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Matt Bellamys muting / guitar technique


eivdjo

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Posted

Hi.

 

I've read a few threads, but nothing on this particular subject.

When Matt plays most of his solos live, he uses sort of a power chord to mute the strings he doesn't need. In stead of just picking one string, when the solo is only on one string, he picks all the strings. I really can't explain it any simpler than that. Does any one want to tell me something about this technique?

 

I have watched a whole lot of videos of both him, and people doing guitar covers in order to figure it out.

 

Check out these examples.

 

Sunburn 2006. During the solo here he uses that "power chord". I could not embed this.

http://youtu.be/n5ujX9OtfWk?t=2m35s

 

This great cover of CE. Check out 4:18 +

http://www.youtube.com/embed/d2_9JN93f3w

 

And also this guy, from about 2:10.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/7lU6FTDb3Bg

Could someone help me with this? Maybe "tab" it out? :)

Posted

Well, he mutes the other strings as he strums? If you practice enough you'll get the hang of it

 

It's more difficult when he does that technique on just the one string

Posted

you just rest your unused fingers over the other strings to mute them and then strum wildly. it's poor technique to be fair, but it sort of works well in bellamy's case.

Posted

it's not poor technique if it sounds good!! I do it all the time.

 

You have to be careful not to set off harmonics. I usually use two fingers if I can to make sure it's properly muting

Posted

Meh, easy technique really. Makes it so playing requires less precision and sounds pretty good at the same time. I use it instinctively now-a-days so I can't really describe how to do it as I don't really notice when I'm doing it. It's nothing special though really, quite a few artists do it.

Posted

Common technique used by many. John Frusciante uses it a lot.

Most of the time the left hand shapes the sound much more than the picking hand. This is one example of that.

Posted

It comes naturally after playing for a while. Raking muted strings prior to hitting the note that you want to sustain adds a percussive element to the sound. When I finger pick a part I will use the nails of some of my fingers to do the same thing when playing both lead and rhythm parts.

 

JT

Posted
I think the weirdest part of this thread is the fact that he labelled an Esparoba cover as great ...

 

What exactly is it that K&T has against Esparoba. He's not the greatest but it's pretty much the norm to just hate him.

Guest Batman.
Posted
What exactly is it that K&T has against Esparoba. He's not the greatest but it's pretty much the norm to just hate him.

 

It's basically a mixture of distaste, jealously, and annoyance at him.

 

He makes himself out to be the most amazing guitar player that's ever lived, whilst playing on all these expensive guitars and 'signature' amps.

 

Thing is, he's been playing for years and he's still average, and everything he buys gets paid for by his daddy.

 

Just how he comes across to me anyway, he could be a great guy for all I know.

 

Still jealous of his gear anyway.

 

By the way OP, dis is pretty easy.

|-x-x-x-x-x-x-------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

|-x-x-x-x-x-x-------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

|-x-x-x-x-x-7-------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

|-6-6-6-6-6-x-------x-x-6-6-6-6-6-

|-x-x-x-x-x-x-------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

|-x-x-x-x-x-x-------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

 

Just play everything like that, with your index finger muting all the strings. Play notes with your other fingers.

Posted

Just play everything like that, with your index finger muting all the strings. Play notes with your other fingers.

 

I tend to use my thumb to mute any strings above my index which, I think, is much easier. Each to their own though.

Posted
I tend to use my thumb to mute any strings above my index which, I think, is much easier. Each to their own though.

 

Apparently that's bad technique, limits the amount of frets you can stretch, but I do it too. I just find it easier. Probably because, as a whole, my technique is sloppy as fuck.

Posted
Apparently that's bad technique, limits the amount of frets you can stretch, but I do it too. I just find it easier. Probably because, as a whole, my technique is sloppy as fuck.

 

I've got a fairly sloppy technique too. I don't really lose a lot of stretch from it though, I've got long, gangely fingers :p

Posted
I've got a fairly sloppy technique too. I don't really lose a lot of stretch from it though, I've got long, gangely fingers :p

 

Ahh, probably won't have much of a negative effect anyway then!

Posted
It comes naturally after playing for a while. Raking muted strings prior to hitting the note that you want to sustain adds a percussive element to the sound. When I finger pick a part I will use the nails of some of my fingers to do the same thing when playing both lead and rhythm parts.

 

JT

 

Dave Gilmour does this quite a bit.

Posted
I've got a fairly sloppy technique too. I don't really lose a lot of stretch from it though, I've got long, gangely fingers :p

 

Jimmy Page is/was sloppy as hell too. ;)

Posted
Dave Gilmour does this quite a bit.

 

I stole most of my playing style from David Gilmour, Mark Knopfler and Alex Lifeson. (The rest was ruthlessly savages from Andy Summers and Eric Johnson.)

 

As for the whole "Sloppy is good." thing, I will add this. If you ever get into a studio with a real producer that whole theory will go flying out the window, along with your pride and self respect.

 

JT

Posted

That just sounds like those producers are in the wrong job.

 

By the way OP, dis is pretty easy.

|-x-x-x-x-x-x-------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

|-x-x-x-x-x-x-------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

|-x-x-x-x-x-7-------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

|-6-6-6-6-6-x-------x-x-6-6-6-6-6-

|-x-x-x-x-x-x-------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

|-x-x-x-x-x-x-------x-x-x-x-x-x-x-

 

Just play everything like that, with your index finger muting all the strings. Play notes with your other fingers.

 

Nothing wrong with using your index finger to mute all the strings, but you shouldn't be strumming all the strings at all times. It's just a way to keep the odd slip up in check. Useful if you do a lot of tremolo picking as you should be using your elbow rather than your wrist, which is why it's useful.

Posted

I thought that too, at first. Then I listened to the tracks that I did their way vs. my own demos. After that I worked a lot harder at playing cleanly and making the space between the notes count as much as the notes themselves.

 

JT

Posted

I just mean there are ways to get parts played more cleanly, like removing unnecessary strings from the guitar (I know this'll cause issues with the neck). If they aren't there, they can't hit them.

Posted
I just mean there are ways to get parts played more cleanly, like removing unnecessary strings from the guitar (I know this'll cause issues with the neck). If they aren't there, they can't hit them.

 

Sounds like that would be massively overcomplicating the situation. If you cant play a guitar part cleanly without removing strings, you need to practice more.

 

Why am I still awake?

Posted
Sounds like that would be massively overcomplicating the situation. If you cant play a guitar part cleanly without removing strings, you need to practice more.

 

Why am I still awake?

 

Of course they would need to practise more. But in a studio you wouldn't necessarily have time for that guitarist to go away and learn how to play the thing.

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