Thanks Ryan. I like that palm mute technique. Sometimes I do find the D- tuned Merlin a bit too jangly. A technique that I came up with that I use in some of my own songs is to strum with the fingers and the heel of my palm. It has a similar effect but works better if you’re not using a pick. It is a bit reminiscent of a snare drum but with chords. Hope that makes sense.
Interesting… are you saying you strum with your whole hand in a way that your palm is moving, not planted, but still in a muted way? That sounds tricky!!
@ yes I move the whole hand. I tuck my three outside fingers against the heel of my palm, leaving my index finger and thumb open. Then I strum whilst semi muting the strings with the heel of my palm. I’ll post a short video soon.
Great video. Any specific advice on palm muting the alternating base (in drop d) between low e and d strings while avoiding muting bottom 3 strings to make room for clear melody attack?
hmmm.... this is a tricky physics / physiology matter. not being able to see you (or you me), I'm just going to assume you're trying to manage all of this with a pic and jump between the low and the high strings? If that's the case I don't see how it could work (at least not without serious gymnastics), because I think you (I do!) would shift the right hand to hit the high strings and nudge them muted. I think this is the exact sort of reason that probably lead Chet Atkins to chicken pickin' sorta style. Uses the non-thumb fingers to grab melody while letting the thumb jump back and forth, and he had a thumb pick to bring out the attack on the low side. Not remotely easy.
Thanks Ryan. I like that palm mute technique. Sometimes I do find the D- tuned Merlin a bit too jangly. A technique that I came up with that I use in some of my own songs is to strum with the fingers and the heel of my palm. It has a similar effect but works better if you’re not using a pick.
It is a bit reminiscent of a snare drum but with chords. Hope that makes sense.
Interesting… are you saying you strum with your whole hand in a way that your palm is moving, not planted, but still in a muted way? That sounds tricky!!
@ yes I move the whole hand. I tuck my three outside fingers against the heel of my palm, leaving my index finger and thumb open. Then I strum whilst semi muting the strings with the heel of my palm.
I’ll post a short video soon.
thanks
I so enjoy these. You make me learn and smile ! Don't sell my dulcimer !! 😅❤
DEBRA!! Thanks so much, I am happy to offer my ridiculously self-deprecating humor free of charge. It's included in every video!
Good video, ryan.
Glad you enjoyed it!!!
I did. Who is the japanese man who played " Friday im in love" I like him.
Great video. Any specific advice on palm muting the alternating base (in drop d) between low e and d strings while avoiding muting bottom 3 strings to make room for clear melody attack?
hmmm.... this is a tricky physics / physiology matter. not being able to see you (or you me), I'm just going to assume you're trying to manage all of this with a pic and jump between the low and the high strings? If that's the case I don't see how it could work (at least not without serious gymnastics), because I think you (I do!) would shift the right hand to hit the high strings and nudge them muted. I think this is the exact sort of reason that probably lead Chet Atkins to chicken pickin' sorta style. Uses the non-thumb fingers to grab melody while letting the thumb jump back and forth, and he had a thumb pick to bring out the attack on the low side. Not remotely easy.