fact, you could make an entire video on how to play that lick!!

    • John Jones

      I’d pretty much worked out the muting methods you demonstrated for myself, but it’s good to have my methods confirmed as being correct. Thanks for that.

      This is the first time that I’ve seen anyone actually explain how to mute unwanted strings, so kudos to you for realising that it needs to be explained.

      Your lessons, with all the clips, etc., are proving really useful. Many thanks.

      Just one small point; in the clip, while you’re demonstrating which part of the palm to use for muting, neither of your hands is visible, which makes the demonstration slightly less than useful. No biggie, but I thought I’d mention it. 😉

    • Mike Allen

      Griff,

      I am so pleased to have found Blues Unleashed, since I have been in search of something like this for 8 years…when I started playing. More important, your continual follow-up helpful tips and hints, like muting, are the “icing on the cake”. I know I meed to improve, and you seem to bring in a new answer to the question before I really ask it of myself. Appreciate ‘ya!!

    • Gerard

      Grif: I was one of your students that asked about muting. This is a great help. But, do you think you can demonstrate the muting techniques used while strumming…they seem different that what you uses when picking.

      Thanks

    • Jeedward

      I’ve been playing 40 years and I still haven’t mastered muting. I appreciate the lesson. Buying guitar unleashed and Griff’s e-mails and lessons have renewed my interest and hope for more proficiency. So glad I found guitar unleashed.

    • Jean-Pierre

      Thanks again Griff – this is another great encouraging tip from you. I will practice ASAP as of course it will greatly enhance the quality of my playing. Jean-Pierre

    • erdoganessat897@gmail.com

      thank,griff,interesting lesson will work on it thanks again erdogan.

    • Richella

      Thanks, Griff!! You hit the nail .. dead on – as this is a very crucial topic and instructs upon one of my biggest frustrations. So, thanks a bunch – SHALL TRY. Other than that… my hands are kinda small, and, it always seems hard or impossible to incorporate these methods or technique’s, without them, putting my hand off & in an uncomfortable position, that leaves the striking of the notes successfully, basically impossible. : But, there’s Nothing worse than ( hands going numb) grrrrr! (which Totally Sucks!) … Hey! By the way… Sheesh! .,.-*’*-~~ Ran across some of your video’s on YouTube…your ForHire One’s .. and, Woo Hoo! Kick Ass!! I’d a never thought you could sing like that! (no offense).. But, Damn! You Rock The Blues! Guitar Wise AND VOCAL Wise.. Definately! Cool, man! LoL! You Sound Awesome! Rock On!
      –just to clarify the never thought aspect…. well, it’s like when we’d watch American Bandstand and see the singer of a popular song_ and, they never looked anything like what u thought! LoL! well, similar but just the opposite — after watching your lessons, and seeing you talk and, in conversation.. who’d a ever connected you to singing blues? : ) Cheers!

    • Rob

      Thanks Griff really appreciate all your hard work and good advise,especially all the fantastic videos.

    • Brian Ridgley

      Hi Griff.

      Very good short lesson.Often thought about this so this will be a great help.

      Many thanks.

      Brian.

    • Rob

      Great tip Griff. I appreciate all your videos. This one was exceptionally useful for me. I’ll try to incorporate it daily.

    • jim

      thanks griff I always end up learning something new and great from your videos. keep up the great work. jim

    • Dave

      Griff you have hit on one of my problems, when trying to get a certain tone and using overdrive and very good sustain I’m finding that at least my low E string starts vibrating in sympathy and maybe one or 2 others, and of course unwanted, great tip and I’ll be trying your suggestion, thanks.

      Dave.

    • Rob Malone

      Giff,

      Your email lessons have really helped me. I’m actually starting to lean to play this 6 string… Wow I’m getting excited about music…

    • Alvin

      Word Griff: Seeems simple enough, think lean think clean!

    • bambam

      true professional, all the way……..
      wam bam

    • Bill Powell

      Good information……. as usual. I really appreciate these tips. I take private lessons elsewhere but your emailed instructions really help me improve at a much more rapid pace. Thanks, Bill

    • diesel

      I have been looking for something like this Griff. Thank you so much. I’m so frustrated just trying to get my bend cleans! Awesome!

    • Leon Mattinson

      Thanks for the info but I have all your emails. Thanks for your time,,,.

    • Randie Blunt

      Good advice Griff but how about when you are bending a string or note. Sometimes when I bend, I get other strings involved yet it is too close to palm mute other strings without muting the string I’m bending.

    • Ron Garris

      Good stuff…Don’t think I’d have worked this out so quickly, golden nuggets.

      Ron

    • john p caines

      Hi Griff. Another great tip as always thanks…..J.P.C.

    • david griffith

      what a great lesson ….. I’ll try it out

    • eamon

      Griff, I have been playing most of my life,but i go back over fundamental stuff fairly often and so I check out your posts.Often there will be a little gem in there i had not seen before,or just a way of thinking about it,in this one i really like your idea of getting out of the way of the notes you want and blocking every thing else. Thanks again, Eamon

    • RON

      GRIFF: I have a situation.I have large hands and of course fingers as well. how do I work with this situation.

      RON,THANK YOU

    • L:arry Collins

      Thanks for the great tips.

      Thanks for the great tips. They help to overcome the common mistakes that we all make. I would highly recommend to everyone that if you haven’t purchased the course to do so to increase your playing ability of blues guitar. Pure enjoyment will soon follow.

    • L:arry Collins

      Thanks for all of these tips which add to my playing ability and shorten the common mistakes that we all make. I recommend to everyone if you haven’t purchased the course do so and increase your playing ability of blues. Pure enjoyment will soon follow soon.

    • StringBitch

      such a useful pieice; valuable tuition!!!!!! excellent!!!!!!!!

    • michael bird

      hey im lovin the bles guitar unleashed coarse its very challenging but not so hard i cant do it thanx griff ur an outstanding teacher. oh and i just changed my major to music, i want to be a master of my insturment like you if u can please give me some feedback on how u got ur degree send me an email on what classes u had to take and all that..

    • Richie

      Excelent advice. Been fustrated with un-wanted noise. This helps alot.
      Thanks!

    • Marie

      Thanks, Griff! This is an interesting lesson. Will work on it. Thank you for being so generous with your lessons. You inspire me!!

    • James Haggard

      Awesome Griff!

      I can’t begin to tell you how frustrating this has been for me. I am an ultra beginner and have gotten into the habit of flexing my wrist to attack the strings and keeping my arm and elbow relatively fixed. Watching you move your hand vertically across the strings while flexing your elbow really gave me an Ah-Ha moment (not to be confused with the 80s band). I paused the video and grabbed my guitar and gave the Am blues scale a try and saw instant results. Not only are my strings quieter but by moving my hand across the strings in a straight line I automatically gained accuracy. I will now be practicing a lot more and enjoying it because of the success of this simple tip.

      Thanks BluesManGriff,

      James

    • Paul

      I come from classical guitar and approached playing the electric guitar the same way. Watching youtube vids I realized that both hands need to kill unwanted noise. One thing I can’t get to handle is to mute other strings when bending up, cos I always wind up with my third finger pulling the next upper string. Thanks.

    • Carl Rapp

      You just explained the “KISS” principle. “Keep it Simple Stupid” Many times the simplelist things go over our heads. A forest for the trees thing. You pointed out a method or practice that makes so much sense, a lot of guitarists make playing harder than what it has to be. And nobody needs to make things harder. Thanks for pointing out a major point, though simple, is many times over looked.

    • Mark Curtice

      Very cool concept and I am constantly battling unwanted buzz and noise from other strings. Am really enjoying the Blues DVD’s and lessons so far. The “Jazzy Blues” lesson is turning out to be a quantum leap for me and adding a lots of new shapes to my chord stash. It might end up taking me about a year to make it sound good but liking the process….thanks.

    • Lindsay

      Another great lesson Griff!
      Thanks

    • Steve Abruzzo

      WOW, what a great video that is. Definitely something to work on and it’s a big help. I have that problem and wondered what to do……or worse thought I was really messing up. Of course, after viewing the video, it’s a DUH moment for sure. lol

      I’m just back from 3 week of vacation, so haven’t had any practice time but I am thrilled that I have your DVD system of instruction. EXCELLENT stuff.

    • DerekN

      Thanks Griff. As someone who’s finding muting particularly difficult, this lesson should be really valuable

    • Rob

      Thanks Griff,makes good sense.

    • Luther Redd

      Good advice Griff, thank’s for shareing the muting unwanted strings. Thank’s

    • Robert

      Great point that I had not been paying too much attention to.
      Thanks….Rob

    • Tom

      I never worried about the muteing the lower strings but the upper thanks

    • stanley

      hi griff.thanks for these tips,everything helps.

    • Larry

      Griff, thanks, this is what I can pratice right away and I did wondered how one note at a time can be heard only when you play and now I know. Griff, your to the point as usual and then you stop.

      One thing I want to say to all who are new to Guitars. Get a electic guitar because Its so much easier on ones hands, because the strings are much closer to the Frets. Unless you buy a guitar that cost big bucks which I find most new comers don’t buy for their first Guitar. And when you do pick up the guitar in a store check how much space there is between the string of guitar and the Frets.
      I learn the hard way and my guitar teacher did not tell me about this very important issue of buying a guitar.

    • B-F-S

      A really useful video lesson. Thanks, Griff. Extra stuff much appreciated.

    • Randy

      Thats an awesome video. The tips here will help a lot. See, this is why I am not taking private lessons…they are all right here!

    • Alvaro

      Thank you Griff, i think i better start getting used to play things this way, i have fond out that your way is always the best way LOL. Thank you for the advise and keep your presents coming, they are always welcome LOL.
      Cheers,

      Alvaro.

    • AL

      THANKS FOR THE VIDEO. QUESTION WHAT KIND OF AMP ARE YOU USING IN BACKGROUND WITH YOUR FENDER? TUBE TYPE OR OTHER.
      WHAT BRAND AMP?

      THANKS AL

    • Dean

      You’ve done it again Griff. I get to playing my scales or picking a solo, and I get those “other sounds”, and I’m wondering why I can’t play as clean as you do. After watching this video, and some practicing your technics, I think I might get the clean sound I’ve been looking for.

    • John Affleck

      Hey Griff,
      Just Awesome friend, I only recently took up guitar again after playing drums for years and since i have been receiving Your lessons, my playing and more importantly, my technique and Understanding of What i am doing is improving with practice. I am about to purchase a new electric/acoustic steel-string, i was pondering on whether to go electric or steel string acoustic and after reading some of the postings on your website, I have too agree an electric is easier to play, but for technique and muscle memory, i am going with my choice. I am currently playing a beautiful old Classical (Its a bitch with a slight bend in the neck, but its got a great sound) its hard to play what you show in your videos without a lot of practice. And when i play on a steel string or electric its much easier.
      Thanks heaps. keep it up man and happy 25th for B.G.U!!!!!!!
      Rock on.

    • LARRY LIVINGSTON

      As ususal you bring the right thing at the right time. This is most useful. Tank U 2 Many.

    • Thomas

      Great vid Griff. I’ve been wathching some of your other vids and the one thing that i couldn’t quite figure out was how to mute the other strings when i did bends. This answers my question. Much appreciated.

    • richard

      hello griff, this a great vid i have always wondered how people have played without playing the other strings now i know thanks. p.s. as quick as i get the money i am going to order 1 of ur courses but i dont know which 1 could u help me decide?

    • Lea Zaffino

      I don’t usually comment but I gotta say regards for the post on this one : D.

    • Badderger

      Good s–t Grif. Play the good s–t and get rid of the Bull s–t…!

    • Sanman

      um…after nearly thirty five years of consuming the latest available technique for mastering music, in this case, mostly through guitar, your muting video is the first media of any kind I have ever seen/studied. Thank you. When I got the green, gonna get your method 🙂

    • Don

      I got so used to playing with my guitar unplugged, I never learned to mute the unplayed strings. Makes for a “muddy” sound. Thanks for the tip!

    • ron wood

      hello Griff ,You really do have the ability to help us to think outside the box, if you will. video demonstrates that there is a solution to things that at first seem hard , but there is usually away to make hard things easier .you teach that in all your demonstrations ,Many thanks Ron

    • Brad Hemmah

      Hi Griff, I bought your Blues Unleased package in Jan after deciding to learn it right and pick up a giutar again, 35 years after garage band stuff. Your DVDs and CDs hooked me and 7 months later and I still hate to miss even one night of practice.
      Do you ever play at the Sturgis Rally?
      Brad, Deadwood, SD

      If any of you are ready to put your mind into music and pull your music out of your mind, buy Griff’s package. Help support this great blues instuct0r!

    • Brad Hemmah

      Hi Griff, I bought your Blues Unleased package in Jan after deciding to learn it right and pick up a giutar again, 35 years after garage band stuff. Your DVDs and CDs hooked me and 7 months later and I still hate to miss even one night of practice.
      Do you ever play at the Sturgis Rally?
      Brad, Deadwood, SD

      If any of you are ready to put your mind into music and pull your music out of your mind, buy Griff’s package. Help support this great blues instuct0r!

    • rob duchesne

      hey griff how do i get the blues lick i believe it was 8 10 8 fret i lost all the free lessons my computer crashed we lost everything i like what you teach i’ve learned a lot from you

    • Fumble Fingers

      I have been doing the muting of unplayed strings for so long it is a natural part of my playing. Like you say, it becomes a habit fairly quickly and for years, I’ve just done it. Your video on the subject is excellent and it will help those who are now just learning about how to play clean. I also came from a classical guitar background and was taught how to mute unwanted notes early in the process of playing. Many players today seem to be unaware that their playing is “muddy.” The very useful technique you explain in your video will “clean” that up quickly.

    • Mike

      There’s a fairly well known blues guitarist… Stevie Ray Vaughn (or something like that) who made a pretty good career using these string muting techniques! Student of yours, Griff? lol Thanks for the great lessons. Really loving the Blues Guitar Unleashed series I ordered!

    • Mike

      There’s a fairly well known blues guitarist… Stevie Ray Vaughn (or something like that) who made a pretty good career using these string muting techniques! Student of yours, Griff? lol Thanks for the great lessons. Really loving the Blues Guitar Unleashed series I ordered!

    • Steve Duenas

      Kudos Griffin. I thought I was the only one doing that palm thing. When I first picked up the guitar I followed the style of the legendery Chuck Berry. Little did I know that I was muting in a way that you were explaining.

    • garrett

      Thanks Griff for all your information. I am a drummer/vocalist, but play rythm guitar. I love the blues and much other music. I am attempting to bring my playing to the stage as I do with drumming. I gig regularily and have for 20 years, but playing the guitar helps find my vocal. Since that stuff is starting to happen. I like basics, such as early 50 -60 and 70 licks. simple but sound good. Your style is graceful and you explain well. I will continue to communicate. I intend to purchase the video, but not at this time. Cheers – Garrett

    • BarcelonaGuitar

      Griff!

      Your talent for teaching MUSIC! is a joy to Behold!

    • tommy

      great lesson yet again ! thanx

    • Al Gibson

      Hi Griff, Great tips on unwanted noise while fretting notes or bending strings,Im going to show my 12 year old son this video as it would help him as he is at that stage we all go through where were learning to bend notes and making unwanted noise etc,Great stuff and Cheers mate.Al

    • JOAO

      JOAO april 30, 2010 AT 900PM

      YOUR GUITAR LESSONS R GREAT . I’M UNJOYING IT.

      THANKS GRIFF

    • JOAO

      JOAO april 30, 2010 AT 900PM

      YOUR GUITAR LESSONS R GREAT . I’M UNJOYING IT.

      THANKS GRIFF

    • Gary A

      Thanks Griff

    • Daniel Rhodes

      Great Stuff Griff!

      Thanks for the tip. While practicing today I was getting frustrated because of two things; (1) I’m hitting strings I don’t want to hit and (2) my fretting is a pain in the butt (fingers are muting the open strings of the chord)!

      Today’s tip will help me with the picking and muting the strings I don’t want to ring out…but man, if you have a tip about the fretting issue I sure could use it! 🙂

      I’m really enjoying your BBG course. I’ve gotten to where I can play the Sittin’ Easy Blues along with you reasonably well. And I’m moving along with the next set of licks.

      Thanks,

      Daniel

    • Andy McDavid

      Thanks Griff, you are the man.
      I appreciate your patient and humble teaching style. Like some others who’ve responded, I’m an “old guy” who has found a new passion playing the blues.
      It’s great how a simple musical genre can cover generations and still be so satisfying. Have a great weekend.
      Andy (Portland, Oregon)

    • EIEIO

      Griff,
      Great lesson. I call this method my “sloppy playing”. Slap the hands down and play.
      Thanks for the “Throw away”.
      I’ve been playing for 36 years, 20 of those in our living room band (we outgrew the garage) and every time I open one of your emails, I learn something. If you are going to throw anything else away, I sure wanta see it.
      Thank you, thank you

    • Tom Graves

      More muting! More muting! This is a great lesson that a lot of guitarists overlook and a way to clean up my sloppy leadwork.
      Right-hand muting can offer a broad dynamic range of possibilities. Think of what a harmonica or horn player can do with a mute. There’s all those in-between variances in volume that can add so much color. It’s fun to do a “partial-mute” over all strings while chording or playing folk-blues leads. It offers a laid-back rhythm while someone leads and you want to limit sustain and get a more staccato sound. Varying the partial mute can be like what drummers do when they play the hi-hat “dirty,” slightly open but with some sizzle just before you close it. Augment the beat with your muting and it becomes the offbeat set by the silence, or the middle silent beat of a slow shuffle triplet. Endless possibilities! Thanks, Griff!
      TG (Bellfower, California)

    • Rob Green

      Hi Griff, I suppose I,m not the only one to have this problem ( muting strings when you dont want them muted ). When your trying to play a ninth ( The one on the dvd ( lessson 3 /9th subsitutions) I find it hard not to mute the G string with the tip of my ring finger or the bottom of my middle finger . Especially if its a fast change , so you get a ninth chord with a note missing . Any magic ways around this ??.

      Rob ( Adelaide , South Australia )

    • Rob Green

      Hi Griff,

    • Tom M

      Griff:
      Just got your email, the course hasn’t got here yet but we have a lot of winter left here in Michigan so I will have a lot of time to work on it. I’m 61 and been at the guitar of and on since I was 12. I’m afraid I’m stuck in the sixties and most of that music was based on the Blues. I hope this will take me where I want to go.
      Thanks
      Tom

    • JD

      Hey there Griff,

      I’ve struggled a bit with muting like most guitar players, but this has helped me a lot eliminate the noise I hear, especially as you say when the gain is turned up. Thanks for the tips.

    • Frank

      Exactly what I needed! Now I know how to eliminate all those overtones and clinky sounds as I play and bend. You are an exceptional teacher! And with 35 years of observing teachers, I know how to spot one. Your course and these videos are excellent. Thank you.

    • Troy

      You’re an awesome instructor. You really the how and why of guitar playing. I appraciate all the free sample lessons. You have inspired to be a better player. I started late with gutiar playing and I need all the help that I can get. Thanks so much and God bless you.

    • ROBERT

      KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK GRIFF THOUGH I AM A LOT OLDER THAN YOU AND TEACH ALSO YOU ARE A GOOD ROLE
      MODEL FOR ME I REALLY ENJOY YOUR LETTER’S AND LESSON SAMPLE’S THE LESSON I HAVE BOUGHT FROM YOU ARE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND HAVE HELPED ME LOOK AT SOME THING’S IN A DIFFERENT WAY

    • Alonso

      Hi Griff

      Thank You for the lessons you are a good teacher
      you got me back on the blues again you’ a good
      inspiration.

    • Laura C

      Thanks for taking time with me to learn to put together the things you have taught me,before I came across your program, I almost put my music down because of my injuries and learning style.Again much thanks for your inspiration for me to keep going.Thanks for helping me not to give up.

    • Kip

      Griff, just a word to let you know how very much I have enjoyed your site and the great lessons. I suffered a stroke in 1986 and lost the use of my left hand in the process. Not good for an old “Rocker” for about 15 years I refused to even touch a guitar because of the inability to hold my left hand as it needed to be to play chords. 2 years ago I bought a rather cheap electric and vowed “I WILL PLAY AGAIN!” its been a long 2 years but I am now playing several blues songs. 🙂

      Kip Tyler2

    • Leon

      sounds cool, I have been doing it for many years now, it is a must for me lol, love all your videos Griff. thanks Leon.

    • Rob

      Hi Griff,

      Love the video. My wife has been asking about other strings vibrating when she plays a note. Now I can show her the video. Can you share what your amp/pedal set up is in the video? I really like the sound?

      Thanks

      Rob

    • Jukebox Jimmy

      Hey Griff….
      Makes a lot of SENSE….now I just have to put this into practice. You really have taught me alot, and always get me motivated to push my learning! I’m not a very good guitarist (YET!), but have SO much fun playing – hey, that’s the important part right??? I love my guitar (s), and love playing, learning and gettin’ better!! Thanks Griff…I have learned alot from you!
      Jim

    • caroline

      thank you griff for all your great lessons& to be able to understand the way you explain things,thankyou so very much
      caroline

    • Tom P.

      Griff,

      OUTSTANDING!! As always!! Have been trying to master this technique for some time now. It finally started becoming much more natural in the doing when I relentlessly (and that’s just me) pursued perfecting a style and very personal favorite of mine, which is in this case the “Tom Johnston Shuffle” of the Doobie Bros. (i.e.: Long Train Running, Listen to the Music, etc.) where “muted raking” was a key ingredient in that amazing ‘shuffle’ he used. My point here is that, in my working diligently to perfect this ‘Johnston’ magic I liked so very much I, without realizing it consciously, began using it a great deal more and it became “much easier” in other areas as you’re referring to in the video. May not work for everybody but, I found that if you find a song you really like of this type or similar [doesn’t have to be the ‘shuffle’ of course], the whole string muting process begins to become more natural everywhere in your playing without consciously giving it a great deal of thought. It tends to become second nature by relaxing and just having fun with it as we do when ‘noodling’… and, by golly, it just happens.
      Thank you so much for the added advice contained on this video… “definitely” good to know and helps a bunch in refining overall sound. Your teaching methods are outstanding and simply the best!! I’m very glad I went with BGU.

    • Ken

      Hey Griff,
      Just bought your Blues Guitar Unleashed and can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed it. I am learning so much and it’s so much fun! Can you answer emails if I have specific questions on things? Keep up the good work.
      Ken

    • Jesse

      Griff, thanks for all your help. as an old bluesman who played keyboards with most of the old blues guitarists until I was injured. I’m now trying to learn to play guitar on a 355 that the chicago blues community bought me using your tips. Buddy Guy was amazed at what I’ve learned from you. God bless you

    • Ron

      very helpfull lesson

    • Graham 4/7/09

      Hi Griff that is really good stuff thanks for that tip Graham

    • Roger

      Griff

      Thanks for the information. Every little bit helps

    • Lou

      Thanks Griff- Love your ability to to get the material down to our level. As you know the devil is always in the details. My whole tone bends (up) will catch the string above when bending with my 3rd finger while the 2nd is helping to provide more strength. Do you think the mute of the one string above should come from the base of thumb (right hand) or the 1st finger on the left hand which is going along for a ride with the bend but slightly above the string being bent? I find it hard to thumb mute on the string directly above a big bend.

      Can you briefly tab the lick at the 20 second tick in the “Muting the Unwanted Strings” video?
      Thx again. Lou

    • Ken

      Hey Griff – That’s really useful. It’s also great when I’m playing in other styles and using a lot of distortion. Thanks. Ken

    • Gary

      Griff,
      I enjoy and envy your guitar playing and out of all of those sites I look at, I enjoy your ideas and thoughts the most also. Magnificent sound comes over my speakers of your guitar playing.
      I am so envious.
      Hard starting to play the guitar at 55 years old as the mind is some what not functioning the same as when I was young.
      I can play quite fluently The Shadows great Apache but I have this problem of too much added sound so thanks for that tip. Back to the drawing board for me again. At least I am making progres.
      I have always thought about muting strings that I am not playing and so thanks for the permission to do so

    • David Latremouille

      Hi Griff; excellent instruction. I remember seeing John McLaughlin back in the Mahavishnu Orchestra days, and was amazed at how he played blazing runs and licks and yet his fingers never seemed to move, instead his entire hand(s) moved as a unit, much like you are describing here. It seems like a simple change, but this concept can result in a whole different way of seeing and thinking about the fretboard and instrument as a whole. great stuff!
      thanks
      david

    • MIKE MURPHY

      Only yesterday i was getiing up tight due to extra strings ringing and pinging, as ever you provide a solution, thanks Griff.

    • blues

      Griff,
      I love guitars and I love irony-I spend five years teaching myself to play precise and clean-fretting every note as exactly as I can and in two minutes you teach me how to play ‘muted-sloppy’ and it sounds cleaner than I was playing before—thanks—-I think.
      Blues

    • Ben cooper

      Hi griff and his wife, thank you both sooo much for taking time to send me the links i needed. It is because of you that i love playing music and i can now play learn to play the blues. I am so inspired by you that i dont go anywhere without my guitar and laptop to learn. I actually can’t thank you both enough 😀 hope your doing well and thanks again, Ben 🙂

    • RICHARD MARCH

      thank you griff ….so much

    • ozi margolis

      Hey Griff,
      Always enjoy all your videos and instructional material.This particular lesson came bang on time since I’ve been naturally trying to do what you’re suggesting. Trying to get some raking effect is bordering on what you are saying and really helps a lot.
      Again thanks for your time and effort helping us along on this fascinating journey of discovering music and the guitar in particular!!
      Oz.

    • Brian

      Wow, I haven’t tried it yet but will when I get home. Makes perfect sense and it’s just one of those little things that I never thought of that should make things so much easier. I’ve been playing for forty years and just always took the “don’t hit it if you don’t want to hear it” approach. Thanks can’t wait to give it a try.

      Brian

    • Francois

      Griff,

      Just want to say thanks. Your videos answer many of the questions that we / I might not even think to ask. This one is a case in point; I’ve had this problem but did not realize the extent to which muting was important. Sure, I mute the strings that are not required in a chord (i.e. the 5th string in a A-7) but never looked at it like this (muting all the strings that are not used).

      Also appreciated your vid on pedals, once again an area that needs to be demistified for the less experienced among us.

      You’re making me feel guilty for not buying anything from you yet. How about a voluntary donate by Paypal button?

      Thanks again,

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